Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic – A Long Time Ago, In a Galaxy Far More Interesting

BioWare's 2003 magnum opus has found yet another home, and playing Knights of the Old Republic on the Nintendo Switch 2 via backward compatibility is a reminder of why this RPG became the gold standard for Star Wars storytelling. Originally ported to the Nintendo Switch in 2021 by Aspyr, KOTOR on the Switch 2 benefits from the upgraded hardware's improved load times and smoother performance, making an already solid port feel that much more refined. Set four thousand years before the rise of the Galactic Empire, this is Star Wars unchained from the Skywalker saga — and it's all the better for it.

Wokeness: 0.0

This is a game from 2003, and it shows — in the best possible way. KOTOR is laser-focused on telling a compelling Star Wars story and letting you role-play within it. There are no modern agenda insertions, no ham-fisted messaging, no characters that exist solely to check a box. The diversity that exists in the cast — alien species, droids, varied human companions — all serves the narrative and world-building organically. You can be a saint or a monster through the Light Side and Dark Side system, and the game never lectures you either way. It simply lets you live with the consequences. This is what happens when developers prioritize the game over the message.

Gameplay: 7.5

KOTOR's d20-based combat system, inspired by Dungeons & Dragons third edition rules, was innovative in 2003 but feels undeniably dated in 2026. The real-time-with-pause system works well enough once you understand the underlying dice rolls, and there's genuine satisfaction in building your character across Jedi classes, feats, and Force powers. Exploration across iconic planets like Tatooine, Kashyyyk, and Manaan remains engaging, and the freedom to tackle worlds in your preferred order gives a sense of agency. However, the combat can feel sluggish, pathfinding is occasionally frustrating, and the inventory management is clunky by modern standards. The Switch 2's improved performance smooths out some of the original port's frame drops, but this is still very much a twenty-plus-year-old game mechanically.

Story: 9.0

This is where KOTOR earns its legendary status. The narrative is masterfully crafted, weaving mystery, betrayal, and genuine moral complexity into a Star Wars framework that puts most of the films to shame. Your companions — from the sardonic assassin droid HK-47 to the conflicted Jedi Bastila Shan — are written with depth and personality that make you care about their arcs. The central twist remains one of gaming's greatest narrative reveals, even if internet culture has long since spoiled it for many. Every planet has its own self-contained storyline that feeds into the larger conflict, and the Light Side/Dark Side choices feel genuinely weighty. BioWare understood that great Star Wars isn't about spectacle — it's about the struggle between darkness and redemption.

Graphics: 6.0

Let's be honest — KOTOR looks its age. The Aspyr port cleaned things up with improved resolution and widescreen support, and the Switch 2's hardware ensures everything runs without the occasional hitches the original Switch version suffered from. Character models are blocky, facial animations are stiff, and environments, while artistically well-designed, lack the detail modern players expect. That said, the art direction carries a lot of weight. The alien architecture of the Star Forge, the neon-soaked streets of Taris, and the lush Shadowlands of Kashyyyk all have a distinct visual identity that transcends polygon counts. You're not playing this for visual fidelity — you're playing it for atmosphere, and on that front it still delivers.

Audio: 8.5

The Star Wars audio pedigree is in full force here. Lightsabers hum and crackle with satisfying weight, blasters pop with that iconic sound, and the orchestral score channels John Williams without directly lifting from the films. The voice acting is strong across the board, with standout performances giving real personality to your crew. Alien languages are repeated frequently enough that you'll start recognizing the same Twi'lek sound bites, which is a minor immersion breaker, but the overall audio package remains impressive for a game of this vintage.

Replayability: 8.0

KOTOR was built for multiple playthroughs, and that design philosophy holds up remarkably well. The Light Side and Dark Side paths offer meaningfully different experiences, particularly in the game's final act. Different character builds — from dual-wielding Jedi Guardians to Force-slinging Consulars — change how you approach combat entirely. Companion interactions shift based on your alignment, and there are enough branching quest outcomes that a second or third run still surfaces content you missed. For a single-player RPG, the replay value here is exceptional.

Knights of the Old Republic remains a masterclass in RPG storytelling and a shining example of what Star Wars games can be when developers are given creative freedom far from established canon. The gameplay shows its age and the visuals won't impress anyone in 2026, but the narrative, world-building, and role-playing depth are timeless. Playing it on the Switch 2 is the smoothest this port has ever felt, and if you've never experienced KOTOR — or if it's been a decade since your last run — this is an easy recommendation. This is the Star Wars RPG that proved the galaxy far, far away is at its most compelling when it stops playing it safe.