The Republic is reeling from the Mandalorian Wars and a subsequent invasion by a Sith armada led by Darth Malak , the former apprentice of the fallen Darth Revan.

Players choose from three initial classes ( Soldier, Scout, or Scoundrel ) and eventually transition into one of three Jedi subclasses ( Guardian, Sentinel, or Consular ).

Every dialogue choice and action earns Light Side or Dark Side points , affecting your character's appearance, the story's ending, and even which Force powers are most effective. The Legacy of KOTOR

Players start as a customized character awakening on the Republic cruiser Endar Spire under attack. Your mission is to find the Jedi Bastila Shan , whose mastery of "Battle Meditation" is the Republic's only hope against the Sith. Gameplay and Mechanics

Released on July 15, 2003, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) redefined both the Star Wars franchise and the RPG genre. Developed by and published by LucasArts , it was originally an Xbox exclusive (with a PC port arriving later that year) and quickly became the fastest-selling game on the console at that time, moving over 250,000 copies in its first four days. A New Era: The Old Republic

Its success paved the way for BioWare’s subsequent hits like Mass Effect and Dragon Age , and established a massive sub-franchise including a sequel, The Sith Lords , and the MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic .

The game's narrative was a bold departure from the films, set roughly . This setting gave BioWare the creative freedom to explore a galaxy where both Jedi and Sith were numerous.

Watch these retrospectives and gameplay clips to see why this RPG remains a top-tier Star Wars experience: