Star Wars: Dark Forces

The Dark Forces series is one of the few licensed franchises that manages to be innovative within its genre while remaining faithful to its source material. Though its flaws stand out more than ever, so do its strengths.

82%Game Brain Score

story, graphics

optimization, replayability

89% User Score Based on 2,148 reviews

Critic Score 66%Based on 3 reviews

Platforms

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About

In Star Wars: Dark Forces, Kyle Katarn, a former Imperial Stormtrooper, joins the Rebel Alliance to infiltrate the Empire and sabotage their operations. With a focus on realism, the game features levels designed after Star Wars locations and offers mission briefings and objectives. Players engage in blaster combat and solve puzzles to advance the storyline, which unfolds between cutscenes.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,151 reviews

story206 positive mentions

optimization8 negative mentions

Great nostalgia for fans of classic FPS games and Star Wars.
Engaging story with memorable characters and cutscenes.
Fun gameplay with a variety of weapons and challenging levels.

Dated graphics and controls that can be frustrating for modern players.
Confusing level design that can lead to getting lost easily.
No save system during levels, relying on a limited lives mechanic instead.

story
709 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
69%
2%
The story of "Star Wars: Dark Forces" follows Kyle Katarn, a mercenary working for the Rebel Alliance, as he embarks on missions to thwart the Empire's dark trooper project and steal the Death Star plans. While the narrative is straightforward and not particularly complex, it effectively immerses players in the Star Wars universe with engaging mission briefings, animated cutscenes, and a sense of purpose that enhances the gameplay experience. Despite its age and the fact that the story is no longer considered canon, many players appreciate its nostalgic value and the depth it adds to the Star Wars lore.
- “The story adds depth to the Star Wars universe by diving into military operations and covert missions, giving a gritty, boots-on-the-ground perspective not often seen in the movies.”
- “An epic storyline, combined with memorable characters and impressive level design makes this game a must-have for any Star Wars fan, or those looking for a sense of nostalgia about how far gaming has come.”
- “Dark Forces is a classic first-person shooter that immerses players in the Star Wars universe with engaging missions and a compelling story.”
- “The story serves little more than to provide reason as to what you're doing, but it, along with the environments, fit snugly as 'something that feels like Star Wars'.”
- “It's frustrating because the story is competent, but the locations are bizarre, nightmarish labyrinthine mazes.”
- “The story is very basic, especially for its time: badass guy goes on mission, uncovers big and sinister plot, spends rest of game trying to uncover and sabotage said plot.”
graphics
394 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
68%
8%
The graphics of "Dark Forces" are widely regarded as dated, reflecting the limitations of 1995 technology, with many players noting that they can be pixelated and difficult to navigate. While some appreciate the nostalgic charm and the game's original aesthetic, others find the visuals challenging, particularly in identifying key objects and navigating levels. Several reviewers recommend using mods like the DarkXL engine to enhance the graphics and improve gameplay experience, highlighting that despite its graphical shortcomings, the game remains enjoyable for fans of retro shooters and the Star Wars universe.
- “For a 1995 game, the visuals are impressive, with 3D environments and dynamic lighting effects that were groundbreaking for the time.”
- “The graphics were top notch at the time of release (1995) with smooth animation and distinct sprites and textures.”
- “The result of artwork that is loyal to the original Star Wars aesthetic, coupled with authentic sound design, creates an immersive experience that is still enjoyable to come back to over 20 years later.”
- “The graphics are terrible but nostalgic, and the gameplay is quite fun.”
- “The graphics are so outdated that it hurts my eyes to play this game.”
- “The graphics unfortunately are very poor; more often than not you'll be firing at a mess of white pixels that you know is a stormtrooper down a hallway.”
gameplay
288 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
59%
6%
The gameplay of "Dark Forces" is often described as a nostalgic blend of classic first-person shooter mechanics reminiscent of "Doom," featuring fast-paced action, a variety of weapons, and engaging level design. While some players appreciate its solid mechanics and immersive story, others note that the game shows its age with dated graphics and occasionally convoluted level navigation. Overall, it remains a fun experience for fans of retro shooters, despite some frustrations with its simplistic gameplay and outdated controls.
- “Sure, the mechanics and visuals show their age, but the game remains enjoyable thanks to its engaging story, atmospheric settings, and solid gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is great fun, the blasters are snappy with real force behind the shots, and the AI isn't as awful as you might think.”
- “The gameplay is smooth and enjoyable, the weapon variety is excellent, the difficulty scales well, the enemies are diverse and most fill their niches admirably, and the levels are generally easy to understand and navigate, although occasionally they slip into maziness.”
- “The graphics are bad, the gameplay is bad, the design is full of confusing monotone corridors.”
- “Sure the game is fun for what it is, and having a Star Wars game in this style is novel, but ultimately the gameplay is quite simplistic and some of the level design is needlessly complex.”
- “Gameplay is, by far, the weakest part of this game.”
music
168 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
58%
5%
The music in the game is a mix of iconic Star Wars themes rendered in MIDI format, which evokes nostalgia but often suffers from low-quality sound that some players find grating. While many appreciate the atmospheric and dynamic nature of the soundtrack, which adapts to gameplay, others criticize its repetitiveness and dated sound. Overall, the music successfully captures the essence of the Star Wars universe, though opinions vary widely on its execution and quality.
- “The game's level design and atmospheric music capture the essence of Star Wars perfectly.”
- “The music features remixes of well-known Star Wars tunes along with new music.”
- “The soundtrack really makes the most of its MIDI music, and most of the songs still hold up today, especially the opening song.”
- “The soundtrack is god awful, I hate MIDI and I can't stand John Williams after hearing that same soundtrack in every single licensed Star Wars game under the sun.”
- “Unfortunately, the game’s MIDI soundtrack sounds awfully tinny and gives the wrong first impression upon loading the game up, and is crying out for an authentic MP3 soundtrack.”
- “The only complaints I have are the music and that levels have no saves, so more complex levels can be a pain at times if you mess up.”
atmosphere
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
73%
22%
5%
The atmosphere in "Dark Forces" is widely praised for its immersive and nostalgic qualities, effectively capturing the essence of the Star Wars universe through detailed level design, atmospheric soundscapes, and iconic music cues. Despite its age, the game maintains a strong sense of place and mood, with each level offering a distinct visual and auditory experience that resonates with fans of the franchise. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke memories and emotions, making it a standout title in the realm of atmospheric gaming.
- “The game's level design and atmospheric music capture the essence of Star Wars perfectly.”
- “From the sound effects heard in the movies, to the MIDI versions of John Williams' soundtrack pieces, to the ghostly blue-white lighting in imperial complexes and the quirky space western vibes of alien planets, every moment is saturated in Star Wars atmosphere that sells the game world to you.”
- “The combination of detailed, immersive levels, many kinds of alien foes, and an overall dark and moody atmosphere makes Dark Forces an intense and thrilling experience that often sits between fully action-packed FPSes and more horror-focused titles.”
- “Highly recommended for the atmosphere of the Star Wars universe at its dirtiest, grimiest, and most industrial.”
- “Though the graphics are way out of date, the atmosphere is just out of this galaxy.”
optimization
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
54%
31%
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with many players experiencing significant performance issues, including low frame rates, stuttering, and unresponsive controls. While some users have found success in improving performance through fan-made mods, tweaks to DOSBox settings, or using alternative engines like DarkXL, the overall experience remains frustratingly inconsistent and often requires considerable effort to achieve satisfactory results. Despite these challenges, some players still find the game enjoyable, particularly with the right adjustments.
- “While the original game runs well on DOSBox, there are fan-made mods and ports that modernize the experience, offering higher resolutions, better controls, and smoother performance on modern PCs.”
- “I highly recommend following some of the guides out there to edit your DOSBox config file to improve performance!”
- “Just by adjusting the DOSBox a little bit, the look and performance are great!”
- “Performance was so poor that, if it had been a choose your own adventure flipbook, it would have actually been slightly more playable.”
- “Upon trying it out, I noticed that it was buggy, would make cutscenes disappear, had minimal optimization features that you would want in a source port for a game like this, and was overall not an enjoyable experience.”
- “Upon launching the game, you will experience terrible performance issues (especially when there are multiple enemies on screen).”
replayability
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
65%
20%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the satisfying shooting mechanics and exploration of secrets, others criticize its limited content and lack of multiplayer options, leading to low replay value. Mods can enhance the experience, but the absence of achievements and multiple endings detracts from long-term engagement. Despite these drawbacks, some still find enough enjoyment to warrant multiple playthroughs.
- “Decent replay value to boot, just an all-round classic shooter with a lot of polish and shine for its time.”
- “This, its sequel Dark Forces II: Jedi Knight, and X-Wing Alliance are the best of the best when it comes to the gaming catalog from the company, and only a few modern games have come close to equaling them in terms of enjoyment, replayability, and (admittedly subjective) 'cool factor'.”
- “Decent amount of content for a game this old and a ton of replayability because the shooting is just so damn satisfying and there are a lot of secrets to find.”
- “Without multiplayer, there is little replayability.”
- “The game is super short with less than a dozen missions, and lack of replayability makes it all the shorter.”
- “While the replay value is very low as there are a set number of missions with no achievements or multiple endings, you will get your $2 back and more.”
stability
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
6%
59%
Overall, the stability of the game is mixed; while some users report smooth performance and successful bug fixes through mods like the force engine, others highlight persistent glitches and bugs that can disrupt gameplay, such as locking doors or disappearing cutscenes. Many players recommend using specific setups or mods to enhance stability, but caution that some options may introduce their own issues.
- “It runs great.”
- “Loads with no problems, runs great.”
- “No glitches or problems when installed on a Windows 7 machine.”
- “It's a buggy, unfinished mess.”
- “Some glitches and bugs that aren't game breaking but you should be aware of because it will cause you to repeat levels unnecessarily (e.g., clicking buttons repeatedly in fast succession will lock doors permanently).”
- “Upon trying it out, I noticed that it was buggy, would make cutscenes disappear, had minimal optimization features that you would want in a source port for a game like this, and was overall not an enjoyable experience.”
grinding
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
71%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to long levels, backtracking, and frustrating puzzles that disrupt the flow of gameplay. While some levels are well-designed and enjoyable, many reviewers noted that the overall experience can become monotonous and annoying, especially in certain sections.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Interesting story but gameplay can become boring and tedious.”
- “Adding to that, certain sections require backtracking which can be quite tedious.”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding the blocky graphics and absurd scenarios, such as the iconic "howie scream" and amusing easter eggs, particularly entertaining. While some aspects may feel outdated, the comedic elements remain a highlight, contributing to the game's charm and making it a memorable experience. Overall, the humor is described as a significant factor that enhances the enjoyment of the game.
- “And let's be honest, the blocky graphics make it all the more hilarious when you blast a stormtrooper into oblivion.”
- “The game also includes the hilarious Howie scream whenever you fall off a cliff, which makes it an instant must-have for me.”
- “Until you realize you have to punch the thing to death, and I nearly died from laughing.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional impact of the game is profound, as it evokes a strong sense of nostalgia and connection to the Star Wars universe, making players feel as though they are truly part of the adventure. The experience is heightened by the joy of rediscovering the game on modern platforms, leading to heartfelt reactions such as tears of joy. However, technical issues like high field of view and nausea can detract from the overall emotional experience.
- “Finding it on Steam and having it run on Windows 10 was very touching.”
- “This is really the first game that made me feel like I was actually in the universe of Star Wars.”
- “I cried of joy when I first saw this on Steam.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
Character development in the game is minimal, particularly for Kyle Katarn, who is primarily portrayed as a bad-ass mercenary. While some players feel this lack of depth detracts from the overall experience, others appreciate the storytelling approach that conveys his character through personality-driven dialogue and visual cues rather than traditional narrative growth.
- “It’s an approach to storytelling and character development that tells more about his character through the minimal dialogues full of his personality and visual details that show his transformation, rather than incorporating his growth through gameplay or the narrative itself.”
- “The character development left a lot to be desired; however, the story was just okay.”
- “It's an approach to storytelling and character development that tells more about his character through the minimal dialogues full of his personality and visual details that show his transformation, rather than incorporating his growth through gameplay or the narrative itself.”
- “Whilst the character of Kyle Katarn does not get much character development (for now) other than bad-ass mercenary, it does not matter too much for this game, which is an authentic and essential Star Wars experience.”

66%Critics’ scoreBased on 3 critic reviews

Buy Star Wars: Dark Forces

6h Median play time

6h Average play time

9h Main story

15h Completionist

2-9h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 7 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

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