Happy Star Wars Month, readers! Will you be one of the Light-aligned Jedi, or is the Dark Side whispering your name? Here are some books, games, and video games that you can use to explore your relationship with the Force.
The Jedi Mind: Secrets from the Force for Balance and Peace by Amy Ratcliffe (Chronicle Books, 2020)
This book is one of the ones that gave me inspiration to write this article. Not only has Ratcliffe inspired me personally, but she inspires many others through her variety of Star Wars-related writings.
In this book, Ratcliffe breaks down different aspects of the Force and the teachings of the Jedi and combines them with practical mindfulness exercises that can be utilized by anyone. She also explains in each practice how the idea ties back to the Star Wars universe.
Well-written and easy to follow, I would highly recommend you look into this book if you’re feeling a calling from the Force.
Use the Force by Christian Blauvelt (DK Publishing, 2020)
Use the Force serves as a basic overview of what the Force is and what it means to be a Jedi, with a lot of information about different characters in the films. The book is definitely targeted at a juvenile audience in terms of the writing and illustrations.
Use the Force pushes the Jedi agenda over that of the Sith (which I suppose makes sense; we don't want to encourage kiddos to be hateful at a young age). It's cute, concise, and a nice movie-focused overview of simple ways to be a real Jedi.
The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force by Daniel Wallace (Chronicle Books, 2017)
This book provides an interesting take on the Light Side education system. It's essentially presented as a Jedi textbook that has been passed down for generations to different characters from the Star Wars mythos. As such, each character has left their commentary in the margins, under pictures, and within the text. This gives a fun feel to reading all of the history, adding some flavor and variety. Depending on which side of the Force is calling you, you may find plenty to agree or argue with here.
Book of Sith: Secrets from the Dark Side by Daniel Wallace (Chronicle Books, 2017)
This book is very much done in the same style of the last one, but for the Dark Side. Notes scrawled in margins and across the pages focus mostly on those characters who have gone down the path of the Sith. This provides some good character development and engages readers in the lore of the universe while providing insight.
Star Wars: Jedi vs. Sith: The Essential Guide to the Force by Ryder Windham (Del Rey, 2013)
The Essential Guide to the Force provides very detailed information about the chronology of the Jedi Order, the Force, the Sith, and the tools and methods used by those who wield such power. It's great for generating ideas about yourself as a Jedi Master or inspiring your Sithsona while learning about the history built into the Star Wars universe.
Star Wars table-top role-playing games
This is by no means an exhaustive list of Star Wars books to check out. There are a lot of publications available, including a variety of self-published books through Amazon that seem to have good ideas and may be worth exploring.
But if reading alone doesn’t sate your appetite for knowledge, there are other ways to play out your Force-wielding fantasies. For example, check out some of these Star Wars tabletop roleplaying games:
Perkins, Christopher. Star Wars Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook, Saga Edition. Wizards of the Coast, 2007
The Star Wars Roleplaying Game licensed by Wizards of the Coast (now out of print, but still able to still be found) are ones I would strongly suggest you look into. The last printed editions, labeled as the Saga Edition, relevant for out purposes include the Core Rulebook and the Jedi Academy Training Manual. The rulebook explains how Jedis as a class can function in the game and gives an overview of potential characters and situations. The Jedi Academy Training Manual provides options for developing heroes and villains as well as new Force talents.
There are also supplementary books like The Force Unleashed Campaign Guide and The Knights of the Old Republic Campaign Guide that provide game settings and scenarios as well as extra options for Jedi/Sith players. It’s an interesting adaptation of the d20 system. If you’ve played Dungeons & Dragons you will probably have no problem understanding the game mechanics.
Star Wars: Force and Destiny. Edge Studio, 2023
Fantasy Flight Games released several Star Wars table-top RPGs. For our purposes, I would point you towards the reprinted edition of Force and Destiny. In this game, players are given the ability to explore what their role in the universe will be. Starting as a Force-sensitive outcast, you can forge your own path to help or hinder either side.
There are also several expansion books that deal with this setting, each providing more details and options for players to embrace their destinies. My first introduction into Star Wars tabletop roleplaying was with a copy of one of Edge Studio’s other settings, so these publications have a special place in my heart.
Star Wars video games
If neither tabletop gaming nor self-guided reading are your jam, I hope that this last section will be helpful. There aren’t many Star Wars video games that fit the bill for ways to help you explore your Sith side or your Jedi path, but they're still out there!
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003) is probably the go-to option when it comes to flexibility in dialogue and options to determine your alignment. There was a remake of this game announced to be in production for the PlayStation 5, but there has been little to no updated information in almost three years. In the meantime, at least the original is backwards compatible for Xbox 360 and Xbox Series S/X. There’s also a port available on the Nintendo Switch.
Star Wars: The Old Republic has been operational since 2011. It is a massively multiplayer online roleplaying game (MMORPG) that allows players to be part of the Star Wars universe, including as a Jedi or Sith. There’s a lot of free content to play and the game provides an in-depth opportunity for you to determine your story-driven path.
I sincerely hope that this article has given you some ideas! The Force is, ultimately, about choices. So what choices will you make?
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