Star Wars: Squadrons

 PC
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 48 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 41 out of 48
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 48
  3. Negative: 0 out of 48
  1. CD-Action
    Dec 18, 2020
    70
    To put it simply, Star Wars: Squadrons is a low-budget X-Wing vs TIE Fighter II based off of Battlefront II’s space battles. I admit that I expected more, but after two decades we finally got a new Star Wars sim (leaning towards the arcade side, but still) and I did enjoy it. It looks and sounds like a Star Wars game should, and Motive’s successful effort to balance such dissimilar crafts as the X-Wing and the TIE Fighter is commendable. [12/2020, p.64]
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  2. LevelUp
    Oct 15, 2020
    70
    STAR WARS: Squadrons is a very well-accomplished installment of the franchise. A complete surprise thanks to the effective combination of arcade action and hard simulation. However, not everything shines; the limited scope, in campaign and multiplayer, drags down what could be a solid entry in the franchise.
  3. Game Over Online
    Oct 15, 2020
    70
    Didn’t hate it. Didn’t love it. Don’t feel like it soiled my fond memories of the last X-Wing series in any serious way. It’s just another in a long line of Star Wars games that could have been great and instead ended up being solidly mediocre.
  5. GameSpot
    Oct 12, 2020
    70
    The real reason that you're driven to keep playing Squadrons is for the pure joy of dogfighting, whether that be in the game's team deathmatch mode, campaign setpieces, or perhaps in VR on PS4 and PC, where the sensory deprivation and head-tracking give you an extra layer of physical response to your flight maneuvers, which can be exciting for as long as you can stomach it. The campaign's narrative leaves you wanting, and the flagship Fleet Battles can be incredibly uneven. But the feeling of Squadrons' core flight combat is gratifying enough to sustain you through it all. The involved nature of juggling all tasks required to operate your cool starfighter at peak efficiency while soaking in the more mechanical sights and sounds of Star Wars is a stimulating experience that Squadrons just gets right.
  6. Game Revolution
    Oct 5, 2020
    70
    Star Wars: Squadrons is a flawed homage to flight sims of decades past. It’ll be a dream come true for fans of the X-Wing and Rogue Squadron series. It’s the type of Star Wars game that seemed to be extinct. It’s a niche title that highlights the fantastic starfighters of the franchise...However, Squadrons does have issues, mostly with its setting. The campaign has a very “been there, done that” feel and is set in one of the least exciting time periods in the new canon. The multiplayer is a ton of fun, but lacks the content to stay entertaining over the long term.
  7. Gameblog.fr
    Oct 1, 2020
    70
    Despite its lack of epicness, Star Wars Squadrons is a pleasant surprise. Whether you're a Star Wars fan or not, you have a good chance to enjoy what this Space Opera game has to offer, which is a great achievement for Motive Studios.
  8. Riot Pixels
    Nov 21, 2020
    60
    There’s a good concept at the core of Star Wars: Squadrons, as flying a space fighter and managing its systems can be a lot of fun, however, you have to be a very dedicated Star Wars fan to enjoy a drab campaign with just a handful of memorable moments and watered-down multiplayer modes from Battlefront 2.
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This publication has not posted a final review score yet.
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In Progress & Unscored

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  1. Ars Technica
    Oct 1, 2020
    Before I go sending the developers my wish list for additional features, however, I should probably wait for them to finish the game (at least on the PC version). As a straightforward, reasonably priced arcade blaster with some unique flair, Squadrons has its charm—and is easier for me to recommend, especially to families, than Battlefront 2 ever was (not the highest of praise, but still). I'm just hopeful it gets closer to a recommended state of polish and bug squashing. [Impressions]
  2. GamingTrend
    Oct 1, 2020
    There’s a lot to be excited about with Star Wars: Squadrons. It not only meets all of my expectations, it wildly exceeds them. VR support for the entire game instead of just a single mission taste makes this the game we’ve always dreamed of so many years ago. It truly is the sequel to all of those great early PC games so many years ago, but with all of the modern bells and whistles. Put simply, if you are a Star Wars fan, it doesn’t get better than this.
  3. IGN
    Oct 1, 2020
    Star Wars: Squadrons’ single-player campaign missions are a feast for Star Wars fans’ eyes and ears, especially in VR. Its engaging space combat is a great balance of approachable arcade control with the added nuance of simulation-like systems, which combine with astonishingly detailed ships and cockpits for the most authentic-feeling ride since LucasArts’ legendary X-Wing and TIE Fighter games back in the ‘90s. Star Wars: Squadrons doesn’t end up doing anything too memorable with its charming characters or interesting rival squadron setup, but this campaign still tells an entertaining Star Wars story I enjoyed no matter which cockpit I was in. [Single-Player score = 80]
  5. Mashable
    Oct 1, 2020
    For me, Star Wars: Squadrons is hands down the very best space combat sim this series has ever seen. That's not hyperbole; the closest rival here is more than 20 years old. Even if Motive never supports Squadrons past release, what we're playing on day one is everything this X-Wing-loving nerd has ever wanted from a Star Wars game.
  6. Polygon
    Oct 1, 2020
    Simply put, Star Wars: Squadrons is the total package. If all you have at your disposal is a console, a decent TV, and a working controller, you’re going to have a wonderful time. If you have a throttle, stick, and rudder pedals, you’re really in for a treat. And, if you happen to be able to afford VR, you may never want to take that headset off again. [Polygon Recommends]
  7. Press Start Australia
    Oct 1, 2020
    It’s easy to argue that Star Wars: Squadrons doesn’t offer quite enough. Players get what is essentially an eight-hour tutorial which acts as a prelude for the game’s multiplayer, a limited but fun offering of modes with some potential for great staying power. [Review in Progress Score = 70]
  8. The Verge
    Oct 1, 2020
    Squadrons is probably not the Star Wars game for everyone. The steep difficulty curve combined with the relatively limited campaign makes it more of a niche kind of game than other, more accessible Star Wars space combat titles. But for players willing to put in the time (and invest in the hardware), the end result is a game that brings you closer to flying around an X-Wing than ever before.
  9. Vice
    Oct 2, 2020
    It's a new take on old ideas, in a new era, for a new audience. It’s a strong beginning, but a beginning nonetheless.

Awards & Rankings

77
#77 Best PC Game of 2020
24
#24 Most Discussed PC Game of 2020

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
5.8

Mixed or average reviews- based on 417 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 206 out of 417
  2. Mixed: 52 out of 417
  3. Negative: 159 out of 417
  1. ELECTROVAMP
    Oct 3, 2020
    1
    Should be named SJWars: Propaganda

    Low quality game with politics instead of gameplay and technical features
  2. Hurrikhan
    Oct 3, 2020
    3
    Let aside the identity politics (skip story, skip dialogs : who cares?*), the game suffers from several issues : technical and otherwise.Let aside the identity politics (skip story, skip dialogs : who cares?*), the game suffers from several issues : technical and otherwise.

    First, speaking from the point of view of a HOTAS player:
    Flight sticks have an horrible big dead zone.
    Some actions are needlessly cumbersome and horribly designed (I would need two thumbs to do one of them, when using simply 2 buttons would have made it both easy and efficient : no can do).

    As far as the game goes, there are stuttering problems even with high-end hardware.

    Playing, it took me a while to realise listening to the objective was counter-productive : kill everything and do NOT do what they tell you to do, it's usually a one-way ticket to lose.

    During one of my earliest missions, I died several times before understanding I was too close from some "damaging area" while chasing other fighters. It didn't appear to be a bother for any other ship but mine.

    I also despise the small maps (turn around now or die, whoops : too late). Your "team" often flights next to you which makes it weird when you realise they are following you following them in the wrong direction.

    At the end of one mission, escaping a place at high velocity (it was a requirement), I found myself way past the rendez-vous point when it finally appeared after the pointless chit-chat ended. Boom : I'm dead. You can imagine I will not try this ♥♥♥♥ again to get the survivalist achievement.

    Speaking about stupid or unfair deaths : at the end of yet another mission (Empire), I managed to destroy specific parts of a big enemy ship to ease its obliteration. My this last task done, I'm peacefully heading to the hangar to end it. A few seconds away from the door, from the corner of my eye I see a Empire support ship (ally) coming fast from the right, reaming into me : boom, dead.

    To the list of annoyances, you can add the intrusive tutorials who DEMANDS you to do some action while you already did it, hiding your current target with a stupid window and of course making you fail what you were doing (most of the time, putting shield front and firing to a squad doing the same to you). You can imagine how this kind of ♥♥♥♥ ends and how frustrating it is.

    Imagine that all this ♥♥♥♥ is just from the top of my head.

    The game isn't very expensive but it's worth way less.

    *) If you do, you can also skip the game. You'll get allergies.    … Full Review »
  3. lunasuj
    Oct 3, 2020
    2
    Good graphics... Just feels empty, like most EA games. I refunded the game. Buy other games.
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