When Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order arrived back in November 2019, it hit the gaming galaxy like a well-aimed thermal detonator. It wasn’t flawless, mind you, but it finally gave Star Wars fans the big, story-driven single-player adventure they had been chasing for years. Four years later, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor found itself in the same enviable position: a certified banger that practically demanded a sequel. Now, as 2026 rolls along, the next chapter feels less like a question and more like a matter of when. Respawn Entertainment has already floated the idea of making Cal Kestis’ story a trilogy, and actor Cameron Monaghan has cheekily hinted that another entry is already cooking. Before the studio fires up the hyperdrive, though, it needs to remember the secret sauce that made Jedi: Survivor such a treat.

Double Down on the Lightsaber Stance Buffet

The first game surprised everyone by letting players switch between a single-bladed lightsaber and a double-bladed one on the fly. That was neat, but Jedi: Survivor took the idea and sprinted off with it like a Jawa who just spotted an unattended droid. Survivor offered five distinct stances, including dual-wield, crossguard, and the gloriously absurd blaster stance. Nothing says “Jedi power fantasy” quite like parrying a purge trooper with one hand and blasting another with the other. The sequel should absolutely not fix what isn’t broken. If anything, it should raise the bar again. More stances? Better transitions? Deeper skill trees? Yes, please. This is the kind of combat depth that keeps players coming back after the credits roll, and it would be a crime to let it gather dust on Tatooine.

Metroidvania Levels That Loop Like a Fancy Holo-Disc

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor also inherited something brilliant from its predecessor: level design that loops in on itself like a particularly clever vine on Kashyyyk. Whether Cal is poking around an Imperial base, a crashed Venator, or some ancient ruins, the levels are stuffed with shortcuts and paths that only open up once new abilities are unlocked. This Metroidvania approach turns every corner into a potential “aha!” moment and rewards players for poking their noses into places they probably shouldn’t. The sequel needs to keep this philosophy front and center. It encourages exploration, backtracks that don’t feel like busywork, and makes the galaxy feel like one giant puzzle box. In a world full of open-world checklist games, this tighter, loopier design is a breath of fresh air.

Collectibles That Actually Feel Worth Snatching

Let’s be honest: the first game’s collectibles were a little thin. A handful of ponchos and Mantis paint jobs? Cool, but not exactly a collector’s dream. Jedi: Survivor wisely cranked that dial up to eleven. Players could hunt down a dizzying array of hairstyles, lightsaber components, BD-1 parts, and clothing items. Some of these goodies referenced older Star Wars games and the wider universe, which made every chest feel like a tiny museum exhibit. The next Jedi game should double down on this treasure-hunt energy. Give players more weird hats, more obscure droid parts, more lightsaber hilts that look like they were yanked straight out of a Star Wars fan’s dream journal. The best collectibles are the ones that tell a story, and Survivor proved that a shiny Kyber crystal can be as satisfying as a boss fight.

A Home Base That Feels Like a Sci-Fi Sitcom

Jedi: Survivor introduced a proper hub area in the form of Pyloon’s Saloon, and while it wasn’t groundbreaking, it was charming as heck. Cal could recruit various oddballs from across the galaxy and send them back to the saloon, where they would mill about and occasionally drop a nugget of lore or a side quest. It felt like the galaxy far, far away’s version of a neighborhood bar, and that cozy energy was a welcome counterpoint to all the lightsaber chaos. The sequel should bring back some kind of customizable, expandable home base. Let players decorate it, populate it with weirdos, and maybe even gamble with Greez over a dejarik board. The more the base feels like a living, breathing place, the better.

Story and Characters: The Real Lightsabers

At the end of the day, both Jedi games live and die by their characters. Cal Kestis has grown from a traumatized padawan into a genuine hero, and his relationships with Merrin, Greez, Cere, and the rest of the crew are what make the galaxy worth saving. The next game has plenty of narrative threads it could pull, but the most important thing is to keep the emotional core intact. The sequel should tie every new planet, every new villain, and every new Force power back to Cal’s personal journey. A fancy combat system is great, but it’s the heart that turns a good Star Wars game into a legendary one. If Respawn keeps Cal and his found family front and center, the third chapter should be chef’s kiss.

The Bottom Line

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is available now on modern platforms, and the series has never been in better shape. With a sequel all but guaranteed, Respawn has a golden opportunity to build on the best parts of Survivor. More lightsaber stances, tighter Metroidvania exploration, juicier collectibles, a livelier home base, and a story that keeps Cal’s heart in the center of the action. In a nutshell: take what worked, add more of it, and don’t let the dark side tempt you into bloated, soulless design. May the sequel be with us.

Feature	Why It Must Return
Lightsaber stances	Adds depth and variety to combat
Metroidvania levels	Rewards exploration and smart shortcuts
Collectibles	Makes treasure hunting feel meaningful
Home base	Creates community and cozy vibes
Character-driven story	Keeps the emotional stakes high