In December 2011, Star Wars: The Old Republic was released, initially only with a subscription model. Today, the MMORPG is free to play. But where does SWTOR stand in 2021? And is it still worth starting today? We at MeinMMO answer these questions as part of Find Your Next Game.
Star Wars: The Old Republic ranks among the best free-to-play MMORPGs on the market. It places a strong focus on story, captivating players with moral decisions and fully voiced quests. Although the game offers an optional subscription, a significant portion of the game is usable without spending a dime.
Even nearly 9 years after its release, the game receives regular updates, including the major expansion Onslaught, released in October 2019. This expansion shifted the focus back to the conflict between the Sith Empire and the Republic, bringing new worlds and instanced group content.
Over the years, SWTOR has generated nearly $1 billion in revenue for BioWare, likely due to the license and the fact that you can experience adventures with a lightsaber in hand. But is it still worth getting into the MMORPG in 2021?
What is Star Wars: The Old Republic?
This is how the gameplay works: At the start of the game, you create a character that can belong either to the Republic or the old Sith Empire. You have access to 8 classes and 13 races, though many of these are hidden behind a paywall or subscription.
With this character, you embark on a journey to explore various planets, follow the story, and experience raids, dungeons, or PvP in the endgame. The max level has been level 75 since 2019.
SWTOR relies on classic tab-targeting, allowing you to target your enemy but not having to aim your abilities directly at them. Its combat system is reminiscent of World of Warcraft, offering slightly more dynamism.
This is what you can expect in SWTOR: SWTOR is essentially a classic theme park MMORPG and offers you:
- A leveling process with story content and main and side quests
- Various operations (raids) and flashpoints (dungeons)
- PvP arenas with special modes like the Hutball
- NPC companions that can support you in missions as melee fighters, ranged fighters, or healers
- Various professions where companions can go on resource gathering missions for you
- A housing system introduced in 2014
- The events take place 3,600 years before the movies and about 300 years after the role-playing game Knights of the Old Republic
What makes SWTOR special, however, is the structure of the quests. They are fully voiced, often accompanied by cinematic sequences, and offer you various decisions that can also affect the course of the quest. At certain points, you can decide whether a character gets to live or must die.
This creates an incredibly good atmosphere but makes playing in groups somewhat more complicated during the leveling phase, as you’ll want to focus entirely on the story. Thus, other players can be a distraction.
This is how the MMORPG is financed: The base game of SWTOR is free and allows you to play up to level 60 with all the content available at launch. Additionally, the first expansions, “Rise of the Hutt Cartel” and “Shadow of Revan,” are also free.
However, there are some restrictions for free players:
- You can only have 4 characters per server
- The number of ability bars is reduced
- Your maximum hold of credits (the in-game currency) is restricted. The maximum has been 1,000,000 since 2019.
Some of these restrictions can be bypassed by becoming a “preferred player.” You just need to have had a subscription at some point or made a purchase in the in-game shop. This allows you to have 12 characters and gives you more ability bars.
The in-game shop offers you the opportunity to purchase special skins for your gear for real money, unlock new races, and obtain new decorations for housing.
To access all expansions and content, you need an active subscription, which costs €12.99 per month. This also automatically gives you access to all playable races.
The state of SWTOR in 2021
This is what SWTOR does well: If you start SWTOR in 2021, even as a free player, there is much for you to do. You can look forward to many quests, an exciting story, and the first dungeons and PvP.
Especially the interactions with companions and NPCs are typical of BioWare and still count among the best in any MMORPG. If you then get a subscription for a short time, you gain access to many raids, new worlds, and additional stories.
In 2020, the old MMORPG was released on Steam and received another boost in players and especially good ratings on the platform.
Here are the problems the game faces: The gameplay and graphics feel somewhat outdated and are not up to par anymore. Those looking for a modern and dynamic MMORPG may be disappointed here. Additionally, the quality of quests is somewhat inconsistent, and the equipment progression is a more classic and monotonous grind.
Another point of criticism lies in the free-to-play system, which separates the player base due to the lack of max level and some other restrictions.
This is currently happening in SWTOR: In September 2020, the latest update 6.2 – Echoes of Vengeance was released. It continued the story of Onslaught and included the Mandalorians in the new flashpoint.
In January 2021, several events took place, and a preview of the upcoming update 6.2.1, which has already been tested on the test servers, was shared. However, what the developers have planned for 2021 is still unknown.
Players are hopeful that the 10th anniversary of the MMORPG in December will be an ideal time to release new content or a completely new expansion.
Who is SWTOR interesting for?
Conclusion: Still a highlight years after its release
Star Wars: The Old Republic is primarily worth it for fans of good stories. The quests are excellently staged by the storytelling experts at BioWare and voiced by high-quality speakers. The atmosphere, story, and NPCs are the great strengths of the MMORPG.
However, you don’t have to be a Star Wars fan to enjoy the MMORPG. With an easy entry and many free content, the game is also suitable for complete beginners or players who prefer solo play. Thanks to the mega servers, you still regularly encounter other players.
If you stopped playing shortly after release due to a lack of content, you should definitely take another look at the game. With the many expansions, there is plenty to do. Even the graphics have slightly improved in the new content.
I personally keep returning to SWTOR, especially when new story content is released. Although there is currently no roadmap for 2021, the 10th anniversary presents a great opportunity for something exciting to happen at the end of the year.
Alexander Leitsch
MMORPG expert at MeinMMO
What do you think about SWTOR in 2021? And what do you hope for in terms of innovations? Feel free to leave us a comment.
The Old Republic is one of the best western MMORPGs on the market today. However, if you are looking for an alternative, you will likely find what you are looking for here: The 15 currently best MMOs and MMORPGs in 2021
