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Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire

Built around a multimedia event with no film attached: a novel, comics, toys, and this. The Hoth tow-cable opening is one of the best things on the Nintendo 64 and the on-foot third-person sections around it have aged much worse. The N64 version is the one people mean; the PC port on Steam and GOG is the weaker cut.

Released: 1996
Developer: LucasArts
Genre: Action-adventure
Platforms: Nintendo 64PC

Playing it today

Worth six dollars for the Hoth level alone, and a harder sell after that. The snowspeeder opening, tow cable and all, still holds up. The on-foot third-person levels around it have aged badly, with stiff controls and awkward jumping, and they are most of the game.

The version people remember is the Nintendo 64 one, and it has never been re-released. What you can buy is the 1997 PC port, which adds CD-quality audio, voiced cutscenes and higher resolutions. The GOG and Steam copies ship with a launcher that makes it run on current Windows. The main thing to know: game speed is tied to frame rate, so cap it at 30fps or it runs too fast. A controller works, and it runs on a Steam Deck with small text as the main complaint.

Skip it unless you have a soft spot for the N64 original or want to fly that Hoth level again for the price of a coffee.

Where Shadows of the Empire ranks among the best 90s Star Wars games →

Where to play it

On sale today · checked September 24, 2026

GOGThe 1997 PC port, DRM-free$5.99
SteamThe 1997 PC port$5.99

The PC port on GOG or Steam is the only version you can buy, at $5.99 on both. GOG's offline installer gives it the edge.

The Nintendo 64 original from 1996 has never been re-released on any console or storefront. The only way to play it is the original cartridge on N64 hardware.

List prices in USD. Stores change prices and listings; check before you buy. Where to buy old Star Wars games

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Sources: GOG store page; Steam store page; PCGamingWiki.