Star Wars: The Old Republic vs Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Star Wars: The Old Republic delivers a cinematic, story-driven experience set thousands of years before the films, letting players choose from iconic classes like Jedi Knight or Sith Inquisitor. The game blends deep role‑playing quests with a living galaxy full of dynamic events and player‑driven choices. As a free‑to‑play MMO, it offers both solo and cooperative content, from sprawling planet explorations to massive fleet battles, all backed by BioWare’s renowned narrative design and EA’s live‑service support.
Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided expands the original MMO with new planets, professions, and a richer storyline set during the Clone Wars. Players can build, trade, and fight in a persistent galaxy that reacts to their choices. The expansion adds space combat, advanced crafting, and extensive player housing, allowing fans to fully immerse themselves in the Star Wars saga while interacting with thousands of other adventurers.
- Rich, branching storylines for each class
- High production values with voice acting and cinematics
- Robust free‑to‑play model with optional microtransactions
- Varied content from ground combat to space battles
- Rich Star Wars lore integrated into gameplay
- Deep crafting and housing systems
- Large, persistent world with player impact
- Varied combat options on land and in space
- Microtransaction pressure for premium gear
- Occasional server latency during peak times
- Content updates can be uneven across classes
- Steep learning curve for new players
- Outdated graphics compared to modern MMOs
- Subscription model required for original game
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to Star Wars: The Old Republic
View all →Explore a living Star Wars universe with deep role‑playing and player‑driven stories.
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Alternatives to Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided
View all →Explore the galaxy in a classic Star Wars MMO with space combat and ground adventure
Explore the Wookiee homeworld in a massive Star Wars MMO expansion
Embark on a heroic quest in the living Star Wars universe.
The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataStar Wars: The Old Republic offers a modern free‑to‑play experience with high‑production story content, while Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided provides deeper crafting/housing but requires an upfront purchase and older graphics.
Key differences
- •Pricing model – free‑to‑play (A) vs one‑time purchase (B)
- •Story delivery – class‑specific voiced narratives (A) vs broader lore‑driven world events (B)
- •Crafting & housing depth – extensive player‑driven economy and housing (B) vs lighter, gear‑focused economy (A)
- •Combat variety – real‑time lightsaber/blaster fights plus space fleet battles (A) vs space ship combat plus large PvP zones (B)
- •Content freshness – regular live events and expansions (A) vs static 2003 launch with no noted updates
Gameplay & fun factor
A mixes ground combat, lightsaber duels, and fleet battles with voiced story missions, offering varied play loops.
Platform availability
A is free‑to‑play and thus accessible on any PC without purchase; B requires a paid download.
Price & value
A’s free‑to‑play model lets players try without cost; B costs $19.99 upfront.
Multiplayer / co‑op
A includes guilds, player cities, co‑op missions, and large‑scale space battles; B focuses on PvP zones and economy.
Content & replayability
A receives regular live events, expansions, and branching storylines, extending longevity.
Difficulty & accessibility
B’s steep learning curve is noted; A’s microtransaction pressure is less about difficulty.
Graphics & performance
B’s graphics are described as outdated compared to modern MMOs like A.
Choose Star Wars: The Old Republic if…
Players who want a Star Wars MMO with high‑quality story, no upfront cost, and regular new content.
Choose Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided if…
Players who prioritize deep crafting, housing, and player‑driven economy and are okay paying once for older graphics.
Common questions
Do I have to pay anything to start playing?
Star Wars: The Old Republic is free‑to‑play; Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided costs $19.99 upfront.
Which game has more extensive crafting and housing?
Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided offers deep crafting, resource gathering, and customizable player housing.
Is there ongoing content support?
Star Wars: The Old Republic receives regular live events, expansions, and story updates; no such updates are noted for Star Wars Galaxies.