Nintendo Switch Freebie Is Red Dead Redemption Meets GTA

The release of the Nintendo Switch 2 really opened up the possibility of playing a bunch of newer games on the console, thanks to vastly improved hardware that vastly outperforms the original in most tests.

No longer restricted to relatively undemanding games like Animal Crossing, the world really is our oyster, and one of the biggest third-party games to debut onto the console now has a free demo available that you really should consider trying.

Star Wars Outlaws is developed by Ubisoft and it really is a game of impressive scope. As per the official page for the game, Outlaws is "the first-ever open world Star Wars game, set between the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Explore distinct locations across the galaxy, both iconic and new. Risk it all as Kay Vess, a scoundrel seeking freedom and the means to start a new life, along with her companion Nix. Fight, steal, and outwit your way through the galaxy’s crime syndicates as you join the galaxy’s most wanted."

As much as I'm still waiting for an open-world Star Wars game set during the High Republic era, it's very cool to feel like you're planning an active role in the events of the original movie trilogy.

It's a big and beautiful game, and so it's a minor miracle that they were able to get it to run so well on a handheld of the size of the Switch 2, but they were, and it's now one of the best RPG efforts available on the console.

Explore the Galaxy Far, Far Away

Massive Entertainment/Ubisoft

So what can you expect if you do decide to take the plunge and play Star Wars Outlaws on the Switch? Well, the protagonist Kay Vess is a highlight, toeing the line between morally sound and galactic criminality almost as well as Han Solo does.

The game has a nice blend of open-world exploration, solid gunplay and interesting RPG elements that really do make you feel like you're living in Lucas' creation. It also thankfully features space flight and combat, so you are able to pilot your ship and take out enemies with blasters, something which many of the narrative-focused Star Wars games are missing.

The demo is available to download right now, giving the player a three hour time limit to explore the iconic planet of Tatooine, though you will need to free up around 20GB of space to get the full game installed if you end up loving it.