Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords is a video game where players take on roles. It was created by Obsidian Entertainment and published by LucasArts. This game follows the first one made by BioWare, called Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. It was released for the Xbox on December 6, 2004, for Microsoft Windows on February 8, 2005, for OS X and Linux on July 21, 2015, for Android and iOS on December 18, 2020, and for Nintendo Switch on June 8, 2022. Like the first game, it takes place in the Star Wars universe 4,000 years before the events of the movie Episode I: The Phantom Menace. The game uses the d20 System, a game system developed by Wizards of the Coast.

The game uses the Odyssey Engine, which was first used in Knights of the Old Republic. Story planning for this game began before the first game was released. Development started in October 2003 after BioWare gave Obsidian the Star Wars license because they believed in their previous work.

Knights of the Old Republic II begins five years after the events of the first game. It follows the story of The Exile, a Jedi Knight who was banished from the Jedi Order. At this time, the Jedi Order has been nearly destroyed by the Sith. The game starts with the main character waking up on an asteroid mining facility. After escaping with the help of their group, the player finds the person who exiled them ten years earlier. This person sends the protagonist on a mission to find the remaining Jedi to fight the Sith.

When the game was first released, it received mostly positive reviews. Critics praised the story, characters, and writing, which were described as more morally complex than the first game. The game was included in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die. The character Kreia was especially praised, with GameSpy naming her the best video game character of 2005. However, the game was criticized for looking and playing similarly to its predecessor and for being released in an incomplete state. Over time, the game has gained a dedicated group of fans who really like it.

Gameplay

Knights of the Old Republic II is an action role-playing video game played from a third-person view. The game includes combat that can be paused during gameplay. Combat and interactions with the environment and non-player characters follow the d20 System, the same system used in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. The game begins with a character creation screen where players choose traits for their character. Players can also let the game randomly generate a character. There are 30 new Force powers, which are ways the Force can be used, in Knights of the Old Republic II. Like the first game, it includes minigames such as swoop bike racing and a card game called Pazaak. The game’s interface has been simplified compared to the original, and managing a party of characters is easier. For example, players can switch between two weapon sets from a menu. As in the first game, players can choose to align with the light side or the dark side. Selecting respectful and kind dialogue options gives the protagonist light side points, while choosing selfish or harmful options gives dark side points.

The combat system in Knights of the Old Republic II is the same as in the first game. New lightsaber forms were added, each useful for different situations. For example, one form works best against enemies using blasters, while another helps recover after using Force powers. Players can use melee weapons like swords, ranged weapons like firearms, or fight unarmed. A new feature is "prestige classes," which are upgrades to Jedi classes from the first game. These allow players to focus on lightsaber combat or Force powers based on their choices.

Players can travel with up to two party members at a time. Party members gain experience points at the same rate as the player. Equipment and abilities for party members can be chosen to improve their skills. Players can collect items from dead enemies and objects in the environment. The protagonist can "influence" party members by doing actions that impress them. Higher influence can make party members support the player or turn against them. Players can also use high influence to guide party members toward the light or dark side. Some characters can even be trained to use the Force.

Synopsis

The game takes place five years after the events of Knights of the Old Republic and 3,919 years before Episode I: The Phantom Menace. This time period occurs when the Jedi have been almost wiped out by the Sith. The player controls a character who was once a Jedi Knight but was exiled from the Jedi Order. This character is known as "The Exile" or "Jedi Exile." During the game, the Exile works to reconnect with the Force, with the help of companions, to stop the Sith. The player's choices determine whether the Exile becomes aligned with the light side or the dark side of the Force. The Exile travels to six planets to either support or hinder the Republic's efforts to bring peace to the galaxy.

New locations in Knights of the Old Republic II include Telos, Onderon and its moon Dxun, Malachor V, the Peragus Mining Facility, and various starships like the hijacked Republic cruiser Harbinger, the Sith cruiser Ravager, and Goto's yacht orbiting Nar Shaddaa. Two planets from the original game, Korriban and Dantooine, are revisited with damaged buildings and more difficult challenges. The Ebon Hawk, the main character's ship in the first game, is also used in Knights of the Old Republic II.

The Exile's backstory explains that the character served with Revan during the Mandalorian Wars and ordered the activation of a powerful weapon during the battle on Malachor V. The destruction caused by this weapon created a deep "wound" in the Force, forcing the Exile to cut off their connection to the Force to survive. The Jedi Council then exiled the character. As the game progresses, the Exile rebuilds their connection to the Force and forms strong Force Bonds with others, though this process unknowingly weakens their own Force abilities.

Characters who join the Exile include Kreia, who acts as a mentor; pilot and former Sith assassin Atton Rand; technician and Mandalorian War veteran Bao-Dur and his droid; the criminal droid G0-T0; and Sith apprentice Visas Marr. T3-M4 and Canderous Ordo (now called "Mandalore"), who appeared in the first game, also join the Exile's team. Other characters join under certain conditions. For example, HK-47, who appears in the first game, joins if the Exile collects parts to reactivate him. Depending on the player's alignment, the Exile is joined by bounty hunter Mira (light side or neutral) or by her rival, a Wookiee bounty hunter named Hanharr (dark side). Depending on the player's gender, the Exile is joined by Mical the Disciple (female Exile) or Brianna the Handmaiden (male Exile).

The game features three main antagonists: Darth Traya, a mysterious enemy who remains hidden for much of the game; Darth Sion, an undead Sith Lord who once served under Exar Kun during the Great Sith War; and Darth Nihilus, a Sith Lord whose body was destroyed due to his strong connection to the Force. These Sith Lords lead a group of warriors and assassins from Darth Malak's empire in the previous game. Between the events of that game and this one, the Sith launched a successful campaign to destroy the Jedi Order. Another major antagonist is Atris, a former Jedi Council member whose unethical actions conflict with the Exile.

While hiding on the Harbinger, a Republic cruiser, the Exile is sedated by an HK-50 assassin droid and delivered to the Exchange, a crime syndicate that has placed a bounty on live Jedi. The Exile is rescued by Kreia, who forms a Force Bond with them, and T3-M4 on the Ebon Hawk. The group escapes the Harbinger as it is attacked by Sith assassins. Their ship is damaged during the escape, and they arrive at the Peragus Mining Facility. They team up with smuggler Atton Rand and escape to the planet Telos IV. While hiding on Telos, they meet Atris, a surviving Jedi Council member who sentenced the Exile to exile ten years earlier and plans to rebuild the Jedi Order on her own terms. After resolving a disagreement about the Exile's past sentence, Atris forms an uneasy alliance with them, instructing them to find other surviving Jedi to oppose the Sith. The Exile travels to four worlds to locate reclusive Jedi Masters and either ask for their help or kill them in revenge, depending on the player's choices. As the Exile continues their journey, they are joined by several individuals.

Throughout the game, clues and characters suggest that the events from the previous game—where Jedi Knight Revan turned to the dark side and fought the Republic—were part of a larger plan to strengthen the Republic against a hidden enemy. Revan may have discovered that the Mandalorian Wars were staged by Sith hiding in the Unknown Regions of the galaxy, leading him to turn to the dark side to prepare the Republic for this threat.

After finding all the Jedi Masters, the Exile returns to Dantooine and learns that the deaths on Malachor V caused the Exile to lose their connection to the Force, which became the teachings of the new Sith. If the player helped the Jedi Masters, they plan to permanently sever the Exile's Force connection, fearing it could destroy the Force entirely. Kreia, revealed as the former leader of the Sith, kills the Masters in revenge. If the player killed the Jedi Masters, Kreia attacks the Exile and leaves. Tracking Kreia to Telos, the Exile fights and defeats a corrupted Atris, who reveals that Kreia plans to strengthen the "wound" in the Force caused by the Exile during the Mandalorian Wars. This wound was created when the Exile activated the Mass Shadow Generator, a weapon that caused massive destruction on Malachor V. Before going to Malachor V, where Kreia has joined the Sith as Darth Traya, the Exile stops a Sith invasion of Telos, defeating Darth Nihilus. On Malachor V, the Exile is separated from their companions and battles monsters and Sith Academy survivors. In the academy's final area, the Exile defeats Darth Sion and confronts Darth Traya in the planet's core.

The Exile defeats Darth Traya, but before Traya dies, she gives a vision of the future involving the player's companions and the worlds visited. If the Exile is on the light side, they destroy Malachor V, escape, and travel to the Unknown Regions to find Revan, who is implied to have left to search for the true Sith. If the Exile is on the dark side, they remain on Malachor V as the new Dark Lord of the Sith.

Development

Knights of the Old Republic II was created by Obsidian Entertainment and published by LucasArts. It is the second game in the Knights of the Old Republic series, following BioWare’s original game. The game uses the same Odyssey Engine as the first game. BioWare recommended that Obsidian receive the license to develop the sequel because of their previous work, their good relationship with BioWare, and because LucasArts had a tight schedule for the game. The game was released for PC and Xbox. However, the Xbox version came out two months earlier than the PC version and had several bugs that were not fixed.

Development of the game started in October 2003. The story outline was written before the first Knights of the Old Republic was released and was revised many times afterward. To prepare for writing the game, lead designer Chris Avellone studied many books, guides, and graphic novels about the Star Wars universe. The Obsidian team also used the first Knights of the Old Republic and the original Star Wars films for ideas. Avellone said that Obsidian wanted to improve the story and characters from the first game by making them more detailed.

Knights of the Old Republic II uses the same d20 System as the first game, with some changes. The game no longer has a level cap, which limits how high players can level up. The team avoided changing successful design elements from the first game and instead focused on improving and expanding parts of the game while keeping its original style. Obsidian worked hard on the game’s graphics, including the designs of non-player characters. Other improvements included better lighting, weather effects, and larger levels. The lead artist, Aaron Meyers, chose team members after reviewing many applications and said he was happy with the number of people who wanted to join Obsidian. He also mentioned the team had a very short time to complete the game. Obsidian’s COO, Chris Parker, said the development schedule was “extremely aggressive,” and the team felt pressure because they were making a sequel to a game that won the “game of the year” award in 2003.

For the music, the team chose a symphony orchestra to create the soundtrack. Mark Griskey composed the music, including themes for characters like the Jedi, Darth Sion, and Darth Nihilus (which are similar to the Emperor’s theme from Return of the Jedi). He also created a theme for the main character, which plays during moments of internal conflict. The 55-minute score was recorded by the Sinfonia Orchestra in Seattle. The opening crawl used a version of John Williams’ main Star Wars theme that was re-recorded for the prequel trilogy.

When preparing to show Knights of the Old Republic II at E3 2004, Obsidian planned to present 30 minutes of information but had to shorten it to five to ten minutes because of time limits. None of the game’s levels were ready, so they selected three levels to finish quickly. The demo was completed before the event and shown in May 2004. The first trailer was released in July 2004, and the official website launched in October.

In a 2013 interview, Chris Avellone said that LucasArts forced Obsidian to finish the game in 14 to 16 months, leaving it in an “unfinished” state. He also said Obsidian was responsible for not cutting enough content, such as removing all minigames and reducing the number of in-game cutscenes. Feargus Urquhart, co-founder of Obsidian, said the game was originally planned for 2005 but was moved to December 2004 after E3. He said the team had to choose between getting in trouble or completing the game. This led to major cuts, including the removal of the droid planet M4-78. Kevin Saunders, the designer for M4-78, moved assets from that planet to another level to meet the deadline.

The Xbox version of the game was completed on November 23, 2004, and released in the United States on December 6, 2004. The PC version came out on February 8, 2005. In Europe, both versions were released on February 11, 2005. The game was later re-released on Steam in August 2012 and on GOG.com in January 2015. In 2015, versions for OS X and Linux were released with support for modern features like Steam Workshop and widescreen resolutions up to 5K. The game became compatible with Xbox One in 2018. An iOS and Android version was released in December 2020. The Nintendo Switch version came out in June 2022 but had a major bug that made the game unbeatable. A hotfix was released on June 30, 2022.

Official patches and a fan-made mod called The Sith Lords Restored Content Modification (TSLRCM) helped fix around 500 bugs and restore cut content. Community members also found ways to improve compatibility with modern PC systems. The mod was planned as DLC for the Nintendo Switch version but was canceled in June 2023 without explanation. In December 2025, a lawsuit involving Aspyr revealed that the company could not get permission from all 22 people involved in the mod. Disney preferred to credit the original developers’ real names instead of their gamertags.

Reception

According to The NPD Group, Knights of the Old Republic II sold 458,000 copies in North America during December 2004. It was ranked number 11 on the chart for that month and number 3 on the Xbox-only chart. After its release on Windows in North America, the game debuted at number 2 on the PC chart for February. In the United Kingdom, the game reached the top of the weekly chart, surpassing Blizzard Entertainment’s World of Warcraft, which was released the same week. Eurogamer reported that in the UK, Knights of the Old Republic II sold more copies in its first week than the first game in the series. The website suggested this was because the second game was released on both Windows and Xbox in PAL regions, unlike the first game, which was only available on Xbox initially. In 2005 alone, the Xbox version of the game sold over 60,000 copies in the UK.

By early 2006, Knights of the Old Republic II had sold nearly 1.5 million copies worldwide. In the United States alone, sales reached 1.275 million by 2008.

Knights of the Old Republic II received positive reviews upon its release. On Metacritic, it has an average score of 85/100 overall, with 86/100 for the PC and Xbox versions, which the site describes as "generally favorable reviews." IGN noted that developing a sequel to a game from a different developer that had won multiple "Game of the Year" awards was challenging, but Obsidian Entertainment succeeded in creating a game that would not disappoint fans of the original. The review stated that the game is similar to the first in its design. GamePro praised both games, saying the second continued the series’ tradition of keeping what worked from the first game. GameSpot agreed, noting that both the strengths and weaknesses of the first game are present in the second.

GameSpy compared Knights of the Old Republic II to The Empire Strikes Back from the original Star Wars trilogy, calling it the best in the series for its story and saying it has the best story in a video game since Planescape: Torment. 1UP.com wrote that Obsidian improved the writing compared to the original, with a more consistent plot, sharper dialogue, and more meaningful moral choices. Computer Gaming World agreed, saying that the game’s choices lead to more unpredictable consequences. Eurogamer said the story is "far more grey" than the original, with better-developed planets. GameZone called the game a "Must Buy" for fans who enjoy well-written characters and stories.

The combat system was generally well-received, with some reviewers noting it was mostly unchanged from the original game. GameSpot compared the combat from both games, saying it was not balanced in either, but that this helped keep the gameplay exciting. GameZone said the combat remained the same as the original, which was a positive trait since the original was enjoyable. IGN praised the game’s AI, saying it was easy to control the main character without managing the party. GameSpy noted that some players had issues with the combat AI that were not present in the original game.

GameSpot criticized the game’s graphics, calling them "lackluster." GameSpy said the graphics were disappointing, describing them as "a little dated" and "half-baked." The reviewer added that the graphics looked the same as the first game and were only considered "good" at the time of its release. GameZone said the game looked identical to the original and did not match the quality of most mainstream games from that era. GameSpy called the music "excellent" but noted that some tracks were reused from the first game. The reviewer also said that while most of the voice-acting was good, there were more examples of poor voice-acting than in the original. GameZone praised the "top-notch" voice-acting and the game’s sound effects, saying they complemented the well-written dialogue.

The game faced criticism for technical issues, including glitches. Some players reported problems with pathfinding bugs. 1UP.com said the game had the same bugs and technical problems as the first game, with characters sometimes moving unpredictably. GameSpy called the bugs "hard to forgive" and said they were not present in the first game. In another article, GameSpy said the game felt incomplete due to a rushed development timeline.

GameSpy named Kreia as the best video game character of 2005, calling her "easily the most intriguing, complicated, enigmatic, well-designed, and nuanced character in a video game that year." The game received runner-up honors in GameSpot’s 2004 awards for "Best Role-playing Game," "Best Voice Acting," "Best New Character," and "Best Game Based on a TV or Film Property" across all platforms. In 2010, the game was included in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die.