The recent inclusion of The Mandalorian as a crossover character in Fortnite is incredibly exciting, as it shows just how perfect the character is for a video game. Not only does the character’s Beskar armor look amazing in-game, but the inclusion of the Razor Crest ship and Grogu (or Baby Yoda, as some still prefer) makes the crossover standout amongst the rest. While Fortnite’s love for Mando as a character is clearly felt in the cameo, it is hard not to feel like so much more can still be done with the character in the realm of video games.
As a show, The Mandalorian already boasts plenty of video game-like qualities. Many episodes feel like lengthy side quests from massive RPGs, with Din Djarin meeting countless characters on his journeys throughout the Star Wars universe. The character’s Season 1 arc saw him upgrading his Beskar armor, with The Mandalorian eventually receiving a jetpack in the season finale. While these parallels to video games have been pointed out numerous times, armor upgrades and mission rewards like Mando’s jetpack are only the tip of the iceberg for what a Mandalorian game could be.
With Epic Games already including The Mandalorian’s Beskar armor upgrades in Fortnite, it seems obvious that a game focused on the character would do the same. However, Mandalorians are far more than their flashy sets of bulletproof armor, with the Star Wars race boasting incredible shooting skills and an expertise in hand-to-hand combat. If a game were to ever be released that focused entirely on The Mandalorian, a combination of third person shooting mechanics and close quarters combat would be the right move.
For the game’s hand-to-hand combat, capturing the brutality of the show’s close quarters encounters would be a must. Helmets shattering on Stormtroopers could put some weight behind the hits, and making use of the PlayStation 5’s DualSense controller to capture the feeling of the blow could really make a melee system shine. As for the shooting, capturing the feel of a Star Wars blaster will be essential — though using The Mandalorian’s Amban Sniper rifle would be a must as well, as the prospect of wielding the disintegration rifle in a game is too much fun to pass up.
Blasters and rifles are only a small piece of The Mandalorian’s deep toolset, however, and all of the character’s gear fits perfectly within a video game. While modders have added Din Djarin’s armor into games like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, the character’s awesome weaponry deserves to be fleshed out fully in a standalone game. From the fibercord used to tie up foes to the character’s awesome-but-inconsistent flamethrower, Mando’s gear speaks for itself. With a jetpack that allows for platforming and mid-air flights as well as the freedom that comes with the Razor Crest ship, the possibilities for combat mechanics are nearly limitless.
If there is one criticism that can consistently be leveled at The Mandalorian as a show, it is an overall lack of character development. Apart from a genuine love for Grogu, Din Djarin remains much like he did at the beginning of the series in terms of his overall character. His development has been slow over the first two seasons of The Mandalorian, and with so many characters for the writers to juggle, it is hard to feel attached to anyone besides the duo of Mando and Grogu. However, a video game can fix this issue, and one prominent member of the gaming industry has already discussed how to do so.
God of War director Cory Barlog shared his ideas for a Mandalorian game recently, and it is hard not to get excited by the concept. While Barlog also mentioned the common idea of leveling up Beskar armor, he also pushed for a “strong focus on character development… with relatable triumphs, losses and seemingly impossible decisions to wrestle with.” While a game focusing on Din Djarin would be incredibly fun from a gameplay perspective, it would also open some opportunities for complex RPG mechanics beyond gear upgrades and character leveling.
Improving on the systems seen in the PlayStation 2 game Star Wars Bounty Hunter, Mando could take on bounties in planets across the galaxy — making the final decision on whether his targets return alive or dead. Through dialogue choices, players may even be able to let certain criminals go, changing a mission’s outcome completely. Like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, players would still be embodying the role of an actual character as opposed to a player creation, but various choices could take Mando in different directions and shape the universe around him. On top of that, the game can offer its own version of Telltale’s “silence” option, letting less serious players say “This Is The Way” in response to just about anything they are told.
Not only would a full-fledged RPG work with the show’s episodic structure, but it would give players more time to explore Din Djarin and the characters around him. Those characters would obviously need to include the beloved Grogu, with the youngling surely having a big role to play in the story. While it is unclear what story a game based on The Mandalorian could tell, as the show will likely continue for some time, perhaps Mando and Grogu could go on an adventure that finally provides answers on Yoda’s still-unnamed species. Regardless of the story direction, however, Grogu could have a tangible impact on gameplay if used correctly.
While it would be easy to have Grogu only used in cutscenes for a cuteness factor, giving him a bigger role could add a new level of depth to gameplay. By the time a Mandalorian game is released, Grogu’s force powers should be developed enough for him to be an actual threat in a fight. Riding on Mando’s back like Clank rides Ratchet in the Ratchet and Clank series, Grogu’s force powers could be used effectively in the game’s combat sections. Pulling weapons out of enemies’ hands or pushing them back with his powers, seeing Grogu use the force while resting on Mando’s back could be both adorable and badass. Beyond this, the character’s abilities could be used to solve simple puzzles around the map for upgrades and collectibles, with the creature doing his thing while Mando guns down their foes.
Taking a page from the book of Bioshock Infinite and Elizabeth’s role as a companion, Grogu could run off during exploration sections and come back with in-game currency or crafting materials for his armored guardian. Keeping the playfulness of the character intact, sometimes Grogu could just return with a meal, showing off to Mando before he scarfs down on some type of space frog. When combined with the deep skillset of Mando himself and RPG systems that explore the full potential of the characters, a useful version of Grogu could be the icing on the cake for an incredible game based on The Mandalorian.
Season 2 of The Mandalorian is currently releasing weekly on Disney+.
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