Star Wars: Rogue Squadron is a set of three Star Wars video games of the space shooter genre, chronicling the exploits of the distinguished Rogue Squadron unit, a military force within the Rebel Alliance.
The franchise is composed of Star Wars: Rogue Squadron (released in 1998), Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader (released in 2001), and Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike (released in 2003). The initial title in the series was launched for the Nintendo 64 and PC platforms; the subsequent two titles were exclusively released for the Nintendo GameCube console. Typically, players assume the roles of Rogue Leaders Luke Skywalker and Wedge Antilles.
The original game does not contain any actual space combat; instead, each mission unfolds on a distinct planetary surface. Rogue Leader marked the introduction of genuine space battles to the series, but it lacked the inclusion of ground-based vehicles. Rebel Strike incorporates both space and ground elements, along with the capability to engage in gameplay on foot in specific levels. Furthermore, Rebel Strike offers both multiplayer and cooperative gameplay modes.
The series lacks a unified overarching narrative; rather, each installment derives its storyline and missions from a variety of different sources. Rogue Squadron, owing to LucasArts's preference against directly adapting the films, is based on the events depicted in the Rogue Squadron comic series. Rogue Leader presents a combination of both original missions and missions inspired by the movies (for instance, the opening mission is a recreation of the Battle of Yavin), while Rebel Strike similarly features a blend of movie-based and original missions; the movie-based missions even incorporate original footage from the films instead of relying on in-game cutscenes.
The core gameplay mechanics remain consistent across each entry in the series. Players are assigned the task of completing specific objectives, predominantly involving the destruction of enemy fighters or the defense of allied vessels. Every mission across all three games employs a similar reward structure: Upon completion of each mission, players are awarded a bronze, silver, or gold medal, contingent upon factors such as the quantity of enemies eliminated and the player's accuracy. These medals serve as keys to unlocking hidden levels and additional spacecraft. Within each game, ship upgrades can also be discovered, typically concealed within certain levels, providing enhancements such as improved shields or homing torpedoes.
A planned Wii compilation of the Rogue Squadron trilogy was in development, but the compilation disc was never finalized due to Factor 5's bankruptcy. In 2014, it was revealed that the unreleased compilation, titled Star Wars: Rogue Leaders: Rogue Squadron Wii, would have featured enhanced visuals and new gameplay modes.