I always liked the fact that a Lightsaber duel could take seconds or hours, depending on how good you were. It just takes a precise, clear slash on the opponent to defeat him (Same goes for you, even with the HP bar).

  31

  Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast

   System: PC
   Genre: First-Person Shooter
   Year: 2002
   Rank last year: 34 (^ 3)

Technically, this is a first-person shooter game, though it's probably best player as a third-person hack-'n-slash. Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast is all about being a Jedi, and overcoming all your enemies with your proficiency with a Lightsaber, likely the coolest weapon ever invented, and usage of the Force. Of course, you can choose to use the regular weapons for the whole game, but who wants that?

The game features an entertaining story taking place in roughly the same timespan as the new movie will. It's long after the Empire and Palpatine were defeated, yet remnants of that Empire and people loyal to Palpatine still remain. being a Star Wars game, the game isn't short on great locations and amazing music, but it's the polished gameplay that shines here. The Lightsaber combat and some of the battles are beyond epic.

I really want to play all the Dark Forces/Jedi Knight games, and I thought I could finally do that on Steam. Then I discovered that some of the audio files, most notably Jedi Knight, were missing in the Steam release :(

Have you tried GOG.com?

Hint for #31:

This game, the most expensive of its time, popularized a genre in the United States, even if the English localization was less than perfect.

Final Fantasy VII?