The 16 Biggest Star Wars Moments Of 2023

2023 was a major year for the Star Wars franchise. Thanks to new live-action and animated shows, books, games, and more, the galaxy far, far away has featured some incredible moments this year. Not only have there been significant actor returns, but they have also been big character deaths, a major anniversary, as well as historic firsts for the ever-popular galactic franchise.

Although 2023 didn’t see any Star Wars movies released in theaters, there were plenty of projects and exciting new media that significantly impacted and added to the established Star Wars canon (and even non-canonical materials as well). Ranging across the entire Star Wars timeline, 2023 had something for every kind of Star Wars fans both young and old. Keeping that in mind, here are 16 of the biggest Star Wars moments in 2023 (in no particular order).

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16 The Bad Batch Brings Back The Zillo Beast (And Mount Tantiss)

Star Wars: Bad Batch Season 2

One of the first Star Wars projects to hit Disney+ in 2023, Star Wars: The Bad Batch season 2 continues the adventures of Clone Force 99 during the early days of the Empire. This includes the dynamic return of the Godzilla-like creature known as the Zillo Beast that terrorized Coruscant during The Clone Wars and was subsequently captured by Palpatine to be studied and weaponized. A cloned version of the Zillo Beast escaped containment and encountered the Bad Batch during the Dark Times of the Empire’s reign, only to be captured by the Empire once more and returned to the cloning black site facility hidden within Mount Tantiss (a notable location re-canonized from Legends).

15 Clone Force 99 Tragically Loses Tech

Star Wars: Bad Batch Season 2

The Bad Batch season 2 also featured the extremely depressing death of Clone Force 99’s Tech. Giving his life to save Omega and his fellow brothers, Tech cut his own line that was tethering him to his brothers on a damaged cable car, and he subsequently fell to his demise. While this allowed the rest of the squad to escape the Empire, the loss of Tech was a truly tragic and major way for Star Wars and Clone Force 99 fans to kick off the beginning of 2023.

14 Cal Kestis’ Jedi Story Continues

Jedi: Survivor

2023 featured the release of EA’s Jedi: Survivor for PC and next-gen consoles, continuing the journey of Order 66 survivor Cal Kestis as he sought to fight the Empire during the Dark Times. Facing great levels of darkness himself, the new game featured an incredibly dynamic and compelling story, one that saw Cal and his allies finding a secret world seemingly hidden from the eyes and grasp of the Empire. The game was received quite well for its overall visuals and gameplay as well.

13 Bo-Katan Regains Darksaber

The Mandalorian Season 3

As seen in The Mandalorian season 3, Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) determined that uniting Mandalore via his possession of the legendary Darksaber was not a role he was best suited for, nor one he would even want. Djarin instead returned the Darksaber and the right to rule back to Bo-Katan Kryze as she’d previously proven her worthiness to wield the unique blade according to the ancient customs of the Mandalorians themselves. Unlike the times in the past when Bo-Katan wielded the Darksaber, this time she’d actually earned it.

12 Mandalore Is Reclaimed

The Mandalorian Season 3

Shortly after reclaiming the Darksaber, Bo-Katan used the blade to unite Mandalorians across the galaxy, including Din Djarin’s tribe known as the Children of the Watch. Mandalore was successfully reclaimed from Moff Gideon and the Imperial Remnant in The Mandalorian season 3. This has opened up a very exciting future for the world in Star Wars’ future as the New Republic timeline continues.

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11 Star Wars: Visions Gives The Force An Explosion Of Color

Star Wars: Visions Season 2 (Sith)

Star Wars: VIsions season 2 released a whole new anthology of non-canonical tales, and this included the visually stunning short entitled Sith from El Guiri animation studio. Featuring a former Sith seeking a life of peace where she could paint using the Force, the short was a literal explosion of beautiful color even when her old master arrived in a bid to drag her back to the dark side of the Force. However, the former Sith apprentice ultimately discovered how to live a life of balance. Without question, Sith was one of the most unique Star Wars offerings in 2023.

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10 Star Wars’ Very First All-Female Lightsaber Duel

Ahsoka

As seen in the live-action Ahsoka series from showrunner Dave Filoni, the Star Wars franchise received its first all-female lightsaber duel. Having been sent by her master Baylan Skoll to retrieve the ancient star map in Ahsoka Tano’s possession, Shin Hati found the map of the planet Lothal where it was being studied by Ahsoka’s former Jedi apprentice Sabine Wren. Although the duel didn’t last for very long and Sabine was critically wounded, the battle between Sabine and Shin was exciting nonetheless (and it wouldn’t be their last in the new Star Wars show).

9 A Brand New Star Wars Galaxy Is Revealed

Ahsoka

The stamp map in question was later used by the Nightsister Morgan Elsbeth to chart the pathway to Peridea. Having been known only from ancient myth and legend, Ahsoka revealed that Peridea was the original homeworld of the Nightsisters, though the most exciting element is its location in another galaxy apart from the known Star Wars galaxy. The journey taken to Peridea by both Ahsoka’s heroes and villains is quite literally uncharted territory in the Star Wars canon.

8 Ahsoka Reunites With Anakin Skywalker’s Force Ghost

Ahsoka

Featuring the return of Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker, Rosario Dawson’s Ahsoka was able to reunite with her old master for the first time in live-action thanks to a vision of the Force nexus known as the World Between Worlds. Reuniting and learning from Anakin’s spirit, Ahsoka was able to find her purpose and footing as a Jedi once more. Anakin’s legitimate Force ghost was also featured at the end of Ahsoka’s finale. Overall, Hayden Christensen’s return to Star Wars was easily one of the most exciting moments in 2023.

7 Grand Admiral Thrawn Returns (And Ezra Too!)

Ahsoka

By the end of Ahsoka, Grand Admiral Thrawn not only made his live-action debut played by Lars Mikkelsen, but he also returned from his exile on Peridea which had lasted for just over a decade. Having allied with the Nightsisters, it’s only a matter of time before Thrawn attempts to wipe out the New Republic and reform the Empire in future Star Wars projects. However, the shared exile of Jedi Ezra Bridger has ended as well, having snuck aboard Threawn’s ship while Ahsoka and Sabine fought off the forces the Grand Admiral had left behind on the barren wasteland of a world.

6 Baylan Skoll Discovers The Mortis Gods

Ahsoka

One of the biggest moments in 2023 was definitely Baylan Skoll’s discovery at the end of Ahsoka. Having gone his own path after hearing something calling out to him on Perida, Baylan is featured staring out over cliffs while a shining beacon is seen across a wide valley. Baylan is standing on massive statues of the Mortis gods, celestial Force beings first seen during the Clone Wars who were very powerful embodiments of the Force itself, the Son being the dark, the Daughter the light, and the Father tasked with maintaining the balance between his two children. This very exciting reference may be teasing major Star Wars storylines that are still to come.

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5 The High Republic Gets Its First Show

Young Jedi Adventures

2023 also saw the release of Young Jedi Adventures, the first show set during the High Republic Era set hundreds of years before the Skywalker saga. Geared toward the youngest Star Wars fans, Young Jedi Adventures is a great show for parents to introduce their children to the galaxy far, far away. Following the adventures of three Jedi younglings, the show is also canonical to the Star Wars timeline and also features established High Republic characters such as Yoda, Loden Greatstorm, Bell Zettifar, and more.

4 Star Wars Celebrates 40th Anniversary of Return of the Jedi

Release In Theaters (And More)

Originally releasing in 1983, 2023 was the 40th anniversary of Return of the Jedi. Not only was there a theatrical re-release, but there were also plenty of ways in which Lucasfilm honored the occasion. This included exclusive merchandise, collectibles, books, and more celebrating the final film in the original trilogy of films.

3 Anakin’s Force Ghost Transformation Explained

From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi

As part of Return of the Jedi’s 40th anniversary, Lucasfilm Publishing released the anthology book From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi just as they had for Empire Strikes Back and New Hope when they celebrated their 40th anniversaries. This included a short story that finally broke down how Anakin Skywalker became a Force ghost after he sacrificed himself to save his son Luke and was redeemed in the light. Thanks to his old master Obi-Wan Kenobi and his own strength in the Force as the Chosen One, Skywalker was able to retain his consciousness and identity within the cosmic Force.

2 The Origins of Luke’s Green Lightsaber Revealed

Star Wars (2020)

Currently taking place between Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, Marvel Comics’ flagship Star Wars title has revealed the origins of Luke Skywalker’s green lightsaber crystal in 2023. After losing the Skywalker saber along with his hand thanks to Darth Vader, Luke had found a yellow-bladed lightsaber in an old Jedi outpost. However, he was recently given a transparent piece of kyber he connected with using the Force, tapping into its energy which turned it green. This very exciting moment in Star Wars history will likely culminate with the creation of his new hilt just before the events of Return of the Jedi.

1 The Star Wars Original Trilogy Debuted A Horrifying New Villain

Dark Droids Crossover

2023 has also brought the major crossover event known as Dark Droids with multiple tie-in issues across Marvel’s Star Wars line. Also set after Empire Strikes Back, the sentient AI known as the Scourge has been corrupting droids into its hivemind all over the galaxy while also attempting to claim organic life as well. To that end, it has already claimed major Star Wars characters such C-3PO and Darth Vader due to his status as a cyborg, and the event is set to have its final issue by the end of 2023.