From Darth Vader to Master Yoda and the Millennium Falcon to the Imperial Star Destroyer, the Star Wars saga has given us a wealth of iconic characters and ships over the years, but the galaxy far, far away has also transported fans to an incredible array of diverse worlds throughout the past five decades.
Whether it’s the twin sun-drenched, arid desert of Tatooine, the unforgiving frozen wasteland of Hoth, the bustling city-planet of Coruscant, or the CG-animated majesty of Naboo, these worlds have served as the backdrop for some of the most memorable scenes in all of cinema.
That being said, many of these planets been ravaged by decades of conflict, and with often treacherous conditions – and even more often, treacherous inhabitants – anyone looking to take up residence in the Star Wars galaxy is certainly going to have to do their homework.
Fortunately, online casino Betway has been investigating which of these planets would make the best home, teaming with Star Wars expert Matt Hudson – co-host of the Star Wars Sessions podcast – to work out the pros and cons of the galaxy’s biggest hotspots.
BESPIN
While Bespin itself is an inhospitable gas giant, the floating gas mining colony Cloud City – the site of the first duel between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader in The Empire Strikes Back – houses a population of several million, complete with luxurious high-end resorts, cloud car tours, gambling, and plenty of other fun social activities.
MATT’S TAKE – “Everybody keeps to themselves and looks like they just live to work. It wouldn’t be the most exciting place to live, I’d call it more of a retirement home. Rating – 7/10.”
CORUSCANT
The capital of both the Old Republic and the Galactic Empire, Coruscant is an ecumenopolis – a giant world-spanning city encompassing the entire planet. Great for anyone comfortable with big city living, but extremely limited opportunities for weekend breaks away from all of the hustle and bustle.
MATT’S TAKE – “There’s over 1000 levels to this city, and the further down you go, it’s like descending into Hell. If you’re rich, you’re in luck. If you’re not, then it’s not the best place to reside. Rating – 6/10.”
ENDOR
If Coruscant is a little too hectic for your tastes and you’re more into country life, then the Forest Moon of Endor is certainly worth a look. Home to the Ewoks, Endor is generally a peaceful and relaxing place – when it’s not serving the site of the final battle between the Rebel Alliance and the Galactic Empire in Return of the Jedi, that is.
MATT’S TAKE – “If you love a bit of nature, you’re living the dream… The major con is those Ewoks. The major con is those Ewoks. They will murder you in cold blood. They’re vicious little things. Rating 8/10”
HOTH
A barren, frozen wasteland of a world, Hoth is going to be a tough sell for any estate agent, unless their client is a Rebel princess in desperate need of a remote, almost-inhospitable location to house a secret base, far away from the prying eyes of the Empire.
MATT’S TAKE – “It’s an ice planet, it’s cold. The only place to live is a cave, and the wampas, like the one that attacked Luke Skywalker, are the apex predator, so you’re already second on the food chain. Rating 1/10.”
NABOO
If you’re looking for a nice, (mostly) peaceful location with picturesque landscapes, bountiful wildlife, and stunning architecture both above and below sea, then yousa could doosa a lot worse than Naboo, especially if you hate sand (while sand is coarse and rough and irritating and gets everywhere, everything on Naboo is soft and smooth). Unfortunately, the planet’s politicians don’t always have Naboo’s best interests at heart.
MATT’S TAKE – “It’s the home planet of Emperor Palpatine himself, so a few people might give it a scornful look because it was the birthplace of the most evil man in the galaxy. But I think the look and vibe of the place completely overshadows that. Rating 10/10.”
TATOOINE
The most famous world in the entire Star Wars saga, if there’s a bright centre to the universe then Tatooine is the planet that its furthest from. A sparsely populated, dry desert world inhabited by all manner of scum and villainy, Tatooine is not to be travelled lightly. However, there’s never a dull moment on this Outer Rim world, and the chances of being whisked away to train as a Jedi or embark on some galaxy-saving adventure are well above average.
MATT’S TAKE – “You have to have tough skin, both literally and figuratively, to withstand the weather and also the locals. But if you can get your head down and work hard it’s an honest living. Rating 5/10.”
ALDERAAN
A peaceful planet with no weapons, Alderaan is a lush and idyllic location, known throughout the Star Wars galaxy as “the planet of beauty”. The only downside really is the ruling Royal Family, who are staunchly opposed to the Galactic Empire and secretly working to overthrow the Emperor. Be sure to take out plenty of property insurance, and frequent off-world holidays.
MATT’S TAKE – “Alderaan was seen as the most beautiful, desirable planet in the galaxy. It’s the sort of place that everybody would want to live. However, it did get blown up. Rating: 10/10 (pre-explosion), 0/10 (post-explosion).”
MUSTAFAR
A once luscious and plentiful world before a change in orbit heated its core, Mustafar is a raging, lava-covered volcanic hellscape which – to make matters even worse – also happens to house not only the headquarters of the Black Sun crime syndicate, but also the home of the Dark Lord of the Sith himself, Darth Vader. Perhaps Hoth isn’t so bad after all…
MATT’S TAKE – “It’s nice and hot, and you’d have the place to yourself. But Darth Vader’s castle’s there, and if he’s there as well, you’re dead. Rating 0/10.”
DAGOBAH
A remote, mist-shrouded planet covered with forests, swamps and bogs, Dagobah is devoid of advanced, intelligent life, and therefore makes for an excellent location for anyone looking to escape their past and lie low. It’s also incredibly strong with the Force, but prone to flooding, particularly during wet season.
MATT’S TAKE – “To me it’d be like going to the Amazon – you know the risks when you go there. Would you live in the Amazon? No, but I’d certainly visit. Rating 6/10.”
KASHYYYK
A jungle planet with some stunning views, tropical oceans, coral reefs and golden beaches, the Wookiee homeworld of Kashyyyk seems like an ideal place to set up home, although its strategic importance means the planet is a target whenever Galactic War breaks out. Bigfoot hunters will be in their element, however.
MATT’S TAKE – “If you can get on the Wookiees’ good side, I think Kashyyyk could be pretty cool to live on. If you get on their bad side, you’ve got an entire planet of 8ft tall, hairy wrecking machines that will tear you to pieces. Rating 7/10.”
Gary Collinson
