Tyler: Today, we’re joined by our guest author, Jesse! @jj_swinsanity
A big thanks to Jesse for sharing with us all. We hope y’all enjoy his meditation on joining the SWU community.
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Like a lot of you, my Star Wars journey started early—with grainy VHS tapes of the original trilogy, a wide-eyed midnight showing of The Phantom Menace, and a mix of joy and head-tilts at the sequel trilogy. Through it all, my love for the galaxy far, far away never really faded.
The other constant in my life? Trading card games. From Yu-Gi-Oh! to Magic, with a serious competitive run in Pokémon TCG from 2016 to 2022, I’ve played my fair share—and seen firsthand how different companies handle organized play. Some better than others.
Since stepping away from Pokémon, I’ve been on a bit of a soul-searching journey trying to find the next game that really clicks. There’s no shortage of great options right now—we’re in a golden age for TCGs—but finding home is something else entirely. For me, that might just be Star Wars: Unlimited.
From Skeptic to Die-Hard (With Some Force Lightning in Between)
When SWU was first announced, I wasn’t exactly running to the pre-order page. I’d missed the original Star Wars CCG wave but got on board early with Star Wars: Destiny—a game I genuinely liked, even if I wasn’t in love with the dice mechanic. Then came the pandemic, and Destiny faded out. KeyForge, another game I adored, got shelved too. It left me with a bit of a chip on my shoulder toward FFG. So when I saw them trying again with SWU, I wasn’t very hopeful.
I probably would’ve stayed skeptical… if I hadn’t taken a part-time gig at my local game store. One of my first shifts happened to be on SWU night. And to my surprise, the community was incredible. The gameplay looked tight. And even though I still don’t think they’ve nailed the art on Han Solo, I found myself curious. One of our regulars (and a Pokémon League member) loaned me a Jango Fett deck. Before it was an oppressive force of nature.
Three games later, I had been annihilated each and every time.
And I was hooked.
What SWU Does Right
The game is still in its infancy, but the pace of growth has been wild—in a good way. FFG’s commitment to organized play is clear, with Store Showdowns, Planetary Qualifiers, Sectionals, Regionals, and now the upcoming Galactic Championship. It’s impressive how much structure exists already. If you want to compete locally, you can. If you want to go full Jedi Master and aim for the top, there’s a path.
I’ve played a lot of games over the years, and the only ones that come close in terms of OP structure and responsiveness are Flesh and Blood and Magic. SWU is right up there—and far more accessible for newer players.
But the game isn’t just for sweaty tournament grinders. Twin Suns is super popular in my area, and draft has been a relaxing, enjoyable experience. There’s room for casual players, collectors, and everyone in between.
As for balance? The Fett family definitely had their day in the sun, especially Jango. But the devs didn’t just twiddle their thumbs. They listened, assessed, and made a hard call—banning Jango shortly after Jump To Lightspeed dropped. And you know what? It was the right move. I was literally finishing my Jango deck when the ban dropped, and I wasn’t even mad. (Okay, maybe a little mad.) But the burgeoning meta gives me hope.
And let’s not forget the Carbonite Edition boosters. As someone who’s not big into collecting, even I can appreciate how clever these are. They offer value for both casual fans chasing cool alt arts and competitive players wanting to flex max rarity decks. It’s a win-win—and helps keep product moving, which keeps the game alive.
Wrapping It Up
So yeah. I was wrong.
SWU has earned my trust, and maybe even my main game slot. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this excited about a TCG. I’m opening packs, theorycrafting builds, and losing tokens under the table. I plan to make it out to the Galactic Championship this summer and hopefully meet even more of this awesome community in person.
Until then—may the Force be with you.
Garbage Rollers 
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