Unlike the Star Wars: X-Wing computer game series that emphasizes space combat simulation, Rogue Squadron is a fast-paced, arcade-style flight action game. It spawned two sequels developed and released for the GameCube- Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader and Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike-as well as Star Wars Episode I: Battle for Naboo, a spiritual successor released for Windows and Nintendo 64. The game's sales exceeded expectations by August 1999, more than one million copies had sold worldwide. Upon release, critics praised the game's technical achievements and flight controls, but its use of distance fog and the lack of a multiplayer mode drew criticism. Consequently, Rogue Squadron was one of the first games to take advantage of the Expansion Pak, which allows gameplay at a higher display resolution.

Before the game's release, Factor 5 successfully appealed to Nintendo to release the Nintendo 64's newly developed memory Expansion Pak commercially. Working together during development, Factor 5 designed the game engine, the music, and worked closely with Nintendo, while LucasArts produced the game's story and gameplay and ensured it was faithful to Star Wars canon. Rogue Squadron 's focus on flight combat was directly inspired by a level in Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire that allowed the player to pilot a snowspeeder. Acquiring these medals promotes the player's rank and helps unlock hidden content. The player's performance is checked against three medal benchmarks after the completion of each level. Bonus power-ups that improve these crafts' weapons or durability are hidden in different levels throughout the game. The player can control five craft and each offers a unique armament arrangement, as well as varying degrees of speed and maneuverability. Gameplay is presented from the third-person perspective and game objectives are divided into four categories: search and destroy, reconnaissance, rescue, and protect. As the game progresses, Skywalker and Rogue Squadron fight the Galactic Empire in 16 missions across various planets. The player controls Luke Skywalker, commander of the elite X-wing pilots known as Rogue Squadron. The game's story was influenced by the Star Wars: X-wing Rogue Squadron comics and is set in the fictional Star Wars galaxy, taking place primarily between events in the films Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back. The first of three games in the Rogue Squadron series, it was published by LucasArts and Nintendo and released for Microsoft Windows and Nintendo 64 in December 1998.

Star Wars: Rogue Squadron is an arcade-style flight action game co-developed by Factor 5 and LucasArts.

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