The graphical and handling upgrades in X-Wing vs TIE Fighter put it a cut above either X-Wing or TIE Fighter, though the missions end up feeling a bit more linear and focused (one of my favourite things to do in X-Wing was ignore the mission brief and attack the Star Destroyers).

I have no idea where the series goes after that, though. The next Star Wars starfighter game I played would have been Rogue Squadron, which was a rails shooter. I didn’t for that at all, so I totally disengaged from that aspect of the franchise.