While news of a new Star Fox game coming exclusively to the Nintendo Switch 2 has been welcomed by many fans of Nintendo’s space adventure franchise, the revelation that it is another remake has made the announcement just as controversial. The Star Fox franchise is no stranger to remakes, featuring multiple retellings of the original story throughout the series’s life. Even with the updated visuals and additional cutscenes of this new entry, some longtime Star Fox fans are not too keen on revisiting the same levels they’ve already experienced several times before.
Star Fox is making somewhat of a comeback in 2026, despite not receiving a new game in nearly a decade. Fox McCloud’s cameo in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie reignited interest in the series for a lot of fans while simultaneously introducing the character to a new audience. With this new audience likely jumping into the Star Fox series for the first time when the Switch 2 game releases in June, it’s understandable why a remake was chosen over a new entry. However, this game will mark the fourth entry in the series that is a remake, meaning half of all Star Fox games are telling the same story.
It Could Be a New Era for Star Fox
Star Fox’s appearance in the Super Mario Galaxy Movie alongside rumors of a new game could signal the start of a long-overdue new era for the IP.
All Star Fox Games in Order of Release
- Star Fox — 1993 (SNES)
- Star Fox 64 — 1997 (Nintendo 64)
- Star Fox Adventures — 2002 (GameCube)
- Star Fox: Assault — 2005 (GameCube)
- Star Fox Command — 2006 (Nintendo DS)
- Star Fox 64 3D — 2011 (Nintendo 3DS)
- Star Fox Zero — 2016 (Wii U)
- Star Fox Guard —2016 (Wii U)
- Star Fox 2 — 2017 (SNES Classic Edition)
- Star Fox — 2026 (Nintendo Switch 2)
The original Star Fox for SNES is the game that is most often remade, which was understandable when Star Fox 64 followed it up with better graphics using the 3D visuals of the N64 console. After this release, the next few Star Fox games were wholly original, though Star Fox Adventures played more like a Legend of Zelda game than the Star Fox games fans had come to know. Star Fox: Assault and Star Fox Command both followed up on the events of Adventures, this time returning to the traditional space shooter gameplay the series was famous for.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)
Other unique entries in the franchise include Star Fox Guard and Star Fox 2. Star Fox Guard is a tower defense-style game that stars Slippy Toad and came bundled with Star Fox Zero on the Wii U. Star Fox 2 is an interesting release, given that it was originally planned to be a direct sequel to the SNES Star Fox before it was canceled and shelved, despite being completed. It eventually released as a SNES Classic Edition exclusive in 2017, but has since made its way to the Nintendo Switch Online SNES library.
Star Fox Games That Are Remakes
Star Fox 64
The second overall game released in the Star Fox franchise is actually a remake of the first game. Star Fox 64 is often considered the defining entry in the series due to its expanded gameplay and improved visual presentation over the original. Although the story is largely the same as the original Star Fox, Star Fox 64 added new features like split-screen multiplayer and new vehicles, including the Landmaster and Blue-Marine submarine. Star Fox 64 also added full voice acting and was the first game to utilize the N64’s Rumble Pack controller add-on to improve player immersion.
Star Fox 64 3D
After Star Fox: Assault and Star Fox Command were released in back-to-back years, the series went on hiatus for a while. The next Star Fox game wouldn’t release until 2011 with Star Fox 64 3D on the 3DS. Essentially a remake of a remake, Star Fox 64 3D once again tells the same story as the original Star Fox and Star Fox 64, but adds features like Gyro Controls support and a 4-player Battle Mode. Players could also choose between “64 Mode” to replay the game as it was on the N64, or “3DS Mode” to change mission objectives and level balance according to the handheld’s Gyro Controls.
Star Fox Zero
The Star Fox franchise would take another five-year hiatus after this 3DS remake. Star Fox Zero would be the next entry in the franchise, releasing in 2016 as basically a reimagining or reboot of the franchise. Although it’s not a one-to-one remake of the original Star Fox or Star Fox 64, Zero shares most of those games’ core mechanics, levels, and story. Added in Star Fox Zero are features like the ability to transform vehicles like the Arwing into the Walker, or Landmaster into the Gravmaster. A core but divisive part of Star Fox Zero‘s identity was its use of the Wii U’s Gamepad for gyroscopic aiming alongside vehicle movement with the thumbstick. This control scheme proved to be somewhat frustrating for many gamers, resulting in the game’s generally mixed reviews.
Star Fox (2026)
A decade after Star Fox Zero launched, the franchise is back with another reimagining of Star Fox 64. 2026’s Star Fox for the Nintendo Switch 2 is confirmed to follow the same story beats and map layouts as Star Fox 64, with enhanced visuals and new cutscenes to provide more context for missions. However, this release is set to include unique features as well, such as the PvP mode that pits Team Star Fox against Team Star Wolf, and a co-op mode where one player controls a vehicle with one Joy-Con while the other aims using a second Joy-Con in Mouse Mode. It’s unclear if any features from Star Fox Zero will be returning beyond those originating from Star Fox 64.
- Released
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June 25, 2026
- ESRB
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Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
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Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo
- Multiplayer
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Online Co-Op
