In June 2026, Nintendo will release Star Fox, another remake in a long line of them. The original Star Fox was released in 1993 on the Super Nintendo in North America, and it was one of the best-looking games for a while. Despite getting off to a blistering start, the series became one of the most bewildering franchises in Nintendo’s portfolio. Instead of each game being a sequel, a handful of the major games are based on the original SNES game, branching off in different ways. Star Fox 64 is like a reboot, and then Star Fox Zero is like a reimagining of that game.
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The upcoming Switch 2 game is specifically a remake of Star Fox 64, so it is all rather confusing. Given that knowledge, let’s go ahead and rank which is the definitive Star Fox experience so far based on the original material, taking into account story, gameplay, and visuals.
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)
4
Star Fox
Great For Its SNES Days
Star Fox
- Released
-
March 22, 1993
- Developer(s)
-
Nintendo, Argonaut Software
- Publisher(s)
-
Nintendo
Star Fox was a looker in 1993, before the days of bigger 3D consoles. It managed to make itself seem more powerful than it actually was, giving off a fake 3D look as players zoomed through stages on rails. Today, the game looks like a bunch of triangles and other polygonal shapes going through foreign worlds and star systems. Visually, the game does not hold up as one of the best-looking SNES games, but that’s not all of the game’s faults.
Star Fox is also extremely hard, with the controls feeling a bit stiff, and it’s very hard to tell who is an enemy and who is an ally in the heat of battle. Powers are also very basic, as players can perform a barrel roll, shoot lasers, and drop bombs, all of which must be earned. On the positive side, the incoherent babble of the enemies and allies is charming, and it has become a second language for SNES fans wishing to drop an obscure reference during a nerdy conversation. Overall, Star Fox is a technically impressive and important game on the SNES, but not exactly.
3
Star Fox Zero
Weird Controls Sink This Arwing
Star Fox Zero is currently the best-looking version of this adventure, but that’s only because the 2026 remake isn’t out yet. It is also one of the few Wii U games that did not get a Switch port. It was a huge leap in technology, going from the N64, or technically the 3DS, to the Wii U. All the stages were reimagined and much better detailed, especially the first planet of Corneria, as it actually looks like a city instead of a bunch of polygonal models. There are also new mechanics and vehicles like the Walker, which lets players switch between flying and ground maneuvers. There is also the Gyrowing vehicle for some missions, and both are welcome additions that make the game feel newer, but they won’t blow any minds.
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As great as the visual upgrades and new vehicles are, that’s about where the praise stops because this reimagining decided it must be played with motion controls using the Wii U GamePad. On the TV screen, players will see their ship flying around like most versions of the game. On the Wii U GamePad, the perspective will be in first-person, technically making it easier to target enemies. The problem is, looking back and forth between the TV and the Wii U GamePad can be challenging. Not everyone likes motion controls, and there was never an option to turn them off, which is why Star Fox Zero is a divisive entry despite having such a high-caliber developer, PlatinumGames, assisting Nintendo.
2
Star Fox 64
A Reboot Still Fun To This Day
Star Fox 64 is a reboot and the gold standard for the entire series. It put everything in a better context, with levels having more intricate designs, and the Arwings were easier to pick out among enemies. Friendly fire was still a problem when trying to help out allies in battle, but at least they looked like ships instead of triangles. While not exactly a walk in the park, it was a more balanced game in terms of difficulty, too. The length was not changed too much, as it could easily be completed in under two hours, but figuring out the different paths between planets became a simpler process.
In terms of controls, the Arwing and other vehicles were better as well, even though there weren’t many new powers to speak of beyond the lasers and bombs. Finally, while the jobber jabber of the old characters was indeed charming, the actual voiced deliveries were fun in Star Fox 64, too, leading to plenty of Nintendo memes online like “Do a barrel roll!” Thanks to the Switch’s online library, it is still playable, but even without the save state features on the Switch, players could still have a blast firing it up on an old N64 console, as Star Fox 64 is easily one of the best games on the system.
1
Star Fox 64 3D
Great Controls, Interface, And 3D Models
Star Fox 64 3D
8/10
- Released
-
July 14, 2011
- ESRB
-
e 10+ // Fantasy Violence
Compared to the other versions, Star Fox 64 3D is just a straight-up remaster of Star Fox 64. It is the exact game on the 3DS as it is on the N64, just with a few control tweaks and some interface things that deserve mentioning. For starters, like most first-party Nintendo games, it supports 3D visuals when cranked up to the max. It is not the best use of the 3D slider, but it still looks impressive.
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On the bottom screen, allies and other messages can appear, which can lead to a more immersive experience. The feature could have been great in Star Fox Zero as well, if only the motion controls weren’t a must. Overall, Star Fox 64 3D is not a huge improvement over the original, but it is technically a better game if players still have a 3DS and are willing to seek out a cartridge. It controls, looks, and sounds better without compromising the core concept with some weird gimmick. Plus, the gimmicks that are there, like the 3D slider and the motion controls, are optional.
Upcoming Game: Star Fox (2026)
This is merely a preview of the upcoming game, and as of now, Star Fox 64 3D is the cream of the crop. That said, the remake does look interesting and has some notable changes that not every fan is excited about. For starters, all the characters have been redesigned to look more like realistic anthropomorphic animals rather than cartoon animals. The visuals overall have been boosted, blowing all the achievements of Star Far Zero out of the water.
Another cool feature is that the game will utilize GameChat, allowing players to map their face and mouth movements to their character while playing multiplayer. It also supports GameShare, which is still one of the best features of the Switch 2 overall. Gameplay-wise, it looks like not much will change as players can go through the campaign with various vehicles besides the Arwing, blasting enemies and bosses to kingdom come. Come June 25, it will be interesting to see how the Star Fox remake ranks.
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