Whenever I hear the iconic Star Fox theme, I’m transported back to my childhood with the Nintendo 64 — but not with Fox McCloud’s own adventures on that system. It’s with the original Super Smash. Bros. Sector Z is one of my favorite stages from that game as I bashed Mario and Pikachu with Fox’s quick-legged kicks.
Throughout my decades of gaming, I’ve never dove headfirst into this sci-fi series, but this 2026 remake of a remake is certainly a grand first step for anyone curious about the Lylat system after playing as Fox and Falco in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate or watching the suave hero in the Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
The Landmaster looks badass and is fun to play with.
From my perspective as a newcomer, this Star Fox remake did a stellar job of bringing the original experience to a new 2026 audience (or maybe the original was ahead of its time). You go from level to level, taking on all manner of enemies in unique scenarios.
One level might have you shooting down foes in a starship before time runs out in a gorgeous Hoth-like ice planet, while another has you trying to derail a train in a tank. And what makes this game feel so modern is that there are alternate paths you can follow, depending on your decisions and gameplay.
Fox is the leading man at Star Fox, a mercenary company
This might be the most Hollywood-like game Nintendo has ever published. The action is top-notch with spectacular effects, and the cutscenes are lavish with top-of-the-line models. While some may say they look too realistic, they look impressive on screen; I liked the new takes, at least.
The voice acting between the characters is stellar. One fantastic example of the acting I should give is Hunter McCoy as Fox when Slippy rejoins the squad. Fox sounds so happy to see him; it sounds like he slips out his emotions a bit rather than being stoic for the team. The rivalry between Fox and Falco is also fun to witness.
Something I did not like during gameplay, however, are the repeated voice lines. You’ll have to hear them over and over again during a tough boss fight when you use your lives. It would be nice for Nintendo to give us the option to actually turn off the voices after hearing them the first or second time.
Bosses like Gorgon are spectacular in Star Fox.
The highlight, finally, is the gameplay. It feels so smooth to control the Arwing as you swerve from left to right. Shooting feels satisfying as you heroically shoot down enemies on screen, while the bosses are stellar tests of skill. The tilting option is ingenious as the ship leans and gains momentum. Suppose you’re able to parry an incoming attack with a barrel roll; that feels even better. Overall, Star Fox is a blast to play.
Verdict
Star Fox is a grand graphical tour de force for the Nintendo Switch 2. The sci-fi visuals will blow your mind, and the cutscenes between each level truly add to the initial experience, opening up these decades-old characters further.
Looking for more Switch 2 games to play? These are the best Mario games on the system.
