10 Best Star Fox Characters

4 hours ago 2

Published Jul 2, 2026, 10:30 AM EDT

Tay Garcia is a Contributor at DualShockers and a Brazilian journalist who has been covering games professionally since 2017. Her work spans news, reviews, previews, lists, guides, and features, with a particular focus on horror, retro games, theories, puzzle games, Metroidvanias, Soulslikes, and story-driven titles.

Before joining DualShockers, Tay worked as an assistant editor and contributed to Jovem Nerd, one of Brazil’s largest pop culture outlets, as well as Editora Europa, a major Brazilian publisher known for gaming and technology magazines. She has also worked as a streamer, YouTube creator, and podcaster. Tay holds a B.A. in Journalism, has postgraduate training in Social Media, and is certified in professional video game journalism. She was also a member of Podcast UP, which won the Cubo de Ouro Award for Best Podcast in Brazil in 2021.

When you think about the most defining universes in the Nintendo library, the Lylat System from the Star Fox franchise immediately stands out – not just for its space combat, but because it is home to one of the most vividly iconic casts in gaming history.

It was legendary designer Shigeru Miyamoto’s choice to populate a sci-fi opera with anthropomorphic animals, and that was a stroke of genius, giving immediate personality, charm, and a distinct visual to both the heroes and the villains.

Across the franchise’s history, these familiar faces have cruised through branching narratives, alternate endings, challenging bosses, and a whole lot of barrel rolls to completely win our hearts. Because of that, it's time to pay a proper tribute to these characters. So, strap into your Arwing and let’s count down the 10 best Star Fox characters so far!

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10 General Pepper

Appearances: Star Fox (1993), Star Fox 2, Star Fox 64, Star Fox Adventures, Star Fox: Assault, Star Fox Command, Star Fox 64 3D, Star Fox Zero, Star Fox (2026)

General Pepper steps up to open our list today, and while he might seem like your standard, text-heavy military authority figure at first glance, he actually holds immense structural importance in the Star Fox lore.

Serving as a “true neutral” commander-in-chief of Corneria's military defense forces, he is the man who originally recognized the threat of the mad scientist Andross and banished him to the penal colony of Venom.

But what makes Pepper so respectable is his humility. When Andross eventually returns with a terrifying armada that completely crushes the Cornerian army, Pepper doesn’t let his military pride get in the way – he openly reaches out to a group of rogue mercs for hire to save the Lylat System (our beloved Star Fox).

9 Slippy Toad

Appearances: Every Star Fox Title Released So Far

Okay, look – I know exactly what you are thinking. Slippy Toad is widely considered by the gaming community to be one of the most annoying characters to ever pop up in a game, but hear me out: Star Fox simply wouldn't be the same without his high-pitched, panicked screams for help. And you know that!

While his skills as an actual fighter pilot leave a whole lot to be desired (consistently forcing you to break away from your main objective just to shoot an enemy off his tail), he more than makes up for it in brainpower.

He studied advanced engineering at the prestigious Cornerian Academy, and he is the brilliant mechanical mastermind behind the entire crew's arsenal, including inventing the iconic Landmaster tank and the deep-sea Blue-Marine submarine. Without his technical upgrades and his unique ability to analyze boss health bars on your UI, the Star Fox squadron wouldn't even make it past the first asteroid field, making him an irreplaceable member of the family.

8 Krystal

Appearances: Star Fox Adventures, Star Fox: Assault, Star Fox Command

Introduced as a mysterious, blue vixen survivor from the ruined planet Cerinia (located outside the Lylat System) during the events of Star Fox Adventures, Krystal brought a fresh, mystical layer to the franchise's sci-fi aesthetic.

Not only did she instantly become the main romantic interest for our usual stoic protagonist (Fox McCloud), but she also introduced genuine telepathic and premonitory powers to the lore, allowing her to sense distress signals from entire planets away.

Her presence expanded the boundaries of the universe by showing that characters could possess innate spiritual abilities, making the world feel vastly deeper. Also, following Peppy Hare’s official retirement from active flight duty, Krystal gladly stepped into the cockpit as the squad's fourth official pilot in Star Fox: Assault, which was a nice breath of fresh air!

7 ROB 64

Appearances: Star Fox 64, Star Fox: Assault, Star Fox Command, Star Fox 64 3D, Star Fox Zero, Star Fox (2026)

Every legendary science fiction franchise needs a reliable, slightly sarcastic droid helper to keep the organic crew members grounded, and ROB 64 fits that exact bill for the Star Fox team.

Originally introduced specifically to manage the mechanical demands of Star Fox 64, this robotic operator melted our hearts and quickly earned his status as a legitimate member of the crew, appearing in multiple titles after that.

Stationed on the Great Fox, ROB manages the team's mother ship with total autonomy, acting as a long-distance support system, processing complex environmental data for the pilots and operating the ship’s complex teleportation grid to drop vital supply containers or heavy vehicles directly onto the battlefield right when you need them most. Talk about a powered-up C3PO, right?

6 Peppy Hare

Appearances: Every Star Fox Title Released So Far

Peppy Hare is the veteran, the seasoned voice of experience, and the definitive father figure of the entire Star Fox squadron. As a long-eared rabbit pilot, Peppy originally co-founded the first iteration of the Star Fox team alongside Fox’s father, James McCloud, and was the lone survivor of the tragic trap that killed his mate.

Despite being the most qualified person to take over the captain's chair after that tragedy, Peppy selflessly turned down the leadership role to honor his fallen friend's final wishes, choosing instead to guide, mentor, and pass the torch to the young Fox McCloud.

This beautifully explains why he simply never stops talking or giving you tactical tips through your headset while you are flying! Oh, and let's not forget that he is the pioneer behind the internet's most iconic line: "Do a barrel roll!" Just for that legendary quote alone, he deserves a permanent spot in the gaming hall of fame.

5 James McCloud

Appearances: Star Fox 64, Star Fox Command, Star Fox 64 3D, Star Fox (2026)

James McCloud is the mythical founder of the original Star Fox mercenary group, widely remembered across the galaxy for his fierce, unyielding loyalty and an almost unbelievable level of talent behind the flight stick.

Besides, it sounds like he was a great father, since he raised and educated Fox to be a resilient, hyper-focused warrior who refuses to give up in the face of despair.

Tragically, James' story took a dark turn when he was betrayed by his own teammate, Pigma Dengar, who handed him over on a silver platter to a fatal trap engineered by the villain Andross. While he is officially presumed dead by the military, his towering legacy and the lingering memories of his sacrifice are the driving fuel that pushes his son across the cosmos.

4 Andross

Appearances: Star Fox (1993), Star Fox 2, Star Fox 64, Star Fox Adventures, Star Fox 64 3D, Star Fox Zero, Star Fox (2026)

Dr. Andross is the main antagonist of the entire franchise, acting as the brilliant but completely unhinged mad scientist responsible for almost every single layer of misery felt across the Lylat System.

Long before he transformed himself into that terrifying, iconic giant floating head and pair of hands that we all came to know and hate, he was a universally praised researcher on Corneria specializing in advanced biotechnology. The real psychological horror kicks in when you realize his dangerous, forbidden experiments drove him into madness – leading him to conduct radical, irreversible bio-engineering on his own physical body.

Also, since he was exiled by General Pepper to the harsh desert planet of Venom for his crimes, Andross transformed the wasteland into a heavily fortified military empire, driven entirely by a relentless thirst for vengeance against the society that cast him out. He might be a monster, but his brilliant, terrifying villainy is the literal pumping heart that gives our heroes a reason to fight.

3 Wolf O’Donnell

Appearances: Star Fox 2, Star Fox 64, Star Fox: Assault, Star Fox Command, Star Fox 64 3D, Star Fox Zero, Star Fox (2026)

Wolf O’Donnell is the definitive rival to Fox McCloud – and the developers made sure his sleek, dangerous wolf aesthetic perfectly mirrored our hero's design in a darker, more menacing light.

As the leader of Star Wolf, a rival mercenary outfit with zero ethical boundaries, Wolf operates entirely in the shady, lawless fringes of outer space, routinely accepting the highest-paying criminal contracts available.

This greed frequently puts him on Andross' payroll, with the mad scientist constantly demanding the same specific objective: shoot the Star Fox team out of the sky once and for all. That way, Wolf is driven by an obsessive psychological need to prove to the galaxy that he is the single greatest pilot alive. Yet, despite his bitter, aggressive hatred for Fox, he possesses a strict, hidden code of personal honor that he desperately tries to hide – even going so far as to actively team up with Fox when a new threat forces them onto the same side.

2 Fox McCloud

Appearances: Every Star Fox Title Released So Far

Fox McCloud isn't just the face of the franchise, but also the most famous and recognizable fox in the entire history of the gaming industry! As the young commander of the Star Fox squadron, he carries the immense burden of leading a high-profile squad through intense galactic conflicts while piloting his legendary Arwing with flawless precision.

Fox was thrust into leadership at an incredibly young age, completely unprepared, right after receiving the devastating news of his father’s tragic death. Then, armed with nothing but his father's core teachings of resilience and a burning desire to bring Andross to justice, he took the mantle of command anyway.

What makes him such an admirable protagonist is his unwavering moral compass. Despite running a mercenary group that operates strictly for profit, he simply refuses to accept any contract that doesn't actively defend justice, peace, and freedom for the innocent people of the galaxy.

1 Falco Lombardi

Appearances: Star Fox (1993), Star Fox 2, Star Fox 64, Star Fox Adventures, Star Fox: Assault, Star Fox Command, Star Fox 64 3D, Star Fox Zero, Star Fox (2026)

If Fox McCloud is the reliable, disciplined leader of the group, Falco Lombardi is the wild, incredibly stylish ace pilot whose raw talent behind the stick routinely rivals (and sometimes even completely overshadows) the captain himself.

Sporting a sharp, feathered look lined with cool blue tones, Falco exudes that classic, rebellious Han Solo energy, carrying the swagger of someone who literally used to lead a notorious space-biker gang.

Also, air combat is a second nature to Falco, and he loves nothing more than showing off with incredibly dangerous, flashy aerial maneuvers. However, his arrogance frequently lands him in life-or-death situations where (much to his frustration) Fox has to swoop in and bail him out (anyone who played Star Fox 64 knows exactly what I’m talking about). But despite his constant grumbling, his hot-headed attitude, and his vocal hatred for following strict orders, his loyalty to the Star Fox family is unquestionable, making him the best ride-or-die wingman in the galaxy.