10 Things a New Star Fox Game Needs to Feature

After what feels like a lifetime, Nintendo seems to have finally remembered that Star Fox exists. It took two entire console generations, but Star Fox looks poised to fly back into the spotlight very soon. Fox McCloud has just made his cinematic debut in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, where he was voiced by Glen Powell.

On the heels of that, the rumor mill is positively buzzing about Star Fox's future. According to well-known leaker NateTheHate, who has successfully leaked numerous Nintendo projects in the past, Fox's Hollywood premiere won't be the end of that, as a new Star Fox game is coming this year. This would be the first game in the franchise since 2016's Star Fox Zero.

It is being referred to as a classic-style Star Fox game on rails, but there's also fairly persistent rumors about a more expansive, modern game in the franchise coming in 2027. The form that one takes will be immensely exciting, as the future of Star Fox may depend on just what this new game does. Here's what we'd like to see.

10 New Characters

Along with the Classics, Of Course

Star Fox is certainly home to some of Nintendo's most famous and iconic characters. Fox McCloud has led heroes like Falco Lombardi and Peppy Hare into battle, but with a new Star Fox game, it may be time to introduce some new blood.

I do understand the hesitation considering what happened with Krystal in Star Fox Adventures, but that was far more of an indictment on the leadership decisions at the time than Krystal herself, as she was handled much better in Star Fox Assault. So long as they're handled well, new characters are never a bad thing.

There's no shortage of animal types that one could use to influence a new anthropomorphic creature to suit up in an Arwing that hasn't been done yet. Star Fox Team getting some new roster members would be nothing but a good thing.

9 Mission Variety

The Spice of Life

One of the key things that Star Fox 64 introduced was the Landmaster, which allowed for the team to engage in fun ground-based missions. Flying an Arwing is always fun, but I felt like the franchise was never better than when it was built around varied mission design structures.

The next mainline Star Fox game needs to continue this trend. There's nothing at all wrong with a good rail shooter where you're flying around blasting everything on screen, but as they say, variety is the spice of life.

Arwing missions, driving around in the Landmaster, and whatever else Nintendo can think of; add it all in. The best way to handle the new Star Fox would be to throw in the proverbial kitchen sink when it comes to mission design.

8 An All-New Voice Cast

Do a Barrel Roll!

While Glen Powell will voice Fox in his movie debut, it's not very likely he'll reprise that role in the game. While that would be very cool, it's more likely that Nintendo will have a unique cast for the game.

That being said, now would be the time to lock in the definitive voices for these characters. If Star Fox is going to be a consistent franchise for Nintendo moving forward, and it looks like it will be with the gang expanding into films, an all-new voice cast would be fantastic.

There's nothing wrong with the actors that have lent their voices to the characters previously, but there has been little to no consistency between cast members from game to game. Let Fox and company have their own Charles Martinet or David Hayter, an actor that will be forever linked to the character.

7 RPG Elements

The Skill Tree of Life

Listen, there aren't many things in video games cooler than flying an Arwing around and destroying enemies with reckless abandon. However, I'd be lying if I didn't say I've wondered what the franchise would be like with some additional systems.

While I'm not advocating for a Mass Effect-style Star Fox game with unlimited choices, as fascinating as that concept is, I do think the franchise would do well to incorporate some light RPG elements. A good skill tree never hurt anyone, after all.

A skill tree dedicated to Arwing upgrades and on-foot skills would go a long way in adding some variety to the game. If we're looking to position Star Fox alongside its contemporaries, adding a way to customize your play experience is a must.

6 A Direct Sequel

The World of Tomorrow

For as fun as Star Fox Zero was, its place in the timeline was a bit strange. It wasn't a sequel or prequel, but rather took place in an alternate timeline and acts as a sort of stealth remake of Star Fox 64.

As it stands, Star Fox Command is the last game in the timeline. A new Star Fox game would do well to expand beyond that. Moving the franchise forward is the only reasonable course of action, but doing so in a way that honors the past is also of the utmost importance.

The basic concept of Star Fox 64, the battle against Andross, is all fun, but it's probably time to move on. Moving ahead in the timeline, seeing where Star Fox Team finds themselves in the future, sounds like a winning concept.

5 Return of the Wolf

Howl at the Moon

Star Fox has some pretty awesome villains, but the franchise really owes it to Wolf O'Donnel to reposition him and the Star Wolf team as the primary antagonists. Recent games, except for Zero, have tried to create a sort of anti-hero vibe.

It's far past time to bring Star Wolf Team back into the fold as Fox's primary antagonists, and do so in a way that really feels honest. This is especially true when you see how cool Wolf is in Starlink: Battle for Atlas.

His surprisingly regal, yet sinister voice, and overtly dark plans for the cosmos feel like such a missed opportunity. Wolf and the rest of his team need to play a major focus in the next Star Fox game, and do so with the most evil of intentions possible.

4 Next-Gen Focus

Switch 2 or Bust

A lot of Switch 2 games this early in the generation are cross-generation games, being in development for both of Nintendo's platforms. This is usually fine, as games like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond have shown, but the next Star Fox needs to avoid that.

As Donkey Kong Bananza showed, when a game takes full advantage of the Switch 2 hardware without any thought of the previous generation, it usually works out in that game's favor. Whatever form the next Star Fox takes, it would benefit greatly from being a Switch 2 exclusive.

The hardware is incredibly impressive, especially for a handheld. Star Fox has yet to be produced on hardware of this quality, and the thought of just how much Nintendo could accomplish with the franchise on powerful hardware is too exciting to pass up.

3 An Open Galaxy

No Man's Star Fox

As games like Breath of the Wild have proven, when Nintendo takes a big swing at an open-world environment, they usually hit big. With a new Star Fox game potentially on the horizon, it may be time to swing again.

I don't know about you, but the thought of exploring a wide-open galaxy in an Arwing, then descending onto a planet in real time to accept a mission sounds like a dream Star Fox game. If No Man's Sky has shown us anything, it's that this type of game is more than possible.

The Star Fox universe is also far more complex than I think a lot of people realize, as it's filled with iconic planets, unique locations and worlds. Letting us explore this world at our leisure in the cockpit of an Arwing, then seamlessly transitioning from that into a shooting mission sounds pretty good to me.

2 Expand the Mythology

Untapped Lore

I think a lot of people look at Star Fox and think it's just about anthropomorphic animals shooting each other in space. And perhaps in principle, they may be right, but the world of Star Fox is actually way more complex than you may realize.

The Star Fox comics, which were published within the pages of Nintendo Power in the early 1990s, are incredible and add so much depth to the world. These comics could form the basis of a new Star Fox game, and be used to enrich the mythology of the games.

Not only that, but Fox McCloud's father, James, has some pretty distinct connections to the F-Zero universe. If Nintendo is looking to resurrect dead franchises, Star Fox could potentially lead the way to giving some life back to F-Zero in the process.

Run and Gun

It's not a popular opinion, but I genuinely love Star Fox Adventures and its use of on-foot sections. While the shooting is what makes Star Fox what it is, I do think a new game would be smart to borrow a bit from Adventures.

The concept of flying an Arwing during a shooting mission, then being able to effortlessly jump out of the cockpit and explore the planet on foot, sounds delightful. It's the kind of expansive, impressive next-gen exclusive that the Switch 2 really needs to showcase its own power.

The on-foot sections don't have to be huge, just enough to add some variety between the rail shooting missions. Plus, for as cool as it is shooting everything that moves in an Arwing, being able to control Fox or any other member of the Star Fox Team on a ground mission is just too exciting not to do.