Star Fox for Nintendo Switch 2 should not be a retread of what has come before

3 hours ago 2

Published Apr 5, 2026, 10:54 AM EDT

Nintendo Switch 2's Star Fox game needs to do more than copy what worked about Star Fox 64

Star Fox has had quite the week. Just two weeks ago, this Nintendo franchise showed almost no signs of life. Now, Fox McCloud is back in the zeitgeist after serving an important role in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and a leak revealing that new Star Fox games are in the works for Nintendo Switch 2. Although I'm excited about Star Fox making a comeback, I'm worried that the series will play it safe.

To thrive during this comeback, the Star Fox series needs to move out of the ever-looming shadow of Star Fox 64. The fact that the leaker of the new Star Fox game said it would be "classic-style" leaves me a bit worried about that not happening. Hopefully, the next Star Fox game can retain what made the series special while offering some unique twists or flair to help the series break out from just repeating its greatest hits.

The cast of Star Fox 64 runs down a hallway.

Many Star Fox games follow a similar formula. They're space shooters that take Fox McCloud and friends to planets on different routes on their quest to fight and ultimately defeat Andross. While the planets, forms the Arwing can take, and the control scheme can change, only a couple of games in the series have taken bold swings to change that core formula. Star Fox Adventures in particular comes to mind as the one game that showed the series could be more than a simple on-rails shooter.

Star Fox Zero on Wii U disappointed me, not just because of the clunky incorporation of the GamePad into its control scheme, but because its plot and general structure felt too similar to Star Fox 64. Although I really enjoy Star Fox 64, I'd rather replay it through Nintendo Switch Online (or revisit its 3DS remake) rather than buy a new Star Fox game that's repeating what those classics titles did.

While some Nintendo series have gameplay genres, mechanics, and narrative motifs that are shared between games, others have done a better job at making each entry feel different. Meanwhile, Star Fox still feels stuck in the past. Whether it comes through some drastic change to the narrative, art style, structure, or gameplay, I hope the series' return on Nintendo Switch 2 is one to remember, and not a retread of games. If it does so, I truly believe Star Fox could become one of Nintendo's marquee franchises.

Read Entire Article