Star Fox Remake for Switch 2 Earns 81 Metascore on Launch Day
The remake's strong critical reception and new features like Mouse Mode position it as a key title for the Switch 2's early lineup, demonstrating Nintendo's ability to modernize a classic franchise for a new generation.
Reporting from 2 sources: GAME Watch (Impress), Denfaminicogamer.
Nintendo released Star Fox for the Nintendo Switch 2 on June 25, 2026. The game is a remake of the 1997 Nintendo 64 title Star Fox 64, updating visuals, audio, and story while preserving the original gameplay. The packaged version costs 6,480 yen and the download version costs 5,480 yen. On Metacritic, the game holds an average score of 81 out of 100 based on 76 reviews, with 86 percent of critics posting positive reviews. IGN gave it an 80, praising the new Challenge Mode. Eurogamer also gave an 80, calling it one of the most beautiful Nintendo remakes. The remake adds new story scenes, including a prologue depicting Fox McCloud's father James, and expands character interactions. New features include a Mouse Mode using the Joy-Con 2's mouse function, a Cosplay Filter that transforms the player's face into a character via USB camera, and a 4-on-4 online Battle Mode. A demo version is available on the Nintendo eShop. The game supports both rail shooting and all-range mode stages, and includes vehicles like the Arwing, Landmaster, and Blue Marine.
The game includes a new prologue depicting Fox McCloud's father James and the previous generation of Star Fox, adding backstory not present in the original. Character models have been redesigned with a puppet-anime style, and the frame rate runs at a steady 60 frames per second. The control scheme is adapted from the 3DS version, with simplified inputs for actions like loops and U-turns. Mouse Mode, activated by holding the Joy-Con 2 like a mouse, allows precise aiming in cockpit view. The Cosplay Filter, requiring a separately sold USB camera, syncs facial expressions to the player's character. Challenge Mode offers objectives such as time limits and hidden collectibles for cleared stages. Battle Mode features 4-on-4 team battles between Star Fox and Star Wolf, with three maps that have unique scoring conditions. The game also includes a Holo Memory archive that details characters and planets. Reviewers noted that the original game's branching paths and dialogue variations have been expanded, with new movie scenes and additional voice lines. The Metacritic aggregate of 81 reflects broad praise for the visual overhaul and faithful gameplay, though some critics noted the ally AI in Battle Mode felt unreliable in solo play.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- GAME Watch (Impress) 「Star Fox（スターフォックス）」レビュー
- Denfaminicogamer 新作『Star Fox（スターフォックス）』海外レビューでメタスコア平均「81/100」を獲得。「任天堂リメイク作品の中でも特に美しい」「ジャンルの頂点に近い」とレビュー集まる