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How to Play the Star Fox Games in Release Order

A complete year-by-year Star Fox release list, with the distinction between release order, the core story sequence, remakes, and companion games.
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For a broad release-order playthrough, follow the games by the year each was first publicly released: Star Fox (1993), Star Fox 64 (1997), Star Fox Adventures (2002), Star Fox: Assault (2005), Star Fox Command (2006), Star Fox 64 3D (2011), Star Fox Zero and Star Fox Guard (2016), Star Fox 2 (2017), and Star Fox for Nintendo Switch 2 (2026). This order includes remakes and the optional companion game; it is not the same as the shorter story-focused sequence.

Star Fox games in release order

The list below uses each title’s year of first public release, not when it was developed or when a later port appeared. Years are the clearest way to keep the sequence consistent across regions, where exact launch dates can differ.

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Order Game First public release Original platform How it fits
1 Star Fox 1993 Super Nintendo / Super Famicom The series’ original game; Nintendo lists its Japanese release as February 21, 1993.
2 Star Fox 64 1997 Nintendo 64 A central series entry; known as Lylat Wars in Europe.
3 Star Fox Adventures 2002 GameCube An action-adventure shift in genre, but still part of the release sequence.
4 Star Fox: Assault 2005 GameCube Follows Adventures in release order.
5 Star Fox Command 2006 Nintendo DS The next release after Assault and the last entry in the core story sequence.
6 Star Fox 64 3D 2011 Nintendo 3DS An update of Star Fox 64, rather than a new story chapter.
7 Star Fox Zero 2016 Wii U A later release that revisits the Star Fox 64 premise.
8 Star Fox Guard 2016 Wii U A companion strategy title associated with Zero; optional for a series playthrough.
9 Star Fox 2 2017 Not stated Its first official public release was in 2017, so it belongs here by release history despite its earlier development.
10 Star Fox 2026 Nintendo Switch 2 A new release based on Star Fox 64, not a continuation of Command.

The first-public-release years are compiled from a release chronology; they are years rather than universal regional launch dates. Nintendo corroborates the Japanese date for the original, the 2016 pairing of Zero and Guard, the update status of 64 3D, and the platform and relationship to 64 of the 2026 game.

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How to read the list

Think of the table as a history of what players could first buy or otherwise officially play, rather than a timeline of events in the games’ fictional setting. This distinction explains why Star Fox 2 appears after the 2016 titles: its development began much earlier, but its original planned release did not happen. A release-order list records its actual first official public release in 2017.

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The year is also more useful than trying to make one exact-date list for every reader. The original Star Fox debuted in Japan on February 21, 1993, but regional release dates are not necessarily identical. Nintendo announced the 2026 Nintendo Switch 2 game for June 25, 2026. Those dates are helpful when discussing a specific market; the table uses years so readers are not led to treat one region’s launch as universal.

Which release order should you use?

“Release order” can mean either every Star Fox-branded release or a more selective run through the main story. Choose based on whether you want a historical tour, a shorter story path, or the principal entries without companion and remake stops.

For every distinct Star Fox-branded release

Play all ten entries in the table in order. This is the most complete version of the release chronology: it counts the 2011 update, the companion game, the long-delayed official release of Star Fox 2, and the 2026 game. It is the right choice if your goal is to see how the series’ releases appeared to the public over time, even when a title repeats an earlier premise or changes genre.

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For this route, treat the two games released in 2016 as neighboring stops. Star Fox Zero is the main game in that pair, while Star Fox Guard is an associated companion strategy title. The order between them is a practical way to list the year’s releases; Nintendo described them as companion titles and reported their European launch on the same date, April 22, 2016. Playing Guard is not a prerequisite for Zero or the later story-focused games.

For the mainline release history

Use Star Fox (1993) → Star Fox 64 → Star Fox Adventures → Star Fox: Assault → Star Fox Command → Star Fox Zero → Star Fox (2026). Add Star Fox 64 3D and Star Fox 2 if you want the historical releases that a shorter mainline list leaves out. Star Fox Guard is a companion, not a required next story chapter.

This route is a useful compromise if you want a broad series tour without treating every update and companion project as a full-length story stop. It preserves the core progression through Adventures, Assault, and Command, then includes the later releases that revisit the 64 premise. It is still release history, not one uninterrupted plot chronology: placing Zero or the 2026 game after Command reflects when each came out, not a claim about where it fits in the same continuing storyline.

For the core story sequence

Play Star Fox 64 → Star Fox Adventures → Star Fox: Assault → Star Fox Command. This is a story-focused selection, not release order: it omits the 1993 original and later entries that revisit the 64 premise. The original SNES game retells the opening conflict, while Zero and the 2026 Star Fox also return to that premise.

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If your main concern is following the best-supported continuing core, you can begin with Star Fox 64 rather than feeling obliged to start with the 1993 title. If your interest is how the franchise changed as it was released, start at the top of the table instead. These are different goals, so neither route needs to be presented as the single correct way to play.

Release order is not the same as story order

The release chronology answers, “What did the public get, and when?” A story-focused sequence answers, “Which games form the best-supported continuing core?” Those questions produce different lists. The most clearly supported core story progression is Star Fox 64, Star Fox Adventures, Star Fox: Assault, and Star Fox Command. Starting with the 1993 game is correct for release order, but it is not required to begin that story sequence.

Several later releases need a little context to avoid mistaking a remake, companion, or revisit for a new chronological story chapter:

  • Star Fox 64 3D: Nintendo describes it as an update of Star Fox 64. Play it after the 2011 release point if you want the complete history, or skip it if you are prioritizing new story material.
  • Star Fox Zero: It revisits the Star Fox 64 premise. Its 2016 position reflects when it was released, not a claim that it follows Command in one continuous story.
  • Star Fox (2026): Nintendo describes this Nintendo Switch 2 game as based on Star Fox 64. It is the newest release in this list, but it is not presented as a continuation of Command.
  • Star Fox Guard: Nintendo positioned it as a companion strategy title associated with Zero. It launched in Europe alongside Zero on April 22, 2016; include it for release completeness, not because you need it to follow the core story.

What “complete” means here

The broad list counts distinct Star Fox-branded game releases, including an update, a companion title, and the official release of a game that had not originally reached the public. It does not mean that every entry adds a new chapter to the same plot. Conversely, the core-story route is deliberately selective: it prioritizes continuity over a record of every release. A crossover appearance in another franchise would be a separate category, not automatically another installment in this standalone series list.

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The remake-versus-new-story distinction is particularly useful when deciding what to play. Star Fox 64 3D is an update of Star Fox 64, and the 2026 Star Fox is based on that same game. Those entries may be worthwhile if you want to compare different presentations of the same premise, but they are reasonable skips for a player whose only goal is to encounter new story beats. Star Fox 2, by contrast, earns its place in the chronology through its 2017 public release, even though that timing can seem counterintuitive beside its earlier development history.

Why Star Fox 2 comes after the 2016 games

Star Fox 2 is the entry most likely to be misplaced. It was developed earlier, but its originally planned release did not happen. Its first official public release was in 2017, after Zero and Guard. A release-order list follows the release the public actually received, so putting it among the 1990s games would confuse development history with publication history.

You do not need to play Star Fox 2 before Star Fox 64 to follow the core story sequence. If your aim is to experience every distinct Star Fox-branded release, play it at its 2017 point. If you are taking the shorter core-story route, it is an optional historical entry rather than a prerequisite.

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This placement also illustrates why “release order” needs a clear rule. Sorting by development period would produce a different kind of list and could imply that players had access to a game before its public release. Here, the rule is first official public release. That gives a consistent sequence for someone actually playing through the titles as releases, without pretending that the game’s development history happened in 2017.

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What changes when the series changes genre?

Star Fox Adventures

Star Fox Adventures remains in release order even though it is a shift toward action-adventure rather than simply another entry in the familiar shooter mold. That change matters if you are choosing games by genre: a shooter-focused player may find the transition unexpected, while a release-history player should keep it in the sequence. Skipping it makes the run shorter, but it also means skipping one of the four games in the supported core story progression.

So decide what you want from the game before you reach it. For a chronological tour, its genre change is part of the franchise’s release history and a reason not to omit it. For a focused run of shooter-style experiences, you may prefer to sample the other entries first or skip it, while recognizing that doing so also removes a part of the core story route described above. The available facts support calling it an action-adventure shift; they do not justify treating it as an unrelated side game.

Star Fox Guard

Guard is a different kind of optional stop. It is a companion strategy title linked to Zero, not a new main story installment. Put it after Zero in a broad year-based list, or leave it out of a story-focused run. Its placement after Zero is a practical way to group the 2016 releases; both appeared in Europe on April 22 that year.

This makes Guard optional for a different reason than Adventures. Skipping Adventures means skipping an entry in the supported core story sequence because its genre is different from what a player may expect. Skipping Guard leaves out a companion strategy game that is not a required story chapter. A “complete release list” should include both, but a first-time player interested in the central narrative can omit Guard without changing the recommended core sequence.

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Where does the 2026 Star Fox fit?

Nintendo announced the Nintendo Switch 2 game Star Fox for release on June 25, 2026, and describes it as based on Star Fox 64. The announcement characterizes it as a cinematic take with overhauled character designs, revamped stage visuals, cutscenes, fully voiced dialogue, and an orchestral soundtrack. It also describes a new 4-vs-4 Battle Mode. These details make it useful to identify as a substantial new release, but its connection to 64 means it should not be treated as the next chapter after Command in a single uninterrupted storyline.

Nintendo’s game page lists the Nintendo 64 Controller for Nintendo Switch as a separately sold compatible option. It is optional, not a requirement to play the game. The official announcement gives the June 25 date; the release-order list uses 2026 to avoid suggesting that one market’s date applies everywhere.

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The title can be confusing in a list because it shares its name with the 1993 original. Use the platform and year whenever you discuss it: Star Fox (1993) is the Super Nintendo/Super Famicom original, while Star Fox (2026) is the Nintendo Switch 2 release based on Star Fox 64. That shorthand avoids accidentally suggesting that the newer game is a sequel to Command simply because it appears last in the table.

Choosing a run that matches your goal

Your goal Recommended sequence What you leave out
See every distinct branded release in public-release order All ten games in the table Nothing from the list; this includes the remake/update and companion game.
Follow the core story sequence Star Fox 64 → Adventures → Assault → Command The original, update, companion, and later premise revisits.
Cover mainline releases while avoiding optional history stops Star Fox (1993) → Star Fox 64 → Adventures → Assault → Command → Zero → Star Fox (2026) Star Fox 64 3D, Star Fox Guard, and Star Fox 2.

For a first-time player unsure which approach to take, the core story sequence is the most direct route through the continuing storyline. Choose the full chronology instead if release history itself is part of the appeal. In either case, keep the 1993 original and the Nintendo Switch 2 game distinct when referring to simply Star Fox; the year and platform remove ambiguity.

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A simple step-by-step plan

  1. Pick your goal. Choose the full chronology to see every branded release, the core story sequence to prioritize continuity, or the mainline release-history route to include the major releases while skipping the update and companion stop.
  2. Use release year as the sorting rule. Keep Star Fox 2 at 2017 because that is when it first officially reached the public, rather than moving it to the 1990s based on development history.
  3. Decide whether to include repeats and side experiences. Add Star Fox 64 3D for an update of 64 and Guard for the companion strategy release. You can skip either in a story-focused run.
  4. Keep genre expectations in mind. Adventures is an action-adventure entry, so include it for release or story completeness even if you came for the shooters.
  5. Check local availability before buying. Original platform identifies where each title first appeared; it does not guarantee that a particular game is currently sold or playable in your region.

This plan keeps the decision manageable. You do not need to settle every question about continuity before you begin: the table gives an unambiguous public-release sequence, and the shorter routes explain which experiences you can omit depending on your priorities.

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Availability and platform caveat

The table gives each game’s original platform, not a promise that it is currently sold or playable on that hardware, through a current digital storefront, or through a subscription in a particular country. Availability of older entries varies by market and service and is not established here. Check the relevant local Nintendo store or service catalog before planning a purchase or assuming that an older console release is accessible on your current system. The Nintendo 64 Controller for Nintendo Switch is a separately sold compatible option for the 2026 game, not a required accessory.

For purchase planning, separate three questions: which system the game originally launched on, whether you can access it today, and whether any accessory is mandatory. The first is what the table answers. The second needs a current check for your region and preferred service. For the 2026 game, Nintendo lists the Nintendo 64 Controller for Nintendo Switch as a compatible separately sold option; compatibility does not make it a requirement. No price or store availability should be assumed from that listing alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I play the Star Fox games in release order?

Use the public-release years: Star Fox (1993), Star Fox 64 (1997), Star Fox Adventures (2002), Star Fox: Assault (2005), Star Fox Command (2006), Star Fox 64 3D (2011), Star Fox Zero and Star Fox Guard (2016), Star Fox 2 (2017), then Star Fox for Nintendo Switch 2 (2026).

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Do I need to play Star Fox 2 before Star Fox 64?

No. Star Fox 2 first officially released to the public in 2017, so it belongs after the 2016 games in release order. It is not a prerequisite for the core story sequence, which begins with Star Fox 64.

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Is release order the same as story order?

No. The broad release order starts with the 1993 SNES original. The recommended core story sequence is Star Fox 64 → Star Fox Adventures → Star Fox: Assault → Star Fox Command. Star Fox 64 3D, Zero, and the 2026 game revisit or update the 64 premise rather than simply continuing that sequence.

Can I skip Star Fox 64 3D?

Yes, if you want new story material rather than a complete release history. Nintendo describes Star Fox 64 3D as an update of Star Fox 64, so it is a historical release-order stop, not a necessary new story chapter.

Is Star Fox Guard required to play Star Fox Zero?

No. Star Fox Guard is a companion strategy title associated with Zero, not a required next story chapter. Include it for a complete list of releases or leave it out of a core-story run.

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Is Star Fox Adventures a shooter?

It is a shift toward action-adventure. Keep it in release order, and in the recommended core story sequence, but know that its genre differs from the shooter-focused expectation some players may bring to the series.

Is the 2026 Star Fox a sequel to Star Fox Command?

It is not presented as a continuation of Command. Nintendo describes the Nintendo Switch 2 game as based on Star Fox 64. It is the latest release by year, but release position alone does not make it the next chapter in the core story sequence.

Do I need a Nintendo 64 Controller for Nintendo Switch to play the 2026 game?

No. Nintendo lists that controller as a separately sold compatible option. The available product information identifies it as optional, not a required accessory.

Are the older Star Fox games available on my current system?

That depends on your region and the current store or subscription catalog. Original-platform information is not a guarantee of present-day availability, so check your local Nintendo catalog before planning a purchase or playthrough.

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The Bottom Line

For a complete public-release history, play all ten games in the table by year, including Star Fox 2 at its 2017 official release point. For the most direct core story, play Star Fox 64, Adventures, Assault, and Command. Treat 64 3D as an update, Guard as an optional companion, and the 2026 Star Fox as a new release based on 64 rather than the next chapter after Command.

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