Complete Star Fox Games Release Order: Main Series, Remakes, Spin-offs, and Oddities

The Star Fox series spans 30+ years with main entries, remakes, spin-offs, and canceled projects. Here's the definitive chronological release order.

Main Series (Numbered / Core Entries)

1. Star Fox (1993) — SNES. Super FX chip. Rail shooter. "Lylat Wars" in PAL.
2. Star Fox 64 (1997) — N64. Rumble Pak bundle. Voice acting, branching paths, multiplayer. "Lylat Wars" PAL.
3. Star Fox Adventures (2002) — GameCube. Originally Dinosaur Planet. Action-adventure, Fox on foot. Rare's last Nintendo game.
4. Star Fox: Assault (2005) — GameCube. Third-person shooter, Arwing + Landmaster + on-foot. Online (LAN only).
5. Star Fox Command (2006) — DS. Touchscreen flight paths, strategy map, multiple endings. Divisive.
6. Star Fox Zero (2016) — Wii U. Dual-screen (TV + GamePad), gyro aiming. Miyamoto's "definitive" vision. Polarizing controls.
7. Star Fox 2 (1995/2017) — SNES (canceled) / SNES Classic Mini (2017). Completed but shelved for N64. First "official" release 2017.

Remakes / Remasters

• Star Fox 64 3D (2011) — 3DS. Stereoscopic 3D, gyro aiming, updated graphics, voice re-recorded. Best way to play 64.
• Star Fox 2 (2017) — SNES Classic Mini. Official release of canceled game.

Spin-offs & Collaborations

• Star Fox: Guard (2016) — Wii U eShop. Tower defense / turret shooter. Gyro aim. Bundled with Zero physically in Japan.
• Star Fox: Assault — Listed above (main series). Sometimes called spin-off for genre shift.
• Starlink: Battle for Atlas (2018) — Switch/PS4/Xbox/PC. Ubisoft. Fox + Arwing exclusive to Switch version. Toys-to-life.

Arcade / Obscure

• Star Fox: Operation Doomsday (1998) — Arcade (Namco System II) / N64 prototype. Light gun rail shooter. Location test only.
• Star Fox 64: Digital Sound Source (1998) — N64. Soundtrack cartridge. Not a game.

Timeline vs. Release Order

Release Order ≠ Canon Timeline. Canon is debated. Common interpretation:

1. Star Fox (SNES) / Star Fox 2 (canceled)
2. Star Fox 64 (reboot/retelling)
3. Star Fox Adventures (8 years later)
4. Star Fox: Assault (1 year later)
5. Star Fox Command (3 years later — multiple endings = timeline fracture)
6. Star Fox Zero (reimagining of 64 — separate continuity?)

Play order recommendation: 64 3D → Adventures → Assault → Command → Zero. Skip SNES original unless historic interest. Star Fox 2 on SNES Classic for curiosity.