Is the Star Fox Method of Replayability Fit for 2026?

Star Fox is out now on Nintendo Switch 2 and is selling quite well by some metrics out of the gate. As noted by VGC, Star Fox led the UK charts in its opening week, starting more strongly than the last two entries in the series. This is welcome news considering that the Switch 2 exclusive is technically a remake of Star Fox 64, which already got a remake on the 3DS. Even so, sales are up about 70% from the 3DS take on the game, and many fans seem to be happy to see the Star Fox squad return to consoles. There’s also been (as there always is) a healthy bit of discourse over whether this is the right way to reintroduce the series to unfamiliar gamers.

It’s not a far stretch to say many gamers under 18 might know Star Fox best from Super Smash Bros. For even younger gamers, it might be fairer to say that the Super Mario Galaxy Movie was their first encounter with the pointy-eared pilot. Either way, a ton of people who own Switch 2 consoles right now may never have even played a Star Fox game, making a strong start to the launch of the latest entry important. Some drama over the price markup for the physical edition seemed to upset some fans, despite pre-orders letting players reserve the game at the digital price. The larger conversation, however, stems from the way in which Star Fox is designed to be played.

In Star Fox, you play through missions that lead the squad through various planets and enemy encounters. Decisions you make, as well as how you perform and who survives each mission, begin to change the ways you progress through the levels. One playthrough of the 7-mission campaign could look very different from the next. You’ll always begin on Corneria, and you’ll always end on a version of the planet Venom, but in between, some fun variation across over a dozen other levels makes for different ways to experience the story. Each level itself even has paths to follow that can change who you battle, how you fight your foes, and what elements of challenge will occur.

For some online, this gameplay variation, through its repeatability, seemed like Nintendo selling players short. Skeptics online argued that even if that was how the original game was on the Nintendo 64, how could a remake not offer something a bit less arcadey and more story-driven? In reality, variations in levels do change how the story plays out, just not in a way that’s recognizable to the storytelling methods in many modern experiences.

The arcade format of gameplay has changed a lot over the years, but it is still recognizable today. In Forza Horizon games, for example, the open world is a modern touch on the otherwise arcade-like racing gameplay and never-ending list of challenges to explore and conquer. Other titles like Vampire Survivors or Marvel Cosmic Invasion also borrow from other arcade experiences and find modern success. For a $60 USD price tag, however, many are wondering if replaying the same story (even with variations) over and over again is a worthwhile experience in 2026.

Where do you land? If you’ve played Star Fox for the Nintendo Switch 2, let us know. If you’re just itching to get some thoughts on this out into the world, drop a comment as well.