The Switch 2 version of Star Fox faithfully recreates the branching campaign from the original while modernizing its presentation with new visuals, cutscenes, multiplayer features, and smoother controls. Although the story remains largely unchanged, nearly every playthrough can unfold differently depending on how you complete each mission. Nintendo did not add new planets or alternate routes, meaning veteran players can rely on the same hidden objectives while newcomers have plenty of secrets to discover.
| Quick overview | Details |
|---|---|
| Total campaign routes | 25 |
| Standard ending routes | 14 |
| True ending routes | 11 |
| Maximum stages per run | 7 |
| Final planets | Venom or Venom 2 |
| Hardest route | Upper route via Area 6 |
How the branching route system works
Every campaign begins on Corneria and eventually ends at Venom, but the planets you visit depend on hidden objectives completed during missions rather than simply defeating bosses.
Most stages have two exits, while a few only have one. Successfully performing special objectives usually sends you toward the harder upper route, while completing missions normally generally follows the easier lower path. Even after unlocking an alternate exit, you can usually choose between the standard and alternate destination on the world map before launching the next mission.
Complete alternate route guide for Star Fox
| Stage | Normal Route | Alternate Route | How to unlock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corneria | Meteo | Sector Y | Keep Falco safe and fly beneath all seven stone arches over the ocean |
| Meteo | Fichina | Katina | Fly through all seven warp gates |
| Sector Y | Aquas | Katina | Defeat the boss by activating all train switches |
| Fichina | Sector X | Macbeth | Defeat the walker before time expires |
| Katina | Solar | Sector X | Protect the base and defeat the boss quickly |
| Sector X | Titania | Macbeth | Prevent Slippy from being captured |
| Sector X | Titania | Sector Z | Open and fly through all four warp gates |
| Aquas | Zoness | — | Linear stage |
| Solar | Macbeth | — | Linear stage |
| Titania | Bolse | — | Linear stage |
| Zoness | Macbeth | Sector Z | Destroy every searchlight without being detected |
| Macbeth | Bolse | Area 6 | Hit every rail switch and derail the train |
| Sector Z | Bolse | Area 6 | Destroy every incoming missile before one hits the Great Fox |
| Bolse | Venom | — | Linear stage |
| Area 6 | Venom 2 | — | Linear stage leading to true ending |
Information for the Switch 2 release matches the original route requirements.
How to reach every planet
| Planet | Can be reached from |
|---|---|
| Corneria | Start |
| Meteo | Corneria |
| Sector Y | Corneria |
| Fichina | Meteo |
| Katina | Meteo or Sector Y |
| Aquas | Sector Y |
| Sector X | Fichina or Katina |
| Solar | Katina |
| Titania | Sector X |
| Zoness | Aquas |
| Macbeth | Fichina, Solar, Sector X, or Zoness |
| Sector Z | Sector X or Zoness |
| Bolse | Titania, Macbeth, or Sector Z |
| Area 6 | Macbeth or Sector Z |
| Venom | Bolse |
| Venom 2 | Area 6 |
Easy, medium, and hard routes
Although the game never labels campaign difficulty, the route layout naturally creates three progression paths.
| Difficulty | Recommended Route |
|---|---|
| Easy | Corneria → Meteo → Fichina → Sector X → Titania → Bolse → Venom |
| Medium | Corneria → Meteo → Katina → Solar → Macbeth → Bolse → Venom |
| Hard | Corneria → Sector Y → Aquas → Zoness → Sector Z → Area 6 → Venom 2 |
The upper route contains tougher enemies, more demanding objectives, and culminates in the game’s true ending.
How to unlock the standard ending
Play through any route that eventually reaches Bolse. Complete Bolse normally.
You’ll proceed to the standard version of Venom, where you defeat the mechanical version of Andross. Finishing this mission rewards the normal ending.
How to unlock the true ending
Take routes that eventually reach Area 6 instead of Bolse. Complete Area 6 successfully.
You’ll access Venom 2, an entirely different final mission. Fight through the tougher fortress and defeat Andross’s true form rather than the decoy robot.
Complete the escape sequence to view the game’s true ending.
All mission endings
| Ending | Requirements | Final Boss |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Ending | Reach Venom through Bolse | Mechanical Andross |
| True Ending | Reach Venom 2 through Area 6 | True Andross |
Only campaigns that pass through Area 6 reveal the complete ending and final confrontation. Eleven of the game’s twenty-five possible campaign routes lead to this outcome.
Can you visit every stage in one playthrough?
No. Because the campaign branches repeatedly, a single run can only include seven missions. You’ll need multiple playthroughs to visit every planet, complete every hidden objective, and unlock every stage for replay.
The Switch 2 version preserves one of Star Fox’s defining features: its highly replayable branching campaign. With 25 different route combinations, hidden mission objectives on nearly every stage, and two distinct endings, the game encourages repeated runs instead of a single completion. If you’re aiming for 100% completion, you’ll need to master the alternate objectives across Corneria, Meteo, Sector X, Zoness, Macbeth, and Sector Z before finally reaching Area 6 and Venom 2 for the true ending.
