GameTimeline

Release & story order

Star Fox timeline

Star Fox from the 1993 SNES rail shooter through Star Fox Zero (2016)—US release dates, the Lylat Wars 64 → Command story arc, and FAQ for the original Star Fox, Guard, and 64 3D.

Updated July 2026

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Release order Story order

Release order

When Nintendo shipped each Lylat chapter—Star Fox (1993 SNES), Star Fox 64 (1997), Adventures and Assault on GameCube, Command on DS, then Zero on Wii U. Guard, Star Fox 2, and 64 3D are FAQ-only.

  • Story arc → 64, Adventures, Assault, Command
  • Start with 64 or 64 3D—not SNES first for canon—FAQ
  • Adventures is action-adventure—tone shift
  • Zero reimagines 64—Release-only reboot FAQ
Story order tips

Core Lylat continuity: Star Fox 64 → Adventures → Assault → Command. The SNES original retells the same opening arc as 64—Release only. Zero is a 64 reimagining—Release-only reboot.

  • Core order: Star Fox 64 → Adventures → Assault → Command
  • Command has branching endings—FAQ
  • Skip SNES on Story—64 supersedes it
  • On Story order, Command may be hidden—reveal when ready

Timeline

When each game was released. Click a game for platforms, dates, and where it fits in your playthrough.

Release order

  1. Star Fox

    Star Fox

    SNESShooterMainline

    Fox McCloud and the Super FX chip debut.

    Overview
    Argonaut/Nintendo rail shooter—first Super FX cartridge.
    In-game setting
    Original Andross arc—superseded on Story by Star Fox 64.
    Should you play it?
    Release-only for Story—play 64 instead.
    Release date
    US launch March 26, 1993.
  2. Star Fox 64

    Star Fox 64

    N64ShooterMainline

    Definitive Andross campaign—branching routes.

    Overview
    N64 rail shooter—voice acting, Rumble Pak, route splits.
    In-game setting
    Story row one—canonical Lylat Wars restart.
    Should you play it?
    Essential Story start.
    Release date
    US launch June 30, 1997.
  3. Star Fox Adventures

    Star Fox Adventures

    GCActionMainline

    Dinosaur Planet—eight years after 64.

    Overview
    Rare-origin action-adventure on GameCube—Krystal joins the team.
    In-game setting
    Story row two—genre shift from rail shooter.
    Should you play it?
    Play after 64 on Story order.
    Release date
    US launch September 23, 2002.
  4. Star Fox: Assault

    Star Fox: Assault

    GCShooterMainline

    Aparoid invasion—on-foot and Arwing combat.

    Overview
    Namco-developed GameCube sequel—third-person and vehicle missions.
    In-game setting
    Direct Story sequel to Adventures.
    Should you play it?
    Story row three.
    Release date
    US launch February 14, 2005.
  5. Star Fox Command

    Star Fox Command

    DSShooterMainline

    Anglar threat—multiple endings on DS.

    Overview
    Q-Games DS strategy-shooter—touch-screen fleet tactics.
    In-game setting
    Latest mainline Story row as of June 2026.
    Should you play it?
    After Assault on Story order.
    Release date
    US launch August 28, 2006.
  6. Star Fox Zero

    Star Fox Zero

    Wii UShooterReboot

    PlatinumGames 64 reimagining—motion controls.

    Overview
    Wii U reboot of the 64 campaign—new vehicle modes.
    In-game setting
    Release-only Story reboot—not a Command sequel.
    Should you play it?
    Optional replay of 64 beats—FAQ.
    Release date
    US launch April 22, 2016.

FAQ

Release vs story order, SNES vs 64, Zero reboot, and where to start.

Release order

Release order has six rows: Star Fox (1993 SNES) → Star Fox 64 (1997) → Adventures (2002) → Assault (2005) → Command (2006) → Zero (2016). Story order has four rows: 64 → Adventures → Assault → Command. The SNES Star Fox and Zero are Release-only—the first is superseded by 64; Zero is a 64 reboot, not a Command sequel.

Story newcomers should start with Star Fox 64 (N64, NSO Expansion Pack, or Star Fox 64 3D on 3DS—FAQ). Then Adventures, Assault, and Command in order. Zero is optional if you want a modern 64 replay—not the next story chapter.

Story & canon

Star Fox (1993, SNES) and Star Fox 64 (1997) tell the same opening Andross conflict—64 is the expanded, canonical retelling with routes and voice acting. On Story order, start at 64; the SNES game stays on Release for history.

Yes for Story order—Adventures (2002) continues after Star Fox 64 with Fox on Sauria and Krystal joining the team. It is an action-adventure detour in gameplay, not a spin-off branch—Assault and Command follow directly.

Remasters & ports

Star Fox Zero (2016, Wii U) reimagines the Star Fox 64 campaign with new stages and controls—it is a Release-only reboot row, not a sequel to Command. Treat it like an alternate 64 playthrough, not Story row five.

Optional & related

More timelines

Other release-order and story-order guides on this site.