Star Fox Adventures Hits Switch Online: Play the Divisive Classic Now

Ever wondered why Star Fox Adventures is the most argued-about game in the Star Fox series? Well, now you can finally settle the debate yourself.

During the September 2026 Nintendo Direct, Nintendo surprise-dropped Star Fox Adventures onto the Nintendo Switch Online service. It's available right now for subscribers of Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack as a Nintendo Classic. That means you can fire up your Switch 2 and dive into the GameCube title that has divided fans for decades.

Originally released in 2002, Star Fox Adventures was a huge departure from the dog-fighting action the series is known for. Instead of hopping into an Arwing, you control Fox McCloud on foot as he explores Dinosaur Planet, fights enemies with a staff, and solves environmental puzzles. Think Zelda, but with a fox and a whole lot of dinosaurs.

The game's history is fascinating. Developed by Rare, it actually started life as a Nintendo 64 game called Dinosaur Planet. It was Shigeru Miyamoto who suggested turning it into a Star Fox game. Adventures also introduced Krystal, the blue fox who later became the first female pilot in the Star Fox team.

But here's the thing: Star Fox Adventures is famously divisive. It strayed so far from the flight-combat-sim roots of the original games that some fans argue it's where the franchise started to go wrong. The follow-ups, Assault and Command, got lukewarm receptions, and the attempted Star Fox Zero is generally looked down on by fans and critics alike. It's also notable as Rare's last game for Nintendo before the studio was acquired by Microsoft.

That said, the series has been winning back goodwill. This year's remake of Star Fox 64 on Switch 2 was a big hit with fans. And during the same Direct, Nintendo revealed a free update coming to the new Star Fox game, adding new multiplayer features and maps. That update launches on September 29.

So if you've never played Star Fox Adventures, now's your chance. Will you be downloading it to see what all the fuss is about? Or are you skipping it in favor of the new Star Fox multiplayer update? Let us know in the comments!