Introduction
Star Fox is Nintendo’s long-running rail-shooter franchise that debuted on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1993.
The latest entry, released for the Nintendo Switch 2, adds a full complement of Campaign objectives, an extensive Challenge Mode, and online battle rewards distributed through the game’s multiplayer systems.
This guide distills a completionist’s approach to unlocking everything the title offers on Switch 2, with practical steps and notes on time investment.
Author’s note on timing
The guide’s author explains they published this completion checklist more than a month after the game’s Switch 2 launch because it took roughly that long to fully complete the title.
They say the road to 100% involves a mix of high-difficulty objectives and time-consuming grind, requiring both precision and patience.
1) Complete Campaign Mode
Begin with Campaign Mode: earn all 16 Normal Medals and all 16 Expert Medals, and unlock all 10 Alternate Routes.
Each stage displays the medal criteria, typically tied to hit counts and score.
Charge shots are emphasized for clearing grouped enemies quickly and maximizing points.
The campaign also requires keeping wingmates Falco, Peppy, and Slippy alive for medal qualification on certain runs; if a wingmate is forced to leave, that run becomes ineligible for a medal.
Medals you earn are retained for subsequent playthroughs, so multiple short runs on Normal and Expert are expected.
2) Conquer Challenge Mode
Challenge Mode is the most demanding segment: the game lists 96 Normal Challenges and 96 Expert Challenges.
Normal Challenges are generally straightforward, while Expert Challenges demand tight execution.
The mode features minimal checkpoints—one notable checkpoint exists on Venom just before the Andross encounter—so failed boss-focused challenges often require replaying the entire stage.
That design increases both difficulty and time cost for completionists.
3) Unlock backgrounds, emblems, and online rewards
A portion of collectible backgrounds, emblems, and avatar pieces are tied to the game’s battle mode and online matchmaking.
The guide’s author reports that at least one emblem requires 100 online wins, and that other items unlock through cumulative campaign and battle-mode milestones (for example, a campaign completion reward for achieving 1,500 hits across runs).
Expect this step to be more grind-oriented than mechanically difficult.
Estimated time and closing
According to the author’s experience, reaching 100% took about 50 hours when playing efficiently and winning many online matches.
Individual results will vary depending on skill level and how often players repeat high-difficulty Challenge runs.
For Switch and Switch 2 players who follow Nintendo Direct announcements and eShop updates, keeping an eye on seasonal patches or patch notes may also be useful in case of balance tweaks to challenges or online systems.
Are you attempting full completion in Star Fox on Switch 2, or are you focusing on campaign or multiplayer?
Share your experience and tips in the comments.
Star Fox is Nintendo’s long-running rail-shooter franchise that debuted on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1993.
The latest entry, released for the Nintendo Switch 2, adds a full complement of Campaign objectives, an extensive Challenge Mode, and online battle rewards distributed through the game’s multiplayer systems.
This guide distills a completionist’s approach to unlocking everything the title offers on Switch 2, with practical steps and notes on time investment.
Author’s note on timing
The guide’s author explains they published this completion checklist more than a month after the game’s Switch 2 launch because it took roughly that long to fully complete the title.
They say the road to 100% involves a mix of high-difficulty objectives and time-consuming grind, requiring both precision and patience.
1) Complete Campaign Mode
Begin with Campaign Mode: earn all 16 Normal Medals and all 16 Expert Medals, and unlock all 10 Alternate Routes.
Each stage displays the medal criteria, typically tied to hit counts and score.
Charge shots are emphasized for clearing grouped enemies quickly and maximizing points.
The campaign also requires keeping wingmates Falco, Peppy, and Slippy alive for medal qualification on certain runs; if a wingmate is forced to leave, that run becomes ineligible for a medal.
Medals you earn are retained for subsequent playthroughs, so multiple short runs on Normal and Expert are expected.
2) Conquer Challenge Mode
Challenge Mode is the most demanding segment: the game lists 96 Normal Challenges and 96 Expert Challenges.
Normal Challenges are generally straightforward, while Expert Challenges demand tight execution.
The mode features minimal checkpoints—one notable checkpoint exists on Venom just before the Andross encounter—so failed boss-focused challenges often require replaying the entire stage.
That design increases both difficulty and time cost for completionists.
3) Unlock backgrounds, emblems, and online rewards
A portion of collectible backgrounds, emblems, and avatar pieces are tied to the game’s battle mode and online matchmaking.
The guide’s author reports that at least one emblem requires 100 online wins, and that other items unlock through cumulative campaign and battle-mode milestones (for example, a campaign completion reward for achieving 1,500 hits across runs).
Expect this step to be more grind-oriented than mechanically difficult.
Estimated time and closing
According to the author’s experience, reaching 100% took about 50 hours when playing efficiently and winning many online matches.
Individual results will vary depending on skill level and how often players repeat high-difficulty Challenge runs.
For Switch and Switch 2 players who follow Nintendo Direct announcements and eShop updates, keeping an eye on seasonal patches or patch notes may also be useful in case of balance tweaks to challenges or online systems.
Are you attempting full completion in Star Fox on Switch 2, or are you focusing on campaign or multiplayer?
Share your experience and tips in the comments.
