Star Fox 2 is a space shooter developed by Nintendo EAD and Argonaut Software for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Nintendo originally completed the game in 1995 but held back its release due to competition from newer 3D hardware at the time, making it one of the most famous unreleased games in gaming history. The game finally reached players in 2017 when Nintendo included it on the Super NES Classic Edition mini console, giving fans their first official chance to experience it. Unlike its predecessor, Star Fox 2 moves away from the linear on-rails format and introduces a real-time strategy layer to the action. Players must defend the Lylat system from Emperor Andross by intercepting incoming enemy forces before they reach Corneria. The open map structure means no two playthroughs feel exactly the same, as enemy attack patterns and threat levels shift depending on how quickly the player responds to incoming threats.
Updated: Jun 22, 2026
Screenshots

3 MB · SNES ROMs
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Specifications
| Platform | SNES ROMs |
|---|---|
| Genre | Strategy |
| File Size | 3 MB |
| Release Year | 1995 |
| Developer | Nintendo EAD / Argonaut Software |
| Updated | Jun 22, 2026 |
Overview
Star Fox 2 is a space shooter developed by Nintendo EAD and Argonaut Software for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Nintendo originally completed the game in 1995 but held back its release due to competition from newer 3D hardware at the time, making it one of the most famous unreleased games in gaming history. The game finally reached players in 2017 when Nintendo included it on the Super NES Classic Edition mini console, giving fans their first official chance to experience it. Unlike its predecessor, Star Fox 2 moves away from the linear on-rails format and introduces a real-time strategy layer to the action. Players must defend the Lylat system from Emperor Andross by intercepting incoming enemy forces before they reach Corneria. The open map structure means no two playthroughs feel exactly the same, as enemy attack patterns and threat levels shift depending on how quickly the player responds to incoming threats.
Star Fox 2 supports two-player cooperative and competitive modes, letting players team up or go head-to-head in dogfight battles. The game introduces two new playable characters alongside Fox McCloud and Falco Lombardi. Miyu and Fay join the roster, each with their own Arwing stats, giving players a reason to experiment with different pilots across missions. The Arwing itself gains new abilities in this entry, including the ability to transform into a walker unit called the Landmaster, letting pilots fight on foot across planetary surface stages. Players can also charge laser shots and perform tight barrel roll maneuvers to deflect enemy fire. Multiple difficulty levels adjust how aggressively Andross sends attack waves toward Corneria, changing the pressure and pacing of each run. The variety of environments spans space combat, planetary assaults, boss encounters, and base infiltration stages. Star Fox 2 packs a surprising amount of depth into a 16-bit cartridge and holds up as a genuinely rewarding action strategy experience.