Star Fox: All alternate routes to access all stages
Every stage and the alternate routes you need to see them in Star Fox 64, Lylat Wars, and the Star Fox remake on Nintendo Switch 2.
StarFox 64 is one of the greatest on-rails shooters of all time, and there are more ways to play than ever.
Whether you’re jumping into the game using the Nintendo Switch Online service or another version of the classic game, you’ll need this breakdown. Star Fox 64 – also known as Lylat Wars – is a game with a lot of replayability thanks to a total of 25 possible routes through its 15 stages and their variants. These paths and routes also work flawlessly in the Nintendo Switch 2 remake of the game.
In this guide, we’re breaking down every stage in Star Fox 64, Lylat Wars, and Star Fox on Nintendo Switch 2, and how you can unlock a route to all of them.
List of all stages in Star Fox 64
Star Fox 64 famously has multiple routes you can take through the world, split across six main stages and a final encounter. There are alternate routes possible in all levels past the opening of Corneria, offering loads of replay value across 25 total possible routes.
Level 1:
- Corneria
Level 2:
- Meteo
- Sector Y
Level 3:
- Fortuna/Fichina
- Katina
- Aquas
Level 4:
- Sector X
- Solar
- Zoness
Level 5:
- Titania
- Macbeth
- Sector Z
Level 6:
- Bolse
- Area 6
Final level:
- Venom
- Venom 2
All alternate routes explained in Star Fox
There are Easy, Normal, and Hard routes through some stages. The Easy routes can always be achieved simply by finishing the stage, while Normal and Hard routes can only be achieved by completing select goals. If you achieve a Normal or Hard route in a stage, you will sometimes be able to select an easier path once the stage concludes, if you wish.
Level 1 stages
How to get to Corneria
Corneria is always the first mission; you just need to start the game.
Level 2 stages
How to get to Meteo
Meteo can be accessed simply by playing Corneria and following the default route through the stage.
How to get to Sector Y
To access Sector Y, you must save Falco during the Corneria stage and then fly under all seven stone arches when you pass over the water. This will prompt Falco to lead you through the waterfall and to an alternate boss encounter, ending with the path to Sector Y.
Level 3 stages
How to get to Fortuna/Fichina
Fichina, also known as Fortuna, can be accessed simply by completing the Meteo stage.
How to get to Katina
Make sure to save Slippy when he needs help during the Meteo stage, and then fly through seven blue pointy rings as they appear about halfway through the stage. Each ring will cause the Arwing to spin, and you’ll be warped to a secret area if you get all of them. Completing the secret area will unlock Katina.
Alternatively, hit as few enemies as possible during the Sector Y stage to unlock a route to Katina.
How to get to Aquas
You can reach Aquas via the Sector Y stage. You simply need to achieve more than 100 hits for the stage by wiping out as many enemies as possible, and you’ll reach the Aquas stage.
Level 4 stages
How to get to Sector X
You can reach Sector X after achieving the “bad end” at Finchina and allowing Star Wolf’s unit to detonate the bomb.
How to get to Solar
From Fichina, defeat Star Wolf and prevent the bomb detonation to access Solar.
From Katina, you must successfully destroy the core of the boss to move on to Solar.
How to get to Zoness
There’s only one path to Zoness, and that’s from Aquas. There’s only one route through Aquas, too, so there are no special conditions to complete for this stage.
Level 5 stages
How to get to Titania
During the boss fight in Sector X, Slippy can get knocked out of position and crash-land on Titania, forcing the Star Fox crew to go on a rescue mission. If you want to see this level, simply let the boss knock Slippy down to the planet before defeating it.
How to get to Macbeth
Again, during the Sector X boss fight, you can prevent Slippy from getting knocked down to Titania, which allows the crew to move directly on to Macbeth instead.
From Zoness, getting caught by the searchlights will force your team to move onto Macbeth.
How to get to Sector Z
From Sector X, stick to the left during the forked path decision, and then blast open four different warp gates you come across. These are rectangular gates with arrows on either side that you can shoot off. You might need upgraded lasers and bombs ready to open and fly through all four of them, which will warp the crew to a secret area, at the end of which you’ll find Sector Z.
From Zoness, destroy all searchlights you come across to ensure you don’t get caught during the stage, and you’ll find the path to Sector Z.
Level 6 stages
How to get to Bolse
From Macbeth, simply fail to hit all eight train switches, and you’ll get the route to Bolse.
From Sector Z, let one of the missiles hit the Great Fox, and Bolse will be the next destination.
How to get to Area 6
From Macbeth, successfully flip the eight train switches, the final switch, and derail the train to unlock the route to Area 6.
From Sector Z, destroy all hostile missiles and ensure the Great Fox is undamaged to access Area 6.
Final stages
How to get to Venom
Venom is the final stage, and by default, is your final destination after clearing Bolse.
How to get to Venom 2
For an extra battle with team Star Wolf and the true final boss fight with Andross in Venom II – or Venom’s “Hard Route” – make sure you access the stage from Area 6.
Guides: If you're playing Star Fox on Nintendo Switch 2, or even the N64 original, make sure to check our guides on how to visit all stages and how to earn Medals on every stage.
