Star Fox Switch 2 Challenge Mode Guide: Surviving All 192 Objectives
If you thought the main campaign was punishing, wait until you see the sheer torture of Challenge Mode.
Star Fox on Nintendo Switch 2 launched on June 25, 2026, and I spent an unhealthy amount of time digging into its post-game. The branching paths are fun, but the game's real depth lives in Challenge Mode. You are looking at 192 optional missions spread across all 16 stages. They range from simple hit-count tasks to Expert objectives that demand absolute perfection. If you want to see everything this game has to offer, you will be spending most of your time here after the credits roll.
How Challenge Mode Actually Works
Challenge Mode runs parallel to the main campaign but uses completely separate rules. You can only access levels you already reached through the campaign's branching path system. You have to explore alternate paths to open every single stage before you can tackle the full list.
Each stage contains exactly 12 challenges: six Normal and six Expert. The Expert set stays locked until you clear all six Normal tasks for that specific level. You can preview the Expert layouts early, which helps you scout the misery awaiting you. If you are trying to earn medals while doing these, stop right now. These are completely independent systems, so if you just need hit targets, check out my Star Fox Switch 2 medal guide instead.
Saves, Checkpoints, and Rewards
One of the few mercies here is checkpoint-free progress saving. The second a challenge's checkbox appears on your screen, you can quit the run and the completion saves perfectly. You don't need to finish the mission. If you fail a requirement mid-run, the box turns gray. When that happens, restart immediately. Don't waste your time pushing forward because Challenge Mode strips away the standard campaign checkpoints. A failed run means starting from absolute scratch.
Knocking these out earns you Character Avatars and AR Accessories for Game Chat if you plug in a USB camera. You start with the Star Fox and Star Wolf teams unlocked, but the classic characters are gated behind these challenges and your campaign medals. You also unlock components for the Battle Banner system used in online Battle Mode. There are 61 backgrounds and 79 emblems up for grabs.
Expert Survival Tactics
Before you throw yourself at the hardest objectives, you need to adjust your playstyle and your hardware.
Boost Your Fire Rate
Hitting specific score counts is the backbone of the hardest challenges, and firing faster is your only way out. If you play with the Switch 2 Pro Controller, map the two underneath paddle buttons to the A button for your fire action. Hold them down, navigate to the GL/GR Buttons config section, assign both to A, and you suddenly have three separate fingers cycling through fire inputs. This trick saves my hands during dense enemy waves on Area 6.
Wing Management
On Expert difficulty, any collision causes instant wing damage. A broken wing makes your Arwing drift wildly and ruins your precision targeting. Worse, breaking a wing turns your next laser upgrade into a wing repair pickup. Prioritize flying clean over chasing a few extra hits in the early sectors.
Wingman Management
Several Expert tasks require you to hit score targets without damaging your teammates. Peppy, Slippy, and Falco fly right in your line of fire. Practice your lock-on charged shots for grouped enemies instead of spraying free-fire lasers everywhere and accidentally clipping Slippy.
The Complete Challenge List
Here is every single objective broken down by stage and difficulty. I highly recommend completing conflicting tasks on separate runs and quitting out early to save your sanity (Or what’s left of it).
Corneria
Meteo
Sector Y
Aquas
Katina
Fichina
Zoness
Solar
Sector X
Sector Z
Macbeth
Titania
Area 6
Bolse
Venom
Venom 2
