15 Best GameCube Games (Ranked)

When the Nintendo GameCube was officially released, I was three years old. However, given how the video games industry works, a good console takes years to catch up to some heat. So, when I finally grew up enough to try the video game console, I was shocked at its brilliance. Fast forward 20+ years, and I can guarantee that Nintendo GameCube has delivered some of the most iconic games. If you’re one of the gamers who want a nostalgia trip, this is for you. So sit back and relax as we take you through the best GameCube games that still hold a place in gamers’ hearts.

15. Pikmin 2

• Developer(s): Nintendo EAD
• Release Date: October 26, 2001

There can be a debate between the original Pikmin and the sequel. We are featuring the latter in our list for some specific reasons. While charming, Pikmin presented a constrained experience with its 30-day limit, a constraint that masterfully lifted in Pikmin 2. This sequel’s introduction of Purple and White Pikmin, alongside dual captain control, greatly expanded strategic depth.

Therefore, Pikmin 2’s ingenious design undeniably makes a perfect mark on the console’s classic list of games. It removes limitations and adds augmenting gameplay, cementing its status as a must-try Nintendo GameCube game.

14. Mario Kart: Double Dash

• Developer(s): Nintendo EAD
• Release Date: November 14, 2003

Mario Kart: Double Dash stands out for its expansive character and track variety, offering both complex and simple racing experiences. The innovative dual-driver mechanic breeds unique cooperative gameplay, sweetening the multiplayer experience.

Double Dash’s arsenal of insane power-ups and classic items contributes to its chaotic and entertaining nature. This title elicits intense, emotion-fueled reactions, solidifying its status as a premier party racing game. Despite later series iterations, Double Dash remains a cherished favorite among Mario Kart enthusiasts and still holds the second-highest-selling tag of 6.88 million copies.

13. Luigi’s Mansion

• Developer(s): Nintendo EAD
• Release Date: September 14, 2001

There is a reason why Luigi’s Mansion garnered over 3.33 million copies on GameCube in terms of sales. No, it might not be the perfect launch the Mario franchise wanted. But the fresh take on the typical platformer makers was definitely beyond expectations.

The game gives you the challenge of beautiful puzzles while keeping the art in check. If you ask me, the highlight of Luigi’s Mansion will always be the well-put level design. Where many games in 2025 miss their charm, Luigi’s Mansion retains it even 24 years later.

• Developer(s): Silicon Knights, Konami
• Release Date: March 9, 2004

When Silicon Knights touched the PS success of Metal Gear Solid, many believed it would destroy Konami’s legacy. Well, 20+ years later, we still consider Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes one of the best GameCube games of all time. This is thanks to the developers’ remake mastery.

The Twin Snakes takes the PS2 version features of Metal Gear Solid and blends them with the classic story. While retaining the heart-wrenching tale of love and betrayal, this GameCube version upgrades it in all parts. Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes is not only a graphical upgrade but also remains one of the iconic remakes of all time.

11. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

• Developer(s): Ubisoft Montreal
• Release Date: October 28, 2003

Around 2003, the thought of the Prince of Persia reboot was quite a concern. But Ubisoft Montreal changed the entire scenario. The GameCube’s Sands of Time shimmered with a desert mirage, each wall run and rewind a playful dance with fate. Imagine a genie’s bottle spilling across the console, its sands rewriting gravity and error with a flick of the wrist.

Our Prince, a nimble shadow against crimson sunsets, pirouetted through perilous traps, time itself a mere plaything in his sand-dusted hands. It wasn’t just a game but a whispered legend, a story spun from sand and starlight, uniquely captured within the GameCube’s curious, cube-shaped heart.

10. Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem

• Developer(s): Silicon Knights
• Release Date: June 24, 2002

If you love horror experiences, there is no other like Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem. The game gives you an equal level of jump scares and terrorizing experiences that are missed even in 2025. Despite having so many horror games, we have yet to see such a level of design and execution.

But the true genius lies not in jump scares, but in the slow, creeping madness that seeps from the screen. Here, your sanity is a flickering candle, its light distorted by unseen winds, as reality itself begins to unravel. The GameCube, a mere mirror, reflects a twisted image of your mind, blurring the line between the digital and the real. Is it the game, or are you the one descending into the abyss?

9. Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door

• Developer(s): Intelligent Systems
• Release Date: July 22, 2004

There have been plenty of Mario series games, but let’s admit the paper aesthetic is unique. While the N64 Paper Mario took it in a direction, we all remember the GameCube version thanks to its overall package.

From upgrading the visuals to a fresh new spin on a 3D space, The Thousand Year Door takes your experience in a fun direction. Despite being a cute world full of puzzles, the challenging platformer can still defeat the hardest video games if it comes to a 1v1.

8. Soulcalibur II

• Developer(s): Namco
• Release Date: March 27, 2003

The history of Soulcalibur draws us back to the Dreamcast days. What started as a 3D fighter with some amazing aesthetics evolved into something even more beautiful with the GameCube release. Iconic fight sequences and choreography on the swordfight make the fighting feel seamless and addictive.

With Namco in charge, the game had to be different. Every variant featured a special character. For example, Xbox had Spawn, while PS2 got Tekken’s Heihachi. This, combined with the exceptional gameplay animations, makes Soulcalibur 2 one of the best fighting games on GameCube.

7. Super Mario Sunshine

• Developer(s): Nintendo EAD
• Release Date: July 19, 2002

A Nintendo console game list is empty without a lot of Mario mentions. However, when it comes to Super Mario Sunshine, the sales figures do not lie. With over 5.91 million copies sold, Super Mario Sunshine is quite a simple yet effective way of gaming on the platform.

Carrying the methods of Mario 64 forward, Nintendo made sure that the new things did not feel out of place. The game adds a new backpack that shoots water for your moment or other gameplay purposes. But don’t worry; it is sometimes taken away when you must experience the classic Mario adventure.

6. Star Wars Rogue Leader

• Developer(s): Factor 5, LucasArts
• Release Date: November 18, 2001

I am a huge fan of the Star Wars games, and after trying all the different versions, I can assure you that the GameCube version was something beyond human expectations. The gameplay was a visual and gameplay testament to the new GameCube at launch.

From the space exploration of Star Wars to the combat in the sky, you get it all here. Rogue Leader gives you the battle experience that many games still cannot recreate even on new-gen consoles. This game remains the undisputed king of Star Wars console flight sims, a benchmark for all others to chase.

5. Animal Crossing

• Developer(s): Nintendo EAD
• Release Date: December 14, 2001

Playing Animal Crossing on Nintendo Switch in 2025, I can assure you if it were not the GameCube version, we wouldn’t be here. Although it is not something groundbreaking, the calming vibes of the world of animals are worth it.

You can literally buy a home, get a job, make friends, or celebrate holidays. All of it is in an aesthetic land where chaos comes as the final option. The best part for me is always fishing and catching rare butterflies. If you want a taste of what feels like a calm walk in nature within a video game, then Animal Crossing still stands its ground as the best simulation game on GameCube.

4. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

• Developer(s): Nintendo EAD
• Release Date: December 13, 2002

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is one of the first GameCube games that comes to my mind when I talk about iconic selections. However, Twilight Princess is iconic because of the OG Wind Waker. While all Zelda games are different and fun on their own, The Wind Waker adds a colorful twist.

As the Great Sea in the Zelda game is already full of challenges, the new vibrance collides with something different. The result is that Link’s journey is a brushstroke of a masterpiece of adventure. It’s a testament to the power of dedication, a reminder that even in a world drowned in legend, a hero’s heart can still chart a course to the sun.

3. Resident Evil 4

• Developer(s): Capcom Production Studio 4
• Release Date: January 11, 2005

After years of Resident Evil games and movies, we can stand on the fact that Resident Evil 4 is still one of the best Resident Evil games of all time. And the greatness began with the GameCube version. You take on Leon’s journey on an infested island, rescuing Ashley.

The gameplay inspires many others, as it made the TPP survival shooter a real deal. Moreover, Resident Evil 4 brings a visual upgrade to GameCube that was exceptional for 2005 standards. Whether you love horror survival or not, even as an action adventure, Resident Evil 4 rules the hearts of fans. However, we suggest you take all the Resident Evil games in order before you begin this title.

2. Metroid Prime

• Developer(s): Retro Studios
• Release Date: November 18, 2002

The fight between one and two in our list of the best GameCube games is about preference. We are keeping Metroid Prime at number two, but it has the equal flair to be called the best on GameCube. It will take seconds to get hooked to Samus and his first 3D adventure. The game itself revitalized the expectations of a shooter.

Metroid Prime not only made its mark as an individual but also started a chain of greats. Whether it is Echoes, Prime Hunters, or Corruption, it all started with GameCube, and we must stay grateful. After years of witnessing games pushing the boundaries, we can still say that Metroid Prime dominates that column.

1. Super Smash Bros. Melee

• Developer(s): HAL Laboratory
• Release Date: November 21, 2001

As I said, the numero uno could go to any of the top two, but can we even question the impact Super Smash Bros. Melee created in the video games industry? You take all the Nintendo characters, mash them up in a fighter, and the brawl is limitless.

This showed up in the sales numbers as well. Super Smash Bros. Melee sold over 7.41 million copies on GameCube, which shows fans’ love for the game. The characters and even the arena you brawl in are created with thought. Well, we must say Nintendo’s way of celebrating their characters was done well in this one.

That ends our list of the best GameCube games of all time. Do you agree with our list? Share your favorite games from the GameCube console in the comments below.