Top 10: Nintendo GameCube Games

Nintendo continues to successfully release retro consoles as miniaturised versions that serve to celebrate their legacy. Each one of them comes with an already built in catalogue of classic titles. It’s a great idea and one that has been a huge success for the company. Everyone talks about the NES, SNES or the N64 but where’s the love for the GameCube? Released by Nintendo in Japan on September 14, 2001, the small indigo cube went on to sell over 22 million units worldwide. However, those numbers rank it as the second lowest selling console in Nintendo’s history. Still, it was up against the powerhouse known as the Playstation 2; arguably the greatest console of all time. I have fond memories of the GameCube so I’m here to give you my top 10 favourite games that appeared on it.

10 – Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life

Harvest Moon is a simulation game in which you find yourself in charge of a farm. You can grow crops, breed animals and much more. You’re tasked with maintaining things on the small piece of land as you strive to make money and progress in the story.

I lost many, many hours to this game back in the day. There’s something ridiculously relaxing and satisfying about the experience that it delivers. Ensuring that all of your plants were watered daily and fertilised correctly so they would develop well was a must. I can’t explain it; if you played this game then you know how easy it was to get obsessively lost in its world.

09 – James Bond 007: Nightfire

Everyone talks about Goldeneye but what about Nightfire? The Single Player campaign was surprisingly solid. Also, the multiplayer was a complete blast! Firing guided missiles at opponents as you camped safely in the distance was hilarious fun.

08 – Beyond Good & Evil

The story follows the adventures of Jade, an investigative reporter and martial artist, who works with a resistance movement to reveal a planet-wide alien conspiracy. The player controls Jade and allies, solving puzzles, fighting enemies, and obtaining photographic evidence.

07 – Pikmin

The main goal in the game is to retrieve ship parts by using the three varieties of Pikmin available in different combinations. Captain Olimar discovers multi-coloured plant-animal hybrids that willingly follow his orders and help him recover the parts. All three of the Pikmin colours that Olimar discovers must be used in order to overcome various obstacles and complete the game. The Pikmin creatures come in three colours, including red, yellow and blue.

I know, Pikmin 2 was better right? Unfortunately, I missed out on the sequel but I really enjoyed the original. It was quite simplistic but at the same time required a decent amount of strategy to overcome certain obstacles.

06 – The Legend of Zelda: The Windwaker

Does any other video game company in the world innovate better than Nintendo? It was a bold move to go with the cel-shaded visual style that the game had but that risk paid off big time, it was stunning.

05 – Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes

People are forever requesting a HD remake for the stellar Metal Gear Solid that released back in 1998 for Playstation. However, we already had one in 2004 and it was amazing! Seeing the game with updated visuals was an absolute treat for any fan of the original. It still holds up surprisingly well to this day. How this game became an exclusive to GameCube is a mystery, it must be a very interesting story. Also, why it has never been released for any other console since is an even bigger mystery.

04 – Super Mario Sunshine

This game is responsible for my very first memory of the GameCube and what it a memory it is. I recall being blown away by the unbelievable vibrancy of the colours in the game. Using the FLUDD water jet to get around was often cumbersome but it was still great fun. It’s a flawed game for sure but one that went way too underappreciated by fans.

03 – Super Smash Bros. Melee

Who doesn’t have fond memories of playing this game with siblings/friends? Battling it out with your favourite Nintendo characters going head to head ensured endless hours of fun. Pikachu for the win!

02 – Luigi’s Mansion

Personally, this is the game that I played the most on the Nintendo GameCube. It was genuinely refreshing to play a game that focused on Luigi rather than Mario for once. Busting ghosts was such a satisfying accomplishment. Also, the game had amazing replayabillity. You could go back through the mansion time after time attempting to better your score by collecting as much loot as possible.

01 – Resident Evil (Remake)

Could it really be anything else? Not everyone will agree with me but as a massive Resident Evil fan this was always going to be number one. The updated visuals were astonishing to anyone that played the original and they still hold up well today. In some ways, the game felt even more unique for the fact that it was initially exclusive to Nintendo. It was unlike anything else on the console, it gave its catalogue of games some serious depth. I’ll never forget the first time I entered the mansion and lighting struck illuminating my surroundings.

What are your favourite Nintendo GameCube games? I know I missed out some big ones but for me personally, the above games are my favourites.