Summary
- GameCube has quality, underappreciated games like F-Zero GX with unique gameplay and story modes.
- Soulcalibur 2 is hailed as the best in the series for its excellent combat and graphics.
- The Need for Speed series on GameCube, including titles like Underground, marked a golden era for the franchise.
The GameCube is one of the best Nintendo consoles, and it's a shame that this console didn't sell as many units as its competitors. However, this didn't stop Nintendo from flooding the platform with some quality games that are a blast to play.
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With players being able to access some quality GameCube titles on Nintendo Switch Online, fans who owned the console are looking forward to checking out its library, including some major hitters from beloved franchises that got everything right.
7 F-Zero
Fans Love F-Zero GX for its Story Mode and Well-Realized Racing Gameplay
F-Zero GX
- Released
- August 25, 2003
- ESRB
- Teen // Comic Mischief, Mild Violence, Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Amusement Vision
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Genre(s)
- Racing
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo GameCube
- GameCube entries: F-Zero GX
F-Zero is one of the most underappreciated franchises around, and it's a shame that Nintendo doesn't prioritize this franchise as much as some of its other heavy hitters. Speedy futuristic racers may not be mainstream anymore, but there's no reason why Nintendo can't revive the series with a proper mainline entry.
F-Zero GX made it clear that there was a lot this franchise could still bring to the table. The story mode and improved gameplay were astounding, and it's mind-blowing that Nintendo hasn't tried to reach these heights with the franchise ever since.
6 Soulcalibur
Soulcalibur 2 is Considered by Many to be the Best Game in the Series
Soulcalibur II
- Released
- July 5, 2002
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Project Soul
- Publisher(s)
- Project Soul
- Genre(s)
- Fighting, Action
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Arcade, GameCube, Xbox One
- GameCube entries: Soulcalibur 2
Soulcalibur is one of the most beloved fighting game franchises that fans love for its fun character designs and tantalizing combat. The first title showed off some impressive graphics that were improved upon considerably in a sequel that many hail as the best game in the Soulcalibur series.
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For what it's worth, Soulcalibur hasn't dipped from the gaming mainstream, releasing titles on every console generation. However, most people feel that Soulcalibur 2 is the greatest and most important game in the series that hasn't been topped since.
5 Paper Mario
The Thousand-Year Door is Arguably the Peak of this Fun RPG Spinoff Franchise
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
- Released
- October 11, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Intelligent Systems
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo GameCube
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
- GameCube entries: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
The legend of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is something many fans are familiar with to this day. It's widely considered to be the best game in the Paper Mario series and was one of the GameCube's finest titles.
The fact that Nintendo chose to remaster this title for the Switch speaks volumes about its impact. The charming story, fun combat, and amazing art style are in a class of their own and ensure that the game's levels and battles remain fresh and engaging till the end.
4 TimeSplitters
TimeSplitters 2 & Future Perfect Are Both Excellent Titles That Fans Will Love
TimeSplitters 2
- Released
- October 8, 2002
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Free Radical Design
- Publisher(s)
- Eidos Interactive
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- Platform(s)
- GameCube, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox (Original)
- GameCube entries: TimeSplitters 2, TimeSplitters: Future Perfect
The first TimeSplitters was a great debut entry, with the series enhancing the charm and gunplay in a sequel that fans love. Future Perfect is also a fun game in its own right and rounds off two of the best GameCube FPS titles fans could get their hands on.
It's a shame that TimeSplitters has become a relic of the past ever since. Fans are all aboard for unique FPS games with charming worlds, which would make this franchise ripe for a return to the gaming mainstream.
3 Baten Kaitos
A Short-Lived JRPG Series Lived and Died on the GameCube
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings And The Lost Ocean
- Released
- November 16, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Monolith Soft, tri-Crescendo
- Publisher(s)
- Namco, Nintendo
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Platform(s)
- GameCube
- GameCube entries: Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean, Baten Kaitos Origins
One of the most underappreciated RPG duologies fans can check out, it's fascinating that both Baten Kaitos games landed on the GameCube, with the franchise being forgotten ever since.
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Baten Kaitos Origins is considered by many to be the best title of the two, although Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean is also well worth checking out. Hopefully, with the modern JRPG renaissance, Baten Kaitos can return and shock players with a brand-new game.
2 Prince of Persia
The Sands of Time is the Undisputed GOAT of the Franchise That Was Released on Every Relevant Console
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
- Released
- October 28, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Montreal
- Publisher(s)
- Ubisoft
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2, Xbox (Original), Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, PC, Mobile
- GameCube entries: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
The Sands of Time is one of the greatest games of all time, with the combat being the only downside in what is otherwise a stellar experience. This title was a hit on every major console, including the GameCube.
Later games in this series lost this grand sense of vision, with Ubisoft making puzzling artistic choices before focusing the bulk of their attention on the Assassin's Creed series instead. This forced Prince of Persia to play second fiddle ever since, pretty much guaranteeing that the heights reached by The Sands of Time wouldn't be reached any time soon.
1 Need for Speed
The Classic NFS Games That Contributed to This Series' Hype Were All Released on the GameCube
Need for Speed: Underground
- Released
- November 17, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- EA Black Box
- Publisher(s)
- Electronic Arts
- Genre(s)
- Racing
- Platform(s)
- GameCube, PC, PS2, Xbox (Original), Nintendo Game Boy Advance
- GameCube entries: Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2, Need for Speed: Underground, Need for Speed: Underground 2, Need for Speed: Most Wanted, Need for Speed: Carbon
While the modern Need for Speed entries are excellent and well worth checking out for racing fans, most fans still believe that the 2000s were when Need for Speed hit its stride and launched hit after hit. Hot Pursuit 2 set the foundation for the franchise's evolution, Underground's atmosphere floored fans, and Underground 2 was a groundbreaking title that experimented with an open-world structure for the first time.
The legacy of Most Wanted speaks for itself, and Carbon was a great title to round off the GameCube NFS games with its amazing take on tough racing. All of these titles are Need for Speed in their prime, making the GameCube an amazing platform for these realistic racing games.
