The Nintendo GameCube (released in 2001 in some countries, and in 2002 for the rest of the world) was a beloved console for many gamers. There are quite a few titles that are considered classics, and while it was not universally praised, it was considered a success for Nintendo overall. (Though it was greatly surpassed by the incredible popularity of its successor, the Wii.) As Nintendo’s competition for the PS2 and Xbox, GameCube had the unenviable task of matching the success of those consoles without outright emulating them; in essence, it still had to feel like a Nintendo.
Let’s take a look at the ten best GameCube games ever made, according to Metacritic:
10 ETERNAL DARKNESS: SANITY’S REQUIEM (SCORE: 92)
Coming in at number 10 is Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem. While this horror action-adventure game is certainly not a household name and did not have good sales numbers, it did garner a plethora of positive reviews and went on to win several awards. Critics and players alike enjoyed combating the supernatural monsters, conjuring dazzling spells, and traveling through the ever-changing setting that only seemed to get cooler as the game went on. Originally planned as a Nintendo 64 game, it was eventually developed for the GameCube. Due to the low sales, Nintendo canceled the sequel, though the game’s writer/director Denis Dyack is hoping to create a spiritual successor to the game called Shadow of the Eternals.
9 NFL 2K3 (SCORE: 92)
Considered one of the best football games of its time, NFL 2K3 was widely praised for its realistic player animations, the intuitive audible system, and the in-depth franchise mode. It even included an ESPN broadcast system that showed highlights from your games, which was revolutionary at the time. This is one of those games that is tough to look back at and judge it compared to the games we have today, but upon release, it really seemed to be something special.
8 VIEWTIFUL JOE (SCORE: 93)
A superhero action game with an incredible visual style, Viewtiful Joe quickly became not only one of the most stylish games available on the GameCube, but one of the most stylish games available at the time, period. Though it was really just a side-scrolling beat-em-up, it seemed to be a game that was greater than the sum of its parts. Viewtiful Joe garnered more than favorable reviews from just about every publication at the time.
7 SOULCALIBUR II (SCORE: 93)
One of the most beloved fighting game franchises ever, SoulCalibur II was widely praised upon release, much like its predecessors. The game innovated in several areas, including an easier “avoid” and “step” system, as well as a mechanic that implemented moves that could be only be used when interacting with a wall. Four new characters were added into this iteration of SoulCalibur, and many characters from previous entries in the series made their return.
6 MADDEN NFL 2004 (SCORE: 94)
Another American football game (and incidentally, the only surviving NFL gaming franchise) Madden NFL 2004 is much like NFL 2k3 in that, looking back at it today, it doesn’t really look like much. But at the time, it was one of the best sports simulation games available. Madden 2004 introduced the Owner Mode for the first time, allowing players to build and manage their own stadium alongside managing their team. It also included online play, which certainly wasn’t usual back in the early 2000s.
5 THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: COLLECTOR’S EDITION (SCORE: 95)
The Legend of Zelda Collector’s Edition featured four different Legend of Zelda games: The Legend of Zelda, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask. Entire lists could be written about each of these entries, as all of them are hugely influential in gaming still today.
Also included in this Collector’s Edition was a demo of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.
4 THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: THE WIND WAKER (SCORE: 96)
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is the middle Zelda entry on this list, though it has the same average Metascore of the Zelda game alongside it. One of the most pivotal parts of this entry into the Legend of Zelda franchise was the cel-shaded graphics, a first for the series. Despite the new graphics, classic gameplay elements abounded, with the perfect mix of combat, puzzles, and a fantastic story.
3 THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: TWILIGHT PRINCESS (SCORE: 96)
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess takes third place on this list. A bit of a different type of adventure from previous Legend of Zelda titles, Twilight Princess includes the ability for Link to transform into a wolf. That being said, once again there is still plenty of familiarity here with combat and puzzles, ensuring this is a title that longtime fans can still enjoy while possibly bringing in some fresh faces, as well.
2 RESIDENT EVIL 4 (SCORE: 96)
Almost there! Resident Evil 4 returns protagonist Leon to action, joining him six years after the events of Resident Evil 2. This game seemed to take Resident Evil into a bit of a different, action-oriented direction, but was still widely praised from critics and fans alike. Players enjoyed the same kind of tense atmosphere from previous games, without that feeling of helplessness. Plus, let’s not forget, the great narrative Resident Evil games (almost) always provide. Generally regarded as one of the best survival horror titles of all time, Resident Evil 4 has had a marked impact on the genre since release.
1 METROID PRIME (SCORE: 97)
Here it is, the top-rated GameCube game of all time: Metroid Prime. Metroid Prime gave us a return to Samus, and now in a first-person view. This action-adventure game was universally praised for its fresh take on the franchise’s world, the tight and fun gameplay mechanics it presented, the absolutely fantastic soundtrack, and the great level design. It was a game longtime fans of the series could enjoy, while at the same time being a game that brought a whole new audience into the world.
NEXT: 10 Exciting Console Games Still Coming Out This Year
