Compact and endearing, the GameCube hides an exceptional library: Metroid Prime, Resident Evil 4, The Wind Waker, Super Smash Bros. Melee, Pikmin. This Top 50 gathers the console's best, re-tested and re-ranked by RomWize, each title with its re-evaluated score, its versions, their rarity and their collector value — a favourite hunting ground for collectors.
"Mikami's Resident Evil revolution, originally a GameCube exclusive. Over-the-shoulder camera, measured and tense action, an unforgettable Spanish rural village. Almost every set piece has become iconic. A high point of 2000s action gaming."
"The cel-shaded Zelda that first split fans then won them over. Archipelago world crossed by sea, animation of rare expressiveness and dungeons of mad elegance. Some stretches at sea drag a touch, yet the voyage has become a timeless classic."
"Cosmic survival horror by Silicon Knights, arguably one of the most singular entries in the genre. A sanity meter that breaks the game itself, a saga spanning two thousand years and thirteen protagonists. Ideas still stunning twenty years on. A genuine one of a kind."
"The dark, grown-up Zelda that closes the GameCube era in style. Twilit world, wolf transformation and long, sumptuous dungeons. Slower opening than other entries but the whole package aims true and lands. A great Zelda, set apart in the series."
"Viewtiful Joe, a Capcom gem by Hideki Kamiya. Snappy 2D action, cel-shaded tokusatsu look and VFX powers that slow or speed up the action. Crazy characters and deliciously hard levels. A genuine wonder, set apart in the catalogue."
"For many fans the favourite Smash across every generation. Wild speed, demanding tech, a tightly cut roster and combat physics never matched since. Tournaments still going twenty years on. Quite simply a fighting game high point."
"Factor 5's Rogue Squadron II, a sublime Star Wars space shooter at GameCube launch. Iconic original-trilogy missions revisited in the X-Wing, sound and visuals stunning for the time. Not long but ferociously intense. A must for galaxy fans."
"Soulcalibur II in superb shape, with Link as the GameCube guest. Precise 3D combat, wild roster and a deep Weapon Master mode. Sumptuous staging, unmatched feel pad in hand. Probably the machine's best fighting game."
"Retro Studios reinvents Metroid in first-person without betraying the series soul. Lonely exploration, scan-driven lore, precise gunplay across sumptuous environments. An absolute peak of adventure gaming, arguably the GameCube's best alongside Wind Waker."
"Capcom's legendary remake of the first Resident Evil. Sublime visual overhaul, the Spencer mansion more oppressive than ever, fresh Lisa Trevor passages. Absolute survival horror with exemplary cinematic staging. Arguably the series peak."
"Direct sequel in a doubled world of light and darkness with deeper exploration mechanics. Tougher, denser and more oppressive in mood. Without quite matching the first one's clarity, it still hits an adventure peak and confirms Retro Studios as Nintendo royalty."
"Collector bonus bundling Ocarina of Time with its dungeon-flipped Master Quest. The great Zelda 64 classic in GameCube garb, plus a tougher variant for veterans. Faithful emulation, massive content. A Nintendo gift fans still dream about."
"Direct Mario 64 sequel, tropical playground to scrub with the FLUDD water pack. Wild idea, vertiginous gameplay and tough secret stages to crack. Not the purity of its forebear but a genuine invention. Nintendo's 3D platform peak on the console."
"The first major Splinter Cell, Tom Clancy stealth by Ubisoft Montreal. Sam Fisher in night-vision goggles for the first time, gorgeous nocturnal levels and cinematic staging. An Ubisoft gift to the generation, an absolute classic."
"For many the series peak, Chaos Theory pushes stealth further. Integrated knife, sharper AI and Amon Tobin's exceptional sound design. Dense, freer levels and a cult asymmetric multiplayer. Essential on GameCube."
"The peak of the F-Zero saga, designed by Sega and Amusement Vision under Nintendo's watch. Mind-bending speed, dizzying tracks and AI hardwired for combat. Brutal difficulty but unmatched arcade racing thrills. Still undethroned today."
"EA Sports Big snowboarding at its peak, a huge open mountain to ride down. Acrobatic tricks, vertical races and a devastating hip-hop vibe. Arguably the most complete entry in the series and one of the best snow sports games ever. A real time capsule."
"Fight for NY hits hard, a genuinely meaty fighter under the Def Jam banner. Charismatic rapper roster, mixed wrestling and street fight combat, immaculate New York hip-hop vibe. Career mode is surprisingly gripping. A real time capsule for fans."
"Rayman 3, the maddest of the original trilogy. Wild levels, very funny writing and a string of cartoon-grade power-ups. Top-tier art direction and still-sublime animation. Arguably a peak of 2000s 3D platforming."
"Expanded Japanese edition of Animal Crossing, basis for the Western release. More villagers, more items, more seasonal events with a Japanese flavour. For true series fans, a treat to revisit the original in its native habitat."
