Nintendo launched its fourth home game console, the GameCube, in Japan, 20 years ago today. Despite getting crushed in the numbers game over the next six years by the PlayStation 2 juggernaut, it still played host to many unforgettable gaming experiences for millions of people.
The GameCube feels like an odd duck in retrospect, with its funky controller, compact design (complete with carrying handle), and unique 3-inch optical media. It lagged in online functionality, and its relatively low-capacity media (and lack of DVD player functionality) held it back compared to its competitors. Among its hardware highlights, it launched the first practicable wireless game controller, the WaveBird, which performed astoundingly well for the time.
Software was always the star of the show on the GameCube, and Nintendo continued its running dominance of the young-at-heart market, launching beloved new games starring Mario, Link, Samus, Kirby, Donkey Kong, and the Animal Crossing crew.
In fact, there are tons of great GameCube games—dozens of high-quality titles exist within its 650+ game software library. But if you’re looking for the best of the best, or perhaps you’re exploring the GameCube for the first time, you’ve got to start somewhere. And that’s where this list comes in.
While trying to determine the 10 best GameCube games, I found about six or seven undisputed masterpieces and about 10 to 15 really awesome games that could be interchanged with several titles on this list. So don’t be too sore if you don’t see your favorite games here. There are others out there, and these 10 just hit an arbitrary cut-off point.
If you’re playing GameCube for the first time, I envy you. You are about to discover a magical gaming platform. And for those who knew and loved the console in its heyday, there’s much more out there to explore.
Editors’ Note: Editors’ Note: This story was first published on Sept. 26, 2019.
