Top 50 All-time GameCube Games That You Must Play

When I look back at the GameCube, I see a black sheep. It sold fewer units compared to the Nintendo 64 and didn’t get much support from 3^rd party developers. The GameCube also used a proprietary optical disk, unlike Sony and Microsoft who went with standard DVDs for their 6^th generation consoles.

If you look at the PlayStation 2, it wasn’t just a gaming machine. You could play any DVD on it, so it functioned as a multimedia center for your movies and music. In fact, that’s one of the reasons why so many people bought a PS2.

Even the Xbox did things outside of just playing game disks. Like the PS2, it could play any DVD (with the purchase of a playback kit) and supported online multiplayer via Xbox Live. You could rip your own music files to the Xbox HDD and play them within supported games.

Nintendo’s marketing and image were out of touch with gaming culture which now wanted more mature, serious games. And the GameCube had no additional features like online connectivity or multimedia playback. It was literally a gaming box with its own proprietary media format.

Despite all of this, the GameCube had some really awesome games. And today, I will take a look at the top 50-all time GameCube games that you must play. So strap in, and let’s get started.

Metroid Prime

• Developer: Retro Studios
• Release Date: November 17, 2002

Possibly one of the finest video games ever created, the first Metroid Prime was a landmark in the legacy of Nintendo. Anyone who was deciding between the GameCube and PlayStation/ Xbox would have a hard time ignoring this title and the media buzz it generated. It is, after all, the 6^th best-selling game on GameCube with 2.84 million copies sold.

Prime is the first 3D Metroid game, and it uses a first-person camera. Chronologically, it takes place between the first and second Metroid games. The game has platforming, puzzles, special items, explorable areas, etc. just like previous Metroids, only this time it’s in 3D.  

Resident Evil 4

• Developer: Capcom Production Studio 4
• Release Date: January 11, 2005

In Resident Evil 4, Leon Kennedy is a skilled operative working for the U.S. government. He’s on a mission to rescue the President’s daughter who has been kidnapped. During his search, Leon finds himself in an old Spanish village filled with people who are acting really weird.

Eventually, he uncovers a sinister plot being hatched by an evil cult that uses mind-control viruses to turn regular people into obedient zombies. Resident Evil 4 is not a survival horror like its predecessors. It features big action set pieces, over-the-top boss fights, and fast-paced 3^rd person combat.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

• Developer: Nintendo EAD
• Release Date: March 24, 2003

One of the first Zelda titles to prominently feature ocean travel and island dungeons. The Wind Waker is a 3D action-adventure RPG with puzzles, quests, collectible items, and all the other stuff you expect from a Zelda game. However, it also introduced some very interesting mechanics never seen before.

Sailing using wind direction is one of the most unique aspects of Wind Waker. And it’s often your primary means of moving between island chains located within the game world. The cel-shaded art style of this game was also a first for Zelda, and way ahead of its time. 

Super Smash Bros. Melee

• Developer: HAL Laboratory
• Release Date: December 3, 2001

Hey, crossovers are pretty cool, right? After all, we love to see them in modern superhero action movies. Now, how about a fighting game in which you can pit famous video game characters against each other?

Most of them are Mario characters like Mario, Bowser, Luigi, etc. but Nintendo often adds characters from games that don’t involve the Mushroom Kingdom. The first Melee is still an excellent fighting game to this day. It basically plays out like a Sumo match in which your goal is to push the other guy off the stage.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

• Developer: Nintendo EAD
• Release Date: December 11, 2006

The Twilight Princess is a seminal title in the Legend of Zelda series, and many of its mechanics are still used in modern action-adventure RPGs. In fact, it was the best-selling Zelda game until Breath of the Wild launched. Twilight Princess features Link as the protagonist, much like previous Zelda games.

However, this time he can switch between his regular Hylian form and a new Wolf form. An evil alternate dimension called the Twilight Realm is trying to take over Hyrule. And Link must bring an end to their plans with the assistance of a mysterious little girl called Midna.

Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader

• Developer: Factor 5
• Release Date: November 18, 2001

Based on the original Star Wars Trilogy of movies, Rogue Squadron II is an action flight game in which you can play as either Luke Skywalker or Wedge Antilles. This is one of the launch titles for GameCube and was praised by critics for its excellent graphics, sound design, and story.

There are multiple Rebel aircraft to choose from. And you’ll go up against Empire heavyweights like TIE fighters, Star Destroyers, Imperial Shuttles, etc. In some missions, you’re escorting friendly aircraft while in others you’re doing bombing runs on Empire bases.

Animal Crossing

• Developer: Nintendo EAD
• Release Date: September 16, 2002

Back in the Nintendo 64 days, there was this really obscure game about animals living in a village that was released only in Japan. Animal Crossing is built on the same platform, and you play as a human living in the midst of anthropomorphic animals.

You have a farm and do regular village people stuff. Like buying produce and fertilizer from the market, talking with your fellow residents, paying off the mortgage on your property, etc. It’s called a social simulator game and doesn’t have a strict central storyline which means you can play it forever. 

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

• Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
• Release Date: November 18, 2003

It’s like that old MS-DOS Aladdin game, except a little more mature and serious. You play as a prince whose father is invading a foreign kingdom at the behest of his traitorous vizier. The vizier plans to use a hidden artifact within the enemy land to control its people by turning them into hideous monsters.

However, you won’t let that happen. There’s this weapon called the Dagger of Time which you’ve acquired during the raid. It lets you rewind time, a mechanic that proves extremely helpful while platforming or fighting tough enemies. 

Super Mario Sunshine

• Developer: Nintendo EAD
• Release Date: August 26, 2002

Think Super Mario 64, but for the GameCube. And there’s also this new gimmicky weapon called the FLUDD (Flash Liquidizer Ultra Dousing Device) which is essentially a glorified pressure washer. It comes in handy when you’re trying to clear goop blocking your path, and you can also use the FLUDD to spray down enemies.

Pikmin 2

• Developer: Nintendo EAD
• Release Date: August 30, 2004

Alright, so you got hit by a shrink ray and are now the size of a microbe. Everything from bugs to household critters looks gigantic. Oh, and you’re also stuck on an alien planet.

But worry not, you’ve got an army of microscopic plant-things called Pikmin who will do everything from scouting to fighting. There are different types of Pikmin, each with its own strengths. You have to explore multiple zones on this alien planet and find treasures while also navigating around obstacles.

Soulcalibur II

• Developer: Project Soul
• Release Date: August 27, 2003

The original Soulcalibur was a smash hit. It diverged from the increasingly generic trend of fighting games featuring martial artists, that took place in the modern day. Soulcalibur put you in the shoes of a warrior in the 16^th century.

You had samurais, French nobles, Shaolin monks, ninjas, etc. and combat featured some kind of weapon unique to each character. Soulcalibur 2 builds on that premise with more characters, stages, and an all-new story revolving around the legendary weapon called Soul Edge.

Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem

• Developer: Silicon Knights
• Release Date: June 24, 2002

Inspired by Lovecraftian horror, Eternal Darkness is Nintendo’s first M-rated game. Is it scary? Well, not in the traditional sense with monsters and evil creatures.

While it does have horrifying elements, Eternal Darkness is a psychological horror. It makes you question yourself with each move you make, losing the ability to distinguish between reality and fiction. 

Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance

• Developer: Intelligent Systems
• Release Date: October 17, 2005

Fire Emblem is a tactical RPG in which you carefully select the types of troops and how they are positioned on a grid-based battlefield. It also features perma-death so if one of the characters you recruited falls in battle, they are gone forever. There are regular physical attacks made with melee and ranged weaponry, as well as magic spells that you learn and upgrade over the course of this game. 

Viewtiful Joe

• Developer: Capcom Production Studio 4
• Release Date: October 7, 2003

An excellent side-scrolling brawler in which you play as a movie buff on a mission to rescue his kidnapped girlfriend. Joe is a huge fan of action movies, and his favorite superstar is Captain Blue. But one day while he is in the theatre with his girlfriend, she gets kidnapped.

Joe is transported into an alternate dimension where he meets his hero Captain Blue and receives a magical ring. This ring turns Joe into a superhero and he proceeds to lay waste to a bunch of bad guys on the path to rescue his girl. Viewtiful Joe makes use of both regular 2D and cel-shaded 3D graphics.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

• Developer: Intelligent Systems
• Release Date: October 11, 2004

It’s another Mario game in which Princess Peach gets kidnapped, and Mario must save her. But this isn’t anything like Super Mario Bros. or even Super Mario 64. It is a role-playing game featuring excellent 2D graphics that look like they were hand-drawn.

Combat is turn-based and rewards you for timing your moves in real-time. If you have good timing, you can execute a chained attack or counter move that deals bonus damage. On some levels, you’ll be assisted by a partner who has their own special ability. 

Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes

• Developer: Silicon Knights
• Release Date: March 9, 2004

The original Metal Gear Solid for PlayStation was a massive success, and it kickstarted an entire generation of 3D stealth games from various developers. However, it had some real issues. While the graphics were 3D, most of the game was played from an overhead perspective which diminished the action element.

Twin Snakes fixes that issue by giving you a first-person view while shooting. Just this one change entirely transforms the way you handle enemies and boss fights. Visually, Twin Snakes is superior to the original and cutscenes have been completely redone to give this game more of an action-movie vibe. 

TimeSplitters: Future Perfect

• Developer: Free Radical Design
• Release Date: March 21, 2005

Alright, I know that the bald space marine shtick has been done ad infinitum by this point. However, TimeSplitters: Future Perfect came out during an era when this concept was still fairly new. And it also features one of the most likable bald space marines in the form of Sergeant Cortez.

Cortez is a parody of every 1980s macho action protagonist trope. A time-traveling one-man army who fights everything from tanks to cyborgs. He’s also loaded with all sorts of futuristic gizmos, automatic firearms, and explosives.

Luigi’s Mansion

• Developer: Nintendo EAD
• Release Date: November 18, 2001

The first Mario-franchise title to come out on GameCube, Luigi’s Mansion is a fun action-exploration game set within a spooky haunted house. It’s part Ghostbusters and part Mario 64, with tons of areas to explore and items to find. You go into rooms and hunt down ghosts as Luigi, armed with a flashlight and the “Poltergust 3000”.

Ikaruga

• Developer: Treasure
• Release Date: April 15, 2003

It’s a vertically scrolling shooter in which you play as Shinra- an ace pilot on a mission to overthrow an oppressive regime. Yeah, it’s not exactly a new concept but the way in which Ikaruga executes the simple vertical scrolling shooter is what interests me.

Your aircraft has two modes that can be switched between on the fly- white and black. Enemies and their projectiles also come in white and black. If the incoming projectile is the same color as you, it gets absorbed, if not you take damage.

Skies of Arcadia Legends

• Developer: Overworks
• Release Date: January 27, 2003

It’s a fun adventure RPG in which you start out weak, gathering friends and new skills to defeat a giant evil empire. However, there’s a twist- instead of setting the world on land, the developers went to the skies. You play as Vyse, an air pirate with his own flying ship.

Resident Evil

• Developer: Capcom Production Studio 4
• Release Date: April 30, 2002

Capcom is no stranger to releasing remakes of classic titles, just look at their excellent Resident Evil 2 and 3 remakes. However, the original Resident Evil remake for GameCube is possibly their finest attempt at reviving an old franchise. Gone are the clunky fixed camera angles and tank controls, plus the graphics have been massively upgraded while staying true to the spirit of the original. 

F-Zero GX

• Developer: Amusement Vision
• Release Date: August 25, 2003

 F-Zero GX is a colorful 3D arcade racer set in a futuristic world where hovercars rip across specially designed tracks at speeds in excess of 600mph. These futuristic racers look more like fighter aircraft with their wings cut off, and that’s part of the reason F-Zero GX is so awesome. That, and the wide variety of tracks combined with an amazing soundtrack.

Pikmin

• Developer: Nintendo EAD
• Release Date: December 3, 2001

It’s part RTS and part puzzle game. In this game, you control a race of plant-like beings called Pikmin. There are different types of Pikmin and you can distinguish between them by their color.

The game is set on an alien planet that resembles our Earth, and you have various mission objectives that involve collecting items or building structures. Environmental hazards are also a thing, and certain types of Pikmin are more resistant to these hazards. There are predatorial creatures who are much stronger than your Pikmin, so you’ll have to navigate around danger.

Phantasy Star Online: Episode I & II

• Developer: Sonic Team
• Release Date: October 30, 2002

Originally released for the Sega Dreamcast, Phantasy Star Online was Sega’s attempt to create an online multiplayer RPG for consoles. Prior to Phantasy Star Online, playing with other people via the internet was mostly a PC thing.

When Sega stopped making consoles, they ported Phantasy Star to the GameCube under the title of Episode I & II. The updated version features new game mechanics while also adding previously unseen characters + locations.

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes

• Developer: Retro Studios
• Release Date: November 15, 2004

Echoes is a direct sequel to Metroid Prime, which is my top GameCube game. Once again, you play as Samus Aran. This time, the legendary space bounty hunter is on a mission to rescue a group of Galactic Federation Marines.

Their ship got stranded near a planet called Aether which is inhabited by the alien race known as Luminoth. You fight the Ing, interdimensional creatures from an evil version of Aether. Dark Samus also appears in this game, who is basically you but evil. 

Super Monkey Ball 2

• Developer: Amusement Vision
• Release Date: August 25, 2002

Hey, have you ever seen people roll around in those giant inflatable balls that look like oversized bubble wrap? Well, Super Monkey Ball is entirely based on that concept. Only this time, you control the stage itself instead of the character within the ball.

By tilting the stage around your ball, you can make it roll in whichever way you want. To spice things up, Super Monkey Ball 2 surprises you with obstacles and gimmicks like teleportation portals. 

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3

• Developer: Neversoft
• Release Date: November 18, 2001

Some fans say this is the best Pro Skater game of them all, because of its excellent music and level design. It was definitely a lot more popular on PlayStation 2, but the GameCube version is pretty amazing in its own way.

Pro Skater 3 introduced a new system called revert that lets you chain vertical combos with a manual. Thanks to revert, you can create much longer and cooler-looking sequences of tricks. This game also introduced many new variations to standard moves like the kick, flip, grind, etc. 

SSX Tricky

• Developer: EA Canada
• Release Date: December 2, 2001

What Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater is to skateboarding fans, the SSX series is to snowboarding fans. But even if you aren’t familiar with the sport of snowboarding, you’re going to have a ton of fun with this game. It is based on the same core principles as previous SSX games, but with the addition of new tracks and characters.

Plus there is this new Uber trick system that is similar to special moves in fighting games. You fill up a gauge with regular tricks and when it is full, you can unleash Uber moves that are extremely flashy and reward you with lots of points. 

Super Mario Strikers

• Developer: Next Level Games
• Release Date: December 5, 2005

It’s a five-on-five football game but there’s no referee and you can forcibly tackle opponents to steal their ball. Plus, all playable characters are taken from the Mario franchise. You’ve got Peach, Bowser, Donkey Kong, Luigi, Mario, etc.

Oh, and much like Mario Kart, you can also use special items to slow down other players. There are banana peels, red Koopa shells, etc. And you even have special kicks called Super Strikes that net double the points for each goal. 

Beyond Good and Evil

• Developer: Ubisoft Pictures
• Release Date: December 11, 2003

Beyond Good and Evil plays like a mish-mash of action-adventure and stealth. It encourages you to avoid enemy encounters whenever possible, although you are armed with a staff. This game doesn’t have the best combat, but then again you spend the vast majority of your time clicking photos and controlling AI companions. 

Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory

• Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
• Release Date: March 31, 2005

Arguably one of the finest stealth simulators ever created, it stands right up there with other stealth classics such as Thief and Hitman. Chaos Theory is extremely complex in the way it handles sounds. Not only does Sam himself make noise depending on how fast he is moving, but the environment itself has ambient noise.

You can use this ambient noise to cloud your own movements like takedowns or switching between positions. Enemies have multiple states of awareness and suspicion. They will even start wearing helmets and bulletproof vests once an alarm is raised, so if you get detected the enemies are much harder to neutralize. 

Burnout 2: Point of Impact

• Developer: Criterion Games
• Release Date: April 8, 2003

The first Burnout looked very much like a Need for Speed clone, although it did feature a lot more action in the form of destructible cars. The second game is when Burnout finally started to become its own thing, and the cover tells you everything you need to know.

Instead of family saloons and tiny hatchbacks, you now have sports cars with aggressive paint jobs and flame decals. The rock soundtrack has been designed specifically to match the fast-paced driving action in this game. For people who really want to cause mayhem, both the number and quality of takedowns have been significantly increased.

Killer7

• Developer: Grasshopper Manufacture
• Release Date: July 7, 2005

This is a really complex game in terms of design. While its core gameplay is extremely linear and on-rails, the shooting feels precise and responsive.

The plot seems like a generic spy thriller at first. But in a noir-like twist, a group of 7 assassins discovers they are part of a sinister global plot by the U.S. government.

Star Fox Adventures

• Developer: Rare
• Release Date: September 23, 2002

The original Star Fox game was a space shooter in which you play as Fox McCloud piloting the Arwing. However, Star Fox adventures took a few liberties with this formula and decided to be an action-adventure instead.

 Still, you can fly the Arwing since this game has two game modes. One is for exploration in which you have a third-person view with the option to switch into first-person. The second game mode is an on-rails flying section where you dodge incoming fire and shoot down enemy fighters.

Mega Man X Collection

• Developer: Capcom
• Release Date: January 10, 2006

I mentioned in the intro of my article that one of the reasons behind the GameCube’s failure was the fact that it didn’t have many 3^rd party games. For the most part during its initial few years, the GameCube was primarily a port machine. However, some of these ports were improvements compared to the original.

Mega Man X Collection is a nice example of that. It contains the first 6 Mega Man X games that were originally released on the NES. It also has unlockable special game modes and music packs. 

SSX 3

• Developer: EA Canada
• Release Date: October 20, 2003

In SSX 3 you complete snowboarding challenges and participate in the SSX tournament to boost your skills. There is a roster of playable characters, each with their own quirks and personality.

Winning events rewards you with money that is used to buy clothes and snowboards. SSX 3 also has a new free roam mode in which you can experience every course in the game, and they aren’t separated by loading zones.

The Simpsons Hit & Run

• Developer: Radical Entertainment
• Release Date: September 16, 2003

Apparently, Simpsons video games have been around for an extremely long time because this is the 22^nd installment in the franchise. Hit & Run follows the Simpsons family as they witness strange events unfolding in their neighborhood. There are shadowy characters moving about, new CCTV cameras being installed in the streets, and crop circles popping out of nowhere.

Super Monkey Ball

• Developer: Amusement Vision
• Release Date: November 18, 2001

The original Monkey Ball, it’s a game in which you help a monkey trapped inside a ball. By tilting the “floor” you can move this ball in any direction.

There are 4 playable monkeys and several minigames that are unlocked by going through the single-player campaign. Each stage has its own unique obstacles and you must try to reach the finish line without falling off.

Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean

• Developer: Monolith Soft
• Release Date: November 16, 2004

You’re probably reading the name and thinking out loud “yep, definitely a Japanese RPG”. Don’t worry, the game itself is nowhere as convoluted as the name suggests. It’s actually quite enjoyable and has a nice selection of characters with solid dialogue.

The main draw of this game is its card-based battle system. Also, you don’t directly play as the protagonist. Instead, you’re a guardian spirit that guides him through dialogue boxes. 

Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour

• Developer: Camelot Software Planning
• Release Date: July 28, 2003

Well, there isn’t much to say about this one. It’s a family-friendly golf game starring our favorite Italian plumber. Mario and his friends are on a vacation, and they decided to have some fun with golf.

There are a total of 16 playable characters from the Mushroom Kingdom. And since each character has their own attributes, you can bet this game is endlessly replayable. 

Tales of Symphonia

• Developer: Namco Tales Studio
• Release Date: July 13, 2004

You may not know this, but Final Fantasy isn’t the only JRPG to get adapted into manga and anime. Tales of Symphonia was extremely popular, although not on the level of Final Fantasy. This video game has 7 manga collections, a couple of novels, several drama CDs, and an anime.

It follows the story of Lloyd Irving and his childhood friend Colette Brunel in a fantasy world called Sylvarant. Even though the battle is turn-based and you can only have 4 active members, inactive members can be given instructions before a battle starts. And the inactive members of your party are controlled by AI. 

Sonic Mega Collection

• Developer: Sonic Team
• Release Date: November 10, 2002

When the Sega Genesis came out with Sonic, an entire generation of kids were introduced to this awesome blue blur. He is cooler, edgier, faster, and more exciting compared to Nintendo’s family-friendly Mario. However, 21st-century gamers aren’t so familiar with the character which is why Sega released an entire compilation of all Sonic games on the GameCube. 

Resident Evil 2

• Developer: Capcom
• Release Date: January 14, 2003

The 2^nd Resident Evil game and my personal favorite, RE2 is a proper survival horror unlike Resident Evil 4. It lets you play as either Leon Kennedy or Claire Redfield. Leon is a new cop trying to visit the Raccoon City PD for his first day at work.

Claire Redfield is the sister of Chris from the first RE game and she’s come to Raccoon City in search of her missing brother. Both of these characters find themselves stuck in the middle of a massive zombie outbreak caused by the Umbrella Corporation and its T-virus. 

Baten Kaitos Origins

• Developer: Monolith Soft
• Release Date: September 25, 2006

Origins came out after the first Baten Kaitos, and it’s a prequel to the events that take place in the first game. It uses a similar setting, with the player character being controlled indirectly by a guardian spirit. You also have the same card-based battle system, although with a few tweaks.

Items, spells, and everything else is utilized through cards. Even your armor, attack types, and statistics are contained in these cards. Cards are used to fight and also to interact with the environment. 

Viewtiful Joe 2

• Developer: Clover Studio
• Release Date: November 18, 2004

Remember the original Viewtiful Joe game in which you played as an action movie star who gets sucked into a fictional realm while rescuing his girlfriend? Well, the 2^nd game picks off right after the events of the first one. In this one, you can play as either Joe or Sexy Silvia and use your special effects powers to beat up bad guys.

These VFX powers let you slow down the action or speed it up, plus you can rewind stuff as though you are watching a movie. Viewtiful Joe 2 uses a combination of 2D and 3D cel-shaded graphics, just like the original. 

Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles

• Developer: The Game Designers Studio
• Release Date: February 9, 2004

Back when this game was released, Square had an exclusive agreement with Sony which stated they could only make games for the PlayStation. This is why many gamers were surprised to see Final Fantasy on GameCube. To avoid legal trouble, Square created a shell company called The Game Designers Studio and it would release exactly one Final Fantasy game on GameCube.

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventure

• Developer: Nintendo EAD
• Release Date: June 7, 2004

While the story itself doesn’t stand out much compared to more popular Zelda titles, the 4-player co-op mode is what really sold this game. The main campaign shows Link and 3 of his clones fighting to rescue Hyrule from the clutches of Shadow Link, who’s basically your evil doppelganger.

So you’re basically playing as Link, alongside other Links, and fighting against Link. For multiplayer, each of the 4 players will have to use a Game Boy Advance as their controller.

Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike

• Developer: Factor 5
• Release Date: October 15, 2003

Much like Star Wars Rogue Squadron II, this game is based on the original trilogy. A lot of the stages, dialogue, and characters are taken straight from the movie. Piloting rebel ships, you engage in intergalactic battles against Imperial forces.

However, the 3^rd Rogue Squadron made a few nice additions to the tried and tested formula. In this game, you can dismount your fighter and engage in ground battles, plus you can even switch vehicles altogether like GTA. And it even has a 2-player multiplayer game mode. 

Chibi-Robo

• Developer: Skip Ltd.
• Release Date: February 8, 2006

In Japanese, the word “Chibi” means small and cute. So it makes sense that your character in this game is a tiny 10cm-tall robot. Chibi-Robo is the ultimate family robot, for he does all sorts of random chores around the house.

You work for the Sanderson family and can interact with living toys around the household. I feel like this game was at least partially inspired by Pixar’s Toy Story. Each action you do requires battery power and you can recharge Chibi-Robo’s battery by plugging him into an electrical outlet. 

WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Party Games$!

• Developer: Intelligent Systems
• Release Date: April 5, 2004

A party game compilation for you and your friends to have some fun with. WarioWare Mega Party Games is a revision of Mega Microgames for the Game Boy Advance. The Game Boy Advance version is also comprised of minigames that take a few seconds to complete.

But Mega Party Games for the GameCube adds multiplayer. With each level you pass, the microgames get faster and slightly more complicated. You have a time limit for each stage and failing a game takes away a life. 

Conclusion

If sales data is the only metric by which you measure a console’s success, the GameCube definitely failed. However, it was an innovator in several areas. Nintendo’s WaveBird controller used RF to communicate wirelessly with a receiver module that you plugged into the GameCube’s controller port.

After the WaveBird, both Sony and Microsoft started working on their own wireless controllers. But we wouldn’t see them until the PS3 and Xbox 360 arrived. Nintendo was also the first big console manufacturer to use PowerPC CPUs (later, both Microsoft and Sony used PowerPC for their 7^th gen consoles).

The RISC (reduced instruction set computer) architecture of PowerPC made it easier to code games for the GameCube. Nintendo also designed the GameCube to be extremely compact and portable. While people made fun of its cartoonish looks, it was tiny compared to the original Xbox (and even PS2).  

Unfortunately for Nintendo, all these innovations meant nothing. Because Sony had already captured the market by releasing their PS2 nearly one year before the GameCube. And the direction of gaming as a whole was shifting, which didn’t bode well for Nintendo’s family-friendly image.

Gaming was now edgier and more mainstream; people didn’t want to play “kiddie” games anymore. Mario and Donkey Kong were all the rage in the 80s and 90s. But by the early 2000s, everyone wanted games like Max Payne, Grand Theft Auto, God of War, etc.

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