The GameCube was Nintendo’s offering for the sixth generation of video game consoles. While it wasn’t quite the head honcho of its generation, it certainly held its own in the face of stiff competition. This was thanks in large part to an exceptional library of games spanning multiple designs and genres.
10 Underrated GameCube Exclusives
These GameCube titles go under-appreciated, let’s change that.
As a Nintendo console, the GameCube’s bread and butter was, of course, platformers. As the patron platform of the plumber, the GameCube’s library was packed with platformer games featuring all manner of cartoony characters bouncing to and fro.
Whether it was from Nintendo itself or one of its supporting third-parties, the GameCube wasn’t spoiling for good jumping adventures.
10Sonic Adventure 2: Battle
Live And Learn
Sonic Adventure 2
If there were a single game in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise to have themost lasting impacton its fanbase, it would probably beSonic Adventure 2.
Technically, this game is a port from the Dreamcast, but the GameCube version, Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, is what really got everyone’s attention.
Besides just being a generally entertaining high-speed platformer, this was the game that gave us now-classic Sonic characters like Shadow and Rouge. That’s not even mentioning its absolutely incredible soundtrack and immensely memeable cutscenes.
If you owned a GameCube at any point in your life, you’ve almost definitely played this game.
9Wario World
Vaguely Garlic-Scented
Wario World
While Wario hadplenty of gameson Nintendo’s handheld consoles back in the day, he never got much solo action on the main consoles.
His first major foray into 3D, sports games like Mario Tennis notwithstanding, was Wario World, and it was just as weird as Wario himself.
This puzzle-action platformer had the portly treasure hunter running through a series of bizarre worlds, punching, spinning, and pile-driving any critter unfortunate enough to look at him funny.
It had some absolutely bonkers monster and boss designs, not to mention some puzzle sections that have become infamous for their difficulty.
8Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc
No Limbs, All Attitude
Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc
Rayman’s second game, The Great Escape, was a generally serious story with a heavy emphasis on dreams as a theme.
By contrast, his third game, Hoodlum Havoc, was much sillier and more action-centric, and it worked in his favor.
Rayman 3 combined the high-flying platforming sections of its predecessor with an overhauled combat system emphasizing quick, pitched battles.
It also introduced a variety of nifty powerups for Rayman’s fists, such as generating tornadoes and hooking onto grapple points.
If nothing else, this game deserves to be remembered as the last 3D Rayman game beforehe had his thunder stolen by the Rabbids.
7SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle For Bikini Bottom
One Of The Few Good Licensed Games
Spongebob Squarepants: Battle For Bikini Bottom
The GameCube was home to a lot of licensed video games based on movies and TV shows. Most of these were… not so great, but one that actually managed to stand the test of time wasSpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom.
This game places you in control of SpongeBob, Patrick, and Sandy as you platform your way through a variety of iconic locations from the show. With various bubble-powered abilities, you could fight off enemies and solve puzzles.
This game is so fondly remembered, it got afull remake in 2020for modern platforms.
6Super Mario Sunshine
A Little Water Works Wonders
Super Mario Sunshine
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Nintendo console without a 3D Mario platformer. The GameCube’s major Mario release wasSuper Mario Sunshine, a surprisingly experimental game as far as its series goes.
In addition to Mario’s usual jumping prowess, you have the help of F.L.U.D.D., a robotic backpack pump that can spray water long distances as well as be used to hover and dash.
The additional wrinkle of F.L.U.D.D. leads to all kinds of platforming and puzzle challenges, though many of the game’s most infamous challenges require you to rely solely on Mario’s jumps.
5Ty The Tasmanian Tiger
Aggressively Australian
Ty the Tasmanian Tiger
Ty the Tasmanian Tiger had a rather aggressive marketing campaign, featuring the titular tiger pummeling various mascots senseless with boomerangs.
He may not have surpassed the gaming greats, but Ty made a respectable effort nonetheless.
10 Most Iconic Mascots In Gaming
There are several Mascots in gaming that we’ve been seeing since several years, but here are the most iconic ones.
This game takes you across many lovely locales around the Australian outback, making use of special boomerangs to defeat enemies and uncover collectibles.
One boomerang sets fires, another freezes water, another generates lightning, and so on.
Even though the levels were outwardly linear, there was quite a bit to find in each one if you knew where to look.
4Donkey Kong Jungle Beat
Playing Platformers With Percussion
Donkey Kong Jungle Beat
Nintendo originally released itsspecial bongo drum peripheralfor use with the Donkey Konga rhythm game. However, the following year, it decided to take a more experimental approach to the musical controller with Donkey Kong Jungle Beat.
In this game, you control Donkey Kong’s journey through the jungles with your bongos, tapping on them to run, clapping your hands to grab items, and pounding them rapidly to pummel foes.
You wouldn’t think a game played with three buttons would be that complicated, but it was actually quite a challenge racking up those high scores.
3Pac-Man World 2
The Pac Is Back
Every now and then, Bandai Namco (formerly just Namco) likes to take a new approach to its classic mascot,Pac-Man.
The Pac-Man World series, particularly Pac-Man World 2, gives the round hero a little more spring in his step, swapping out the maze running for jumping and bouncing.
With his ball-like body, Pac-Man can bounce off footholds and enemies as well as roll across narrow gaps.
By gobbling up power-ups, he can gain new abilities, like turning metallic, shrinking in size, and, of course, chomping ghosts.
2Chibi-Robo! Plug Into Adventure!
Good Things Come In Small Packages
Chibi-Robo! Plug into Adventure!
If you’ve ever felt a spiritual kinship to your Roomba, you might enjoy playing Chibi-Robo, an experimental platforming adventure starring a pint-sized household cleaning robot.
While he’s barely bigger than your hand, it’s this little robot’s job to clean the house and resolve interpersonal conflicts, all in the name of spreading joy throughout the world.
The game runs on two time systems: a day-night cycle and your robo’s internal battery.
There’s only so much time in the day to clean and care, and your battery needs to be periodically recharged at an outlet. By solving problems, you’ll accrue resources to purchase new abilities and helper bots.
1Billy Hatcher And The Giant Egg
Part Of This Balanced Breakfast
Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg
Sega hasa lot of IPs under its belt, some of which have definitely seen more action than others. One IP that only received one game, albeit a very good game, was Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg.
A human boy lost in a world of anthropomorphic chickens and crows; it’s on Billy to battle the forces of night and bring about a good morning.
He can commandeer large eggs to squash foes and manipulate puzzles, as well as hatch them to reveal all kinds of helpful critters with elemental abilities.
10 Best JRPGs On The Nintendo GameCube, Ranked
For what few JRPGs released on the GameCube, it still had its fair share of gems, and we’re going to rank the best those gems have to offer.
