Every Year of The GameCube’s Run, Ranked

Looking back at the GameCube’s entire lifespan, it’s clear that this console didn’t get the appreciation it deserved.

People who know me well are aware of how much I love the Nintendo GameCube. Although it didn’t immediately win everyone over – its boxy design and the absence of a new Super Mario game at the start turned some people off – many never really gave it a fair chance.

Players who didn’t experience the GameCube early on missed out on a fantastic lineup of games that were just as good as those on the Xbox and PlayStation 2. Titles like Super Smash Bros. Melee, Rogue Leader, Metroid Prime, and The Wind Waker made the GameCube’s first few years truly special.

But are they the best years in the GameCube’s run? Let’s dive in and find out!

I will be using the North American release date for these games.

7. 2007

Madden NFL 2008

In the GameCube’s last year, five games came out: Madden, Ratatouille, Surf’s Up, Meet the Robinsons, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Since Nintendo is now concentrating all its efforts on the Wii, it’s not surprising that their only new releases this year were sports games and titles based on movies.

This year’s Madden game was surprisingly good! Unfortunately, the other games weren’t as strong. It wasn’t about whether a game was officially licensed – there are plenty of great licensed games, like the 2005 Madagascar game, for example. But it was obvious Nintendo was preparing to stop making games for the GameCube.

Let’s not waste any more time than we need to with 2007 and move on to some better years, shall we?

6. 2006

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Chibi-Robo, Harvest Moon: Magical Melody

Again, one thing becomes super clear here: Nintendo was ready to move on to the Nintendo Wii.

Twilight Princess was originally released with the Nintendo Wii and later became available for the GameCube. It was definitely worth the wait, and I actually think the GameCube version was the better way to experience the game. My roommate and I spent a lot of time comparing the two versions, and we both agreed that the Wii’s motion controls didn’t stay fun for very long.

Alongside the release of Twilight Princess, fans of simulation games got new options with Harvest Moon: Magical Melody and Chibi-Robo. Despite these titles, it was obvious Nintendo wasn’t focusing much on the GameCube. Although 2006 was an improvement over 2007, it remained a difficult year for the console. Thankfully, things would eventually improve.

5. 2005

Resident Evil 4, Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, SSX On Tour, Killer7

Let’s take a quick look back at gaming history. In the early 2000s, Capcom had a special deal with Nintendo to release five games only on the GameCube – these were known as the “Capcom Five.” Two of these games came out in 2005, most notably Resident Evil 4, which is considered the best of the bunch. The other was Killer7, a unique game that helped make its creator, Suda51, a well-known name in the industry.

It’s funny that both Resident Evil 4 and Killer7 eventually appeared on other systems, but that doesn’t change the fact that they’re both excellent games.

The 2005 Capcom presentation wasn’t the only highlight. Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance is widely considered one of the greatest Fire Emblem titles, and SSX On Tour was a standout with its unique style, energetic metal soundtrack, and surprising cameos from Mario, Luigi, and Peach as playable characters.

This year’s sports games were a hit, including popular titles like NBA Street V3—which even included characters from the Mario universe—MVP Baseball 2005, and Fight Night Round 2.

4. 2001

Super Smash Bros. Melee, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3, Star Wars Rogue Squadron: Rogue Leader, Pikmin, Super Monkey Ball

The launch window for the GameCube, despite lacking a Super Mario game, was actually pretty great.

Luigi’s Mansion is a fun game, but it likely wouldn’t have been as well-received if players hadn’t been expecting a new Mario title. While enjoyable, it’s not a game that would drive people to buy the console.

We had a lot of fun with other GameCube launch titles while waiting for big releases like Super Mario Sunshine and Metroid Prime in 2002. Pikmin was a fantastic real-time strategy game for the console, and it was just right for a weekend playthrough. Rogue Leader is the standout title in the Rogue Squadron series, and I really hope Nintendo adds it to the Switch Online service.

Some games truly stand the test of time, keeping players hooked for years on end. Super Smash Bros. Melee is widely considered the best in the series, Super Monkey Ball is famously addictive, and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 successfully builds on everything fans loved about the previous games.

3. 2002

Metroid Prime, Eternal Darkness, Super Mario Sunshine, Animal Crossing

I really enjoy the GameCube, but it’s always felt like it didn’t have enough games. While the Nintendo 64 had a fantastic library, other game companies began to focus on different consoles.

It might seem strange considering what I just mentioned about the Capcom Five, but it’s important to remember that the most popular games from that group – like Resident Evil 4, Viewtiful Joe, and Killer7 – were all eventually released on systems other than GameCube.

How does 2002 fit into the GameCube’s history? It highlights a common issue: a lack of variety in truly standout titles. While Metroid Prime is a classic, and Eternal Darkness is a hidden gem, the console also offered strong games like the timeless Super Mario Sunshine, the excellent FPS TimeSplitters 2 (which built on the legacy of GoldenEye and Perfect Dark), and the very first Animal Crossing game.

However, a decent selection of merely good, rather than exceptional, games prevents 2000 from being considered one of the GameCube’s peak years.

2. 2003

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, SoulCalibur II, Viewtiful Joe, F-Zero GX, Mario Kart: Double Dash

Now we come to the hard part of ranking every year of the GameCube’s run: 2004 versus 2003.

Both years offer a fantastic selection of games, including big-name titles, a wide range of genres, and both games made by and for the console, as well as games from other developers.

The GameCube had some truly standout titles. While some were initially unsure, *Wind Waker* eventually won fans over, and *Viewtiful Joe* remains a top-tier side-scrolling beat ‘em up. Nintendo Switch Online subscribers already know how excellent *SoulCalibur II* and *F-Zero GX* are, and of course, the GameCube also gave us the beloved *Mario Kart* game.

2003 was a great year for sports games, with standout titles like a particularly well-received Madden game, SSX 3, and Tony Hawk’s Underground.

The GameCube was missing a strong selection of RPGs, a problem that persisted throughout its entire run. While you could find sports games on other consoles, the GameCube was the place to go for RPGs, which is why I rank it as it does.

1. 2004

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, Pikmin 2, Tales of Symphonia, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

This is it; this is the peak year of the GameCube’s run.

Many consider Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, Pikmin 2, and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door to be the best GameCube games, and they’re not wrong. However, I personally prefer the RPGs on the system.

Baten Kaitos has its quirks – it’s a turn-based RPG using cards, and the voice acting isn’t great – but it’s still enjoyable. However, Tales of Symphonia is a true all-time favorite for me. I recently spent a whole week completely immersed in it over the summer, and it was time incredibly well spent.

I happily admit I spent over 100 hours playing Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles. It wasn’t flawless, and connecting with friends using the Game Boy Advance link cable was definitely tricky, but it was a really fun cooperative game to play with friends.

If only the GameCube had been able to keep the momentum it had from 2003 and 2004 moving forward.

2025-10-15 17:11