The Best GameCube Game For Each Year Of The Console's Life

Summary

• The GameCube had some of the most critically acclaimed games of its time, like Star Wars Rogue Leader and Eternal Darkness, ahead of the curve.
• Tony Hawk's Underground brought a new level of storytelling to skating games, featuring real-world icons and Iron Man cameos.
• Resident Evil 4 and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess were standout titles on the GameCube, shaping their respective series in significant ways.

The Nintendo GameCube console is an underrated gem of Nintendo hardware. It was largely overshadowed by the SNES, N64, Wii, and Switch, yet it had some of the most pivotal and history-making games over the years of its life, which was a short span lasting from 2001 to 2007.

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That's right; this incredibly underestimated cubed violet-gray console was able to tackle some of the most critically acclaimed games you could own, which were especially impressive for the early 2000s. From iconic sports games to survival horror to Star Wars and Nintendo exclusives like Zelda and the Metroid series, here are the GameCube's greatest hits.

7 2001

Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron 2

Developer(s)

Release Date

Metacritic Score

Factor 5, LucasArts

November 18, 2001

90

Before you had Star Wars Squadrons on modern PS5s and Xbox Series X|S, there was Rogue Squadron 2 for the GameCube. It was a Star Wars flight combat simulator game with much-improved graphics compared to its predecessor titles, and that was also reflected in its reviews, for which it was met with critical acclaim all across the board.

The game brings you back to the iconic planets and space battles of the original trilogy of films, and you'll have Rebel pilots Luke Skywalker and Wedge Antilles to guide you on missions. The destruction of the first Death Star, the Battle of Hoth, the attack of the second Death Star, and more levels and space combat in between are what you're in for here.

6 2002

Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem

Developer(s)

Release Date

Metacritic Score

Silicon Knights

June 24, 2002

92

If you didn't have the GameCube-exclusive Eternal Darkness in your collection, then you missed out. It was way ahead of its time and did something way more iconic and ambitious with its design than any other survival horror game at the time. One of Eternal Darkness' spookiest features is the Sanity Effects on your character, which can break the fourth wall and mess with your TV screen.

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The story itself is also very inspired by H.P. Lovecraft, centering around a book called Tome of Eternal Darkness and introducing its own Ancient gods like Chattur'gha, Ulyaoth, and Xel'lotath. Although your main protagonist is Alexandra Roivas, the other unique element of this game is that you get to play multiple character stories across different periods of history, like an anthology.

5 2003

Tony Hawk's Underground

Developer(s)

Release Date

Metacritic Score

Neversoft

October 27, 2003

89

If you weren't all-in on the Zelda hype with 2003's The Wind Waker, chances are you were skating all around the world in Tony Hawk's Underground. This 2003 addition to the beloved Tony Hawk skating series is one of the most highly revered entries, and much of that is thanks to its wonderful soundtrack and newly implemented story mode.

While most of the button mechanics for the skating gameplay carry over as you'd expect from the previous games in the Tony Hawk lineup, the introduction of story mode made a lasting impression. You're a skater who wants to rise to the level of the legendary pros of the sport, and you get to interact with a lot of famous real-world icons, like Chad Muska, Paul Rodriguez, Bob Burnquist, and Tony Hawk. Even Iron Man and Gene Simmons make an appearance!

4 2004

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes

Developer(s)

Release Date

Metacritic Score

Retro Studios

November 15, 2004

92

Like The Legend of Zelda series, the GameCube was lucky enough to get two Metroid Prime games before the console was discontinued. In 2004, you had none other than Metroid Prime 2: Echoes as one of the best games you could play that year. Its first-person shooter gameplay returns, but the story throws in a terrific twist that created a new iconic franchise character.

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This would, of course, be Dark Samus, the evil doppelgänger of the main alien bounty-hunting protagonist Samus Aran, and one that would be a welcome fighter in future Smash Bros. games to come. The main setting takes place on the planet Aether, where Samus is trying to rescue a group of marines, only to find she'll soon have to face an evil race of aliens called Ing.

3 2005

Resident Evil 4

Developer(s)

Release Date

Metacritic Score

Capcom Production Studio

January 11, 2005

96

What a time to be a Resident Evil fan in 2005 because you were in for quite the treat. To this day, Resident Evil 4 remains one of the best and most beloved entries in the entire series and has seen even more success with its 2023 remake, which also drew tons of praise and GOTY Award nominations. From the game design to the story direction, it changed the course of the series forever.

The game sees Leon S. Kennedy setting off to a rural village in Spain in search of the US president's daughter, Ashley Graham; where things turn dark and disturbing right away, as the whole village is infected with a parasite known as Las Plagas. Leon and Ashley must eventually work together to survive, along with local Spaniard Luis Serra, and Leon's dialogue is some of his best and funniest.

2 2006

The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess

Developer(s)

Release Date

Metacritic Score

Nintendo EAD

December 11, 2006

96

Before Breath of the Wild reinvigorated the Zelda series once again in 2017, there was The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. After a slightly delayed launch on GameCube, it's safe to say the wait was worth it, as this was a Zelda game for the ages, tying in Metacritic score with its GameCube predecessor, The Wind Waker.

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Part of what made this installment so memorable and special was the titular premise of the Twilight Realm, an alternate dimension that threatens the Kingdom of Hyrule. When Link crosses over into zones of Twilight, he automatically transforms into a wolf and adapts to his new form in combat encounters. Joining Link on this adventure is also an imp named Midna.

1 2007

Madden NFL 08

Developer(s)

Release Date

Metacritic Score

EA Tiburon

August 14, 2007

75

In the final year of its life, the GameCube console understandably didn't have much to offer like in its previous years. But, if you're an EA Sports fan and an American football fan, then you still had a chance at playing one final Madden game in 2007. Featured on the game's cover this time around was Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young.

Though Madden NFL 08 wasn't a particularly standout entry, it still earned higher praise than the few Disney game adaptations available that year on the console. The game's setup and design might seem reminiscent of past games, but the major differences in NFL 08 were the implementation of a new fatigue system and co-op mode so you can play together with a friend.

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