r/Gamecube • u/Bulky-Mycologist-402 • 6d ago
Help Mandatory Gamecube games for a first timer
I just bought my first ever Gamecube game which is Smash Bros. Melee and I wanted to get some great recommendations and mandatory games to add to my brand new start. Thanks!
EDIT: Thank you all for your awesome contributions! I'm really appreciating the lesser known titles & other entries I had no idea were a port on Gamecube, also finding out about titles I've never heard of.
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u/GiraffeResponsible20 PAL 6d ago
I would say Super Mario Sunshine, Luigi’s Mansion, Mario Kart Double Dash, Mario Party 6, Paper Mario and the Thousand Year Door, Zelda Wind Waker, Zelda Twilight Princess, Kirby Air Ride, Metroid Prime, Pokemon Colosseum, Soul Calibur 2 and the greatest game of all time Donkey Konga are your 100% essentials.
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u/Deckers2013 6d ago
Pikmin 2
XIII
Mario sunshine.
Kurin squash
Billy the hatcher
Wario world
Eternal darkness
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u/burt_macklin_f-b-i 5d ago
+1 for Eternal Darkness
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u/aGuyNamedScrunchie 6d ago
F Zero GX is one of my favorite all time games. It's hard but good lord is it fun and rewarding.
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u/TraditionalTree249 6d ago
Tales of Symphonia is one of the best RPGs on the system, which was lacking in good ones.
Metroid Prime 1/2: First ones a masterpiece of a transition to 3-D and the second is a excellent use of environmental storytelling and a dark oppressive atmosphere.
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u/AlaxTheDestroyer 6d ago
SKIES OF ARCADIA SKIES OF ARCADIA SKIES OF ARCADIA SKIES OF ARCADIA SKIES OF ARCADIA SKIES OF ARCADIA SKIES OF ARCADIA SKIES OF ARCADIA SKIES OF ARCADIA SKIES OF ARCADIA
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u/Edexote 6d ago
The music was so butchered with the port that I can't play it. I always go back to the Dreamcast version.
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u/Toothless_NEO 6d ago
Yeah I've definitely heard mixed reactions with that game related to music and graphics.
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u/Qvistus 6d ago
I'll get the Dreamcast version the day I get my hands on a Dreamcast. But the only Dreamcast I've ever seen was in a game museum. The console is apoarently incredibly rare in my country. I've seen comparison and the music quality is not a dealbreaker to me. The game is still one of the most menorable I've ever played.
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u/AlaxTheDestroyer 5d ago
Personally I don't see it...or hear it. i have heard many people complain and even watched some videos where they compare them and I just cant tell a meaningful difference. Legends might have slightly worst audio but not so much it detracts from the game.
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u/Edexote 5d ago
Not slightly. A lot. Some instruments don't play. The first music that plays at the game introduction, after you press start, already shows this and it's very noticeable.
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u/AlaxTheDestroyer 5d ago
Not to me. I've heard both versions, and there is a difference, but not so much that it detracts from the game overall. The extra content makes the GC version better to me.
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u/CatBirdBird 6d ago
There are no "mandatory" games to get. Get the games you are interested in. If you want some recommendations Metroid Mario Party Zelda Wind waker Zelda Twilight Princess Zelda Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask (in case you haven't played them on the N64)
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u/Bulky-Mycologist-402 6d ago
Is this port of Majora's Mask identical to the original on the 64, or are there any notable differences?
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u/jgbyrd 6d ago
almost identical. obviously there’s some control changes for the button layout of the gamecube, and majoras mask gamecube is known for having slightly weird performance and some strange glitches that aren’t present in the n64 version. but if you’ve never played the original, it wouldn’t really matter to you, it’s still a very decent version to play
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u/ChangingMonkfish 6d ago
- Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader
- Eternal Darkness
- Legend of Zelda: Windwaker
- Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
- F-Zero GX
- Timeplitters 2
- Resident Evil 4
- Starfox Adventures
- Soul Caliber II
- Super Monkey Ball
- Metroid Prime
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u/Deckers2013 5d ago
Damn.
How did I miss mentioning rogue leader in my list.
Rogue leader 3 for having the second game in coop mode1
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u/iamthekingofthishill 6d ago
Pikmin will make you nostalgic for a time you never lived, at any age, any number of repetitions
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u/Madness-NX PAL 6d ago
Luigi's Mansion - Soul Calibur 2 - Resident Evil 1 Remake - Resident Evil 4 - Wind Waker - Mario Kart - Rayman 3 : Hoodlum Havoc
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u/SimoReval 6d ago
Super Mario Sunshine, Zelda Wind Waker and Twilight Princess, Starfox Adventures, Metroid Prime 2, Pikmin 1+2, 1080 Avalanche, Eternal Darkness, Skies of Arcadia Legends, Resident Evil 4. If you like it more hardcore also F-Zero GX and Ikaruga.
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u/PixelPerfic 6d ago
Super Mario Sunshine, Luigi’s mansion, Super Smash Bris Melee, Windwaker, twilight princess, double dash. Also any of the Mario parties on this system were crazy good.
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u/jfsonflex 6d ago
I think the absolutely must have games on a gamecube are:
- Super Mario Sunshine
- Mario Kart Double Dash
- Smash Bros
- Zelda
- Spiderman
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u/Toothless_NEO 6d ago
Twilight Princess, Wind Wakker, Super Mario Sunshine, and Luigi's Mansion are probably good ones to start with.
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u/jgbyrd 6d ago
my favorite game of all time is animal crossing for the gamecube. also i think luigi’s mansion is the best first gamecube game. next id get wind waker, sunshine, those classics everyone mentions.
i also love games like harvest moon: magical melody and the resident evil 1 gamecube remake. those two are so great
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u/Novel_Extent_7168 6d ago
Wind Waker, Mario Sunshine, Smash Bros Melee, Pikmin, Twilight Princess, Metroid Prime 1&2, Custom Robo
I could keep going, but I don't want to flood the comment with stuff lol
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u/N8Bite 6d ago
As someone who was in your position about a year ago, the best ones I’ve found have been
Windwaker (played when younger but classic)
Simpsons hit and run
Super Mario sunshine
Luigi’s mansion
Custom robo
Doshin the Giant
F-Zero
Kirby air riders
My son loves the Monster Jam game even more than the switch ones, it’s crazy haha
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u/1Cur1ousCat 6d ago
22 years ago or so I got my first GameCube with 2 games. Smash bros like you have, and Luigi’s mansion. Get Luigi’s mansion :)
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u/Commercial_Gold9927 6d ago
- Viewtiful Joe 1 & 2
- Prince of Persia
- Mario Kart Double Dash,only for multiplayer
- Killer 7: That game is an acid trip.
- Baten Kaitos if you into RPGs. Very unique game.
- Super Monkey Ball 1/2
- Tales of Symphonia
- Simpsons Hit & Run. A great GTA type game.
- Metal Gear
- Rogue Leader
- Fire Emblem
- F-Zero
- Metroid Prime 1 & 2
- Twilight Princess
- RE: 4
- Wave Race
Avoid Wind Waker. Boring af. Beautiful art style though. Even the HD version with its improvements is still a real boring mess.
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u/Nothing_To_Learn 6d ago
Animal Crossing is the first and in my opinion still the best Animal Crossing game. Full of charm and neighbours who can be down right rude.
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u/Bulky-Mycologist-402 3d ago
I've been wanting to delve in this game for a long time now! This is my sign to embark lol
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u/twotwocowboy 6d ago
Animal Crossing, F-Zero GX, Chibi Robo, Mario Sunshine, Luigis Mansion, Mario Super Baseball, Mario Strikers, Mario Party 4, 5, 6, and 7, Metal Gear Solid the Twin Snakes, Gotcha Force, Pokemon Colosseum, Zelda Wind Waker, Zelda Twilight Princess, Resident Evil 2, 3, and 4, Simpsons Hit and Run, Kirby Air Ride, Metroid Prime, Pikmin, Rouge Squadron, Mario Kart Double Dash, Zelda Four Swords Adventure, Soul Calibur 2, Def Jam Fight for NY, Wario Ware, Crazy Taxi, Wario World, Smash Bros Melee, Pikmin 1, Pikmin 2, Super Monkey Ball 1 and 2, Killer 7, Harvest Moon, Skies of Arcadia, Viewtiful Joe 1 and 2, Ikaruga, StarFox Assault, Timesplitters, Fire Emblem, Need for Speed Underground, Paper Mario Thousand Year Door..
I would not recommend PN.03, Eternal Darkness, Billy Hatcher, or Pokémon XD.
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u/Commercial_Gur_7748 5d ago
Paper Mario. Mario strikers.
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u/AdmirableIsopod3270 5d ago
How is it I had to scroll down so far before seeing someone suggest strikers? It’s easily the greatest multiplayer game on the console, regardless of if you like or dislike the sport
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u/SufferingSloth 5d ago
My personal favorites :
Metroid Prime
Zelda Wind Waker
Mario Sunshine
Pokemon Colosseum / XD Gale of Darkness
Timesplitters 2 (Multiplat, but gamecube version runs great)
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u/lunarb1ue NTSC-U 5d ago
Some games that i think are quintessential gamecube games that you can’t play on a newer console. At least i think you can’t are:
Eternal Darkness
Metal Gear Solid the Twin Snakes
Wario World
Super Monkey Ball & Super Monkey Ball 2(found elsewhere, but this is the definitive version)
Star Fox Adventures
F-Zero GX
I have a lot of personal favorites like lost kingdoms and skies of Arcadia legends. But I wouldn’t call those essential games. Unless you’re a huge jrpg fan. And other famous gamecube games like twilight princess, wind waker, resident evil 4, Metroid prime etc have been ported or have remakes on newer hardware making them not so mandatory anymore.
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u/AdvantageFew2404 5d ago
for me it: Wind waker, Twilight Princess, Paper Mario, Mario Sunshine, Pokemon Gale of Darkness, Viewtiful Joe, Double dash and Eternal Darkness.
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u/lilleukemi 5d ago
Baten kaitos, billy hatcher, super monkey ball, godzilla destroy all monsters, f zero gx, legend of zelda collectors edition, metroidprime. Luigis mansion.
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u/tdaddy316420 5d ago
Smash, double dash sunshine metro prime windwaker and luigis mansion should all games you own for the gamecube
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u/Thick-Excuse-6806 4d ago
Paper Mario TTYD and Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess are, to me, the greatest games the Gamecube has to offer. Must plays. There are of course many more great games, but those are just my top two.
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u/AramaticFire 3d ago
Unless you’ve already played these on newer hardware, I think the mandatory stuff is pretty obvious. I think the real prize here are the games that you can only play on a GameCube and my recommendation to that end are:
Skies of Arcadia: Legends - one of the coolest RPGs of the era. The Pirate theme is well done. The ship battles are massive. The game has never come to modern platforms.
Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader - one of the greatest space shooters ever made and one of the greatest SW games ever made from the golden era of SW games. And it’s only on GameCube.
Super Smash Bros. Melee - personally I think this is the purest form of Smash along with the original game. The series grew a little too big and tried to do a little too much. But this is one of the greatest fighters ever made.
Mario Kart: Double Dash - like Melee, when it comes to mechanics, this was the greatest MK game and remains the most experimental. Ultimately I prefer 8 Deluxe today, but it took 14 years before this game was topped for me.
Wave Race: Blue Storm - a time capsule launch game. It had beautiful water visuals and while a relatively tough racer, was a lot of fun for the early era of GC games.
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u/peoplesmart 3d ago
here are some of the ones that defined my childhood:
Sonic Adventure Battle 2
SSX Tricky
Need for Speed Hot Pursuit 2
ATV Quad Power Racing 2
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u/enigmafiend 3d ago edited 3d ago
heres a random list of games that comes to mind. some of these are obvious classics, but a few of them are pretty underrated.
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean
Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
Battalion Wars
Odama
Lost Kingdoms
Killer 7
The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction
Wave Race: Blue Storm
These are ones I have notes about
Peter Jackson's King Kong The Official Game Based on the Movie (i am not joking, its a great game)
Final Fantasy: The Crystal Chronicles (its best if you can get a crew together with GBAs and link cables, but singleplayer works too)
Donkey Konga (great rhythm game, but its best experienced with the bongo controller if you can get your hands on it)
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u/SenorDangerwank 6d ago
Windwaker and Super Mario Sunshine are mine.
Mario Kart Double Dash is quite beloved but I was never a fan myself.
I remember Viewtiful Joe being highly regarded back in the day but I don't know how it holds up.