Guide: Every Nintendo Switch Online GameCube Game On Switch 2, Ranked

10. Pokémon Colosseum (GCN)

Among the more unique and intriguing titles in the Pokémon series, Pokémon Colosseum immerses you in the role of an established trainer, requiring you to capture Pokémon from rivals rather than finding them in the wild.

This daring decision may not suit the main series, but it fits perfectly within this quirky spin-off. Friends can gather for tournaments, and Colosseum allowed connections with Game Boy Advance titles for trading to your heart’s desire.

We would adore seeing this spin-off series return, but for now, it will be available on Switch 2.

9. Mario Smash Football (GCN)

Demonstrating that there’s hardly anything that the chubby plumber can’t tackle (or kick), Next Level Games’ Mario Smash Football (or Super Mario Strikers in the US) delivered exciting football action in a vibrant environment with Mushroom Kingdom characters enlivening the sport and adding flair — no goalless draws here!

In stark contrast to the simulation style of traditional football games, this is a rapid five-a-side uproar that gained enough success to inspire a similarly enjoyable sequel on Wii. Now playable on Switch 2, here’s a fun tidbit: it began as a hybrid of soccer and platforming during its prototype phase.

8. Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness (GCN)

The sequel to Pokémon Colosseum, Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness launched in 2005, focusing on capturing Shadow Pokémon and ‘purifying’ them.

By using the GBA-GC link cable, players could connect any Game Boy Advance mainline games to XD for battling and trading. Although it made minor changes from its predecessor, it still offered a solid 3D Pokémon experience prior to the mainline series transitioning into the third dimension.

7. Chibi-Robo (GCN)

Chibi-Robo is tough to categorize as it doesn’t neatly fit into a specific genre. It blends elements of platforming, adventure, and helper games, reminiscent of Toy Story, as you assist the Sanderson family with their daily challenges.

The titular benevolent robot is an endearing character who has appeared in several titles since this GameCube debut (and he boasts the most adorably cute amiibo you could imagine), though he hasn’t quite achieved the fame of his initial appearance here. Delightful.

6. Super Mario Sunshine (GCN)

The string of hits Mario has achieved over decades is astonishing when you think about it. The bar set by each new main series entry is stratospherically high, and we are consistently amazed that, more often than not, those expectations are exceeded with the next installment.

This title is available on Switch if you have a copy of Super Mario 3D All-Stars; however, Super Mario Sunshine lacks the flawless polish we expect from the Mario series due to its rushed production. Nevertheless, there’s a distinctive charm and brilliance in its mechanics and setting, which make it an undervalued Mario title, and who doesn’t appreciate one of those?

As a sequel to Super Mario 64, it isn’t the groundbreaking classic everyone anticipated. However, looking back decades later, we can appreciate the many aspects Sunshine does exceptionally. The Sunshine Defence Force might be overzealous — it certainly has its drawbacks — but in our eyes, it remains quite good.

The cheerful, bouncing Isle Delfino theme alone makes it worthwhile to revisit, so if you’ve overlooked this title in Mario’s extensive catalog, don’t allow its reputation to deter you.

5. SoulCalibur II (GCN)

The original Dreamcast…

SoulCalibur was an impactful fighting title for home systems that delivered arcade-level graphics to households, leaving even the most devoted fans of rival consoles staring enviously at Sega’s unfortunate device.

Luckily for them, a cross-platform follow-up would emerge in 2003, with GameCube receiving a perk that made it the ultimate selection. Indeed, the stunning visuals and weapon-driven combat were all intact, but Nintendo enthusiasts were delighted by the addition of Link from The Legend of Zelda, wielding the Master Sword.

This one detail was sufficient to attract players who may have never engaged with it otherwise, and they were very pleased, too. Remove Link, and it remains an exceptional fighting title — arguably one of the finest ever created — but he truly was the icing on this delightful cake.

4. Luigi’s Mansion (GCN)

If it had launched today, Luigi’s Mansion would likely be celebrated for its whimsical and affectionate genre spoof, and its brief duration would arguably be a benefit in an era where we face an abundance of games yet limited time to enjoy them.

As a launch title for GameCube, however, it fell short of gamers’ expectations in 2002, following the genre-defining Super Mario 64 that debuted on Nintendo’s prior console.

It took some time to gain appreciation following the initial confusion that it wasn’t a Mario platform adventure, but after a 3DS sequel (alongside the HD remaster) and the fantastic Luigi’s Mansion 3 on Switch, it’s fair to say the original has since garnered the love it deserves, and it still plays wonderfully.

3. Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance (GCN)

The first home console Fire Emblem to make its debut in the West — and only the third to be localized — GameCube’s Path of Radiance introduced us to Ike, leader of the Greil Mercenaries, sporting a striking blue hairstyle.

This title was the first in the series to showcase fully 3D graphics and features (in our view) the most compelling narrative of any game in the series.

Ike would go on to participate in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and achieve fame there before returning in the Wii sequel to this game, Radiant Dawn. Regrettably, these iconic home-console Emblems aren’t particularly easy to locate physically nowadays, as both remain exclusive to their original systems and command exorbitant prices on the secondhand market.

By current standards, Path of Radiance seems somewhat lacking in terms of presentation, but how we’d love the chance to experience it anew without having to dig out the ‘Cube! Great news that it will soon be readily available on Switch 2, then. We admire Ike.

2. F-Zero GX (GCN)

While discussions endlessly continue over whether the N64 version or its Sega-crafted GameCube successor is superior, it’s clear that both titles are exceptional in their own right.

F-Zero GX‘s narrative mode helps illustrate the ‘F-universe’, and those cutscenes featuring Captain Falcon and the crew certainly add some flair. The series also never looked better than it did on GameCube.

The rapid pace and punishing difficulty may deter some players, but racing doesn’t get much more pure than this, and since this remains the last full-fledged retail installment from the series to launch on a home console, it arguably remains the freshest iteration of F-Zero. Seek it out.

1. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GCN)

Given the ‘Cel-da’ controversy that surrounded the game upon its initial announcement, it’s fitting that The Wind Waker has become so cherished and respected over time.

While other titles of the period struggle when evaluated under the lens of modern high-definition standards, Toon Link’s inaugural quest appears nearly as fresh as the moment we first departed from Outset Isle to uncover the fate of Hyrule we once knew.

It’s not without its imperfections (and the HD remake on Wii U rectified many issues), but in retrospect, we don’t focus on the monotonous wind conducting, the renowned Triforce shard quest, or Tingle’s sea chart extortion. Rather, it’s the vibrant hues of the tumultuous sea, the airy melodies of Dragon Roost, and the introspective reflections that our journeys inspired that linger in our minds.

At its core, it’s indeed a continuation of the 3D Zelda framework established in Ocarina of Time, but undeniable magic exists in The Wind Waker, and despite its flaws, it’s still among our cherished installments of the series.