31. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles – Kane
If you don’t play it, at least check out the soundtrack
Crystal Chronicles is a multiplayer-focused third-person action dungeon crawler with all the tropes and trappings that come with being a spin-off of Final Fantasy. The visuals take direct inspiration from Final Fantasy IX(9), with many monster designs shared between the two. That’s to be expected since the lead character designer here, Toshiyuki Itahana, also worked on FFIX. The art style fits perfectly on the console. Much like Wind Waker, its simple and cute designs ensure it doesn’t exceed the smaller storage capacity of the mini-DVD while still looking dynamic due to the enhanced lighting and particle effects the GameCube was capable of.
The gameplay revolves around exploring varied stages and dungeons in search of Myrrh Trees, the source of the magical substance that powers the Crystal that holds back the deadly Miasma from killing your village. You also need some protection from the Miasma in your travels, and that comes in the form of the Crystal Chalice, which you must carry along with you at all times…
32. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – Kane
The Chamber of Secrets has been opened… Let me get some Bertie Botts Beans first.
I don’t hold much space in my life for Harry Potter anymore. I just can’t bring myself to help the creator get richer. But what little space I do have is filled with this game.
The world depicted in the films is perfectly translated into this surprisingly open adventure game. Once you get past the admittedly dense opening that takes you through the escape from the Dursleys, Gnoming the Weasleys’ Garden, shopping in Diagon Alley and arriving at school in a flying car, all before you hit the 1-hour mark, the game opens up considerably, allowing you to explore the grounds and castle of Hogwarts at your leisure.
33. Die Hard: Vendetta – Kane
I’m feeling like Bruce Willis. Each and every day, B, I really wanna Die Hard — N-Dubz, for some reason
Licensed games are usually something I avoid as a habit. I haven’t had all that many positive experiences with them. But Vendetta somehow manages to be an actually competent first-person shooter that places itself story-wise 5 years after the 3rd film. You, of course, control John McClane as he shoots his way through the underbelly of LA as you attempt to find your kidnapped daughter.
Notable mechanics include what the game calls “Hero Time”, which is a less dramatic version of bullet time and hostage-taking, which allows you to arrest criminals by grabbing them from behind, a tactic that’s even more effective if you grab a group’s leader and force them all to surrender.
34. Super Smash Bros. Melee – Dave
I’d Smash
Super Smash Bros. Melee expanded on the first game’s novel approach to the fighting game genre with more characters, more stages, more modes and a surprising amount of mechanical depth that has seen the game enjoy longevity in the competitive scene (despite the debates about whether it even counts as a fighting game).
Like all Smash Bros. games, it’s explosive, chaotic, and an excellent gateway to other Nintendo franchises. You’ve got the curated music selection, items from all over the Nintendo library, and lore in the form of collectable trophies. It can be approached as a fun, evergreen party game or a fighting game with decades of history and culture.
In terms of superficial content, it’s nowhere near as comprehensive as its sequels. But between its responsive controls, well-documented janky interactions, and technical movement options it might still be the most expressive Smash ever to do it. It’s more than just the second instalment in a long-running franchise. It’s a schmovement.
35. Tales of Symphonia – Kane
Even if you become an angel, you’re still you, okay? – Lloyd Irving
If you’ve heard of the Tales series at all, then you’ve heard of Tales of Symphonia. This game marked the biggest success for the series to date, as well as the first time two Tales games shared a universe (Symphonia is set about 4000 years before Phantasia)
You take on the role of Lloyd Irving, a headstrong youth with a strong sense of justice, on his personal quest to save his friends, find out where he came from and save the world along the way.
Tales of Symphonia is praised for its simple yet engaging active combat, its unique world, and its interesting story with genuinely surprising twists.
36. Mario Party 4 – Riley
Friendship is a weakness
Mario Party really hit its stride on the GameCube, taking what worked from the original titles and levelling them up. The mini-games feel more intuitive with a combination of luck and skill required. They also removed all the hand-destroying mini-games, which is a plus.
The selection of boards included in this title wasn’t the best, especially compared to the Nintendo 64 titles. But what this game offers is a very good all-around experience, and doesn’t include those annoying microphone mini-games from the sequels. If you’re looking for a change of pace from what you can find on Switch, this is a great place to look.
37. Animal Crossing – Riley
Population: Growing!
The humble beginnings of the most adorable life sim were right here on the GameCube. Or the Nintendo 64 in Japan, I suppose. Most mechanics you know and love started here, from sassy villagers, to clothing customisation and even bug, fish and fossil collecting.
While some elements may seem primitive and the level of customisation is quite limited, there is still a very unique experience here that you don’t quite get with the sequels, and for that reason alone, I think it’s worth spending a few months in the GameCube town of the past.
38. Mario Kart Double Dash!! – Riley
Drive… throw…. switch! Team up for twice the fun!
From the insane character items hurtling through the tracks like giant Bowser shells or chain chomps to the “double dash” system allowing two characters to work together in one kart, there’s something different about this one.
The stages themselves are varied and fun, some of the best to this day, and the difficulty with the chaos of the items makes this one a tough but rewarding time to master. It has something that we haven’t really returned to with each iteration of the series, and truly stands out as a unique entry to the Mario Kart franchise.
39. Cel Damage – James
Welcome to Cel
Something that is severely lacking these days is good old-fashioned vehicular combat games. Cel Damage suits that to a T. Released in 2002 by Pseudo Interactive, then poorly remastered in 2014, Cel Damage was for those of us who liked Twisted Metal but wanted something less gritty. I don’t recommend the HD remaster or the PS2 port, as they dramatically changed the amount of health each player has. It sounds like a good thing, but instead it just makes the entire game stale and boring.
What sets this apart from its contemporaries is the vast array of crazy weapons and cooky characters. Want to play as a black-and-white mobster? Check. Jam jar nerd with glasses? Check. Dinosaur in a 4-wheel drive truck? Check. Even Dracula?! Yeah, got him. With 3 different modes and 12 different arenas, Cel Damage holds your attention for longer than you’d think. Unlike Twisted Metal, if you’re killed, you’re dropped right back into the action in a crate. This quick gameplay loop makes death part of the package and part of the fun.
40. F Zero GX – James
Speed. Speeed. SPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED. Sonic’s got nothing on this
The final home console F-Zero game ended things with a bang. Following on from the brilliant F-Zero X, it’s faster than ever, with fantastic visuals, buttery smooth 60fps and a massive selection of vehicles and racers; there really isn’t anything like GX. You don’t have to be Captain Falcon, but who wouldn’t be right? The main story follows Cap as he’s forced to compete in progressively more difficult and dangerous races. These are legitimately the most difficult racing challenges I’ve tried, and there’s even a hard-mode version of each of them!
Released alongside its arcade counterpart, F-Zero AX, it’s one of the few GameCube games to have arcade connectivity. You could bring your memory card into the arcade and use your custom vehicles, which I find incredibly cool. You can still experience this in emulator form, but it’s just not the same.
All in all, as far as Nintendo exclusives go, this one is, in my opinion, most deserving of a sequel. The Switch 2 needs this.