GameCube games have been available on Nintendo’s Switch Online service for well over a year at this point (at least for those who subscribe to the Expansion Pack add-on). But despite the GameCube’s robust catalogue of terrific games, the Switch Online offerings remain slim.
The service launched with three games: F-Zero GX, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, and Soulcalibur 2. Since then, as of this writing, those have been joined by just eight more. But many legit greats have been left in the cold, hopefully to join the lineup soon. Here are 10 essential GameCube games still missing from Switch Online, more than a year later.
10
Animal Crossing
Released: Dec. 14, 2001
For many of us, Animal Crossing on the GameCube was an introduction to a beloved series that newer fans wouldn’t discover until Animal Crossing: New Horizons. It invited us to move to a village populated by owls, lions, wolves, and other creatures. They became our neighbors, engaging in small talk as we completed tasks for them, fished, tracked down bugs, and earned bells to repay our debt to an enterprising raccoon named Tom Nook. We shared the fun with people we knew, letting brothers and sisters, spouses and parents inhabit our shared fantasy world, all while hoping they wouldn’t chop down our trees. Later games have introduced more robust content and new events, but there’s still something special about that early release. How much fun might it be to finally return to the village where it all began?
9
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean
Released: Dec. 5, 2003
Over the years, Monolith Soft has made a name for itself with the Xenosaga and Xenoblade franchises, as well as its support work on games in the Zelda series. However, it also experimented with other concepts early in its existence, starting with Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean. The first game in the short-lived series introduced a hero named Kalas, who collects Magnus cards that allow him to survive combat when he’s not solving puzzles and exploring islands in the sky. Namco published the game, and Bandai Namco launched the Baten Kaitos 1 & 2 HD Remaster compilation in September 2023. That’s not necessarily an impediment, because Nintendo has worked with the publisher to make other games available in the past. It might easily do so again.
8
Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem
Released: June 23, 2002
People who experienced them still remember the “sanity effects” in Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem on the GameCube. Players found themselves facing horrific nightmares throughout time, and as the scenes became too much, the game broke the fourth wall. The volume slider adjusted itself, as if someone stood over your shoulder with a remote control. Insects seemed to land on the screen and crawl across it, even when there were no flies in your apartment. That all may have been gimmicky, but somehow it worked, providing new depth to a game that already had plenty of it thanks to an ambitious narrative and detailed environments. The subject matter may be a bit rougher than Nintendo wants to touch today, but the game deserves to come back, just the same.
7
Metroid Prime
Released: Nov. 17, 2002
Nintendo and Retro Studios swung for the fences with Metroid Prime, and their vision paid off in a big way. The game provided first-person action that combined with the traditional exploration for which the series was known. That approach brought the series to life in ways we hadn’t seen before, without losing its wonderful sense of atmosphere. Two sequels would follow in short order, along with Metroid Prime 4: Beyond more recently (after a lengthy, complicated development cycle that spanned multiple developers), but there’s still no beating that first game. Although you can purchase Metroid Prime Remastered for Switch if you’re so inclined, it would still be nice to see the original vision brought back one more time, wrinkles and all.
6
Mario Kart: Double Dash
Released: Nov. 7, 2003
The Mario Kart franchise was on a hot streak when Mario Kart: Double Dash launched. Each new entry back then found something new to offer. In the case of Double Dash, that something was team-ups. Karts were now steered by a primary driver, as usual, but with a second individual in the rear seat who was responsible for dealing pain to the other karts. The game introduced some of the most memorable stages in franchise history, providing a compelling experience that accounted for dozens or even hundreds of hours of good, old-fashioned racing fun. Today, many Mario Kart fans still look back fondly on Double Dash, which offered something no other entry in the franchise ever did. That’s why it needs to come back and keep Mario Kart World and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe company.
5
Cubivore: Survival of the Fittest
Released: Feb. 21, 2002
Nintendo published Cubivore: Survival of the Fittest in Japan but passed on releasing it in other regions, so Atlus stepped in to save the day. Unfortunately, the publisher typically only committed to small print runs in those days before Disgaea: Hour of Darkness and Persona found breakout success. That understandable caution ensured the game became expensive to acquire and enjoy in more recent years. It’s a shame, since the game features unique gameplay that would appeal to modern audiences, if only it got the chance. The graphics might not look like much by today’s standards (and to be honest, they didn’t stun anyone even at the time), but who doesn’t want to become the new king of beasts? This could be the perfect time for Nintendo to make up for its previous hesitation.
4
Skies of Arcadia Legends
Released: Dec. 26, 2002
Skies of Arcadia launched too late in the Dreamcast’s lifetime to make much impact, with Sega ending support for the hardware not much later, but it came back as Skies of Arcadia Legends on the GameCube. Players were introduced to an energetic band of sky pirates who traveled between floating islands on their airships, sometimes finding adventure on foot, but other times participating in grand battles between vessels. The game featured a beautiful world and strong visuals for the time, and it definitely made an impression on those of us who played it. Sega didn’t follow up with any sequels at the time and the franchise died before it could properly begin, but making Skies of Arcadia Legends available on Switch Online could be a terrific way to revive it.
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3
Mega Man Network Transmission
Released: Mar. 6, 2003
At the time of its release, Mega Man Network Transmission was a new offshoot in one of Capcom’s biggest franchises. Developed by frequent collaborator Arika (Endless Ocean), rather than internally, the game mixed standard platforming with chip collection, providing its hero with new abilities and enabling unique experiences compared to those that came before it. Not everyone loved the visuals, which sometimes looked a bit bland, but it managed to provide a solid experience overall. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been included in any of the Mega Man compilations that followed, so a lot of current players have either forgotten it or never even knew it existed.
2
Super Monkey Ball
Released: Sep. 14, 2001
Super Monkey Ball arrived alongside the GameCube itself in North America, and introduced players to four mischievous monkeys that rolled around in balls, collecting bananas in the sky. It offered a compelling single-player run through dozens of tiny but difficult stages that forced players to navigate narrow ledges to reach the goal while a timer ticked down mercilessly. The multiplayer modes introduced a series of lively mini-games that took advantage of the hardware’s four controller ports, and which some players preferred to the main attraction. The game kicked off a popular franchise and immediately proved the GameCube had the potential to be more than just a repeat of the Nintendo 64 with prettier visuals.
1
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Released: Nov. 21, 2001
Super Smash Bros. Melee was neither the first nor the last entry in the enormously popular Smash Bros. series, but for many players around the world, it remains the best one. Competitive players still drag their Gamecubes to fighting game events, so they can marvel once more at the game’s crisp performance, blazing combos, and the room it leaves for players to master skills the developers may never have meant them to utilize. The Smash Bros. community embraced the game from the very beginning and continues to do so. Clearly, it would make the perfect addition to the Switch Online library (while providing a perfect reason to purchase the available Nintendo GameCube controller for Switch 2). Nintendo likely has another Smash Bros. game on the way at some point to thrill a whole new generation of fans. But a convenient new way to play this GameCube classic wouldn’t hurt anyone in the meantime. And it would be the best possible reason to pay for an annual subscription.
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