The 6 GameCube games we need to see for Switch Online

If there's one thing that Nintendo fans can agree on, it's that the Nintendo GameCube was an amazing console. The library of games that were available for the GameCube was very diverse, including multiple genres and styles of games that appealed to a wide range of people. Out of the many different consoles that Nintendo has released over the years, the GameCube gets a lot of praise from those who like to reminisce about games they played while growing up. With the Nintendo Switch 2 finally out and more features added to the Switch Online service, fans will be able to revisit some GameCube classics.

At the moment, only a few Nintendo GameCube games are available for the Switch Online service. So, which games from the GameCube's vast library should be next to get added? It may be hard for some to pick and choose from such a great selection of titles that made the GameCube the console it was. But if there are going to be some big titles added, then Nintendo has to make some hard choices. These are the 6 Nintendo GameCube games we need to see for the Switch Online service on Nintendo Switch 2.

6 Viewtiful Joe

Henshin-a-Go-Go, Baby!

One of the wackiest and unique games for the GameCube was Viewtiful Joe from Capcom. The game is a brawler that was released in 2003, and is considered one of the Capcom Five, games that were developed for the GameCube by Capcom. While games like Resident Evil 4 and Killer 7 grabbed the attention of players looking for something to shoot at, Viewtiful Joe appealed to everyone who loved the colorful and wild side of the publisher. The game is a mixture of 2D and 3D gameplay, with over-the-top 3D visuals that are inspired by Japanese tokusatsu stories and American comics. The game's director, Hideki Kamiya, was previously known for his work on Devil May Cry and Resident Evil 2 prior to Viewtiful Joe's release.

The story of the game follows a guy named Joe trying to save his girlfriend Silvia from the evil group known as Jadow, which pulls the two of them into an alternate reality called Movieland. The gameplay is similar to that of other brawlers, where Joe must take down groups of enemies and bosses who get in his way. However, Joe can use his VFX Power to slow or speed up time, just like special effects in movies. He can use his powers to fight enemies, solve puzzles, and get around obstacles in order to save his girlfriend. When the original game was released on GameCube, it received a lot of critical praise, and a sequel was released a year later, which was also on GameCube. There were also multiple spin-off games for the PSP and Nintendo DS later on.

5 Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem

Survival through the centuries

Developer Silicon Knights is known for a few things in gaming history, including the release of Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain on PC and the original PlayStation. However, they also developed a survival horror game for the Nintendo GameCube that became a big hit. Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem is a survival horror game that scared a lot of people who booted it up back in the day. Some people have compared it to the classic entries of the Resident Evil series from Capcom, but Eternal Darkness stands out for its story and atmosphere. Although many critics praised the game in reviews, it was an unfortunate commercial failure at the time.

Gameplay is in third-person, with a few fixed camera angles at various points. Gathering items to solve puzzles is a big part of roaming around different areas, with some key items having mystical properties. However, players need to avoid or fight enemies that lurk around as they progress through the game. Some of the monster designs are very creepy, which look great visually, with the game running on the GameCube. Fighting monsters requires different weapons that can be found hidden on levels, which often lead to deadly encounters that are very suspenseful. Eternal Darkness was going to have a sequel at some point in the 2000s, but plans fell through, and the game never made it past the planning stages.

4 Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader

Rogue 2 standing by

One of the best Star Wars games on Nintendo platforms is Star Wars: Rogue Squadron. And while that game made a big impact on the Nintendo 64 in 1998, the sequel, Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader, turned things up a notch for the Nintendo GameCube in 2001. This Star Wars game once again focuses on piloting a starship, as opposed to wielding a lightsaber in other games of the time. Rogue Leader takes place during the events of the original Star Wars trilogy, spanning all three films. Both Luke Skywalker and Wedge Antilles join the Rebel Alliance to fight the Galactic Empire and bring peace to the galaxy. While there are a number of original missions, some are recreations of iconic moments from the films, including the final battle against the second Death Star.

Like its predecessor, Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader has you piloting various starships to complete objectives during missions. Each ship has some variations, with different speeds and weapons available to them while flying. The game also continues a tradition of unlockable content for Star Wars fans, with bonus missions that let you control the iconic Millennium Falcon, as well as play as Darth Vader in his TIE Advance against the Rebel Alliance. Players could also unlock the 2000 Nintendo Space World Demo stage that was shown during the event prior to the game's release.

3 Mario Kart: Double Dash

Double the speed!!!

A lot of people have been playing Mario Kart World on Nintendo Switch 2 during the launch of the console. With so much happening for the Mario Kart series, it would be great to see Mario Kart: Double Dash for the Switch Online service. The original release of the game was in 2003 and was very popular among Nintendo fans. This entry in the series implemented having two characters on the same vehicle, allowing you to switch between them mid-race. The front character would be the driver, while the second character would throw and use items that were picked up. Various characteristics about the cars could be changed depending on the combination of characters and the vehicle they drove, leading to a number of different combinations for races.

Mario Kart: Double Dash received a lot of critical praise and has been heralded as one of the best games on the console. Within its first few weeks on the market, the game sold over 1 million units, and eventually sold over 3.8 million units from release to 2006. For Mario fans, it's one of the best entries in the Mario Kart series, only for some to feel it was dethroned when Mario Kart 8 released years later.

Going back to Shadow Moses

Konami has a very interesting history with the Metal Gear Solid franchise, both wonderful and very bad. While the original PlayStation game went on to be one of the most iconic games of all time, it had a remake that was released for the Nintendo GameCube in 2004. Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes is a retelling of the first Metal Gear Solid game, with some gameplay changes from its sequel, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. New camera angles, extra weapons, a new soundtrack, re-recorded voice acting, and other quality-of-life additions made this version of MGS1 feel very different. But it was still the story about Solid Snake going to Shadow Moses Island that everyone was very familiar with. The dialogue and cutscenes had extra details that fleshed out more of the overall plot, but just about everything is essentially the same.

Although there were a lot of efforts made to improve upon what the original game had established, Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes was also criticized for not feeling close to the original experience. The levels of the game were the same as the PS1 version, so new features like the first-person perspective for aiming impacted the overall difficulty of some sections. But even with that minor critique, Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes was still highly praised by many people for its cinematic presentation.

1 Super Smash Bros. Melee

Running it back to Final Destination

If there is one game that encompasses everything great about the GameCube era, it would be Super Smash Bros. Melee. As one of the most popular entries in the series, and arguably the most beloved GameCube game released, it would be very wise to bring Super Smash Bros. Melee to the Switch Online service. Many to this day still believe that this game is still the most competitive Smash Bros. game to play, especially in tournament settings. However, this sequel to the N64 classic isn't the biggest entry in the ongoing franchise, especially with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate around on the original Nintendo Switch. But that doesn't mean people don't get any less hyped when they hear someone mention Super Smash Bros. Melee within any context.

Super Smash Bros. Melee introduced more playable characters, but was also the starting point for many staple aspects of the series going forward. Event Mode challenges became very popular in subsequent releases, as well as the many unlockables and bonuses that could be obtained from playing. The technique known as "wave dashing" became part of the lingo among Nintendo gamers and would also be the inspiration for later Smash Bros. games to put a bigger emphasis on singles competition. Whether you were in a melee with three other friends or simply running through the classic and adventure modes alone, chances are you were playing Super Smash Bros. Melee on your GameCube back in the day. Some will say that this is the one Nintendo GameCube game that needs to make an appearance in the Nintendo Switch Online catalog. Because nothing gets people more excited than hearing Smash Bros. Melee is starting up.

Bringing more GameCube to Switch Online

It's great that we're finally seeing Nintendo start to add more of their beloved classics to the Switch Online service, especially from multiple platforms. And while the first few games added to the GameCube library of the service are solid, there is definitely a lot of room for more big games to be added. The GameCube has a wealth of titles that make for a very diverse lineup of experiences, and a number of really popular classics that would increase the value of joining the online service. Hopefully, in the coming months, Nintendo can pick some of the best GameCube games that people love and begin to show why their platform has some of the most beloved titles anyone can enjoy.