The Nintendo GameCube was an early 2000s console. The system used special GameCube Game Discs instead of DVDs to reduce piracy, among other reasons. Even without a DVD player, the GameCube managed to sell over 21 million units. Exclusive games like Luigi's Mansion, Super Mario Sunshine, and Paper: Mario: The Thousand-Year Door put the system on the road map to success.
To put things into perspective, the GameCube's graphics processor is more powerful than the PlayStation 2, and about on par with the original Xbox. The GameCube and the Xbox released a mere two months apart. Graphics shouldn't be the defining quality of a video game, but they can enhance gameplay. Even today, we are looking for more detail to get the most immersive experience. Here are the ten Nintendo GameCube games with the best graphics.
10 Super Smash Bros. Melee
The best-selling game on the Nintendo GameCube, Super Smash Bros. Melee, has praiseworthy graphics. This game is acclaimed for its stunning visuals and gameplay depth.
Featuring characters from Fire Emblem before the series came to the Western world, Super Smash Bros. Melee is ranked among the greatest games of all time. This is a game that added an assortment of stages and characters, cementing Super Smash Bros. as a relevant crossover fighting franchise.
9 Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader
Despite being inferior in visual design to its successor, Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader is a beautiful game set across various planets. The draw distances were improved, and the graphics were designed in three levels of detail; the closer you came, the more the graphics improved.
Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader tells a war story between the Rebel Alliance and the Galactic Empire.
8 Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike
Although considered an overly ambitious entry in the Star Wars Rogue Squadron series, Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike has exceptional detail. The development team added atmospheric effects and improved explosions, creating a more immersive experience.
This time around, Rogue Squadron III tells an original story featuring characters like Luke Skywalker and Emperor Palpatine. It takes place after the destruction of the Death Star. Rogue Squadron III showed much promise, but its reviews were mixed.
7 Star Fox Adventures
Back when developer Rare was a part of Nintendo, Star Fox Adventures was one of their most breathtaking games. As a third-person adventure game, it took a new spin on the Star Fox series.
The game's sprawling worlds contain diverse environments. Critics praised Star Fox Adventures, and it soon became one of the best-selling games on the Nintendo GameCube.
6 Pikmin 2
While playing as living creatures that resemble plants, the game brings players into a miniature setting on a distant planet as you take part in a third-person adventure. Due to the success of the original Pikmin, sequels were made.
Pikmin 2 introduced new gameplay mechanics like a more destructible world and the ability to control two Pikmin simultaneously.
5 The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
As one of Nintendo's hottest IPs, The Legend of Zelda proved its relevance with an arduous journey. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess's world is humbling; every nook and cranny is packed with subtle detail and nuances.
This was the most sold Zelda game until it was surpassed by Breath of the Wild. A high-definition remaster of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess was released for the Nintendo Wii U. A Nintendo Switch port of this game needs to happen!
4 Resident Evil 4
The Nintendo GameCube's games shouldn't be judged solely based on their artwork. However, Resident Evil 4's resplendent artwork provides added depth.
This game has been ported numerous times, and rumors suggest a remake is on the way. Resident Evil 4 was initially a Nintendo GameCube exclusive missing widescreen support; widescreen support was added to its HD remaster. Playing Resident Evil 4 in the letterbox mode was less than ideal, but the graphics were outstanding for their time.
3 F-Zero GX
Oddly enough, F-Zero GX runs on an enhanced version of Super Monkey Ball's game engine. This game is praised for its visual design and is considered one of the most beautiful games on the Nintendo GameCube.
The story follows Captain Falcon, a mysterious pilot who is tasked with completing nine missions throughout the game. The graphics of F-Zero GX are considered ahead of their time.
2 Metroid Prime
The original Metroid Prime released for the Nintendo GameCube way back in 2002. The game presents an astonishing level of detail as it follows protagonist Samus Aran, a female interstellar bounty hunter. Puzzle-solving, platforming, and first-person shooting blend for a surreal outer space adventure.
The television countdown show Filter once ranked Metroid Prime for having the best graphics of all time.
1 Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
The Metroid Prime series was the franchise's first foray into 3D. Developed by Retro Studios, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes is the Nintendo GameCube's most visually pleasing game. The graphics are oozing with atmospheric effects that add subtle shade to tone.
Retro Studios, the developer behind the Metroid Prime trilogy, is back on the Metroid Prime 4 project. However, the long-awaited sequel's release could be a long way down the road. In 2019, Nintendo stated that the development of Metroid Prime 4 was restarted. Despite being games of the early 2000s, Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes have graphics that hold up.