GameCube Games Forgotten By Time

During the sixth-generation of video game consoles, Nintendo was still competing in a far more traditional way. Long before they leaned heavily into controller gimmicks, Nintendo used some top-of-the-line hardware to compete with Sony and Microsoft.

That may not have been the best decision financially, as GameCube sales trailed well behind the PS2 and Xbox. The games, however, were some of the best you could find on the market, although that came at a bit of a cost.

Many of the GameCube's most incredible titles are already well-known, certified classics, but a few have been lost to the endless cycle of time. The true tragedy of this is that some of the console's best games have been forgotten over the years.

Thankfully, this list will highlight some of the console's most outstanding forgotten gems. We'll take a look at some absolute classics, and showcase why the GameCube is still one of the greatest video game systems of all time.

10 Killer7

A Suda51 Classic

When most people think of the Capcom Five, a spectacular roster of titles developed by Capcom to introduce a handful of new IPs into the industry, the one that tends to spring to mind first is Resident Evil 4. There were a few, however, that slipped through the cracks, with one of them being Killer7.

This absolute gem is a surreal, madcap adventure game from the mind of Suda51. To this day, I have not ever played a game that quite hits the same level of delightful weirdness as Killer7.

A lot of games are leaning into weird settings, especially in today's industry, but Killer7 was an entirely different beast. It justifies its oddball world, but also lets itself go completely off the rails with that world.

These days, Killer7 is one of the most oft-forgotten Suda masterpieces. It is available on Steam, however, so it's a good time to dive into this strange game.

9 Custom Robo

Build, Fight, Repeat

Custom Robo on the GameCube was actually the first game in the series to leave Japan. The series had already developed quite a name for itself overseas, but the GameCube iteration brought the mech-building action RPG to the US for the first time.

I played quite a bit of this game growing up, as the alluring box art and promise of building my own mech to fight with was too good to resist. Custom Robo more than made good on that promise.

Battle arenas are a dazzling treat to look at, and movement still feels genuinely great all these years later. There are a lot of mech building games out there today, but a lot of them owe quite a bit to Custom Robo.

8 Evolution Worlds

A Traditional JRPG

If you owned a GameCube back in the day, you were treated to an expansive roster of different game genres. One that felt a bit limited, however, was the traditional JRPG.

Genre staples like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest were fairly uncommon on the console, but a few hidden gems persisted. One of them was Evolution Worlds, a JRPG from developer Sting Entertainment.

It has all the charm and goofy aura that defines JRPGs of this era. It really feels like something you would have played on the Sega Saturn in the 90s, with a quirky chibi aesthetic and some surprisingly good voice acting.

The whole game evokes a sort of childlike wonder that JRPGs used to revel in. It's a silly cornball adventure that holds up quite well today.

7 Billy Hatcher And The Giant Egg

Bring Back The Hatch!

Sega has been bringing back quite a few of their older characters and franchises recently, but one that is in desperate need of a revival is Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg. It's one of the most adorable games I've ever played, and represents such a fun time for video games.

It was when an entire game could be built around something completely and utterly absurd, but we just went with it. Billy Hatcher is the kind of game that would absolutely dominate the indie scene today.

Rolling around the egg, defeating enemies, and enjoying the visual feast is just lovely. Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg has such a vibrant, beautifully consistent style, and it's a shame that this timeless classic has been forgotten.

6 Lost Kingdoms

FromSoftware's Forgotten Masterpiece

Although FromSoftware has garnered quite a reputation for their work on modern masterpieces like Bloodborne and Dark Souls, they were actually extremely active during the sixth-generation of consoles. One of their most fabulous efforts during this era was Lost Kingdoms.

It may not have the name value of their contemporary hits, but Lost Kingdoms actually retains quite a few FromSoftware quirks that would define their legacy. It's a world shrouded in a thick, dark fantasy atmosphere and a sort of understated weirdness that made games like Shadow Tower so much fun.

It uses a cool card-based system for combat, a style of RPG that was actually gaining a lot of steam during this era. Lost Kingdoms can easily hold its own with contemporary card-based JRPGs.

5 Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings And The Lost Ocean

One Of The Most Compelling JRPGs Of Its Era

It was quite disappointing to see Baten Kaitos get a remaster that came and went. No one seemed to care, which hurt my inner child severely.

I spent untold numbers of hours with this game way back in the day. I've always been incredibly fond of card-based battle systems, and Baten Kaitos has one that truly rocks.

The speed and velocity at which combat unfolds is outstanding. A lot of JRPGs of this era have a tendency to feel slow or dated, but Baten Kaitos is still an absolute blast.

Baten Kaitos also has a delightful sense of humor. It relies heavily on breaking the fourth wall, as well as some lovely character moments.

4 Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem

Deep Into That Darkness Peering

Growing up, watching movies like Re-Animator introduced me to the wild world of Lovecraft. That naturally extended into wanting to play video games based on this cosmic nightmare, a need that was met by a brilliant little gem known as Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem.

Even all these years later, Eternal Darkness can stand up to any modern horror game. It is insanely innovative, and the sanity effects are unmatched today.

The way it melds traditional adventure game design with Lovecraft concepts is seamless. There are a lot of games based on Lovecraft mythology, but very few of them have been able to mix the dread of the unknown with gameplay systems quite as well as Eternal Darkness.

3 Star Fox Assault

Do A Barrel Roll!

Nintendo may have forgotten that Star Fox existed, but I know I sure haven't. The iconic space combat franchise hasn't seen a mainline entry since 2016, and before that, the last time the series saw daylight was on the GameCube.

Star Fox Assault represents exactly what the series needs to do moving forward. The rail shooting should certainly be the priority, but Star Fox Assault has some wonderful on-foot exploration that could really move the needle on the series.

The rail shooting sections have also never felt better. It's the ultimate expression of what Star Fox could be, as you never feel like you're doing the same thing too much.

It has a swift, rapid pace to it. There's never a dull moment, and the story has some of the most outstanding Star Fox moments in the entire series.

2 Viewtiful Joe

Henshin A Go-Go, Baby!

Viewtiful Joe was one of the best games to come out of the Capcom Five. This spunky, visually brilliant 2D side-scrolling beat-'em-up was directed by Hideki Kamiya, and its lack of recognition in modern gaming is simply tragic.

The way it blends elements of superhero comics, anime, and blockbuster movies is something truly special. You can feel the artistry endlessly bursting off the screen in this one.

Combat is actually far more in-depth than it appears at first blush, too. It is certainly rooted in classic beat-'em-up design philosophies, but the way it handles Joe's powers is so much fun.

The level of raw power you can unleash with Joe is wonderful. It really taps into a childlike view of superheroes that is sorely missing today.

1 Geist

The GameCube's Best FPS

The GameCube certainly was not known for its vast shooter library. It had a few good ones, but Geist is one that I don't think many people remember.

This horror shooter was the second GameCube game to get a Mature rating after Eternal Darkness, and it shows. It is a harsh, deadly serious horror game that feels like it would have been way more at home in the generation that followed. Just a bit too quick on the draw, as it were.

Geist just feels amazing to play. The shooting feels sharp, the sound design is outstanding, and it has a fun possession mechanic that makes the game constantly engaging.

So many elements of Geist, especially the sci-fi military horror theme and possession system, just feel like they were a touch too early for people to catch on to. These days, Geist is one of the most thrilling and enjoyable FPS games that no one seems to remember.