Despite not being a huge success in the console wars of its generation, the Nintendo GameCube was certainly successful in bringing the world many incredibly fun and exciting adventure titles. In fact, many iconic video games not only called the GameCube home, but were exclusive to that boxy console, and we aren’t just talking about Mario and Link.
The Nintendo GameCube launched in 2001 and was officially discontinued in 2009, a couple of years following the release of the Wii. During that time, nearly 700 games labeled as adventures were released for the system. Naturally, not all of those titles received the greatest reviews, but a surprisingly large percentage of them did capture the hearts of many gamers.
Adventure games come in all shapes and sizes, especially given that the term “adventure” can be a bit vague. While there are many games that are specifically listed as “Action-Adventure,” there are also many RPGs and even horror games that qualify as an adventure for players.
Star Fox Adventures (2002)
Recently, Star Fox just made a grand return with the new Star Fox that launched on the Switch 2 as a remake of StarFox64. Many hope that this will lead to other Star Fox games coming to Nintendo Switch Online, including Star Fox Adventures. Unfortunately, the only way to replay Star Fox Adventures today is by using a GameCube.
In the game, Fox McCloud and his party are sent on a mission to Dinosaur Planet. This world, as you can rightly assume, is populated with dinosaurs and mammoths, as well as a few tribes that are in contention seeking control of the planet. Players work to help defeat the villainous and tyrannical SharpClaw tribe and restore peace to the planet.
Star Fox Adventures is probably one of the least talked about games in the franchise, despite being very popular at the time. With a Metacritic score of 82, the action-adventure was a success despite being a departure from the traditional Star Fox gameplay.
LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy (2006)
It’s hard to beat a LEGO game when it comes to a fun adventure full of humor, especially when it’s based on an adventure as iconic as the original Star Wars trilogy. Covering the narratives of A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi, the LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy game naturally takes a bit of a tongue-in-cheek approach to the epic space opera.
LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy was released on several platforms, but with a Metacritic score of 84, the GameCube proved to be one of the best formats for the game at the time. In later years, as the GameCube became less common for use, the game was re-released on more modern systems such as the Xbox360, PS4, and PC.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (2004)
The second game in the Paper Mario franchise, The Thousand-Year Door is still widely considered to be one of the best examples of a Mario RPG. The game received a remake for the Nintendo Switch in 2024, which ScreenRant gave a review score of 9/10 for, and is probably the easiest way to experience the game today. The original version for the GameCube received a Metacritic score of 87, with the 2024 remake scoring one point higher, at 88.
This RPG adventure game takes Mario and friends on a journey to save Princess Peach from aliens called the X-Nauts, while also finding a mystic treasure.
Pikmin 2 (2004)
The Pikmin franchise is another set of Nintendo exclusives, and each time these tiny creatures set out on mysterious planets, it’s certain to be a colorful adventure. Made for the GameCube, Pikmin 2 sees Captain Olimar looking to collect valuable treasure on the Pikmin planet.
Set in the microscopic world that the series is known for, players lead and direct hordes of Pikmin while retrieving scrap metal and broken toys, all while fighting off enemies and protecting your Pikmin friends as night falls. The game received a Metacritic score of 90, and was given an HD remaster for the Nintendo Switch in 2023.
Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time (2003)
One of the games that is not a Nintendo exclusive, but which is certainly worthy of inclusion in this list is none other than Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. The game was released on Game Boy Advance, PS2, GameCube, Xbox, and Windows in 2003, with a Metacritic score of 92 on nearly every platform. The game is still available on Steam. At one time, Ubisoft had planned on creating a remake of the popular game, but that has since been canceled in 2026.
This action-adventure follows a Prince with a magical artifact called the Dagger of Time that can rewind time if players make a mistake in platforming and combat. Players must use this ability to help save the world from a traitorous Vizier who has released the Sands of Time, transforming all the people of Azad into savage monsters.
Super Mario Sunshine (2002)
A personal favorite of mine, Super Mario Sunshine was one of the most popular titles of the GameCube era, and earned itself a Metacritic score of 92 with universal acclaim. Though not a launch title, many GameCubes came bundled with the game after Super Mario Sunshine was released.
While much of its design is similar to other 3D Mario titles, such as Super Mario 64, it takes on a much more tropical vibe with Mario and his friends being trapped on Isle Delfino while Mario must prove his innocence in a Bowser Jr. theft. Using the water-spraying F.L.U.D.D. gun, players clean up Bowser Jr.’s mess while tracking down the culprit.
Currently, in order to play Super Mario Sunshine, you either need to have a GameCube or be lucky enough to own a copy of Super Mario 3D All-Stars for the Nintendo Switch. Thankfully, the game is listed as being one of the titles that will be arriving on the GameCube Nintendo Classics for the Nintendo Switch Online system.
The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006)
For many of us, a discussion of adventure games on any Nintendo console immediately brings to mind The Legend of Zelda series. With a Metacritic score of 96, Twilight Princess certainly shows why. The darker and grittier gameplay of Link in a corrupted parallel dimension, the Twilight Realm, immediately caught the attention of many. Add to that his wolf form and the mysterious Midna, and the adventure truly rivaled any adventure game of the time.
Sadly, Twilight Princess is only available on GameCube, Wii, and WiiU systems currently, although there is a lot of ongoing speculation that Twilight Princess HD will be brought to the Nintendo Switch 2 eventually.
Resident Evil 4 (2005)
The Resident Evil series is infamous for its survival horror mechanics that launched it into popularity. Originally a Nintendo GameCube exclusive, Resident Evil 4 blended survival horror, third-person shooter, and adventure genres together into one spooky package for the console.
Playing as Leon S. Kennedy on a mission to rescue the President’s daughter Ashley, we find hostile villagers who have become infected by a mind-controlling parasite. With a Metacritic score of 96, it remains one of the best horror games to play today, with a remake of the game available on nearly every modern system.
The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker (2002)
Despite having a drastically different art style and theme, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker matches Twilight Princess for a Metacritic rating of 96. With Toon Link as our protagonist, players set out to save his sister from Ganon while using a magic conductor’s baton called Wind Waker to change the direction of the wind and harness other powers with his special melodies.
The game is full of colorful characters, including the King of Red Lions, who just happens to be a talking sailboat, and a pirate captain named Tetra. Of course, Tetra may have some secrets that she doesn’t even fully understand.
Unless you have a GameCube to play The Wind Waker on, the easiest way to access the game today is through the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pass service.
Metroid Prime 1 & 2 (2002 & 2004)
Easily the biggest action-adventure game of the Nintendo GameCube’s lifespan was the original Metroid Prime, with a Metacritic score of 97, with Metroid Prime 2: Echoes following closely with a Metacritic of 92.
Both of these sci-fi focused games let players take control of the bounty hunter Samus as she battles vicious enemies. First taking down Space Pirates who have filled the planet Tallon IV with biological experiments, and later attempting to defeat a hostile race known as the Ing, and finding the Space Pirates once again. Only this time, they also have the mysterious Dark Samus with them.
Metroid Prime Remastered is available for the Nintendo Switch, which is the easiest way to access the title today without an original GameCube. Unfortunately, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes has not yet been made available on anything other than the Nintendo GameCube and Wii systems.