The Nintendo GameCube is a beloved and nostalgic console for many Nintendo fans, though it hasn't seen much love on Virtual Console. However, the seemingly-incredible lifespan of the Nintendo Switch could mean that Gamecube games will eventually become available on Nintendo Switch Online, just like Nintendo 64, GameBoy Advance, and SNES titles.
However, some select GameCube games have had the distinct honor of being ported to future consoles. While they are currently unavailable to play on the Nintendo Switch, these titles would certainly excite fans who are eager to play them on the go. Some of them are even from Nintendo's biggest and most memorable franchises.
8 The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker
As it stands, The Wind Waker has a pretty fair shot at being ported to the Nintendo Switch sometime soon. The title was notably upgraded to HD and released on the Wii U, as was its console follow-up, Twilight Princess. However, as of 2023, the only Zelda remaster available on the Switch is Skyward Sword HD, which was released in 2021.
Currently, Nintendo's focus is likely on the upcoming release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, the follow-up to the Switch launch title Breath of the Wild. Nevertheless, given that 2023 is the 20th anniversary of The Wind Waker's release outside of Japan, it could be the perfect time for Nintendo to announce a re-release of their HD remaster.
7 Super Smash Bros. Melee
Few GameCube titles are as beloved now as they were back in the early 2000s as Super Smash Bros. Melee. The title is notably the most popular in Nintendo's all-star fighting franchise and has had an active competitive community since. Nevertheless, Nintendo's support of the said community has wavered in recent years in favor of their more recent titles.
Nonetheless, a re-release of Melee, perhaps via Nintendo Switch Online, would be the perfect way for Nintendo to make it up to fans of the series. With the addition of a strong online server as well, they'd be able to deter fans from playing the game mostly via an emulator. The Switch even already allows for connectivity with the GameCube controller adapter!
6 Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
The Paper Mario series began on the Nintendo 64 in 2000, but its most critically-acclaimed release is The Thousand-Year Door, which debuted on the GameCube in 2004. Despite its popularity, the game has never been remastered despite continued support for the franchise. However, few titles from the series have yet to recapture the magic of the GameCube game.
Still, a re-release of The Thousand-Year Door would thrill many fans of the franchise who haven't been persuaded by new entries like The Origami King on the Switch. However, it wouldn't be surprising if Nintendo is prone to distancing itself from some of the more mature material in that game, such as the starting town with a hangman's noose in its center.
5 Kirby Air Ride
Masahiro Sakurai's next project after Super Smash Bros Melee was the fan-favorite Kirby Air Ride, which also marked his last time working in the series. Like many GameCube titles, Kirby Air Ride is about to hit its 20th anniversary, which could make the perfect opportunity for Nintendo to re-release this often-forgotten about GameCube classic.
Plus, Nintendo could get some serious mileage out of a Kirby Air Ride release by updating it, as they did with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, another Switch launch title. By adding playable characters from recent Kirby games, like Prince Fluff, Magalor, or Waddle Dee, as well as online multiplayer, Kirby Air Ride could become the new preferred racer on the Switch.
4 Fire Emblem: Path Of Radiance
The Fire Emblem franchise has seen renewed popularity since Fire Emblem: Awakening on the 3DS. Since then, Nintendo has been open to embracing the franchise's past despite its unpopularity in the West. Alongside the nostalgic 2023 title Fire Emblem Engage, Nintendo even re-released a remake of Fire Emblem Gaiden on the Nintendo 3DS in 2017.
Titled Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, the game popularized the once-forgotten characters of Alm and Celica. However, Nintendo could potentially see even more success from reviving the title of a much more recognizable Fire Emblem hero: Ike, who originally debuted in the 2005 game Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance.
3 Pikmin
2023 is looking to be a strong year for the Pikmin franchise. Pikmin 4 is slated to release in July 2023 as one of Nintendo's biggest releases of the coming year. In preparation, Nintendo re-released its predecessor as Pikmin 3 Deluxe on the Nintendo Switch in 2020, though perhaps it'd be worthwhile for fans to re-experience the first two games in the franchise.
The first Pikmin and its sequel Pikmin 2 were both re-released on the Nintendo Wii in 2008, but those were as part of a series adapting GameCube games to use the Wii's motion controls. A new re-release of the first two Pikmin games could re-introduce the franchise's origins to fans who are more acquainted with their Switch-available titles.
2 F-Zero GX
Even though Captain Falcon is an iconic character in the Super Smash Bros franchise, F-Zero GX was the last proper console release of Nintendo's secondary racing franchise. The game was acclaimed by critics and is remembered by many GameCube fans as one of the best releases on the console, even though the F-Zero franchise has been dormant for years.
Nowadays, F-Zero is well-deserving of a comeback story, especially given Captain Falcon's continued popularity. While many may see F-Zero as an arcade title put onto consoles, F-Zero GX also contained a thrilling story mode centered on the character everybody knows for his iconic, quotable Super Smash Bros moves.
1 Wario World
Nowadays, Wario gets time to be a solo performer with the WarioWare franchise, which center on zany microgames and meta references to the Nintendo universe. However, Wario also had his shot at a 3D platformer with Wario World, which was released in 2003 and centers on Wario rescuing his fortune from an evil entity known as the Black Jewel.
For a little-known GameCube title, Wario World was quite the commercial success, though some critics felt it was much shorter than most other games on the console. Still, it would be a great discovery for new Nintendo fans if it was ever added to Nintendo Switch Online. It would also be especially appreciated by fans of the Wario character.