5 Best 3D Platformers on the GameCube

by

Nintendo has long been known as a great place for platforming games. They pioneered 2D platformers with consoles like the NES and SNES, and then smoothly moved into 3D with the Nintendo 64. While the GameCube didn’t sell as well, leading some developers to focus on other platforms, it still offered a number of excellent games, including some quality 3D platformers.

If you’re feeling nostalgic and want to revisit some classic games, here are three of the best 3D platformers available on the GameCube.

5) Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

While technically an action-adventure game, The Sands of Time stands out for its exciting blend of combat and platforming. Though it features plenty of close-up fighting – something not common in platformers from that time – it’s the exploration and jumping that really made The Sands of Time special.

The Prince in this game has a magical dagger that lets him control time. Players use this ability to help with tricky jumps – they can slow time down for easier platforming or rewind if they make a mistake. It’s a clever feature that makes the platforming sections really enjoyable. Though it’s different from most 3D platformers, The Sands of Time is definitely worth playing if you haven’t experienced it since its release in 2003.

4) Chibi-Robo

In Chibi-Robo, you play as a small robot tasked with helping the Sanderson family fix problems around their house. The game started as a traditional point-and-click adventure, but Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto later took charge and completely redesigned it.

Thankfully, Chibi-Robo is a charming and unique game. It’s full of playful moments and features clever puzzles that keep you engaged. A key element is managing your robot’s battery life, which encourages careful planning. Combined with a sweet story that’s perfect for all ages, it’s another fantastic title from Nintendo.

3) Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc

As a huge Rayman fan, I was really excited when the third game finally came out after a four-year wait! It was great to see Ubisoft didn’t mess with the things I already loved about the series. They did add a bunch of cool new moves for Rayman, and this awesome combo meter! It basically turned the game into an arcade experience, which made me want to replay levels just to beat my high score. It was a fantastic addition!

Generally, it’s best not to change something that’s already working well. While Rayman 3 received less positive reviews than the previous game because it didn’t offer enough new ideas, it still performed well in sales. This prompted Ubisoft to take bigger risks with the next installment, resulting in the highly praised Rayman Origins. This makes Rayman 3 seem a bit different compared to the two fan-favorite classics that surround it. Despite this, Rayman 3 remains a perfectly enjoyable platformer.

2) Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg

Billy Hatcher is an unusual game developed by the talented team at Sonic Team, known for their quality work. However, even for them, the game’s concepts are pretty strange. You take on the role of Billy Hatcher, traveling the world and hatching eggs to overcome Dark Raven and his crow army.

As a big fan, I love that there are 72 different eggs you can hatch in Billy Hatcher! A lot of them actually help you get further in the game once you unlock them. Plus, you’ll want to be rolling around in an egg as much as possible because Billy moves so much faster and can do cool platforming moves that way. There’s tons to do – the game has seven totally different zones packed with levels. It’s a shame it didn’t sell very well, and we never got a sequel, though Billy has popped up in a few other games over the years!

1) Super Mario Sunshine

While some fans consider Super Mario Sunshine the weakest 3D Mario title, it’s still a fantastic game. The F.L.U.D.D. water pack was controversial, but it added interesting new ways to move around. It’s also reasonable to criticize the game’s camera, which is often considered one of the worst in the series.

I remember when Sunshine first came out on the GameCube – it looked fantastic! Okay, maybe it doesn’t look amazing by today’s standards, but back then it was one of the prettiest games on the system. And honestly, it’s a pretty tough 3D Mario game. It could get frustrating at times, sure, but that extra difficulty meant you were getting a ton of playtime for your money. It really kept you hooked!

It’s probably a good thing Nintendo hasn’t brought back the water pack from Sunshine. While the idea was okay for that one game, it never really became a fan favorite. Plus, no other games were offering quite the same experience on Nintendo consoles at the time. Despite its flaws, Sunshine still stands out as a memorable and top-tier title.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/super-mario-games-3d-best-worst/embed/#

Read More

2026-02-15 00:41