5 Most Underrated GameCube Games of All Time

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The Nintendo GameCube is fondly remembered for its classic games. Titles like Super Smash Bros. Melee, Metroid Prime, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, and Super Mario Sunshine were incredibly influential and continue to be popular with gamers today. These games showed Nintendo at its best, combining innovative ideas with refined gameplay, and their impact can still be seen in game design now. Fans continue to talk about and enjoy these beloved titles.

The GameCube had much more to offer than just its popular games. Hidden among the well-known titles were creative, daring, and unusual games that didn’t get the recognition they deserved. Whether due to poor marketing, being difficult to categorize, or simply being released at the wrong time, these games were overlooked, despite providing unique gameplay and innovative concepts. Now, we’re highlighting five of the most underrated gems on this classic console.

5) I-Ninja

Despite being full of inventive ideas and diverse gameplay, I-Ninja is a hidden gem among 3D platformers from the early 2000s. Created by Argonaut Games, it mixes classic platforming with action-packed combat, driving sections, and puzzles, keeping players constantly engaged. While it didn’t get the attention of more popular games at the time, its originality is comparable to many of the genre’s best titles.

This game puts you in the role of a quick, nimble ninja on a quest to get revenge on their cruel teacher. Though the story is meant to be fun and not too serious, it allows for incredibly creative and surprising levels. Each level introduces something new, like puzzles that change gravity, battles with robots, and even snowboarding! This constant change of pace keeps the game exciting and full of surprises.

I-Ninja stands out with its bright colors and over-the-top animations, giving it a unique and memorable style. The game’s worlds are designed to be fun and imaginative, which helps it hold up well even today. The controls are tight and accurate, making the challenging platforming sections enjoyable instead of annoying. If you’re looking for a GameCube game that offers something different and encourages you to try new things, I-Ninja is a real find.

4) Metal Arms: Glitch in the System

Despite positive reviews, Metal Arms: Glitch in the System didn’t get the attention it deserved. Released alongside many realistic shooters, its unique, cartoonish style might have given players the wrong impression. Now, it’s remembered as one of the most creative and well-made action games on the GameCube. The story follows Glitch, a brave little robot fighting against an oppressive robot army in a world they control.

The game truly shines when you’re actually playing it. The combat is a smooth mix of shooting, jumping, and using cool gadgets. A standout feature is the ability to briefly take control of enemy robots, letting you use their own weapons and powers against them. This adds a lot of strategy and fun to battles, rewarding clever thinking over just powering through.

The game features diverse and inventive levels, mixing exciting battles, tricky platforming, and clever puzzles. You’ll find a unique arsenal of weapons, from classic guns to strange gadgets that manipulate enemies. The gameplay is well-paced, constantly introducing new ideas and keeping you engaged from start to finish.

3) Geist

Geist is a truly unique and ambitious game published by Nintendo. Created by n-Space, it combines shooting, puzzles, and stealth, with a special ability to possess enemies. While technical limitations held it back, Geist remains memorable for its originality. It’s rare to find a game that so boldly mixes horror, action, and interacting with the environment.

In this game, you play as a ghost stuck inside a hidden research lab. Instead of fighting directly, you possess different objects, animals, and people to change things around you. This creates unique puzzles where you have to cleverly scare or control your opponents from behind the scenes. Some people even think this game paved the way for Super Mario Odyssey on the Nintendo Switch.

Unlike many GameCube games, Geist has a distinctly unsettling and psychological atmosphere, focusing more on building tension than showing graphic violence. The game relies heavily on its environment to tell a story, using notes and visual details to hint at disturbing experiments and secret plans. Although there are action sequences, the core gameplay—possessing enemies—is much stronger and more innovative. This focus might not have appealed to everyone, but it still makes Geist a compelling and unique experience even now.

2) Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg

Developed by Sonic Team, Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg is a bright and creative platforming adventure filled with fun and imagination. Players take on the role of Billy, a boy who finds himself in a magical world where eggs are incredibly important. While the game shares similarities with Sonic titles, Sonic Team added a special new feature to make Billy Hatcher a unique experience.

The main idea of the game is rolling large eggs through colorful worlds. You’ll use these eggs to solve puzzles, beat enemies, and even hatch creatures that give you new powers. This creates a distinctive flow to the game, mixing fast-paced movement with precise control. Everything looks cheerful and lively, featuring over-the-top characters and fun environments. The levels are designed like imaginative storybook settings, packed with hidden areas and different ways to explore.

Although Billy Hatcher was a charming game, it didn’t sell very well. Its unique gameplay and lack of a famous character made it hard to market. But players who tried it found a fun and imaginative platformer that still stands out today. Now that 3D platformers are becoming popular again, like with Astro Bot, many are hoping that the team behind Sonic the Hedgehog will consider revisiting this beloved, but lesser-known, classic.

1) Star Fox Adventures

Star Fox Adventures is a Nintendo game that sparks a lot of discussion, and many people don’t quite understand it. It started as a completely original game idea before being turned into a Star Fox title. It combines action, adventure, exploration, and puzzles, making for a fun experience. However, its association with the Star Fox series ultimately hindered its success.

Players take control of Fox McCloud as he explores the strange world of Dinosaur Planet. The gameplay focuses on exploring dungeons, figuring out puzzles, and fighting enemies up close. Although some fans missed the classic, fast-paced shooting, the game offers a surprisingly deep and engaging adventure. Players are also introduced to Krystal, a new character, during the game’s opening section.

Star Fox Adventures is a visually beautiful game. Its environments are rich, detailed, and create a strong atmosphere, demonstrating Rare’s technical skill. The character movements and cinematic style were also very impressive for its time, making the game feel large and immersive. However, some players felt that the game’s setting, a planet populated by dinosaurs, didn’t quite fit with the established Star Fox universe, and this was a common criticism.

The game tells a unique story within the Star Fox universe, exploring themes of planetary politics and long-forgotten dangers. While it struggles with defining its own identity, Star Fox Adventures is a genuinely engaging action-adventure that didn’t get the recognition it deserved. It’s possible the game would have been more successful and better remembered if it hadn’t been branded as a Star Fox title.

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2025-12-28 22:18