The Nintendo GameCube was released in Japan and North America in 2001 and in the PAL territories in 2002. The GameCube was the first Nintendo console to use optical discs as its primary storage, and during its lifetime saw over 600 games released in this format. 21.74 million GameCube units were sold worldwide before the console was discontinued in 2007, did you own one? And did you play any of the 10 biggest selling GameCube games?...
1. Super Smash Bros. Melee
Unlike the NES, SNES and N64, the GameCube's flagship Mario title does not top the chart - although, admittedly, the character does feature prominently in Super Smash Bros. Melee. This 2001 release is still considered by many to be the best in the Super Smash Bros. series. Featuring characters from Nintendo video game franchises such as Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Star Fox, and Pokémon, the stages and gameplay modes reference or take designs from these franchises as well. 7.41 million copies were sold, and it has been estimated that at one point in time 70% of all GameCube owners had a copy of Super Smash Bros. Melee.
2. Mario Kart: Double Dash
Arriving in 2003, Mario Kart: Double Dash was the fourth installment in the Mario Kart series and the third for home consoles after Mario Kart 64. Similar to the previous titles in that Double Dash allows you to pick characters from the Mario franchise to race against each other on Mario-themed tracks, but with the introduction of new gameplay features, such as supporting co-op gameplay with two riders per kart (one player drives the kart, and the other uses items). 6.96 million copies were sold, with over half of them in the U.S. alone.
3. Super Mario Sunshine
The company's flagship Mario title for the GameCube was not available at launch, Nintendo made players wait a year for Super Mario Sunshine. When it was eventually released in 2002 the game sold 400,000 copies, 350,000 copies in the U.S., and 175,000 copies in Europe all within its first week available. Super Mario Sunshine also significantly boosted hardware sales of the GameCube, and when the machine was discontinued 6.28 million copies of the game had been sold.
4. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
The tenth installment in The Legend of Zelda series, The Wind Waker was released in Japan in December 2002, in North America in March 2003, and in Europe in May 2003. At its release, Wind Waker received critical acclaim for its visuals, gameplay, level design, music, and story, though its art direction proved divisive among players. The game sold 4.6 million copies, far below the 7.6 million by Ocarina of Time. As a result, Nintendo changed directions with the next Zelda installment, the more realistically styled Twilight Princess. However, The Wind Waker's reputation has improved over time, and it is now widely considered one of the greatest video games ever made.
5. Luigi's Mansion
Praised for its graphics and gameplay, but criticised for its short lenghth, Luigi's Mansion was a launch title for the GameCube and was a particularly big hit in the U.S. where it saw 2.19 million of its 3.03 million global sales.
6. Animal Crossing
Switch owners around the globe were forever thankful that Nintendo dropped Animal Crossing: New Horizons just as we all went into lockdown; many an hour, day, week, month has been spent in that open-ended world. And 2.42 million GameCube owners were doing just the same 19 years previous. Interestingly, the GameCube's Animal Crossing included 15 unlockable NES games, like Donkey Kong and Excitebike. They were all acquired in various ways, such as gifts from villagers, hidden on the island, or via special giveaways from Nintendo's website.
=7. Metroid Prime
I was always a big fan of Super Metroid, but with the franchise skipping the N64 it had been 8 years since the last Samas Aran adventure. 2002's Metroid Prime did not disappoint. The first Metroid game to use 3D computer graphics being played from the first-person perspective, Metroid Prime won many Game Of The Year awards and sold a cool 2 million copies.
=7. Mario Party
Arriving in 2002, I have to say I don't think Mario Party 4 was the best title in the franchise, not even the best on the GameCube - Nintendo released four Mario Party games for this console! But it is never not fun to get together with your friends for some Mario Party action. And 2 million people did just that.
9. Mario Party 7
Arriving late into the GameCube's shelf life, 2005s Mario Party 7 came bundled with a microphone (which was introduced in the gameplay of Mario Party 6) and included 88 brand new minigames. 1.86 million GameCube owners had their friends on speed dial.
10. Pokémon Colosseum
Released on November 21st 2003 in Japan; March 22nd 2004 in North America; and May 14th 2004 in Europe, unlike previous titles in the franchise Pokémon Colosseum does not feature random encounters with Pokémon; instead, the player can steal ("snag") the Pokémon of other Pokémon Trainers. The game also features several battle modes for single-player and multiplayer gameplay. On final tally, it sold 1.80 million copies.
And there you go, the ten biggest selling Nintendo GameCube games of all time. How many did you play? Let us know in the comments below.
Previously
The Million Selling Nintendo Game And Watch Games
The 10 Biggest Selling Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) Games Of All Time
The 10 Biggest Selling Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) Games Of All Time
The 10 Biggest Selling Nintendo 64 (N64) Games Of All Time
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