The Best Nintendo Gamecube Games Under $10
I started the Cheapest Games series quite a while ago and I figured I should revise some of the posts to reflect some of the changing values and give more relevant recommendations. Hopefully, this revised list of Gamecube games will help you start or build up your collection without having to spend much.. (Prices listed are an average eBay price for US games, including shipping)
After a year or two of increased Gamecube game prices (to coincide with the Wii’s success and backwards compatibility), prices have started to come back down for most of the best games — with the exceptions of the rarities and RPGs.  It also helps when some of the popular games receive sequels or re-releases.  So if you want to round out your Gamecube or Wii collection on the cheap, take a look at these picks.
After a few years of increased Gamecube game prices (to coincide with the Wii’s success and backwards compatibility), prices have started to come back down for most of the best games — with the exceptions of the rarities and RPGs.  It also helps when some of the popular games receive sequels or re-releases.  So if you want to round out your Gamecube or Wii collection on the cheap, take a look at these picks.
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Metroid Prime: $6 Metroid Prime 2: $9 Sure, it isn’t the 2D Metroid most of us would prefer, but Metroid Prime does a remarkable job keeping much of the feel of the original series to a 3D world. It also happens to be one of the most impressive and compelling games on the Cube. Shop for Metroid Prime on eBay Shop for Metroid Prime on Amazon.com Metroid Prime 2: Echoes: $12  – eBay / Amazon |
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F-Zero GX: $8 When two innovative game-makers get together, good things happen. Even though F-Zero is a Nintendo franchise, Mario and Co. let Sega do most of the development work for this racer. Sega’s arcade experience paid off as F-Zero GX is a incredibly fast, challenging, addicting, and visually stunning piece of racing goodness. Dare I say that this game is my favorite racer of all time (I prefer arcade racers to simulations). Shop for F-Zero GX on eBay Shop for F-Zero GX on Amazon.com |
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Viewtiful Joe: $6 Viewtiful Joe 2: $5 This lovable series from Capcom took old-school beatemup gameplay, threw in some interesting gameplay puzzles and mixed with trendy cel-shading graphics. Capcom may not have been able to improve greatly on the series later on, but the original is still a must-own for a modern retrogamer. Shop for Viewtiful Joe on eBay Shop for Viewtiful Joe on Amazon.com |
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Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader: $7 I can’t help but think back to the Gamecube’s launch and recall all the comments about this game and how the developers had to be careful to make the game look too much better than the actual movie it was based on. Rogue Leader II focuses on one of the more popular Star Wars gameplay mechanics, space combat. Shop for Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader on eBay Shop for Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader on Amazon.com |
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TimeSplitters 2: $7 If you want a high-quality FPS that is designed for consoles, you need to pick up TimeSplitters 2. Developed by the same team that worked for Rareware on the N64’s Goldeneye 007, Timesplitters 2 has killer level design, great weapons, and a variety of multiplayer and minigame options. It may not have the realism that some modern gamers crave or a fascinating storyline, but it tops Halo in my book in terms of gameplay and all-out fun.  The sequel, Future Perfect is also on the Gamecube, but as of recently, it’s been selling for well over $20 Shop for TimeSplitters 2 on eBay Shop for TimeSplitters 2 on Amazon.com |
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Super Monkey Ball: $8 Super Monkey Ball 2: $7 The Monkey Ball series was some of Sega’s last true example of pure creativity and genius as a multiplatform developer. Both games have a fun and challenging single-player mode, but also serves as a killer party title due to its diverse mini-games. Just stay away from Super Monkey Ball Adventure. Shop for Super Monkey Ball on eBay Shop for Super Monkey Ball on Amazon.com Shop for Super Monkey Ball 2 on Amazon.com |
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Soul Calibur II: $6 Anybody remotely interested in 3D fighters should not overlook the Soul Calibur series. After the rave reviews as a Dreamcast exclusive, the original Soul Calibur was followed up as a multiplatform sequel with a great deal of hype. The Gamecube version was an especially high seller due to The Legend of Zelda’s Link as a playable fighter. However, even though Soul Calibur III wasn’t much better, most gamers are selling off their copies and picking up newer installments. Now is your time to take advantage of this bargain. Shop for Soul Calibur II on eBay Shop for Soul Calibur II on Amazon.com |
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Wave Race: Blue Storm: $7 Blue Storm was a fan favorite after launch as it was essentially an enhanced version of an N64 classic. Copies have become a bit more scarce the last year or so, but if you want a unique arcade racer, you may still be able to find it for a decent price. Shop for Wave Race: Blue Storm on eBay Shop for Wave Race: Blue Storm on Amazon.com |
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Pac-Man Vs. / Pac-Man World 2: $6 If you want a killer party game for retro freaks and non-gamers alike, look no further than Pac-Man Vs. Pac-Man vs. was actually a project of Shigeru Miyamoto, the mastermind behind Mario, Zelda, and most of Nintendo’s most successful game. It lets up four players battle it out in a Pac-Man “simulationâ€. One person take the role of Pac-Man while the others possess the ghosts and team up on Pac-Man. Having the platformer Pac-Man World 2 included in the package is just an added bonus. Shop for Pac-Man Vs. / Pac-Man World 2 on eBay Shop for Pac-Man Vs. / Pac-Man World 2 on Amazon.com |
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Star Fox Adventures: $9 This game was initially a let-down to Star Fox fans as it doesn’t let you do all the space battling that you would normally expect from a Star Fox game. Instead, Star Fox Adventures plays more like a Zelda game with its action, adventure, and exploration. If you know this going in, you should find Star Fox Adventures an affordable treat. Shop for Star Fox Adventures on eBay Shop for Star Fox Adventures on Amazon.com |
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Resident Evil Zero: $9 Most of the Resident Evil ports and remakes are still a little pricey on the Gamecube (they had a lower print run). But the Nintendo exclusive of the Zero prequel is still very much in reach of the budget-minded Gamecube owner. Shop for Resident Evil 4 on eBay Shop for Resident Evil 4 on Amazon |
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Resident Evil 4: $9 Back in 2005, RE4 knocked the critic’s stocks off as it redefined the experience of the Resident Evil series. Â It sold a ton of copies before becoming a multiplatform title. Â Part 4 is still a favorite and after-market copies are abundant keeping the resale prices low. Shop for Resident Evil 4 on eBay Shop for Resident Evil 4 on Amazon |
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Pikmin: $9 Nintendo has mastered the skill of taking rather complicated genres of games and bringing them to the masses in a friendly package. Â Pikmin is a wonderful example of simplifying real-time-strategy while keeping the fun intact. Â Most fans of the series will agree that the second installment is friendlier and more polished, but the original Pikmin is still an excellent game. Â Pikmin 2 is also unlikely to be in the more budget-friendly range in the forseeable future. Shop for Pikmin on eBay Shop for Pikmin on Amazon |
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Lego Star Wars: $8 each Personally, I prefer Lega Star Wars 2 (The Original Trilogy) much more out of the two games, but both installements are filled to the brim with lots of entertaining co-op goodness, humor, and the parts of Star Wars we love most. Â now that the Complete Saga releases have made it to newer platforms, these original releases are getting cheaper as time goes on. Shop for Lego Star Wars Series on eBay Shop for Lego Star Wars Series on Amazon |
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Sonic Mega Collection – $9 Even though there are some other methods of playing these classic Sonic games on other platforms, the Sonic Mega Collection is still an excellent value and a well-producded compilation discs of some of the greatest platformers of all time. Â If you have any remote interest in Sonic, this is a must grab. Shop for Sonic Mega Collection on eBay Shop for Sonic Mega Collection on Amazon |
Other Cheap Favorites
- Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction: $8 – eBay / Amazon
- Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life: $9 – eBay / Amazon
- Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike $6  – eBay / Amazon
- Crazy Taxi: $7 – eBay / Amazon
- Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havok: $8 – eBay / Amazon
- Puyo Pop Fever: $8 – eBay / Amazon
- Tony Hawk’s Underground 2: $5  – eBay / Amazon
- Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: $6  – eBay / Amazon
- SEGA Soccer Slam: $9 – eBay / Amazon
- Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour: $8 – eBay / Amazon
- Sonic Heroes: $8 – eBay / Amazon
- Robotech: Battlecry: $6 – eBay / Amazon
- SSX On Tour: $7 – eBay / Amazon
- Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg: $9 – eBay / Amazon
- XGRA Extreme G Racing: $9 – eBay
- Need for Speed Underground : $6 – eBay / Amazon
- X-Men Legends: $6 – eBay / Amazon
- X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse: $7 – eBay / Amazon
- Batman Vengeance: $6 – eBay / Amazon
- P.N.03 (Product Number 03): $8 – eBay / Amazon
- FIFA Soccer 2005: $8 – eBay / Amazon
- Midway Arcade Treasures: $8 – eBay / Amazon
- NBA Street Vol. 2: $4 – eBay / Amazon
- NFL Street: $4 – eBay / Amazon
- NFL 2K3: $4 – eBay / Amazon
- NHL 2004: $4 – eBay / Amazon
- NBA 2K3: $4 – eBay / Amazon
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My recommendation is, if you’re gonna play Sonic Mega Collection, you’ll want a third-party controller with a good D-Pad. The official GC controller’s D-Pad sucks, and the genesis classics can be aggravating to play with an analog stick.
Good list.
Here are a few others that usually run under $10 that I would recommend:
1080 Avalanche
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean
Battalion Wars
Chibi Robo
Go! Go! Hypergrind
Odama (w/ Microphone)
Scaler
Another plus for Soul Calibur 2–it won’t fry all the save files on your memory card like Soul Calibur 3 can. SC3, a PS2 exclusive has a fatal save flaw that can not only corrupt your SC file, but wipe your whole memory card. So either keep an SC3 only memory card, or stick with SC2.
Keep in mind TimeSplitters 2 is the more family friendly TimeSplitters: not as “saucy,” fewer zombies, less gore, less profanity. TS:FP is great and really ramped up the extras and options (easier unlockables), but TS2 will never fail to entertain.
Excellent list, now if only Hori Classic Controllers weren’t so darn expensive.
The first two paragraphs in the article are basically the same.
Thanks, Orion — not sure how that happened
Great list. I still love playing GCN games on my Wii console. Just finished playing MOH:Frontline with my nephew. brother & a friend. GCN was awesome to keep the four controller multiplayer options for everyone and the Wii still delivers on that. Having the 4 ports still available made tonight a lot of fun. Along with a lot of BattleTanx playing and Conker’s bad Fur Day multi player games like Beach, War, and heist. The N64 was great and the Wii is awesome for the terrific and flawless backward compatibility.
for around $15 you can get Legend of Zelda Wind Waker!
GUN.
It’s the closest thing you’ll get to Red Dead Redemption on Wii.
Killer 7 is one of the better GameCube games available and can be found for around $8-$10 used.
I paid like $40 for REzero…. sometimes it just sucks to not be on the US 🙁
I have both a gamecube and a wii but Idk why but I almost never use my wii to play gamecube games, my wii is now mostly for netflix :(, sometimes its not even in my room my sister uses it in her room to watch netflix, but hey at least I have an awesome gamecube
Osama? Odama?
surely the resi remake should be here, and luigi’s mansion, such great games
Can someone please invent time travel so I can grab these games for the prices listed?