The GameCube is a goldmine of classic titles just waiting to find new life on modern consoles. Recently, The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker and Twilight Princess received HD remasters for the Wii U, Super Mario Sunshine got a facelift as part of the Super Mario 3D All-Stars compilation and Metroid Prime Remastered shadow dropped on Switch. Nintendo has a treasure trove of games they could give a new coat of paint to on GameCube. So much so, Nintendo could spend the new few years porting GameCube games to the Switch to fill out their release windows. With so many titles to choose from, here are some that deserve it the most.
Luigi’s Mansion
The GameCube was home to so many unique and interesting titles over its short lifespan and Luigi’s Mansion is one of its best. Instead of the traditional Mario platformer to serve as a launch title, Nintendo choose to put his brother front and center for the first time. Luigi is tasked with clearing out the titular mansion of ghosts while also searching for Mario who has gone missing. Luigi’s Mansion is able to marry the best of the puzzle genre and Ghostbusters-like gameplay for an arcade adventure game like no other. So much so, the series is still going strong with Luigi’s Mansion 3 selling nearly 13 million copies on Switch since 2019.
Clearly the series has some staying power as each release sells better than the rest. Because of this, it’s fair to say a remaster of the original GameCube release would be something Nintendo would consider. Since the original release, the series has jumped developers from Nintendo EAD to their newly acquired subsidiary Next Level Games. Giving Next Level Games a crack at remastering the original in the style of Dark Moon and Luigi’s Mansion 3 would bring a sense of cohesion to the series as a whole. This could be easier done than said as Luigi’s Mansion was already remade by Grezzo for the 3DS in 2018.
Luigi’s Mansion / Nintendo
Granted, the sales of that remake were pretty poor, not even reaching 500,000 copies sold. This could easily be explained as being a late generation 3DS game over a year after the shiny new Switch had hit the market. While Dark Moon and Luigi’s Mansion 3 share similarities in their design, the GameCube original has its own unique feel within the series. The differences between the Luigi’s Mansion and its sequels warrants another go around with updated visuals and controls. If Next Level Games were to use the original as inspiration for Luigi’s Mansion 4, going back and remastering the original would be a great place to start and allow a whole new audience a chance to play a classic.
Pikmin 1 & 2
Pikmin hasn’t been one of Nintendo’s most popular franchises but it is one of its most unique. Starting life on the GameCube, the series has made appearances on each of Nintendo’s systems all the way up to Pikmin 4 which launches on Nintendo Switch in 2023. While the series hasn’t brought in the big bucks for the big N, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a place on their flagship console. Pikmin 3 Deluxe, a port of the Wii U title, was the best selling game in the series but only at about 2 million copies. While it might not be hitting Mario Kart levels of popularity, it does well enough to warrant sequels being greenlit.
The arguments for a Pikmin 1 & 2 Remastered Collection write themselves. When Pikmin 4 releases, Switch owners will already have half the series available to them (no we’re not counting Hey! Pikmin). Nintendo has already made certain series completely available on Switch in the past via ports and remasters like the Xenoblade Chronicles series as well as the imminent re-release of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. Part of the Pikmin series’ appeal is the world and the unique use of its scale in cleaver ways. To see the original GameCube titles remastered in the visual fidelity of Pikmin’s 3 and 4 would bring these games to life like never before.
Pikmin 1 & 2 / Nintendo
While the series has meandered for the past few entries, the Switch feels like the perfect system for Pikmin. With one of the largest install bases Nintendo has ever had, porting the first two Pikmin games to Switch seems like a no-brainer. Nintendo can bring two beautifully remastered Real Time Strategy games to the Switch which will allow those who haven’t played Pikmin 1 & 2 a chance to finally experience them. It also allows for series continuity across the board to set up the future of the franchise going forward. The existence of a Pikmin 1 & 2 Remastered Collection could rely on increased sales of Pikmin 4 to prove the people want more Pikmin. If the sales of Pikmin 3 Deluxe are anything to go by, it could be a real possibility.
Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem
The GameCube era helmed by the late Satoru Iwata was one of Nintendo’s most ambitious. This included publishing its first ever M rated game in Silicon Knights’ Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem exclusively for the GameCube. Eternal Darkness is a survival horror classic that has sadly been trapped on the GameCube since its release in 2002. This is one of the more trickier entries to remaster as the IP itself is in limbo. Silicon Knights went bankrupt after Two Human and their Epic Games lawsuit both failed. Nintendo relinquished the rights to the IP back in 2020. Even so, recent attempts to remaster Eternal Darkness have all but failed.
It’s a shame because out of all the games discussed here, Eternal Darkness would benefit the most from a proper remaster. While the original is incredibly creative and innovative, it certainly shows its age. Many of the sanity altering mechanics rely on outdated technology such as messing with the volume on the players TV or acting as if it’s switching inputs to “VIDEO” mode. Bringing Eternal Darkness up to speed for the modern age could also result in breathing new life into the game through more creative uses of the player loosing their sanity. With survival horror classics like Dead Space, Resident Evil 2 and Silent Hill 2 being remade for modern consoles, it only seems fair Eternal Darkness at least get the remastered treatment.
Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem / Silicon Knights / Nintendo
While not the most sought after GameCube title, Eternal Darkness very much deserves a second chance. With the recent renaissance of the survival horror genre, now would be the perfect time for Eternal Darkness to make its triumphant return. Unfortunately, the deck seems stacked against it. With its original developer defunct, the trademark being in limbo and fruitless attempts to even port the game, it’s fair to say Eternal Darkness will probably stay a GameCube exclusive for the foreseeable future.
Star Fox Assault
While being one of Nintendo’s more exciting franchises, the Star Fox series has been stuck in creative limbo for most of its existence. Star Fox 64 has been the model the series has been constrained too, very rarely able to break away from that formula. While Star Fox Adventures took the series in a new direction, the Zelda inspiration and lack of “Star Fox” elements was a clear indicator of it’s Dinosaur Planet origins. With Star Fox Assault, however, the series took a natural progression that, while not perfect, still resonated with fans. Assault would be a prime example of a game that would benefit wholeheartedly from a remaster.
Star Fox Assault stuck to the series 3D scrolling arcade dog fighting roots while also adding free range Landmaster portions and, most notably, boots on the ground sections. Those on foot missions felt like a logical progression for the series and were unique for the time. Allowing a team to remaster not only the visuals but also the controls and feel of the game to bring it up to par with modern shooters would give Assault new life. While not the perfect Star Fox game, it closely resembles what the series does best while doing something unique enough to standout from the rest of the titles but not changing the core of its identity.
Star Fox Assault / Namco / Nintendo
With Namco, the original developer, still having a very strong relationship with Nintendo, there’s no reason why this remaster would be off limits. With Star Fox Zero being a critical and commercial failure, Nintendo might not have too much faith in the series at this point. The franchise has become stagnant with Star Fox 64 being re-released, remade and re-used as a basis for most of the entries. With a remaster of Assault, Nintendo could kill two Falcos with one stone. It would cost significantly less than a shiny new Star Fox game while also acting as a testbed for the series on Switch. Whether or not Nintendo feels they need to or not is another story. They’ve given Metroid the renaissance it deserved so whose to say Star Fox isn’t next.
Kirby Air Ride
Kirby’s time on the GameCube is a bit strange. Nintendo’s pink puffball had a traditional platformer entry slated for release on the GameCube in 2004. Suffering internal development strife and delays, multiple builds of the game existed at one point or another. This project eventually culminated in the Wii title Kirby’s Return to Dreamland which ironically just got a remaster on Switch in February. This left Kirby Air Ride as the only Kirby representation on the GameCube but that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Kirby Air Ride was a kart racing spin off of sorts but never struggled with the pitfalls the genre outside of Mario Kart usually fall into. It married 3D racing action with Kirby’s Copy Abilities seamlessly in one of the GameCube’s strangest yet most memorable titles. With Mario Kart 8 still going strong and F-Zero extremely dormant, Kirby Air Ride would offer a nice alternative for karting fans on Switch. The City Trial mode in particular is a fan favorite. Touch up the visuals, add online multiplayer, maybe bring Sakurai out of retirement to spruce up the package and Nintendo has a winner on their hands.
Kirby Air Ride / Hal Laboratory / Nintendo
With Star Allies selling close to 4 million copies and Forgotten Land reaching 6 million copies, the Kirby franchise is still one of Nintendo’s most profitable, especially on Switch. Air Ride is a great little racing title that would feel right at home on Switch and give fans of the series as well as newcomers a new Nintendo racer. A Kirby Air Ride Remaster could also test the waters for an eventual sequel or similar unique Kirby spinoffs. While the very recent release of Kirby: Return to Dreamland Deluxe could push this remaster out a ways as to not overstimulate the masses with too much Kirby, there’s at least an argument to be made for giving Air Ride another shot on Switch.
Chibi-Robo!
Unlike most of the franchises on this list, Chibi-Robo is not a household name (pun intended). While not the most recognizable GameCube title, Chibi-Robo is a cult classic of sorts. The series has seen modest success on the DS and 3DS but never caught on as many other smaller niche Nintendo franchises have in the past. The latest release, Chibi-Robo Zip Lash was an attempt to give the quaint little puzzle adventure game a wider appeal by turning it into a generic 2D platformer. Needless to say, this did not work as it was deemed a comercial failure upon its release in 2015. What better way to have the little robot go back to his roots than a remaster of the original title.
Chibi-Robo feels tailor made for Switch. Tasked with cleaning up the household in which he resides, Chibi-Robo shares the same appeal as something like Katamari Damacy. A smaller hero interacting with the larger world with this “cozy”, more laxed feel as compared to other titles. While the game works as a console release, there’s a reason the rest of the series remained on handhelds. It’d be the perfect little title for Switch Lite owners or those who prefer handheld mode. Chibi-Robo, despite its charm, is also in need of a desperate facelift as its visuals were one of the main criticisms of the original.
Chibi-Robo! / Skip Ltd / Nintendo
A potential Chibi-Robo Remastered could work as a smaller title. A shadow dropped, digital only, $20 sort of release. It didn’t set the world on fire when it first launched and there’s nothing to suggest a Switch remaster would either. But that doesn’t mean the trash cleaning bot doesn’t deserve another shot in the spotlight. After the Zip Lash debacle, Chibi-Robo making a return in remastered form could spark interest in new titles. The Switch has been home to many surprising returns to series once thought dormant. Pokémon Snap, Mario Strikers, The World Ends With You, No More Heroes or Famicom Detective Club were all series that hadn’t seen titles in years that all found new life on Switch. There’s no reason to believe Chibi-Robo can’t do the same.
Donkey Kong Jungle Beat
For being one of Nintendo’s first franchises with a rich history of fantastic titles, Donkey Kong has had very little presence on Switch. Save for a Tropical Freeze port, the original SNES Country titles and DLC for Mario+Rabbids Kingdom Battle, Donkey Kong has been relegated to the sidelines of Mario Parties and sports titles since the Switch launched. With Retro Studios hard at work on Metroid Prime 4, a third entry in their rebooted Country series is presumably a long way off. Needless to say, there’s an ape sized hole in the Switch’s library. A hole that could be filled by one of DKs more interesting titles.
Donkey Kong Jungle Beat is a conventional 2D platformer with a unconventional control scheme: Bongos. Originally released for the rhythm game Donkey Konga, the DK Bongos were, well, bongo peripherals used to beat to the rhythm of songs being played similar to Guitar Hero or Taiko no Tatsujin. Led by then up-and-coming producer Yoshiaki Koizumi, Donkey Kong Jungle Beat is one of the more creative and innovative platformers from Nintendo sharing many similarities to another Koizumi led project in Super Mario Galaxy. While Jungle Beat made its way to Wii for obvious Wii-mote waggling reasons, it would be the perfect hold over Donkey Kong title to remaster for Switch.
Donkey Kong Jungle Beat
While the game would shine in a new coat of HD paint, a traditional control scheme as well as optional Joy Con motion controls would allow the game to really come into its own as one of the premier platformers on Switch. While it’s only a matter of time before Donkey Kong 64 swings its way on the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack, Jungle Beat would be the odd one out in terms of mainline DK games. With the Donkey Kong representation on Switch lacking, remastering Jungle Beat could be the perfect hold over title. It’d give new life to an often overlooked game in DKs history while making the wait for Retro’s next Country installment less agonizing.
Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
Fire Emblem was once a series that was struggling to stay relevant. While popular in Japan, the series could never get a foothold in the West for years. That all changed with Fire Emblem Awakening. Now a veritable juggernaut for both Nintendo and Intelligent Systems, the Fire Emblem series is as big, if not bigger, than most of the franchises on this list. Because of its struggles prior to Awakening, many of the previous titles have only been experienced by hardcore fans. Poor sales of these titles have also lead to some insane prices for physical copies which is the only way to play them (legally that is). Path of Radiance is no exception.
Featuring Ike of Super Smash Bros. Brawl fame, Path of Radiance is revered as one of the best Fire Emblem games ever. To properly experience it though, one would have to shell out anywhere between $200-$300 for a physical GameCube copy. With the Fire Emblem franchise being as successful as it is now, Nintendo could and should begin to remaster the older titles for Switch to make them more available to fans. A Path of Radiance Remastered makes all the sense in the world and would benefit both Nintendo and the Fire Emblem newcomers that Awakening brought in.
Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance / Intelligent Systems / Nintendo
Nintendo is no stranger to Fire Emblem remasters or remakes. Fire Emblem Shadow Dragon on the DS was a remake of the first Famicom title while New Mystery of the Emblem, also for the DS, was a remake the 3rd entry in the series. Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valencia was a 3DS remake of 1992s Fire Emblem Gaiden. Nintendo even released a full English version of the original Fire Emblem on Switch albeit as a very limited digital release. Needless to say, there’s precedence for older Fire Emblem titles making their way to new hardware. With updated visuals and presentation to match releases like Three Houses and Engage, Path of Radiance Remastered would continue the series success on Switch while paving the way for other titles like Radiant Dawn as well.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
This is the big one. The game Paper Mario fans have been begging for for years. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is touted as one of the Italian plumbers best titles and certainly one of the best GameCube games ever made. It’s extremely creative with memorable characters, an entertaining and well written story with addictive combat complete with a charming and timeless art style. However, it was the last “true” Paper Mario title to release before a shift in focus that was made when the series jumped to Wii.
The original Paper Mario and The Thousand-Year Door were traditional Turn Based Combat JRPGs with a Mario twist. Once the series came to Wii with Super Paper Mario, the RPG elements started to slowly fade away. From Sticker Star to Color Splash and more recently The Origami King, Paper Mario moved away from what made the series great to focusing on a more reserved adventure, focusing on its arts and craft nature. Whether Nintendo wanted to differentiate Paper Mario from their other Mario RPG series, Mario & Luigi, or it was Intelligent Systems wanting the series to be a more relaxed experience as compared to their other titles, the world will never know.
Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door / Intelligent Systems / Nintendo
With The Origami King being the fastest selling game in the series, it would appear that the old style of Paper Mario is all be dead. That leaves The Thousand-Year Door in limbo. Granted, the original Nintendo 64 Paper Mario is available for Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack subscribers meaning Nintendo is allowing these two distinct styles to coexist on the same system together. Plus,The Origami King is the closest fans have gotten to a true Thousand-Year Door follow up in terms of the caliber of writing and combat. The Origami King showcased how beautiful Paper Mario can look and to see Thousand-Year Door with the same coat of paint (pun intended) would be a dream come true for fans.
Are there any other GameCube titles you’d like to see get the remastered treatment for Switch? Let us know in the comments!
