10 Essential GameCube Games Still Missing From Switch Online
The article argues that Nintendo’s GameCube selection on Switch Online remains limited despite the console’s deep catalogue, and names ten games it says are still missing. It suggests these titles would broaden the service and give players a chance to revisit influential games.
Switch Online’s GameCube library launched with three games: F-Zero GX, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Soulcalibur 2; the article says eight more had been added by the time it was written. Its examples include Animal Crossing, Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean, Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem, the original Metroid Prime and Mario Kart: Double Dash. It notes that Metroid Prime Remastered is already available for Switch, while the original GameCube version is not part of the service.
- The article names ten GameCube games still absent from Switch Online.
- The service launched with three titles and later added eight.
- Animal Crossing and the original Metroid Prime are among the examples.
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Nintendo’s GameCube was a home console released in 2001, with a catalogue of games that included major Nintendo series and titles from other studios. Nintendo Switch Online is a paid subscription service that lets members play selected games from older consoles.
The service’s GameCube collection includes games such as The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and F-Zero GX, but it represents only part of the console’s library. Some well-known games remain absent, including the original Metroid Prime, even though a remastered version is available separately on Switch.
The selection matters to players who want to revisit older games or try titles they missed. Adding more of the GameCube catalogue would give subscribers a wider choice, while the service’s limited selection leaves many games unavailable there.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Adding these games could make the service more valuable by drawing on the GameCube’s varied catalogue and letting subscribers revisit influential titles in their original form. A broader selection could also preserve games that are otherwise harder to access and give newer players a chance to discover them.
The case against
A limited, curated library may be more practical if licensing, technical work or ongoing support makes some older games costly to bring to the service. Nintendo could also prioritise titles that add something distinct, especially where a modern version is already available, rather than aiming for breadth alone.