Best games
Best Action games on GameCube
The 62 best Action games on GameCube, ranked from 17,549 critic and player ratings.
The best Action game on GameCube right now is Super Smash Bros. Melee, with a critic score of 100/100 — updated September 2026.
How this ranking is built
- Games are ranked on the aggregated critic score out of 100 imported from IGDB and Metacritic, never on Tier's own grades.
- A game only enters the ranking with at least 80 external ratings, so a single enthusiastic review never outranks a proven classic.
- Community grades from F to S are shown next to every game, and only stated as a fact above 5 Tier ratings.
- Release window covered: 1970 to 2026.
- 50 games are listed on this page, carrying 17,549 ratings between them.
- Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 29 September 2026.
Top 50
01
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Super Smash Bros. Melee is the second installment in the Super Smash Bros. series and the follow-up to the Nintendo 64 title. It includes all playable characters from the first game, and also adds characters from franchises such as Fire Emblem, of which no games had been released outside Japan at the time. Super Smash Bros. Melee builds on the first game by adding new gameplay features and playable characters: it's major focus is the multiplayer mode, while still offering a number of single-player modes.
100
/100
02
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess was initially developed with the Nintendo GameCube in mind, but ended up receiving a Wii port when it was released to promote the new console. This version has motion control compatibility for the sword and pointer controls for the menus, the bow and the boomerang. This version of the game has a completely inverted map and locations when comparing with the GameCube release. The change in layout was meant to adapt Link's usually left-handed design to right-handed people, given the motion controls.
98
/100
03
Metroid Prime
A 3D exploration-focused metroidvania with first-person shooting mechanics and the first 3D entry in the Metroid series, Metroid Prime follows Samus Aran after the events of Metroid (1986) as she boards a Space Pirate frigate, then chases her escaping archrival Ridley into the intricately structured Tallon IV, a planet full of deadly wildlife and former home to the advanced and ancient Chozo race.
95
/100
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Super Smash Bros. Melee is the second installment in the Super Smash Bros. series and the follow-up to the Nintendo 64 title. It includes all playable characters from the first game, and also adds characters from franchises such as Fire Emblem, of which no games had been released outside Japan at the time. Super Smash Bros. Melee builds on the first game by adding new gameplay features and playable characters: it's major focus is the multiplayer mode, while still offering a number of single-player modes.
100
/100
02
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess was initially developed with the Nintendo GameCube in mind, but ended up receiving a Wii port when it was released to promote the new console. This version has motion control compatibility for the sword and pointer controls for the menus, the bow and the boomerang. This version of the game has a completely inverted map and locations when comparing with the GameCube release. The change in layout was meant to adapt Link's usually left-handed design to right-handed people, given the motion controls.
98
/100
03
Metroid Prime
A 3D exploration-focused metroidvania with first-person shooting mechanics and the first 3D entry in the Metroid series, Metroid Prime follows Samus Aran after the events of Metroid (1986) as she boards a Space Pirate frigate, then chases her escaping archrival Ridley into the intricately structured Tallon IV, a planet full of deadly wildlife and former home to the advanced and ancient Chozo race.
95
/100
04
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
An exploration-driven 3D metroidvania/first-person shooter hybrid and sequel to Metroid Prime (2002) in which Samus lands on Aether, an intricate planet torn into light and dark versions of itself, to help its remaining inhabitants defend against the invaders from its dark incarnation by traversing both the light and dark worlds, acquiring new power-ups and braving oppressive environments.
92
/100
05
Beyond Good & Evil
Beyond Good & Evil is an action-adventure game with elements of puzzle-solving and stealth-based games. The player controls the protagonist, Jade, from a third-person perspective. Jade can run, move stealthily, jump over obstacles and pits, climb ladders, push or bash doors and objects, and flatten herself against walls. As Jade, the player investigates a number of installations in search of the truth about a war with an alien threat.
91
/100
06
A
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is the first Zelda game for the Nintendo GameCube and also the first in the series to employ cel-shading, a lighting and texturing technique that results in the game having a cartoon-like appearance. Like its predecessors, The Wind Waker is an action game with puzzle-solving and light role-playing elements. Basic gameplay mechanics are similar to those found in Ocarina of Time, but it differentiates itself with its massive Great Sea which must be explored using a boat named King of Red Lions.
90
/100
07
A
Resident Evil 2 (1998)
Resident Evil 2 is a sequel to the first Resident Evil title. Like the previous game in the series, Resident Evil 2 is a 3D action-adventure using three-dimensional polygon characters over two-dimensional pre-rendered backgrounds, with the action viewed through a variety of cinematic fixed camera angles in each room. Players can choose to play as one of two possible characters; each goes through the same initial scenario but with differences in the type of weaponry they find and the people they meet along the way.
90
/100
08
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Dr. Eggman (aka Dr. Robotnik) has returned, turning helpless animals into robots and forcing them to build his ultimate weapon, the Death Egg! But this time, Sonic has a friend that can help him: Tails! Find the 7 Chaos Emeralds and stop Dr. Robotnik’s evil scheme!
90
/100
09
Super Mario Sunshine
Super Mario Sunshine is a Mario action-adventure 3D platformer. It follows Super Mario 64, and is the second 3D Mario platformer. Gameplay features a combination of action and puzzle solving, with numerous stages and multiple episodes to each stage, and plenty of hidden secrets and surprises. This game introduced many recurring characters and bosses in the Mario series, including Toadsworth, Bowser Jr., Petey Piranha, Gooper Blooper, Piantas, Nokis, Shadow Mario, and F.L.U.D.D. Super Mario Sunshine pays homage to Mario's Italian heritage and upbringing, with many of the locations in the game having Italian names and sometimes referencing Italian culture.
90
/100
10
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow
Pandora Tomorrow takes place in Indonesia during the spring of 2006, in which the United States has established a military presence in the newly independent country of East Timor to train that country's military forces in their fight against anti-separatist Indonesian guerrilla militias. Foremost among these Indonesian militias is the Darah Dan Doa (Blood and Prayer), led by Suhadi Sadono.
90
/100
11
Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
89
/100
12
Resident Evil (2002)
88
/100
13
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance
85
/100
14
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter
85
/100
15
Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes
85
/100
16
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell
85
/100
17
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
84
/100
18
Ikaruga
84
/100
19
Resident Evil 4 (2005)
83
/100
20
Resident Evil Zero
83
/100
21
Crazy Taxi (1999)
82
/100
22
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
82
/100
23
The Suffering
82
/100
24
S
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
81
/100
25
Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones
80
/100
26
Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie
80
/100
27
Prince of Persia: Warrior Within
80
/100
28
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent
79
/100
29
Luigi's Mansion
78
/100
30
James Bond 007: NightFire
78
/100
31
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
78
/100
32
Hitman 2: Silent Assassin
77
/100
33
Spider-Man: The Movie
77
/100
34
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
74
/100
35
Ultimate Spider-Man
74
/100
36
Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc
73
/100
37
Worms Blast
73
/100
38
The Simpsons: Hit & Run
73
/100
39
Gun
73
/100
40
XIII
72
/100
41
True Crime: Streets of LA
72
/100
42
Enclave
71
/100
43
Freedom Fighters
70
/100
44
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
68
/100
45
Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup
68
/100
46
Sonic Heroes
67
/100
47
BloodRayne
65
/100
48
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003)
65
/100
49
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
65
/100
50
Red Faction II
64
/100
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
An exploration-driven 3D metroidvania/first-person shooter hybrid and sequel to Metroid Prime (2002) in which Samus lands on Aether, an intricate planet torn into light and dark versions of itself, to help its remaining inhabitants defend against the invaders from its dark incarnation by traversing both the light and dark worlds, acquiring new power-ups and braving oppressive environments.
92
/100
05
Beyond Good & Evil
Beyond Good & Evil is an action-adventure game with elements of puzzle-solving and stealth-based games. The player controls the protagonist, Jade, from a third-person perspective. Jade can run, move stealthily, jump over obstacles and pits, climb ladders, push or bash doors and objects, and flatten herself against walls. As Jade, the player investigates a number of installations in search of the truth about a war with an alien threat.
91
/100
06
A
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is the first Zelda game for the Nintendo GameCube and also the first in the series to employ cel-shading, a lighting and texturing technique that results in the game having a cartoon-like appearance. Like its predecessors, The Wind Waker is an action game with puzzle-solving and light role-playing elements. Basic gameplay mechanics are similar to those found in Ocarina of Time, but it differentiates itself with its massive Great Sea which must be explored using a boat named King of Red Lions.
90
/100
07
A
Resident Evil 2 (1998)
Resident Evil 2 is a sequel to the first Resident Evil title. Like the previous game in the series, Resident Evil 2 is a 3D action-adventure using three-dimensional polygon characters over two-dimensional pre-rendered backgrounds, with the action viewed through a variety of cinematic fixed camera angles in each room. Players can choose to play as one of two possible characters; each goes through the same initial scenario but with differences in the type of weaponry they find and the people they meet along the way.
90
/100
08
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Dr. Eggman (aka Dr. Robotnik) has returned, turning helpless animals into robots and forcing them to build his ultimate weapon, the Death Egg! But this time, Sonic has a friend that can help him: Tails! Find the 7 Chaos Emeralds and stop Dr. Robotnik’s evil scheme!
90
/100
09
Super Mario Sunshine
Super Mario Sunshine is a Mario action-adventure 3D platformer. It follows Super Mario 64, and is the second 3D Mario platformer. Gameplay features a combination of action and puzzle solving, with numerous stages and multiple episodes to each stage, and plenty of hidden secrets and surprises. This game introduced many recurring characters and bosses in the Mario series, including Toadsworth, Bowser Jr., Petey Piranha, Gooper Blooper, Piantas, Nokis, Shadow Mario, and F.L.U.D.D. Super Mario Sunshine pays homage to Mario's Italian heritage and upbringing, with many of the locations in the game having Italian names and sometimes referencing Italian culture.
90
/100
10
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow
Pandora Tomorrow takes place in Indonesia during the spring of 2006, in which the United States has established a military presence in the newly independent country of East Timor to train that country's military forces in their fight against anti-separatist Indonesian guerrilla militias. Foremost among these Indonesian militias is the Darah Dan Doa (Blood and Prayer), led by Suhadi Sadono.
90
/100
11
Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
89
/100
12
Resident Evil (2002)
88
/100
13
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance
85
/100
14
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter
85
/100
15
Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes
85
/100
16
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell
85
/100
17
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
84
/100
18
Ikaruga
84
/100
19
Resident Evil 4 (2005)
83
/100
20
Resident Evil Zero
83
/100
21
Crazy Taxi (1999)
82
/100
22
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
82
/100
23
The Suffering
82
/100
24
S
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
81
/100
25
Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones
80
/100
26
Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie
80
/100
27
Prince of Persia: Warrior Within
80
/100
28
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent
79
/100
29
Luigi's Mansion
78
/100
30
James Bond 007: NightFire
78
/100
31
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
78
/100
32
Hitman 2: Silent Assassin
77
/100
33
Spider-Man: The Movie
77
/100
34
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
74
/100
35
Ultimate Spider-Man
74
/100
36
Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc
73
/100
37
Worms Blast
73
/100
38
The Simpsons: Hit & Run
73
/100
39
Gun
73
/100
40
XIII
72
/100
41
True Crime: Streets of LA
72
/100
42
Enclave
71
/100
43
Freedom Fighters
70
/100
44
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
68
/100
45
Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup
68
/100
46
Sonic Heroes
67
/100
47
BloodRayne
65
/100
48
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003)
65
/100
49
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
65
/100
50
Red Faction II
64
/100
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Action game on GameCube?
Super Smash Bros. Melee currently tops the ranking with a score of 100/100 across 1,071 ratings. Ranking updated September 2026.
How is this ranking built?
Games are ranked on their aggregated critic score out of 100, with a minimum vote threshold so a single glowing review never outranks a proven classic; the Tier community's own F-to-S grades are shown alongside each game.