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Best GameCube games of 2002

The 21 best GameCube games released in 2002, ranked from 6,608 critic and player ratings.

The best GameCube game of 2002 is Metroid Prime, with a critic score of 95/100 — 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: 2002.
  • 21 games are listed on this page, carrying 6,608 ratings between them.
  • Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 28 September 2026.

Top 21

01 Metroid Prime Metroid Prime 2002 · 869 ratings 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 02 SoulCalibur II SoulCalibur II 2002 · 187 ratings SoulCalibur II is the third installment in the Soul series and continues the tradition of his predecessors with improved graphics, new characters and new levels. A majority of the action takes place in Weapon Master mode where you have to choose a character and travel a set map to fight the many other warriors through different levels and challenges. Console ports were released, including guest characters from other franchises. The Arcade version has a unique mode called "Conquest Mode". This mode, which uses a name and password system to save data, allows the player to select one army among four. The player then fights against enemies in a series of eight 1-round battles, win or lose (the first seven are based on the player's rank, and the eighth is chosen by the player – this can only be interrupted by a Versus challenger.) After each round, the player earns EXP and can be promoted, and the game also rates the player in four categories: Soul, Power, Wisdom and Skill. The game also keeps track of which moves the player knows and uses most often. After the eight battles, territory control is updated and the player has the option to fight a bonus round against their character played by the AI. 95 /100 03 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 2002 · 149 ratings Drop into the ultimate challenge. In the next chapter in the Tony Hawk series, pros challenge you to make your mark in huge free-roaming levels, taking on 190 progressively harder goals with no time limits to hold you back. Decide when you're ready to take on your Pro Challenge and move into the pro ranks, where it's a whole new game. Build your skills, perform all-new tricks, play up to eight players online, and show that you've got what it takes to go Pro. 91 /100
04 The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker A The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker 2002 · 1,022 ratings 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 05 Super Mario Sunshine Super Mario Sunshine 2002 · 516 ratings 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 06 Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast 2002 · 456 ratings In the tradition of the highly acclaimed Star Wars: Jedi Knight series, Star Wars: Jedi Knight 2, Jedi Outcast features rebel agent Kyle Katarn in exhilarating first-person action. Several years have passed since Kyle avenged his father's death and saved the Valley of the Jedi from Jerec and his band of Dark Jedi. Allowing his Force powers to languish for fear of falling to the dark side, Kyle entrusted his lightsaber to Luke Skywalker, vowing never to use it again. But when a new and menacing threat to the galaxy emerges, Kyle knows he must reclaim his past in order to save his future. Explore breathtaking Star Wars locales such as Cloud City, the Jedi Academy on Yavin 4, Nar Shaddaa, and the smugglers' moon. Multiplayer options include deathmatch, saber-only deathmatch, and team capture the flag. 89 /100 07 Resident Evil (2002) Resident Evil (2002) 2002 · 317 ratings Resident Evil is the 2002 remake of the original 1996 video game of the same name featuring various improvements and gameplay overhaul. The game features all-new graphics and sound, and also incorporates gameplay elements from the earlier installments. While the overall plot remained mostly unchanged, several new areas and rooms were added to the game. This remake also features many additional modes, secrets and various endings over the original. 88 /100 08 Medal of Honor: Frontline Medal of Honor: Frontline 2002 · 111 ratings Frontline is a first-person shooter where players take control of the protagonist player character in a first-person perspective where they fight through levels set during the Second World War against the Wehrmacht using historical weaponry of the era, performing a series of military operations. Briefings take place at the start of each mission, which advance the plot and introduce new characters. Each mission is structured through a number of linear levels, each with differing locations, levels of action and styles of gameplay. Initially the player character begins on the frontlines during D-Day backed up by other computer AI-controlled soldiers with an emphasis on fast action-orientated gun-based gameplay. As the story progress however, the player character is sent on a variety of other missions including a number of covert and undercover operations in locations such as military based, German-occupied towns and manors, submarines and countryside settings. The player character is tasked with objectives during levels that range from infiltration, espionage, rescue and recon. Because of the variety between missions and locations, gameplay also changes pace. While many missions involve Allied assaults on German targets others include elements of stealth and exploration. For example one selections of missions has the player detach from an allied raid to infiltrate a German U-Boat in order to get to a secret facility while another has them rendezvous and sneak into a German headquarters in disguise to rescue an operative. Many missions are performed solo yet some include an AI companion for backup. Health is determined by a health bar that can be replenished using a selection "medikits" found throughout levels with varying degrees of effect. During missions, players can earn medals by the end of each level be meeting requirements such as completions of objectives, eliminating an amount of enemies and maintaining a percentage of health throughout, all represented by a bronze, silver or gold star. 88 /100 09 Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell 2002 · 410 ratings Infiltrate terrorists' positions, acquire critical intelligence by any means necessary, execute with extreme prejudice, and exit without a trace! You are Sam Fisher, a highly trained secret operative of the NSA's secret arm: Third Echelon. The world balance is in your hands, as cyber terrorism and international tensions are about to explode into WWIII. 85 /100 10 Resident Evil Zero Resident Evil Zero 2002 · 106 ratings Resident Evil Zero is a third-person survival horror video game and a prequel to the first Resident Evil. The gameplay remains largely the same as previous entries in the series but also introduces what it calls a partner zapping system, which allows you to switch between the two characters Rebecca and Billy at any time. This feature must be used at times, as the game requires both characters to work together to solve some puzzles. New to the game are a bunch of terrifying enemies, like the mutant centipede, new areas to explore, and the ability to drop items on the ground instead of having to find an item box. 83 /100 11 Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 2002 · 281 ratings 81 /100 12 James Bond 007: NightFire James Bond 007: NightFire 2002 · 93 ratings 78 /100 13 Hitman 2: Silent Assassin Hitman 2: Silent Assassin 2002 · 429 ratings 77 /100 14 Spider-Man: The Movie Spider-Man: The Movie 2002 · 169 ratings 77 /100 15 Spider-Man Spider-Man 2002 · 157 ratings 74 /100 16 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets 2002 · 396 ratings 74 /100 17 Worms Blast Worms Blast 2002 · 83 ratings 73 /100 18 Enclave Enclave 2002 · 342 ratings 71 /100 19 BloodRayne BloodRayne 2002 · 262 ratings 65 /100 20 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers 2002 · 83 ratings 65 /100 21 Red Faction II Red Faction II 2002 · 170 ratings 64 /100
What is the best GameCube game of 2002?

Metroid Prime currently tops the ranking with a score of 95/100 across 869 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.