The GameCube may have been outshone by the PS2, Xbox, and Game Boy Advance, but it’s still got some great titles that will never go out of style. With games like Super Smash Bros. Melee, Super Mario Sunshine, and The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures, you could easily have a fantastic four-player party using just the GameCube.
If you’re looking to host the best video game party ever, you’ll want to check out these 10 games that are perfect for an all-night gaming marathon with friends or a quick afternoon get-together with the kids. From the top racing games to the most addictive action platformers and beyond, here are the absolute best GameCube party games of all time.
#10. emPac-Man Fever/em
- Characters from Pac-Man, Ridge Racer, Soul Calibur, Tekken and more are here in over 30 great mini-games
- Different game board themes and four-person multiplayer makes for hours of fun gameplay
- Try to recover all of the mini-games stolen by the party-crashing Ghosts and determine who the real party animal is!
emPac-Man Fever/em is a blast because it is an easy, uncomplicated game that can be played with up to four players. The only thing you need to do is hop into your munching machine and start gobbling up all the dots on the screen while avoiding those pesky ghosts.
More than anything, this game will make you feel nostalgic because it takes you back to a time when things were simpler. But don’t let the simplicity fool you — there’s quite a bit of strategy involved, which makes for a great challenge.
The multiplayer mode will have you and your friends competing for points by eating dots and avoiding ghosts and each other. There are plenty of power-ups to choose from, and the game can be played in various ways, from going solo to playing co-op with one friend or up to four players. The challenge mode adds a new level to the game, requiring you to eat as many dots as possible while avoiding the ghosts before time runs out. A single-player mode has been included for those who want to get their Pac-Man fix without competing against friends.
Check it out on Amazon right here.
#9. emShrek: Super Party/em
- Shrek Super Party is an interactive board game with 30 action-packed mini-games
One of the absolute best games for a party is emShrek: Super Party/em.
This game has a lot going on, with characters to unlock and mini-games to play. You can also play as your favorite character, including Shrek, Princess Fiona, Lord Farquaad, and Donkey. The game is quite expensive, but it’s perfect for an entertaining time with friends. It offers plenty of variety without being overwhelming.
The game’s goal is to collect Precious Drops while avoiding enemies who try to stop you by throwing barrels or axes at your head or legs. On many levels, players race against each other while carrying barrels or other objects between them until they reach their goal, at which point they must jump over an obstacle to reach safety.) The game features 30 different mini-games and a full-fledged board game mode that you can play with up to six players.
You can find emShrek: Super Party/em on Amazon here.
#8. emRayman Arena/em
- You pick one of 8 characters from Rayman 2, and prove you're the best by using their skills to win in a series of exciting and wild races
- Trip up your opponents and use the terrain against them as you race in beautiful, lushly designed environments
- Exciting four-player action as you play against your friends using the unique abilities and strange environments here!
emRayman Arena/em is one of the best party games on GameCube. It’s a competitive, couch co-op game where players must race against each other or fight in the arena.
Each time you win a course, you’ll get a new weapon to use in your next race. There are 12 different courses, each with its own set of obstacles you need to overcome.
It’s a multiplayer game with up to four players that’s just as fun to play alone as it is in a group. You can choose from any of eight different characters, each with unique abilities, and then head out into levels where you must collect items, avoid enemies, and complete objectives. The goal is to reach the end first while also managing your energy level, so you don’t get knocked off. The whole point of this game is trying to knock other players off their platforms by using whatever means necessary.
Bring it home from Amazon here.
#7. emMario Party 5/em
- Play a variety of small gaming competitions to collect coins -- collect the most coins and you'll win the baord
- Fight against friends & enemies in fun duel modes where you can compete against friends, or gang up on Bowser
- The Koopa Kid Brigade will challenge you with their action-packed mini-games
- View the game board & get back to the game faster with the new 3-D maps
- See if you can beat every game board and win the game!
emMario Party 5/em is a game that’s been around for years and years, but it still holds up as one of the best and most fun video games ever made.
It’s a board game like no other. It’s got a good amount of replayability due to its many mini-games and board game modes, which can be played as single or multiplayer. Players take turns moving their characters around the board using the controller and trying to get more coins than their opponents so they can buy new items and powers that will help them win the game.
The game has over 60 different minigames, including ones that test your memory, and those that require you to collect items or defeat enemies. The object of each board game is simple, win as many coins as possible by getting stars from spinning wheels or collecting coins from small pots. You’ll also need to avoid falling into pits or getting squirted by water cannons along the way.
Check it out on Amazon here.
#6. emMario Party 4/em
In the fourth installment of Mario Party, emMario Party 4/em, you can play as various characters from the Mario universe.
Players must travel across a board and buy stars while avoiding their opponents trying to stop them. You can play as your favorite Mushroom Kingdom characters like Mario and Luigi, or try out some other characters like Toad, Koopa Troopa, and others who plan on hiding birthday presents in the Party Cube for their closest friends.
The best part about emMario Party 4/em is its focus on socializing with friends. You can play with up to four players at once and have a blast doing so. The game has tons of ways to earn coins, which you can use to buy new characters or items that will help you win more often than not. The boards are also very well designed and feature some great minigames that require strategy and teamwork to succeed.
Find it on Amazon here.
#5. emMario Party 7/em
emMario Party 7/em is the seventh in the long-running Mario Party series.
For some players, it is a great game, with plenty of different options for players to choose from, a great balance between the luck of the draw and skill/strategy, and an overall theme that worked well with the gameplay. For others, it is just another party game that didn’t stand out as much as some of its predecessors had.
Whatever side you fall on, there’s no doubt that you’ll have fun playing emMario Party 7/em. It’s got everything you would want in a party game: tons of mini-games complete, tons of challenges to complete (some of which can be tricky), and some cool power-ups. Plus, it has loads of characters from other Mario games, which are playable in various modes throughout this title. Players can choose from a wide array of characters, including Bowser, Luigi, Wario, Princess Peach, and more. Each character has special powers that can be used during the game
In this game, players compete against each other in a series of minigames on the board map. The objective is to complete a set number of tasks before your opponent can do so. If you’re looking for a game to play with people who are a bit more competitive, emMario Party 7/em is a perfect choice. You can enjoy this party game by yourself or with friends. The goal of this game is to collect as many stars as possible, which you can do by playing minigames. You’ll have to work together to win, but there’s always room for competition.
You can grab your own copy on Amazon here.
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#4. emSuper Monkey Ball/em
- Roll through wondrous worlds with AiAi and friends as you race to stop monkey mad scientist Dr. Bad-Boon from blowing up Jungle Island
- Join the all-star monkey team of AiAi, MeeMee, GonGon, Baby, YanYan and Doctor as you bounce, tilt, and roll your way across hundreds of delightfully crafted levels and mazes
- Play solo or with friends as you take down Dr. Bad-Boon and steal back your beloved bananas
- Go Bananas with 12 fun minigames including Monkey Racing, Monkey Soccer, Monkey Bowling, Monkey Baseball and much more
- Play as Sonic the Hedgehog and Miles "Tails" Prower
emSuper Monkey Ball/em is a must-have for any Gamecube party.
The goal is to make your way through an obstacle course with a monkey inside a ball, and you have to tilt the Gamecube controller to move. The obstacles are designed so players can use their heads (literally) to get past them. There are so many variations on the basic gameplay, with different modes and difficulty levels to choose from, that you can entertain everyone in your group for hours. But, if you’re looking for something easy to pick up but still provides long-lasting fun, then this is the perfect option for you.
emSuper Monkey Ball/em is one of those games that requires total focus and concentration from every player to be successful. The goal is to roll around levels until you reach the goal, which is usually hidden somewhere within each level. The levels are filled with slides and gravity-defying platforms that allow you to move around them in different ways.
You can also play mini-games such as Monkey Target Shooting or Monkey Bowling. You’ll need quick reflexes and precise control over your character to make it through each level without crashing into walls or other objects waiting around every corner. You must collect bananas at every stage to earn bonus points and extra lives.
Find it on Amazon right here.
#3. emMario Party 6/em
emMario Party 6/em is a great game to play with your friends. It has the best minigames, and there are plenty of them in this game.
The gameplay is very similar to other games in the series, but it has a few new twists that make this one stand out from the rest of them. The best thing about this game is that it has multiple modes you can play. You can play as Mario, Toadette, Bowser, or Luigi, and you’ll love the board game style. You can also play with up to four players at once, and when you get bored with that, you can always play against each other in a battle mode. Playing this game will keep everyone entertained for hours.
In this game, players compete in a board game-like setting, each trying to collect the most stars. Players can choose from a variety of boards and get-togethers, including the Mushroom Kingdom and Bowser’s Warped Orbit. The best part about this game is its multiplayer option — you can bring your friends along for the ride.
Check it out on Amazon here.
#2. emMonopoly Party/em
emMonopoly Party/em is a classic game played by various people — and it’s a perfect choice if you want a fun, interactive way to play together.
For those familiar with the board game, think of it as an open world where you can do anything. The game begins with everyone being seated around a table, which is decorated with a Monopoly board.
You’ll take turns rolling a die or spinning a spinner to see who gets the first pick of their color of token from the box. This person will decide whether they want to buy all of their tokens in one go or spread them out across multiple rounds of buying. Once everyone’s tokens are distributed, everyone chooses which spaces on the board they’d like to land on. There are also places on the board where players can buy properties and rent out, which is how they get more money. Before each round, players must make their bank deposits to have money to spend throughout the game.
You can get emMonopoly Party/em for yourself on Amazon here.
#1. emSuper Monkey Ball 2/em
emSuper Monkey Ball 2/em is the most party-friendly game of all time; it’s a lot like the original but has better graphics and more levels.
Players guide one or more characters through a series of mazes using tilt controls. This game is about getting the ball through the rings as quickly as possible, but it also has a fantastic story mode that’s sure to entertain your guests for hours on end.
emSuper Monkey Ball 2/em brings back some of the most beloved party games from the original game and adds six brand-new ones. You can now play as both Baby and GonGon simultaneously, and you’ll have a blast with a new set of monkey-themed mini-games like Monkey Ball, Monkey Dodgeball, Monkey Bowling, and Monkey Soccer. Plus, with its enhanced graphics and exciting multiplayer features, emSuper Monkey Ball 2/em is guaranteed to turn any party into a good time.
Check out emSuper Monkey Ball 2/em on Amazon here.
Final Thoughts
There are few consoles with as big of a library of great party games as the Nintendo GameCube, which sets the bar high for local multiplayer games. Whether you want to play competitively, cooperatively, or just socialize, there’s something in this list for everyone.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©TheRainstep/Shutterstock.com.
