There’s no shortage of incredible RPGs for anyone to choose from on just about any console. The sad truth is that for a period of time, Nintendo seemed to ignore the RPG genre a lot more than many other developers, and arguably, the Gamecube era was an example of that.
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The console didn’t see a ton of dedicated RPGs, but the ones that it did get were generally excellent. Some of the most underrated RPGS in gaming found their home on the Gamecube, and only a handful have seen any kind of re-release since. RPG fans can dream that their favorite Gamecube RPGs will one day see some kind of modern remake.
10 Skies Of Arcadia Legends
One of the best standalone RPGs that people missed because it was originally only on the Sega Dreamcast, Skies Of Arcadia Legends is a great port of the original game. It may not be as aesthetically pleasing as some games of the same generation, but the story is the real draw.
Playing the game will let you experience the journey of Vyse, an air pirate who takes up the job of stopping the destruction of his world from a greedy empire. It’s one of those games that it’s best to go into mostly blind to get the most out of the experience.
9 Pokemon Colosseum
For whatever reason, when deciding that the Pokemon series needed some RPGs on the Gamecube, the developers decided that their stories needed to be a bit darker than most other games in the series. This spin-off title surprisingly centers around theft and darkness of all things.
You play as Wes as you try to stop the nefarious plans of Team Cipher, all while doing everything you can to purify Pokemon of shadows. Anyone who loves double battles will enjoy taking on this fun and different Pokemon challenge.
8 The Lord Of The Rings: The Third Age
Considering how dedicated fans of The Lord Of The Rings are, it wouldn’t be a surprise if they’ve already played this game, but anyone who hasn’t absolutely should give this RPG a shot. It’s got epic rangers, fantastic elven magicians, and even a wicked dwarf, all ready to take on hordes of orcs.
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The game mostly features a cast of characters on the outside of the plot of the films, but you will run into some major characters at some major moments. It’s a surprisingly solid RPG from a series that seemed dead set on only releasing standard action games.
7 Mega Man X: Command Mission
When most people think of Mega Man, they probably think of the classic 2D side-scrolling games. Some people might think of the surprising delight that was Mega Man X: Command Mission. The surprising RPG actually boasts some fresh mechanics for the time.
Being a deceptively hard game at times, you take control of X and a cast of characters that will be both familiar and unfamiliar to discover what’s going on with strange new Force Metals. Considering the game has plenty of fun twists, this is another RPG that's best to try blind for the first time.
6 Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles
For Nintendo purists, Crystal Chronicles was the first Final Fantasy game they could play on a console since the Super Nintendo. The spin-off RPG was a surprise hit for the Gamecube. As a result, it is remembered fondly in the hearts of RPG fans, so fondly that it just received a remaster.
The game can be played in single-player or multiplayer and sees you traveling in a joyful caravan to protect the world from a horrid miasma. Any fans of Final Fantasy who missed out on this one will want to seek it out immediately.
5 Pokemon XD: Gale Of Darkness
Continuing the dark trend from the previous Pokemon RPG on the Gamecube, Pokemon XD: Gale Of Darkness is another surprisingly dark hit. Once again, you’re tasked with saving a world filled with shadow Pokemon.
Team Cipher is up to no good, as usual, so it’s up to you to take them down. It may seem like a fairly simple story, and that’s because it mostly is, but that has never stopped a Pokemon game from being a ton of fun to pick up and play.
4 Fire Emblem: Path Of Radiance
Those who love themselves a good tactical RPG will surely love Fire Emblem: Path Of Radiance. It’s one of the games that helped make Ike famous, and it’s not hard to see why. A newcomer to the series might actually struggle quite a bit with this entry.
The game can seem simple to begin, but the deeper you get, the more curveballs that are thrown at you. Taking control of Ike and his band of mercenaries is a great experience, and you’ll likely come out of it just as attached to this cast as any character from Three Houses.
3 X-Men Legends 2: Rise Of Apocalypse
People may have forgotten about this dungeon-crawling RPG experience of a series thanks to the successful Marvel Ultimate Alliance series, but the X-Men Legends games are fantastic. Both the first and second games could have a spot on a list like this.
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The game lets you take control of your favorite mutants, and even some of the best baddies, to take on the threat of Apocalypse. Anyone who loves simple action and iconic characters in their RPGs will find a lot to love with this one.
2 Tales Of Symphonia
There’s so much to be said about a game like Tales Of Symphonia. To many people, the game is not only the greatest in its dedicated series but also the greatest RPG on the Gamecube.
The lengthy and twist-filled story that sees you following Lloyd around as he helps his childhood friend Colette on her journey to regenerate the world is fantastic. You may think you’re approaching the end of the game on a few separate instances, only to discover you aren’t anywhere close to being finished yet.
1 Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
No mention of RPGs on Gamecube is complete without a mention of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. It’s one of the silliest and yet most imaginative RPGs on any console, and the fact that it is still many people's favorite video game speaks to how excellent it is.
It’s another game with a fantastic plot, even if it kind of starts out with the simple setup of Peach once again getting kidnapped. The game boasts some incredible combat encounters, fun levels to explore, and a story that even sees you becoming a wrestling champion.
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