The 10 HARDEST GameCube Games

The 10 Hardest GameCube Games

Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we’re counting down our picks for the 10 hardest Nintendo GameCube games that will truly test your mettle.

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“Baten Kaitos Origins” (2006)

The Baten Kaitos JRPG series is often overlooked, something that’s a real shame given that it’s deeply engrossing, innovative, and enjoyable. Oh, and the games are also incredibly challenging especially when it comes to Origins. For the uninitiated, Baten Kaitos Origins is a card-based JRPG where battles are turn-based utilizing a deck of various cards for both offensive and defensive maneuvers, and everything in between. Where the first game was a tad bit more accessible, Origins really takes the difficulty up multiple notches, especially during the intense boss battles. It’s up to the primary guardian spirit to guide Sagi and pals through this immersive, yet utterly challenging JRPG.

“Alien Hominid” (2004)

Developer The Behemeth sure does create some wacky and over-the-top games. Yes, I’m looking at your Castle Crashers and Battleblock Theatre. 2004’s Alien Hominid is a run and gun game with tons of zany action. Interestingly (and you might have guessed from the game’s art style), this game started life as a Flash game before being brought to other platforms. The side-scrolling run and gun gameplay is downright punishing here, so don’t let the cartoony graphics trick you. Blasting your way through secret agents who intend to thwart you is fun and frantic given you have an uber-powerful blaster and plentiful upgrades. However, one simple hit spells death so make sure you have eyes in the back of your head to keep track of everything.

“Star Wars Rogue Squadron 2: Rogue Leader” (2001)

Apart from being one of the pinnacle, premier games on Nintendo’s handle-adorned, cube-shaped box of goodness, Star Wars Rogue Squadron 2: Rogue Leader is also incredibly difficult. Most aerial dogfighter-style games are pretty darn challenging and Rogue Leader certainly fits into that mold. This is a pure twitch reflex game where you must be ready to battle other Star Wars-themed spacecraft coming at you from any and every angle. Some stages in this game are also quite confusing to navigate which doesn’t help when you already feel overwhelmed by enemies. However, the gameplay is so top-notch and the visuals so striking that you will want to persist, no matter what.

“Resident Evil Zero” (2002)

It’s a shame that more people don’t discuss Resident Evil Zero in the wider RE discussion because it’s a solid survival horror game all around. Downright punishing? Yes. But, incredibly fun none-the-less. Resident Evil Zero stars Rebecca Chambers and Billy Coen who must explore a derelict Umbrella facility to decipher the nefarious goings-on. The iconic train location in this game is a real highlight. While most RE games are tough, Zero really doesn’t hold back. Whether it’s the labyrinthian level layouts or the enemy encounters or the tough-as-nails puzzles, Zero isn’t for the faint of heart. Fortunately, the game lets you swap between Rebecca and Billy so you can attempt to forge ahead in this harrowing world.

“Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem” (2002)

One of the very rare M-rated Nintendo-published games out there, Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem is a gem of a game. But, like most survival horror games of its era, it’s also very, very challenging. Taking on the role of Alexandra Roivas, players explore a spooky, Lovecraftian mansion before being yeeted into the body of a historical figure to battle supernatural beings and solve conundrums in various time periods. It’s all incredibly innovative and enjoyable (and really scary), but you will be scratching your head in confusion more often than not as you try to move forward in this game. Combat is functional but rough and the puzzles don’t give much leeway for experimentation. However, Eternal Darkness is all about the vibes, and it has spooky vibes in spades. Don’t let the challenge level deter you. Please, Nintendo, remake this game for the Switch 2! We’d be ever so grateful!

“Metroid Prime 2: Echoes” (2004)

The follow-up to the illustrious Metroid Prime, Echoes doesn’t hold back when it comes to challenge level. Echoes once again thrusts you into the boots of Samus as she explores various realms and biomes of Aether, all while battling space pirates and aliens alike. Interestingly, Echoes leans more heavily into narrative and lore in comparison to the first game. In terms of gameplay, this follow-up keeps what works in the OG Prime and spices it up with new gameplay tweaks and additions such as parallel map-shifting dimensions of Light Aether and Dark Aether. Echoes is brimming with fun gameplay around every moody corner, but Retro Studios upped the difficulty quite a bit in this game which frustrated many players. Either way, it’s still worth experiencing if just for the astounding visuals and overall ambiance.

“Mega Man Network Transmission” (2003)

We really don’t hear too many people discuss Mega Man Network Transmission in the wider Mega Man discourse. Perhaps, a large part of this is because Network Transmission is quite an impenetrable game, even for fans of the series. Part of the Battle Network games, Transmission is all about Lan Hikari and his digital avatar MegaMan.EXE. Lan and his online counterpart must thwart the misdeeds of the World Three, an organization that is up to no good. While Network Transmission might just look like a standard action platforming game, it doesn’t hold back punches when it comes to its gameplay. Knowing when and how to swap between Lan and MegaMan.EXE is key to success in this game, but it’s not often clear when to do so. That, in combination with tough enemy encounters and some confusing level layouts makes Network Transmission a truly tough GameCube game.

“Super Monkey Ball 2” (2002)

It’s funny, when you look at Super Monkey Ball 2 with its cute and colorful art style, it’s hard to imagine a game that seeks to punish your every move. However, that’s just what you get in this game. Yes, it’s brilliantly fun to roll around maze-like obstacle course stages in your monkey ball; but my goodness, this game will test your reflexes and wits in equal measure. I mean the goal really is simple: guide your titular monkey in a ball to the end of the stage while avoiding hazards and falling into oblivion. What’s easy on paper doesn’t necessarily translate to easy in action, however. Super Monkey Ball 2 requires pure precision in order to navigate the increasingly difficult (yet utterly charming and enjoyable) stages the game throws your way. Good luck!

“F-Zero GX” (2003)

Our penultimate entry for this list could be interchangeable with our first entry but for our money, F-Zero GX is not quite as hard as our next game. However, anyone that’s played GX will know it is still downright brutal at times. Trying to control your futuristic racecraft as it zooms along the sci-fi tracks at blisteringly, inhuman speeds is no easy feat. F-Zero has always been synonymous with uber-fast racing, but GX ratchets that frenetic speed up to 100. Up to 30 racers can duke it out in various races with the sole goal being to make it to the finish line as quickly as possible. Tight reflexes, pin-point precision, and resilient nerves are all necessary to achieve that coveted first place podium finish. You’ll be having a splendid time during all of it to be sure; but man oh man, F-Zero GX is one heck of a challenging futuristic racer.

“Ikaruga” (2001)

And, here we are - without a doubt the toughest GameCube game: Ikaruga. If you know anything about hard video games then this should come as no surprise really. Ikaruga is a brutal and punishing shoot ‘em up with bullet hell elements. Seriously, you are seeing all of this on-screen right now, right? It’s beyond hectic and overwhelming, but in the best way possible. Ikaruga was created by Treasure, a developer known for incredibly hard games. What makes Ikaruga truly special and unique in the shmup genre is the game’s polarity system whereby you can swap between black and white polarities in order to defeat foes (while ensuring your survival). This element is thoroughly baked into the game’s core design which means you need to master polarity in order to even have a chance at success here. Basically, your ship’s color will absorb bullets of the same color and will take damage on the polar opposite color and vice versa with taking on baddies. It’s a brilliantly simple yet utterly immersive gameplay system that ensures you are always one step ahead in your mind in order to get past just one more stage.

So, do you agree with our picks for this list? Everyone has a different idea of what makes a hard video game, so do let us know in the comments which GameCube games you find to be tough as nails.

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