Nintendo games have a cult following that will forever be a part of the gaming world as they paved the way for the modern-day gaming industry.
We have Nintendo games to thank for retro-gaming. It's due to the popularity of Nintendo's many gaming consoles that we now have this phenomenon.
However, if there's one particular console that will forever go down in history as one of the most legendary Nintendo creations ever invented, it has to be the Nintendo GameCube console.
Unfortunately, purchasing the physical version of this console can set you back quite a bit, which is why it's good to know that there are cost-effective alternatives out there, such as emulators.
Basically, emulators are programs that are designed to act like vintage gaming consoles, making them particularly popular among retro gamers.
So long as you have an Android device or PC, you can download the GameCube emulator and enjoy any of the nostalgic GameCube ROMs from the comfort of your couch.
Why Play GameCube Games?
The GameCube was released back in 2001 as part of the 6th generation console collection from Nintendo, making it the best of both worlds between old and new.
When it first came out, it stood out for coming with a standard optical drive as well as standard wire controllers. It's also the first time we saw plastic-encased games instead of the usual cardboard boxes.
This made for a really nice, sleek, and modern look with the cherry on top being the Game Boy player that you could use to access all of the games offered via Gameboy Advance and Game Boy.
The great thing about GameCube is that it comes with a lot of vintage games that will take you back to your childhood and the controller still has that same comfortable feel that it did when you first opened its plastic casing all those years ago.
GameCube Emulators for PC
Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of reliable GameCube game emulators around that you can use on your computer. The only viable option that gamers have access to is Dolphin which could only give you access to a few games when it first came out in 2003.
Of course, Dolphin has come a long way since then and now offers a stable emulator with some of the best graphics and stellar performance. Not only that, but you get to choose from the different settings and features offered by the convenient Dolphin emulator.
Other emulators that you can use to play GameCube games include tools like GCEMU. However, these other options don't really hold any water when compared to Dolphin because while GCEMU can run GameCube at decent speeds there is still a lot of room for improvement there.
Others, on the other hand, performs pretty well on desktop PCs but they have a lot of hardware requirements and don't allow you to operate commercial GameCube games which means Pokemon Colosseum and Super Sunshine ROM are out of the question.
Keep the following in mind when looking for a GameCube isos that's suitable for your needs.
It's important to note that as an open-source cross-platform, Dolphin is compatible with different operating systems, including machines that run on Linux, macOS, and Windows as well as Android OS, allowing for mobile gaming access.
You can also play GameCube ROMS on Dolphin, using any of the operating systems mentioned here, while GCEMU and Dolphin are only compatible with the 64-bit Windows OS.
GameCube ROMs
Once you've found an emulator that works for you (you know what our recommended favorite is), it's time to download all of your favorite games into it so you can start playing.
The great thing about GameCube is that it gives you access to a massive game library that includes GameCube ISO and GameCube ROM games, some of which you can download for free.
In fact, there are plenty of reliable and trusted abandonware resources from which to source vintage games as well as emulation software.
Some of the best GameCube ROMs to consider include Resident Evil 4, Metroid Prime, Melee, and Super Smash Bros, to name but a few.
These options get a lot of gameplay from gamers who prefer vintage games and of course, you have your classics such as Super Mario Sunshine, Luigi's Mansion, and the all-time favorite The Legend of Zelda: The Twilight Princess.
