The Nintendo GameCube was the little purple lunchbox that could—if by “could,” you mean deliver some of the greatest games of its generation while looking like something a toddler might use to carry juice boxes. With its tiny discs (which seemed specifically designed to get lost in couch cushions), a handle on the back (for all those on-the-go gaming emergencies), and a controller that felt like Nintendo had kidnapped an octopus for design consultation, the GameCube was weird, wonderful, and criminally underrated. While other consoles were out there trying to be sleek and edgy, the GameCube was proudly saying, “Who needs DVD playback when you have Super Smash Bros. Melee?”
But despite its toy-like exterior, the GameCube punched way above its weight class. It gave us masterpieces like The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Metroid Prime, and Resident Evil 4—because nothing says “family-friendly Nintendo” like fighting off parasitic zombies in high-definition terror. And let’s not forget Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, a game that single-handedly ruined friendships and made you question why you ever trusted your co-pilot. The GameCube may not have dominated its era, but it left a legacy of absolute classics, proving that sometimes, the smallest, weirdest kid on the playground ends up being everyone’s favorite.
