5 Nintendo GameCube Games That Don’t Need a Remake
The GameCube is filled with great games, but many of them are starting to show their age in 2026. After all, the console was at its height about 20 years ago, and the video game industry has come a long way since then. However, a few of the GameCube’s best games were so good that they don’t need a full remake. Instead, the developers should, at most, give them a new coat of paint via a remaster. Even a simple re-release on modern hardware would please a ton of fans, bringing these classics into the present with style.
5) Viewtiful Joe
Viewtiful Joe needs a re-release. The original game and its sequel are critically beloved and would do great numbers on modern hardware. However, a full remake would be a mistake. Viewtiful Joe has such a distinct look that anything that messes with that wouldn’t work. Instead, Capcom should take the remaster route, sharpening some of those visuals and addressing any bugs. Anything else would risk taking away some of Joe‘s charm and alienating long-time fans.
That said, I’ll be upfront and say that I don’t care how we get Viewtiful Joe on a modern platform. I don’t want a remake of the action classic, but if that’s what it takes to have Viewtiful Joe on PC, I’ll take the hit. Those first two games are simply too special to not be widely available these days. It’s a shame it’s taken this long, and given how many Resident Evil remakes Capcom has made, it’s also surprising they’ve never given Joe his due. Hopefully, that changes soon, but Capcom has to be careful to not mess it up.
4) Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
Double Dash‘s gimmick is polarizing. You can pick two Mario characters to jump into your kart, which leads to some fun strategy when selecting your pair. Some players didn’t love the gimmick, but Double Dash still has a massive fanbase. Part of that is because having two characters in a kart at once opens up intriguing multiplayer possibilities. Jumping into a match with your friend was thrilling, as you both had plenty to do while racing down the track.
The reason I don’t think it should get a remake is that Nintendo has blown out the Mario Kart series in the years since. Many reviewers were annoyed that Double Dash didn’t do much to innovate on Mario Kart 64, but you can’t say that about most of the games that followed. Sure, Double Dash‘s unique gimmick makes it a fun diversion for the series, but diverting resources to a full remake would be a curious choice for Nintendo. Instead, the publisher should consider re-releasing Double Dash via the Nintendo Classic platform, assuming it can figure out a good way to implement online co-op racing.
3) F-Zero GX
Again, having a game on this list does not mean we don’t need a re-release. F-Zero GX is a great example of that, as it was made available on the Switch 2, where it is an absolute thrill ride. Hopefully, that leads to F-Zero making a full comeback on the system, but this GameCube classic does not need a remake.
F-Zero GX masters the sense of speed the series is so well-known for. You feel like you’re moving at breakneck pace as you whip around each corner, and the story mode is sublime. Playing as Captain Falcon, you’ll race through nine chapters, taking on some of the toughest speedsters in the galaxy in punishingly difficult races. It’s filled with content, looks great, and hasn’t lost its edge. Simply put, F-Zero GX is great, and nobody should meddle with it. Not even Nintendo. Just make the next F-Zero sometime in the next decade, please.
2) Super Smash Bros. Melee
I honestly think you might have a revolt if Nintendo announced a Melee remake. That game is so beloved that it still has an active esports scene several decades after it was released. Can you imagine a developer diving into the backend and making changes at this point? Those hardcore players are so tuned in to every nuance of Melee‘s particular brand of content that I can’t imagine a remake being received well, regardless of how little is changed.
That said, if you’re Nintendo and see how much people love the second Smash Bros., it might be hard to turn down. There has to be some executive running the numbers and wondering how hype the fanbase would get with a new version of Melee. It would be a colossal mistake, but you can bet they’ve at least considered it. Thankfully, it seems like this precious gem of a video game will never be touched, as Nintendo is content to use the latest Smash Bros. to continue churning in money. Still, if you’re listening, Nintendo, don’t change course. Not even if Sakurai retires one day.
1) Resident Evil
This one might be contentious because it is almost guaranteed to happen given how frequently Capcom has released Resident Evil remakes over the last decade. However, the GameCube version of Resident Evil (which is itself a remake of the original) does not need another remake. This is classic Resident Evil at its best. It still looks gorgeous, and the updated controls that were added to future re-releases are more than enough to please modern audiences.
Realistically, how much would be added by giving the original Resident Evil the RE2 Remake treatment? Having the map would be nice, and better combat could be a good addition, but the GameCube version of Resident Evil doesn’t need it. After all, it is still one of the best Resident Evil games of all time, easily holding up despite being its age. Again, Capcom will almost certainly make this happen soon, but there’s no real reason for it. Resident Evil on the GameCube is already almost perfect. Why mess with a good thing?