GameCube classics are exactly what they sound like: GameCube games you can play on your Switch 2. It's part of Nintendo Switch Online, but only works on the Switch 2, not the original.
What's Available Now
The service launched with three games:
- The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (the big one)
- F-Zero GX (still incredible after all these years)
- Soulcalibur II (Link was in this version, remember?)
What's Coming
Nintendo has confirmed more:
- Super Mario Sunshine
- Luigi's Mansion
- Both Pokémon games (Colosseum and XD)
- Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
- Chibi-Robo
The library will grow over time, just like the N64 and SNES collections did.
How They've Been Improved
These aren't just ROM dumps. They look better than original GameCube, have customizable controls, and include suspend points (save states). There's even a CRT filter if you want that old-TV look. Online multiplayer works too.
The Catch: You Need Expansion Pack
GameCube classics aren't in the basic $20 per year Nintendo Switch Online. You need the Expansion Pack at $50 per year. That also gets you N64, Game Boy, and other retro games.
If you're not interested in retro games, this might not be worth it for you.
Why Not Original Switch?
GameCube games need more power to emulate. The original Switch couldn't handle it. The Switch 2 can.
The Controller Situation
There's an official wireless GameCube controller if you want the authentic experience. The Joy-Con 2 and Pro Controller work fine, but GameCube had a weird button layout that some people prefer for these specific games.
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How we researched this
Where this comes from: this answer draws on the product's published specifications and the reviews ShopSavvy collected for it, alongside prices from 2 retailers in ShopSavvy's price data, most recently seen Sep 26, 2026.
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