Nintendo GameCube - Nintendo Classics

Nintendo GameCube - Nintendo Classics

Developer(s)	Nintendo
Latest version	1.6.0 (INT) 1.6.0 (JP)
Active	Yes
Platform(s)	Nintendo Switch 2
Architecture(s)	ARM
Emulates	Nintendo GameCube
Website	nintendo.com
License	Proprietary

Nintendo GameCube – Nintendo Classics is a compilation of emulated Nintendo GameCube games that is part of the Nintendo Classics series for Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack members, exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2 owners.

Overview

GameCube games were added to the Nintendo Switch Online service in June 2025, right on the Nintendo Switch 2's launch day. It is one of the three ways to play emulated games on the system available at the launch (the other two were select Arcade titles such as Arcade Archives 2 RIDGE RACER and the ones included inside Yakuza 0 Director's Cut). Following its debut, all apps related to the Nintendo hardware were updated in the same year to adopt a branding known as Nintendo Classics (due to its low update priority and third-party nature, the Sega Genesis one remains immune to it). Three games were available of to play at the beginning. While the app is presented as a demonstration of how the system can be powerful enough to handle GameCube emulation, it was launched with several problems at beginning, such as input lag, analog stick range and frame drops. Some of these problems were fixed through updates, but overall, it is accurate enough when compared to how Hovercraft is for Nintendo 64 games.

Despite being disputed, the emulator used in the app might be based on Hagi, a partial GameCube and Wii emulator developed by Nintendo European Research & Development (NERD) that has been used on certain re-releases of games from these systems on Nintendo Switch. A chance of the emulator being based on Lingcod, a Wii (and GameCube, but went unused) emulator for the Chinese version of NVIDIA Shield TV is not discarded either, as both the Shield TV and Nintendo Switch 2 are ARM-powered devices.

As with other Nintendo Classics apps, it does support in-game dedicated remapping controls, but not rewind. It is possible to play the original BIOS animation by holding certain button combinations during startup. Using the dedicated controller (the one that is sold on My Nintendo Store, see Controllers) allows the player to hear sound effects from Super Mario Sunshine while on the menu.

Features

• Supports online and Local Play (up to 4 players);
• Video filters can be applied;
• Allows exchange of regional variants in the International version of the app (USA and/or European versions);
• Allows connection of original GameCube controllers on TV mode through the GameCube Controller Adapter made for Wii U and/or Nintendo Switch;
  • The respective Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate GameCube controller reprints can also be used.
• Interaction with Game Boy Advance games through Sloop is unsupported (e.g.: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker);
• Does not support Pokémon HOME service for select games (e.g.: Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness);
• Content from Triforce versions of GameCube games are not available (e.g.: F-Zero GX);
• Rewind is unsupported;
• Individual input remapping for each game;
• Analog stick range was been fixed (ver. 1.6.0);
• HDR support was been added (ver. 1.6.0).

Games

This emulator has official compatibility for 9 games, which are:

• The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
• F-Zero GX
• SoulCalibur II
• Super Mario Strikers
• Chibi-Robo!
• Luigi's Mansion
• Wario World
• Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
• Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness

The following games will be available through updates:

• Pokémon Colosseum
• Super Mario Sunshine (available on the original Switch as part of Super Mario 3D All-Stars)