Grab your biggest duvet to hide under and take a look at the best GameCube Horror games of all time!
Ok, so Nintendo aren’t exactly known for scary scenarios and bone-chilling scarefests. That being said, the GameCube did have some frighteningly good games that sent shivers down our spines…
… and a few that loosely fell into the horror category to bump up the numbers.
Some of these games wee undoubtedly designed to draw in a more mature audience, but sadly, a lot of them fell by the wayside under an amalgamation of Mushroom Kingdom and Hyrule fever.
Still, these games are 100% worth a punt if you’re into your survival horror and ghoulfest titles, so strap yourself in and take a look…
… if you dare!
Table of Contents
1. Resident Evil 4 (2005)
Resident Evil 4 takes the top spot in our list of the best GameCube horror games of all time.
I can’t say enough amazing things about Resident Evil 4. The game is a tour de force, a true classic that’s creepier than Radiohead’s famous track.
I think I like this title the most out of all the Resident Evil games because it takes a step back away from the standard format and transports the franchise to a new location with new elements, sprucing up the formula and making it twice as scary in the process.
And weirdly, this was only ever meant to be a GameCube title, though it went on to sell over 10 million copies over multiple platforms.
Let’s talk Zombies.
They don’t go down without a fight in this game. In fact, a fight is just what they’re after. They use actual weapons and team up against you.
Your brain has never, ever been in more peril.
Get those head shots in before they have a chance to devour your limbs. Show those fu… I mean, those guys, who’s boss.
2. Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem (2002)
Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem takes the silver bullet in our list of the best GameCube Horror games of all time.
I know this is stupid to say again after writing about so many horror titles, but the GameCube really was a family friendly title.
This, however, was one of the first mature titles released for the purple powerhouse, sparking the fire of more scary titles for the system.
If you like Psychological thrillers like Hellblade, then you’ll feel right at home here… which begs what kind of weird home life you might lead…
It goes without saying that this was a hugely groundbreaking title for Nintendo, breaking away from the usual Mushroom Kingdom vibes for something a little more edgy.
Sadly, I think the audience might have been wrong for it. People tend to buy Nintendo consoles for the colourful round-edged characters, not for blood and guts (which kind of makes this whole article a little bit obsolete I guess…).
Still, older gamers loved it, and I think it kind of feels like a more adult version of The Legend of Zelda.
As you lose sanity over time, things start to look super weird and your character will hallucinate. It’s a clever game that a lot of work has gone into, so do us a favour and give it a try!
3. BloodRayne (2002)
You know all of the things in the world that we question like evil entities, zombies, and other freaky stuff? Well, it’s the job of a half-vampire named BloodRayne to get rid of them all before they encroach on humanity.
Wielding all manor of weapons from pistols to machine gun turrets ripped from the ground (BloodRayne is strong!), players must kill all manor of weird and terrifying creatures as they pass through the game.
Oh, and don’t think that you get to keep weapons once they run out of ammo; this hunter just finds new ones instead of worrying about stocking up on firepower.
If all else fails, you can just slay monsters using the swords on your arms instead.
It’s all very bloodthirsty stuff, though I imagine as a half vampire, that doesn’t bother our protagonist too much.
Eventualy, as you move through the game, all sorts of crazy stuff starts happening like being able to see through walls and having a heightened sense of reality so that everything slows down around you.
Does anyone know if BloodRayne is looking for a sidekick; I wouldn’t mind a career change.
4. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds (2003)
Everyone watched Buffy, right? Well, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds features characters from the iconic series with all the occult and otherworldly goodness that you know and love from Sunnydale.
Rather than rehashing old storylines, this game serves as a kind of ‘missing episode’.
That’s an incredibly savvy marketing ploy that was sure to grab in all fans of the series, whether they had a GameCube or not!
Join Spike, Xander, Buffy, Willow, and Faith as you move through this epic quest.
Don’t worry, you’ll get chance to play as each character, so you don’t need to be concerned too much about picking your favourite.
There’s also a cool multiplayer mode where you take part in Hyrule Warriors-style enemy horde survival amongst other freaky modes.
If you had a pic of Buffy on your wall as a kid, then this needs to be in your collection.
5. The Legacy Of Kain: Blood Omen 2 (2002)
How many of you have played The Legacy Of Kain: Blood Omen 2? The storyline isn’t just worthy of our best GameCube horror games list but of the best fantasy epics found throughout the globe!
Once the leader of a vicious army, Kain is now one of the remaining Vampires left in the world.
Vampire Hunters have laid his forces to waste, but even 200 years later and without his precious Soul Blade, Kain is still out for revenge.
Of course, being a Vampire, Kain has to suck blood in order to regenerate energy and then his health bar.
It’s thirsty work being an undead killer, you know!
Find weapon, use weapon, break weapon, find new weapon. It’s basically BOTW if Link drank blood.
Avoid magic glyphs and hunt the hunters. Keep your wits about you, and you might just survive!
6. The Haunted Mansion (2003)
The Haunted Mansion takes the 6th spot in this list of the best GameCube horror games. Yeah, it’s a Disney game, but man is it addictive.
I’m using horror in it’s loosest term again here, kind of Luigi’s Mansion style. Still, it’s classed as a horror game and it’s one of my favourites, so it’s making the list.
And if you don’t like it, then I hope you get haunted forever.
Put ghosts to rest through the ‘house of 999 happy haunts’ (not 99 red balloons).
Ok, so the premise is basically the same as Luigi’s Mansion… in fact it is the same. And as this came out after Luigi’s debut title, I’m going to assume that Luigi’s people filed a copyright claim straight away.
Get help from friendly ghosts, solve spooky puzzles, and try your very best to stay alive.
It’s not asking much, is it?
7. Resident Evil (2002)
Resident Evil isn’t even the last R.E title in this list. Capcom went hard on the horror scene with the GameCube, and the remake of the first title in the series both looked and played brilliantly.
The setting – running away from zombie dobermans at a crash site in a dark and secluded forest. What is it about these games having zombie dogs; that’s way worse than humans.
By the way, this is also one of the best GameCube games on Switch, so give it a go if you’ve just treated yourself to Nintendo’s hybrid handheld.
The game that kickstarted everything off is still one of the best examples of the genre… I guess you can’t give it a higher accolade than that!
Move from Racoon Forest into a dangerous world filled with death and terror as you take S.T.A.R.S soldiers Chris and Jill on a horrifyingly incredible journey.
If you don’t like flesh eating monsters, then this game probably isn’t for you… just saying.
8. Luigi’s Mansion (2001)
Look, I know Luigi’s Mansion isn’t scary if you’re an adult, but it might be a little bit jumpy for kids. And let’s be honest, this is about as scary as most people would think the GameCube could get.
The being said, it is about ghosts, and ghosts can be pretty horrifying, so it’s staying in.
You have no idea how excited I was for Luigi’s Mansion to come out (unless you’ve read any of my other articles, then you’re probably sick of hearing about it).
I read all the reviews, watched the videos, and was just generally excited to see Mario’s Brother taking the limelight for once.
Wielding a hi-tech hoover designed by Professor E.Gadd, Luigi must rid a haunted mansion of ghosts, creeping around and generally looking scared out of his wits every step or the way.
Upgrade your Poltergust 3000 as you move through the levels, sucking up everything in sight and collecting hidden treasures along the way.
If you’re a fan of Luigi’s Mansion 3, one of the best Nintendo Switch games, then give this a shot!
Collect new upgrades for your Poltergust 3000; find coins and hearts along the way through your mansion; and suck up pictures, dust, leaves, tablecloths, and more to find secrets that will help you along your quest.
9. Resident Evil Zero (2002)
Resident Evil Zero takes the 9th spot in this list of the best GameCube horror games of all time.
And, as the name suggest, this title is set before the events of Resident Evil, the first game in the series.
The main feature in this series is the fact that gameplay swaps between the two main characters, splitting apart in a Luigi and Gooigi style manner to solve puzzles and problems faced along the way.
How much horror you you want for your buck, anyway? How about undead minions, a killer centipede, and more chances of guaranteed death than staring straight into a nuclear reactor.
This prequel to the events that tore apart Racoon City is dark, exciting, and pant-wettingly scary (to me anyway).
If you’re looking for a fine example of survival horror, then grab a copy of this game and get stuck in. The edge of your seat will be worn out in days!
10. Hunter The Reckoning (2002)
Hunter The Reckoning takes a respectable 10th position in our list of the best GameCube Horror games of all time,
If you’re guessing by the image on the cover that this isn’t something you could play with your younger cousins, then you’d be right. It’s set in a world where monsters and vampires are trying to kill humanity…
… though I guess that’s not far from the plot of Twilight… kind of… so they’ll probably be ok.
It’s time to join the reckoning, whether you like it or not. Step into the dark and destroy the foul creatures terrorising the world.
It’s all in a days work for a Hunter, after all.
Work through 23 levels wielding all types of crazy weapons and picking from different character types, each with their own qualities and weaknesses.
In many respects, this could be seen as a bit of an alternative to Gauntlet Dark Legacy, one of the best multiplayer GameCube games ever made!
11. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (2003)
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis still makes me quiver a little bit when I think about it. Zombies seem to have become even more popular these days, and I’ve never been that brave when one appears on the screen.
That bodes well for the other Resident Evil titles in this list too, right?
Still, I’m a hardcore games journalist, so I put myself in these terrifying positions for you, our readers. And let me tell you, the Wight Walkers from GOT have NOTHING on the Nemesis.
He could eat the Night King for breakfast.
If blood and guts aren’t enough to scare you, having the Nemesis randomly chasing you every now and again with a high probability of your death as the outcome sure will.
To be fair, this is one of the most action packed horror survival games on the GC, with players spending more time hitting any button going in order to stay alive then carefully planning attacks.
Aa an added bonus, there’s a Heavy Rain style vibe in which certain choices affect certain outcomes.
In a way the game is never the same when you play it again, which makes up for the fact that it’s a little on the short side.
12. Killer7 (2005)
Killer7 sees a bunch of mutants banded together into a terrorist organisation who are threatening world peace.
Led by a dude in a wheelchair that can become seven different assassins thanks to some brain juju (yeah I know, it’s bizarre, isn’t it?), the Killer7 assassins are on the job to save the day.
And how do they plan to do it? By shooting anything that isn’t them, that’s how!
I’m not going to get too in-depth with the story, otherwise I’ll be here for hours. All you need to know is that this is almost a three-for-the-price-of-one game, with RPG elements, shooting gameplay, and puzzles to solve throughout.
Play as a super-fast blind man, an invisible albino, or a man that can bring dead personalities back to life…
… that last guy should meet my mate Al…
This certainly is an exciting concept… and bonkers too, come to think of it.
Still, sometimes genius and madness share the same thin line…
13. Second Sight (2004)
Second Sight is another game like Geist that could have been humongous. It’s horrifying in its own right, but not enough people got to play it as it was slightly overshadowed by the Psi-Ops game ‘The Mindgate Conspiracy’.
For those of you that down know, it’s a horror shooter title with a very heavy psychic theme running throughout…
… and I don’t mean the kind that can tell you if you’re about to win the lottery or where your dead relatives ended up.
Essentially, it’s kind of like Splinter Cell with added psychic powers. Stealth is the name of the game (well… it’s Second Sight, but you get the idea).
The gameplay, graphics, and abilities are incredibly exciting, however. It’s just a shame that it never got a better reception back in the day.
But thanks to this list of the best GameCube horror games, we’re hoping that you’ll give Second Sight a second glance…
… was that joke as bad as I thought it was?
14. Geist (2005)
Geist takes the 14th spot in our list of the best GameCube Horror games ever made!
I guess the GameCube isn’t the first console that you think of when talking about FPS games, but Geist was a horror-themed shooter that saw gamers possessing other living beings,
Geist literally means Ghost in German, so I guess that kind of makes sense!
What doesn’t make sense is having the ability to possess inanimate objects too…
Obviously with all those weird ghostly skills, the gameplay is both scary and humorous at the same time.
It also makes for a damn good multiplayer too, with people popping in and out of other people and objects left, right, and centre.
This game could have been an absolute classic, but differences between Ninty and N-Space resulted in a bit of a lacklustre effort.
Still, the possession mechanic is something spectacular, which is pretty much what the game is all about anyway. Give it a go and let us know your thoughts.
15. Monster House (2006)
Monster House ends our scary listicle of death…
… that might be pushing it a little bit, but I’m just trying to set the tone.
Players take control of one of three kids, with the game choosing who you play as in each level or stage.
Using a water blaster (not very scary, is it), the kids must try and make their way out of a house that has swallowed them whole (slightly more scary).
Bathrooms are safe zones, but everywhere else is fair game for terrorising behaviour.
Ok, so this title might not leave you quaking in your boots, but it certainly has a creepy, slightly blood-curdling feel to it.
Maybe a good one to start off with before trying your hand at Number 11…
