The Nintendo GameCube had a number of noteworthy survival horror and horror-themed games released for it during its lifetime. While it doesn't match the PS2 or the Sega Dreamcast when it comes to the amount of horror games available on the platform, it has a solid list of titles in the genre that are well worth seeking out. Here's a complete list of horror games that were released on the Nintendo GameCube:
Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem
Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem, developed by Silicon Knights and published by Nintendo, is a great exclusive horror title on the GameCube with an interesting emphasis on psychological horror. You play through multiple interconnected storylines across different time periods as you investigate the murder of your grandfather, encountering ancient evils and unraveling a dark conspiracy. The game was heavily influenced by the works of H.P. Lovecraft, and certainly draws a lot of inspiration from the survival horror pioneer Alone in the Dark. The game is probably most well-known for its unique sanity mechanic that messes with your perception when your sanity meter gets too low. The game's unique storyline and gameplay mechanics and haunting atmosphere make Eternal Darkness a truly unforgettable horror experience, and one that you can only experience on the GameCube.
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Resident Evil 4
Resident Evil 4, the long-awaited and often-delayed sequel, burst onto the scene as a late GameCube release and redefined the survival horror genre, setting a new standard for horror games. You'll once again step into the shoes of Leon S. Kennedy, this time investigating a mysterious village full of strange and violent inhabitants. RE4 throws out just about everything the series up until then was known for and reinvents it with a creepy and surreal yet action-focused adventure played from an over-the-shoulder perspective. The game features plenty of intense combat and tons of over-the-top set pieces while still maintaining the atmospheric horror from its precursor Resident Evil: Code Veronica. Resident Evil 4 is one of the best horror games ever made for the GameCube, or any system for that matter.
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Resident Evil
The GameCube remake of the original Resident Evil was a fantastic new adaptation of the iconic PlayStation horror classic. The game was completely redone from the ground up, with new backgrounds, character models, enemies, gameplay mechanics, areas, and story segments. It's still the classic original Resident Evil at its heart, just with a new coat of paint - the game holds up just as well graphically as it does in the gameplay department. If you own a GameCube, you should have this game in your library.
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Resident Evil Zero
Resident Evil Zero serves as a prequel to the Resident Evil series, exploring the origins of the T-Virus outbreak. Running on the same engine as the GameCube remake of the first game, it's yet more classic RE-style action. Players control Rebecca Chambers from the first game and series newcomer Billy Coen as they investigate a train overrun by nightmarish creatures. The game has a unique character-switching mechanic where you'll have to swap between both characters in order to solve puzzles and progress through the game. If you like the classic Resident Evil series, Resident Evil Zero is an atmospheric and suspenseful horror adventure and a great addition to any GameCube collection.
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Resident Evil: Code Veronica X
Resident Evil: Code Veronica X is a port of the classic yet somewhat overlooked entry in the series that was originally developed and released for the Sega Dreamcast. Code: Veronica was the first fully 3D game in the main series - while it maintains the fixed camera angles from the previous games, the camera is now free to move around, providing some nice cinematic moments. All of the series' staples are here - zombies, item management, puzzle-solving, and tons of back-tracking. It's a fantastic horror game that is one of the best in the classic Resident Evil series and on the GameCube.
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Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, the third installment in the series, follows Jill Valentine's harrowing escape from Raccoon City. This is a straight no-frills port of the PS1/PC/Sega Dreamcast game - no upgraded graphics here. With that said, Resident Evil 3 is still a classic entry in the survival horror series. It's not revolutionary, but it provides plenty of intense moments with the classic RE puzzle solving and horror adventure gameplay.
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Resident Evil 2
Resident Evil 2 is another straight port of the horror classic that also appeared on the PlayStation, PC, Sega Dreamcast, and N64. This sequel expanded on the first installment in the series with a more action-focused approach and higher production values as you explore the Racoon City Police Department while trying to make your escape from the city. It's another classic survival horror game from Capcom, full of zombies to kill and puzzles to solve. The GameCube version of the game is probably the best all-around version of the game, making it a great game to add to your collection.
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BloodRayne
BloodRayne is a third-person action-adventure game starring a sexy vampire named Rayne in an atmospheric and gore-filled adventure. Set in the same universe as Terminal Reality's earlier Nocturne survival horror games, the game plays like a combination of a third-person shooter, melee hack-n-slash, and platformer all mixed into one while you take on zombies and Nazi soldiers. Since you're a vampire, the game also has a blood-sucking mechanic that allows you to heal your character and even use your prey as shields while you do so. BloodRayne is a somewhat unpolished but fun horror action game and a worthwhile game to check out for the GameCube.
Killer7
Killer7 is a downright bizarre, surreal, and trippy horror adventure developed by Grasshopper Manufacture, helmed by industry legend Suda51. It's a weird mix of genres with unusual gameplay mechanics - character movement is on-rails and enemy encounters take place in a fixed first-person perspective. While there is some action here, the game is mostly a weird visual novel/interactive movie-style game with some puzzle-solving along the same lines as Snatcher and the D series. The story is probably even stranger than the gameplay, mixing a schizophrenic plot with plenty of mature themes and a grindhouse, Japanese schlock-film style. With its distinctive cel-shaded visuals and psychological narrative, Killer 7 is a truly mind-bending horror adventure. It definitely won't be for everyone, but if you enjoy the strange and unusual, Killer7 definitely doesn't disappoint in that regard.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds is an action-packed action-adventure game based on the popular TV series. Set sometime during the fifth season of the show, you'll play as Buffy, Xander, Willow, Spike, Faith, and even Sid The Dummy as you battle against a variety of supernatural threats in third-person melee-based combat. The game features a very faithful representation of the show's characters and quirky sense of humor, so if you're a fan of the show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds is a must-have. It's a surprisingly great video game adaptation of the classic TV series.
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Hunter: The Reckoning
Hunter: The Reckoning is a cool horror-themed hack-n-slash game with some light RPG elements. The game plays like a 3D version of Gauntlet or Smash TV as you have to defeat waves of zombies and other terrifying monsters while trying to make your way through the levels and levelup your character. You'll have plenty of guns, melee weapons like swords and chainsaws, and magic attacks at your dispensal as you make your way through hordes of enemies. The game also has a fantastic co-operative multi-player mode, making this one of the few horror games that can be played through with friends.
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Blood Omen 2
Blood Omen 2 is a sequel to the PS1 classic Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain. This action-adventure game plunges you into a gothic vampire-filled world, playing as the vampire Kain on a quest for revenge against an army of vampire hunters. The game has an atmospheric gothic setting similar to the Castlevania games - it's not a true horror game, but the game features plenty of monsters and a blood-sucking mechanic, which makes sense seeing as you play as a vampire. If you're looking for a solid action-adventure game with some Zelda/Metroid elements, Blood Omen 2 offers a solid adventure with a classic horror theme.
Luigi's Mansion
Now we'll look at some kid-friendly horror-themed gaming on the GameCube. Luigi's Mansion won't scare you with its cartoony visuals and silly story and presentation, but it has a light horror theme so it makes it on this list as an honorable mention. It's an action-adventure game with a focus on solving puzzles and capturing ghosts by sucking them up with a vacuum. It's a fun, well-made game by Nintendo, just don't expect it to be a scary survival horror game or anything.
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