The Best Nintendo GameCube Accessories

Sep 26, 2023

Power up with these amazing GameCube accessories!

The GameCube is a fun piece of Nintendo history. Launching at a time when the PS2's supreme reign had already begun and facing a newcomer in Microsoft's Xbox, Nintendo had a lot to prove after losing its pole position as the number one console maker with the Nintendo 64. Sadly, Nintendo's 6th Gen console proved to be a commercial failure compared to its predecessors and contemporary competitors.

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The system has however enjoyed a renaissance over the past 10 years with long-time fans continuing their love for the "little cube that could" and new fans being brought into the scene by its fantastic library of games. With a number of new products being released for the system to this day, newcomers and long-time fans alike have tons of options to make playing the classic system even better!

A new official first-party Nintendo GameCube controller was released to coincide with the 2018 release of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate! This controller works on original GameCube systems and Wii systems with GameCube ports. The Wii U/Switch GameCube controller adapter also allows for its use on those systems in supported titles. While the build quality is lower than the original GameCube controllers from the early 2000s, having a new first-party option for a 20-year-old console is amazing!

When Nintendo released Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on the Nintendo Switch, they simultaneously released a new run of official GameCube wired controllers! Many are still available to purchase today giving players old and new a fresh, first-party option to enjoy on their classic GameCube systems. These new controllers also have the benefit of 10-foot cables being standard, compared to the 6-foot cables found on classic first-party controllers.

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While the feeling and experience of these controllers are great, it is worth noting that they differ from the original models in some key areas. The first is in the thumb stick ranges that don't match the original run controllers. Each axis can have a widely different range that can result in some directions feeling more sensitive than others on original GameCube hardware. Shoulder buttons also feel of cheaper overall quality. But overall these new Nintendo GameCube controllers still put wired third-party offerings to shame and should be a first consideration!

The Retro Fighters Battler GC is a new wireless GameCube input option allowing you to experience the system without being tethered! The controller features rumble support, unlike older Wavebirds, and has a built-in rechargeable battery. The controller is an overall solid performer, but it is slightly let down by its analog stick and trigger ranges.

Nintendo was the first console maker to provide an official wireless controller option for their systems with the Wavebird. Unfortunately, it is a hard ask to find a fully functioning Wavebird complete with its wireless receiver at a good price. It also didn't help that nearly every third-party wireless alternative was an outright disaster for playing GameCube games. That is until Retro Fighters released their wireless Battler and Blade GC controllers earlier this year. The Battler GC in particular keeps the offset thumb stick layout of first-party GameCube controllers but overhauls the rest of the design to be more ergonomic.

Unlike the Wavebird, the Battler GC has rumble support providing extra immersion. The controller isn't a perfect replacement though as the analog shoulder buttons are missing the signature GameCube-style click-in and have an extreme dead zone making them harder to use in some titles. The analog sticks also have higher ranges than good-condition first-party controllers, giving them more sensitivity. Each range is at least universal making it easy to get used to, unlike worn-down controllers or the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate GameCube pads.

The Retro-Bit Legacy GC is the perfect controller for playing your Game Boy library on a GameCube through the Game Boy Player attachment! With included macros to swap the D-pad functionality to either GameCube analog stick, the Legacy GC makes a great fighting game controller as well.

The GameCube had an incredible add-on in the form of the Game Boy Player that let players experience the libraries of the Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance on a TV. As cool as it was, the experience was always hampered by the GameCube controller's D-pad. Even though it was the same size as a Game Boy Advance D-pad, something about using it on bigger screens makes it less ideal. The Legacy GC from Retro-Bit solves this problem entirely by offering up a classic SNES-style pad complete with a large D-pad and GameCube-style buttons.

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The Legacy GC is a perfect match for the Game Boy Player, making every title played more enjoyable. The D-pad is accurate and buttons respond quickly thanks to its wired connection. As an added bonus, a number of macros have been built into the Legacy GC, letting players swap the D-pad's functionality between left and right analog sticks and the D-pad. A number of GameCube fighting games and single-stick titles are a blast to experience in this fashion! Niche as it may be, having a D-pad-focused controller for the GameCube is truly beneficial.

Connect a Game Boy Advance to the Nintendo GameCube to enjoy multiplayer, extra bonuses, and unlocks in supported titles!

Nintendo has had a history of implementing second-screen functionality into their systems long before the Nintendo DS hit store shelves. The GameCube linking up with Game Boy Advance systems was one such implementation. A number of titles released across both systems had some form of bonus features the link would unlock, be it a minimap and extra levels in Splinter Cell, or bonuses in Metroid Prime. Some of the coolest implementations came from being able to use the link to transfer Chaos from Sonic Adventure DX and Sonic Adventure 2 Battle into the handheld to raise them on the go!

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles and The Legend of Zelda Four Swords took the implementation further, requiring it for multiplayer gameplay. If desired, players could also use the cable to enable the GBA to be used as a controller for the Game Boy Player to give it a more authentic feel. As cool as all of these features are, it is being able to take Gen 3 Pokemon battles to an interactive battlefield with Pokemon Colosseum or Pokemon XD that saw the most use of the link between systems. To get the most out of a GameCube experience, the GBA Link Cable is worth pursuing!

The Old Skool 1019 Memory Card for the Nintendo GameCube allows players to save progress in Nintendo GameCube games. The capacity matches official Nintendo Memory Cards ensuring optimal compatibility!

Being a disc system, the Nintendo GameCube needs a memory card to save games. With a number of options available, players can choose a size to best suit their needs. High-capacity cards exist along with options that feature multiple pages equating to multiple memory cards in one. The problem with these options is that reliability comes into question with corrupted saves and game compatibility with unofficial block sizes.

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The 1019 block option from Old Skool is a great option featuring the largest official number of blocks a Nintendo card supported. Since the card uses an official size, compatibility issues will be non-existent and the lack of swapping pages will keep it from self-corrupting. The physical card isn't the same size as a Nintendo original, so it sadly doesn't fit into the memory card slot provided in GameCube game cases for players taking the retro system on the go.

The Retro-Bit Prism HDMI Adapter For GameCube allows for players to connect their GameCube systems to a modern display and take advantage of clear digital video output!

One of the best upgrades players can do for the GameCube is give it HDMI output to make it easier to connect to modern displays and take advantage of the system's 480P output for a cleaner image. There are a number of different HDMI options available for the GameCube today and one of the best is Retro-Bit's Prism HDMI Adapter. While functionally the same as nearly every other option available, the Prism comes in at a reasonable price and offers support for firmware updates without having to modify a GameCube system.

Line doubling is enabled for 480i and 240P content to boost the picture quality of these titles and ensure a constant 480P output. The Prism can also be used to output the GameCube in 16:9 for widescreen-supported titles. Another nice feature is that audio is provided through the HDMI cable, so no analog converters are required. Dolby Pro Logic II-enabled games are also fully supported with the right audio equipment. Do note that HDMI adapters are only available for DOL-001 model GameCubes featuring a "Digital Out" port so owners of a DOL-101 sadly can't take advantage of this upgrade.

The E EON GCHD MK-II gives players the ability to output their GameCube systems over component video and HDMI in pristine digital quality!

For fans of component video output on retro systems, the GameCube poses a bit of a challenge. Nintendo made the GameCube's component cable with proprietary hardware and then only sold the cable directly, resulting in them never being widely available. Prices on these cables today are outrageous and left only to the most extreme collectors or purists. With the reverse engineering of the GameCube component cables, the "Digital Out" port found on DOL-001 model systems has become available to both HDMI and component output options.

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The best of the bunch for component output comes from E EON and the GCHD MK-II. A more pricey option compared to some of the other GameCube component cables out there, but one that justifies itself without any of the negative drawbacks other options bring to the table such as messed up audio or darker picture output. The GCHD MK-II also features HDMI output allowing users to utilize both connectivity options. For a one-stop component and HDMI solution, the GCHD MK-II is the only option worth pursuing to get clean digital video from a compatible GameCube!

Hooking up an older Nintendo console to a modern display can be a problem if the TV in question no longer supports analog input options. With the LevelHike HDMI Adapter, you can hook up a classic Nintendo system with ease using HDMI! While it is an entry-level option it will get the job done well enough for the casual player.

Unfortunately for late-model GameCube owners, Nintendo decided to remove the "Digital Out" port to save on system production costs. These DOL-101 models as a result can't take advantage of the excellent HDMI solutions that can directly tap into the system's clean digital output that are available on the market today. While modifications are available to restore the "Digital Out" port, it requires a sufficient level of technical know-how to pull off. A better option would be to just find a DOL-001 system instead.

But for anyone who doesn't want to find a new system or perform an internal modification, one of the easiest ways to get HDMI output from the GameCube would be to use the HDMI adapter from LevelHike. This adapter taps into the system's S-video line to output a sharper video signal than composite and converts it over to HDMI for display on a modern screen. As a warning, these lower-cost adapters typically introduce input lag and other undesirable artifacting. The noticeability of such things will come down to the individual player with most casual players never noticing a thing.

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The Nintendo GameCube has seen enormous aftermarket support after it was discontinued from major third-party brands to individual creators with new controllers, memory cards, and video output options still being released today.

There are numerous HDMI options available now for the Nintendo GameCube with varying features and price points.

The Nintendo Wavebird is considered to be one of the best wireless controllers ever released. Due to its limited lingering availability, the next best options come from Retro Fighters and their Battler/Blade GC controllers.

The Game Boy Player allows the GameCube to play the full line-up of three Game Boy systems making it a very worthwhile addition to the system!

The GameCube library includes a number of must-play titles that have either never been ported to other systems or still hold the definitive releases of later ported titles!

Ryan started out playing on his father's Atari 2600 and never stopped. He has nearly a decade of experience in the industry, ranging from website and YouTube content to product and game testing. Specializing in honest reviews and game preservation tutorials, Ryan has a knowledge base that spans the ages! Favorite franchises include Command & Conquer, Ace Combat, Metal Gear, and Halo. If only he could "git gud" at Apex Legends, then his life would be perfect.