TheNintendoGameCube holds a special place in the hearts of gamers everywhere, and the console’s library is filled with fun games. GameCube games were often either wonderful solo adventures or fun couch co-op experiences, though horror titles can also be found haunting the shelves of classic game shops.
The spooky games released in the GameCube’s generation were thrilling for the time, and these titles are definitely responsible for a few scares and shrieks in the early 2000s. These games are fully loaded with ghosts, demons, and all sorts of undead ghouls. In many of these games, the player does have the option to fight back, if they are brave enough.
Updated July 23, 2025, by Amy Cowley:The GameCube held many memorable games, fromMariotoThe Legend of Zelda, as well as a surprising amount of horror. A total of 14 horror titles were released for the console over its lifespan, including famous franchises such asResident Evil. As there were only a few games missing from this comprehensive list, this article has been updated to include all 14 of those games. Taking into consideration their spook factor, staying power, and overall gameplay, the GameCube’s horror catalog has been ranked here from worst to best.
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14Monster House
Based on the children’s animated movie of the same name,Monster Houseis a faithful adaptation of the movie, with DJ, Chowder and Jenny reprising their roles as the protagonists and nearly meeting their end at the very start of the story. Unlike the movie, however, the game allows players themselves to explore the murderous building and adds more rooms.
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Each character has their own unique gameplay, but this wasn’t enough to save the game. It was met with many average to below average scores. It seems to fall victim to the same fate that most movie-based games do in offering underwhelming graphics, a derivative plot, and lackluster mechanics.
13Geist
Geistfollows the story of John Raimi, a and scientist counter-terrorism agent who is sent to investigate the Volks Corporation and extract the undercover agent stationed there, Thomas Bryson. But when he rendezvouses with Bryson, an alarm sounds and hell breaks loose, culminating in one of the agents becoming possessed causing the rest of the extraction team to be slaughtered, and Raimi captured.
Raimi escapes in thanks to a spirit named Gigi who in turn possesses him, granting him ghostly powers.Geistwas an ambitious project that did boast a unique concept and story that was met with praise, but the poor execution was subject to criticism.
12Killer7
Killer7has a convoluted narrative and mixes puzzles with FPS action and RPG elements. There are several characters to play as, including a speedy blind man and an invisible assassin. The enemies in the game are called “Heaven Smiles” and they announce their presence by laughing, and are unseen at first.
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These days,Killer7has a cult following, as it’s a classic fromNo More Heroesdirector Goichi Suda. The game received several nominations for its thought-provoking narrative, but critics did not agree with its combat systems.
11Hunter The Reckoning
Monsters and vampires are seeking the destruction of the human race, and it’s up to four different hunters to put them down and bring an end to the madness. There are 23 levels of mayhem, all taking place in Ashcroft, a prison town in the World of Darkness.
After the penitentiary is overrun by the beasts, inmates begin rising back from the dead as vampires, only feeding the fire more. Players can wield many ranged and melee weapons, as well as cast spells called “edges.” The combat is a blast and the art style is dark and macabre, so anyone with a GameCube should absolutely giveHunter The Reckoninga try.
10BloodRayne
BloodRayneputs the player in the shoes of a half vampire destined to rid the world of any kind of beast imaginable. The player can wield all types of firearms and can even rip machine gun turrets out of the ground, though the blades attached to her arms are just as good at ripping through monsters.
This game is anothervampire hack and slash, though the abilities this half vampire protagonist can acquire later in the game make for great grizzly fun.BloodRayneis a fantastic game and deserves the attention of any gamer with a thirst for blood.
9The Haunted Mansion
Based on the Disney ride of the same name,The Haunted Mansionticks all the boxes of a light-hearted horror game in a similar vein toLuigi’s Mansion.It features friendly ghosts as well as antagonistic spirits, fun puzzles, and a happy ending.
A famed author known as Ezekiel (or Zeke for short) takes on a job advertised in the newspaper to take on the position of caretaker for the titular mansion, and discovers more than he bargained for with spirits begging for release. WhileThe Haunted Mansionmight not be the scariest game released on the GameCube, it still has plenty of charm, and proved to have addictive gameplay that had players coming back for more.
8Luigi’s Mansion
Luigi’s Mansiongot everyone at least once. There’s awhole cast of ghostsin this landmark launch title, and Nintendo found just about every way to pack them in places players wouldn’t see coming. Ghosts jump scare Luigi from the ceiling and all sorts of furniture, and false doors are spread throughout to trick Luigi and damage his health.
While it’s unlikely thatLuigi’s Mansionwill scare any player the second time through, that first run was a harrowing experience for any child in 2001. Not to mention, Luigi’s constant groans and shrieks are often more unsettling than the ghosts themselves.
7Resident Evil - Code: Veronica
Originally released on the Dreamcast in 2000,Code: Veronicagot the typical treatment forResident Evilgames and received enhanced ports to more recent consoles, in this case the GameCube.Code: Veronicais a different breed ofResident Evil, bringing back old favorites like Wesker, Chris, and Claire, but set in a unique location and having resources scattered throughout the game shared by the two playable characters.
However, the creative differences taken inCode: Veronicadid not prove popular with all fans. With no difficulty options and the inclusion of a frankly annoying new character, in the case of the GameCube remake, most felt it wasn’t a worthwhile investment as it never enhanced their experience. Nevertheless, it remains a solid entry into the franchise with a small butdedicated fanbase.
6The Legacy of Kain: Blood Omen 2
The Legacy Of Kain: Blood Omen 2was incredibly ahead of its time, and definitely deserves credit for its combat and innovative narrative. The player controls Kain, now one of thelast vampires in the world, and seeks revenge against the vampire hunters who are bringing an end to his kind.
The game has a weapon system likeBreath of the Wild, with the player picking up and using weapons until they break, rather than having permanent weapons throughout. This game should absolutely be on the radar of anyone that owns a GameCube and loves vampires.
5Resident Evil 4
Resident Evil 4is the topResident Evilgame on GameCube, and some fans of the franchise praise this title as the peak of the series. It’s easy to see why,Resident Evil 4is makes the player feel uneasy from start to finish, despite Leon having a fair amount of firepower.
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There are so many great moments in this game, fromLeon emotionally bonding with a dogto running away in terror from a chainsaw wielding maniac.Resident Evil 4is due for a remake soon, but fans will always remember popping this disc into their GameCube, and being met with the finest terrifying zombie action video games had to offer at the time.
