GameCube Games, Including The Wind Waker and Soulcalibur II, Coming to Nintendo Classics on Switch 2
Posted on April 02 2025 by Nicole Scott
While Nintendo fans didn’t get DS or 3DS games introduced to Nintendo Switch Online, they have gotten something arguably even more exciting. The newly renamed application, Nintendo Classics, will launch its GameCube library on the same day as the Switch 2’s release on June 5th, 2025. The Wind Waker is one of its first inclusions, with other GameCube Zelda titles like Twilight Princess and Four Swords Adventures being absent. While it isn’t the HD edition many had hoped for, fans can still get hyped about the ability to play it if they lack a GameCube or Wii.
Soulcalibur II is another throwback being included. Its original cross-platform release featured unique bonus characters for each edition. The GameCube version featured Link as a playable character, so you can enjoy this cameo if you’ve never played this variant. The third game announced is F-Zero GX, with more surely to come by the end of the year.
Nintendo teased some classics, such as Super Mario Sunshine, Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, to name a few. The trailer also noted that the games will have “clearer image quality and higher resolution than the original releases.” Players will also be able to remap controls to their liking on the Joy-Con 2 or with the new wireless GameCube Controller being released to Nintendo Switch Online members.
These games are only accessible to those who have the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership. If you’ve been on the fence about upgrading to the pricier plan, maybe GameCube games will be enough to convince the masses. Switch 2 will release on June 5th, 2025, with pre-orders starting with participating retailers in North America on April 9th, 2025, priced at $449.99 USD.
Are you excited about being able to play these games again on modern hardware? Let us know what you’ll dive into first in the comments!
Source: Nintendo of America
Nicole Scott is writer for Zelda Dungeon from suburban Appalachia. She loves drinking espresso, seeing live music, building LEGO sets, being a completionist, and snuggling her two probably-alien cats, Tizo and Alarielle.
