Several years ago, major console manufacturers recognized the significant financial strain involved in operating online multiplayer games within a contemporary gaming ecosystem. This realization led to two key conclusions: firstly, the entire system was sufficiently expensive that charging users for online services became a necessity to maintain server infrastructure for millions of active players. Secondly, they understood that implementing such charges would likely displease consumers, necessitating incentives or "bribes" to ensure a smooth transition. Sony and Microsoft adopted a strategy of offering new or relatively recent games as their primary inducements, giving rise to their respective PlayStation Plus and GamePass subscription models. Nintendo, however, charted a different course, opting to look backward instead.

Nintendo's approach manifested in the creation of its Nintendo Classics catalog, which initially debuted for the Switch console. This collection has since broadened its scope to incorporate titles spanning most of the consoles Nintendo has released throughout its history, even extending to include games from former rival Sega's Genesis. The most recent addition to this expanding library, introduced exclusively for this year’s Switch 2, comprises titles from Nintendo’s GameCube, a console often remembered for its unique, albeit sometimes overlooked, contributions. However, the reception to this GameCube catalog has been largely underwhelming.

Access to the GameCube library is restricted to those who subscribe to the premium tier of Switch Online. Many users who have explored this selection can sum up its primary issue with a simple question: "Is that it?" While the library has more than doubled in size since its launch alongside the Switch 2 in June, it commenced with a mere three games: the critically acclaimed *The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker*, the popular fighting game *Soulcalibur II*, and the high-speed racer *F-Zero GX*. This means that as the Switch 2 concludes its inaugural year, the GameCube service features only seven titles in total. This limited offering is notably sparse for a library intended to serve as a significant selling point for both the console and its associated subscription service.

Despite the constrained quantity, the four new games that have gradually been introduced over the past six months are not merely established favorites. Nintendo has instead opted for a more eclectic mix, adding *Super Mario Strikers!*, *Chibi-Robo! Plug Into Adventure*, *Luigi’s Mansion*, and, most recently, 2003’s *Wario World*. When the most conventional titles on offer include an eccentric soccer game or an adventure where Mario's brother takes on the role of a ghost hunter, it suggests that Nintendo is intentionally embracing and highlighting the distinctive and quirky charm inherent to the GameCube era.