How to Connect Your Retro GameCube to a Modern TV

As the GameCube’s 25th anniversary approaches, there’s never been a better time to revisit Nintendo’s sixth-generation console. Sure, it may have been less popular than the PlayStation 2, but the GameCube had some incredible games that still hold up today, including The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker And Metroid Prime. Some versions, like Resident Evil 4were even better on GameCube than on PS2.

The only problem with the GameCube revision is that it was designed to work with analog CRT TVs, not modern LCD and OLED TVs. By 2026, most televisions will no longer have analog inputs. Fortunately, the console is still modern enough that you can connect it to a newer TV without much work. In this guide, I’ll explain how exactly to do this.

First of all, some bad news. Not all GameCubes were created equal. Between the time Nintendo first released the console in Japan on September 14, 2001 and its discontinuation in early 2007, the company made a major overhaul to the hardware in order to reduce costs. Unfortunately, if you have this newer model, it’s more difficult to connect your GameCube to a modern TV.

Ideally, you want a GameCube model DOL-001. If you have a DOL-101 variant, things are more complicated. This is because the latter is missing a Digital AV output connection. In the United States and other NTSC regions, this port was originally designed to allow the GameCube to output a 480p signal via a set of separately sold Nintendo component video cables. In 2026, a handful of companies are making adapters that use this same port to allow the GameCube to transmit video via HDMI to a modern TV.

How to tell if you have a GameCube DOL-001

It’s easy to tell if you own a GameCube DOL-001. If the back of the console has two audio-video ports, one of which is labeled Digital AV outputyou’re lucky. Another way to check is to turn the console over and read the label at the bottom. If it says DOL-001 near the top, you have the correct model.

With the right variant, playing GameCube games on an LCD or OLED TV is as easy as purchasing an adapter and connecting the two devices via HDMI. Although you can find many cheap HDMI adapters online, I recommend spending a little more to purchase the Retro-Bit Prism HD Adapter. Retro-Bit does some great things, and its GameCube adapter is no exception. Most GameCube HDMI adapters rely on open source software called GC Video. The Retro-Bit comes with a USB-C port to make updating this software easy; no need to disassemble the device.

Another option is Carby from Insurrection Industries or, for a more affordable alternative, consider Bitfunx’s offering. Just note that depending on which dongle you buy, you may also need to get a separate HDMI cable if you don’t have a spare.

Once you have an adapter, all you have to do is plug it into the digital AV out port on your GameCube, then connect an HDMI cable from the adapter to your TV. All three models recommended above come with a remote control that allows you to bring up GC Video’s on-screen menu to adjust settings such as output resolution.

This is where things get a little complicated. To get the best picture quality from your GameCube, you’ll want to check this webpage to see if you have any games that support 480p output. If you find one that does, first open it on your console and hold down the key. B on your controller when starting the game. You will see a dialog box asking “Enable progressive scan display?” ” Select Yes. Provided the game supports this feature, progressive scanning will give you the best possible image quality from the old console. Some games also support native widescreen output. Typically, you can enable it from a compatible game’s settings menu.

If your GameCube does not have Digital AV outputYour best bet is a device like RetroTINK-2X Mini that can convert your console’s analog signal to a digital signal. You can take the composite cables that came with your GameCube and connect them to the RetroTINK-2X Mini, then connect an HDMI cable from that device to your TV. RetroTINK also sells devices that can improve the GameCube’s signal, but these are quite expensive and only worth it if you have a collection of retro consoles.

If all of the above sounds complicated to you, emulation can provide another way to play your favorite GameCube games on a modern TV. If you own a Switch 2, Nintendo offers a selection of emulated GameCube games through its Nintendo Switch Online service. You’ll need to pay for the $50 per year Expansion Pack tier to access the Switch 2’s GameCube library.

Despite its limited selection of games, the Switch 2 is a great way to experience some of the best GameCube games. The console streams games at 900p, meaning they will look sharper on modern TVs. Additionally, games that include multiplayer, like F-Zero GXfeatures online play, with support for up to four players, and there’s even support for controller remapping.

As of August 2026, nine GameCube games are available on Nintendo Switch Online, with two more on the way. See the full list below:

• The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
• SoulCalibur II
• F-Zero GX
• Super Mario Attackers
• Chibi Robo! Tune in to the adventure!
• Luigi’s Manor
• Wario World
• Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
• Pokémon XD: Dark Galley
• Super Mario Sun (August 13, 2026)
• Pokémon Colosseum (to be determined 2026)

If you already have a collection of old GameCube games, another option is to emulate your library by connecting a PC or laptop to a TV. The Dolphin emulator has been around for over two decades. It’s free, extremely stable, and has additional features that can improve the gaming experience with older games, like resolution scaling and custom save states. You don’t need a powerful machine to run Dolphin: virtually any Windows or Mac machine created in the last decade can run any game, but advanced graphics options may require a little more power.