#Greatest Nintendo Wii Video games of all time, ranked

The Nintendo Wii was gaming’s best magic trick.

Again in 2006, the Wii felt like the following frontier of gaming. Swinging your arm to throw a bowling ball was so immersive that folks broke their TVs with out even fascinated about it. But because the console aged, the luster of movement controls pale. What began with “are you able to think about enjoying Smash Bros with the Wii distant?” shortly changed into “please don’t give me the Wii distant to play Smash Bros.”

Nonetheless, the video games that understood the advantages and limitations of the system had been unforgettable. The Wii has some experiences you continue to can’t wherever else, regardless of the rise of digital actuality. Even the system’s background music fills the Wii to the brim with persona. As common, distilling a system’s years-long legacy into 20 video games is nearly unattainable. Tremendous Paper Mario, Bit Journey Full, Madworld, and Excitebots deserve honorable mentions amongst many others. With that mentioned, let’s dive into ten video games that cement the Wii’s place in historical past.

[Zoey’s 2025 Update: Timothy did a great job listing out the top 20 games, and I agree with pretty much none of the selections. So, in an effort to expand this list, I’m going to leave his top 10 untouched and then tack the games I think should be on it in rankings 11-20. After all, I rank my own opinion below essentially everyone else’s. If you find my self-esteem, let it know that I’m sorry and I want it to come home.]

20: WarioLand Shake-It (2008)

In 2008, the trendy indie market was nearly to hit the fuel, however earlier to that, console side-scrollers had been in a recession. 2D video games had been typically relegated to handheld. Not that they had been gone completely, they usually’d quickly come roaring again, however in that lull was WarioLand Shake It.

It’s possibly not fairly as enjoyable and off-the-wall as Wario Land 4, however Shake-It makes up for it with its lavish artwork and animation. Good-Really feel went all out with historically animated cutscenes and 2D graphics that look simply as detailed. There have been loads of different side-scrollers which have reached for its splendor, however I don’t really feel any have nailed it fairly in addition to this one.

19: Sin & Punishment: Star Successor (2009)

It’s arduous to imagine Sin & Punishment: Star Successor even occurred. The unique by no means obtained launched outdoors of Japan, and even in its residence nation, it didn’t promote effectively in any respect. A sequel didn’t sound like it could be match for the family-friendly picture that Nintendo was attempting to domesticate. And but, someway, it was greenlit. I’m unsure gross sales went tremendous effectively the second time round, both.

Sin & Punishment: Star Successor is a surreal on-rails shooter that takes you thru the desolate stays of an alternate Earth. I may attempt to describe the narrative additional, however I in all probability couldn’t as a result of it’s a complete madhouse. It’s the truth that it’s so outlandish and ungrounded that I like least in regards to the recreation, but it surely’s arduous to dispute that its motion is top-notch.

18: Donkey Kong Nation Returns (2010)

Retro Video games’ revival of Uncommon’s basic platforming sequence lived as much as the requirements of high quality that the Metroid Prime studio was identified for. Whereas a lot of it builds off what was set down by Uncommon, Retro left its mark by tweaking the motion and accomplice programs, making the gameplay extra dynamic, and filling it with some excellent set-piece moments.

This might be quite a bit larger on the record if it wasn’t for a way movement management is built-in. To roll, a maneuver required for lengthy, exact jumps, was sure to a shake of the controller, though a button press was possible and would have been higher. It wasn’t optionally available. You couldn’t plug in a basic controller or decide a distinct management scheme. You needed to depend on the imprecise movement sensor or the Wiimote for exact platforming, and it sucked so arduous that I’m complaining about it on a high video games record. The remainder of the expertise is nice, so thank goodness it was ported to the 3DS and is now touchdown on the Swap.

17: Increase Blox (2008)

Get together video games on Wii had been a dime a dozen, and the respectable ones had been shortly drowned out by all of the extraordinarily low-effort discount trash that shortly flooded (and maybe torpedoed) the console’s library. Increase Blox was an fascinating one as a result of it had a singular central idea and apparently concerned Steven Spielberg. Saying a recreation “concerned” Steven Spielberg is sort of humorous because the man mainly based Dreamworks Interactive and was partially answerable for Medal of Honor, however anyway.

Increase Blox was basically Jenga for arsonists. It takes an identical exact deconstruction idea and provides explosions. Surprisingly, the physics engine is as much as the duty, and whereas there’s some movement management wonkiness, it’s an satisfying recreation. It was one of many favorites my household would escape after we obtained collectively, and it’s a kind of ideas that really feel like it could be alien on any platform other than the Wii.

16: Punch-Out (2009)

It’s unattainable to make an actual a follow-up to Punch-Out, so Subsequent Degree Video games simply remade it as a substitute. Sort of. Merely referred to as Punch-Out, it mashes collectively Punch-Out and Tremendous Punch-Out. However, largely, it’s the identical because the NES recreation, which was already perfection.

Nonetheless, maybe surprisingly, replicating the timing and really feel of Punch-Out isn’t any simple feat. I’ve seen a couple of indies try it, and none fairly handle to nail it. However, regardless of transitioning to full 3D graphics, the brand new Punch-Out feels simply nearly as good as its 8-bit progenitor. To make the replace extra worthwhile, Subsequent Degree dressed it up with a number of the greatest artwork and animation to ever grace a semi-offensive stereotype. It’s simply too unhealthy that this 2009 recreation is the final time we’ve seen a brand new recreation from the franchise.

15: Rhythm Heaven Fever (2011)

The Rhythm Heaven sequence is like WarioWare for somebody who has funk. You play a sequence of mini-games which can be all largely totally different, however all of them have rhythm in frequent, getting increasingly sophisticated as you go (massive man). Rhythm Heaven Fever is hilarious, stunning, and enjoyable. Simply don’t be too mad if you get one in all its infectious songs indelibly embedded in your ears.

14: Silent Hill Shattered Recollections (2009)

There was loads of negativity across the Silent Hill sequence following the closure of Crew Silent in 2007 and the tepid reception to Silent Hill: Homecoming and Silent Hill: Origins. Heck, Climax Studios and a lot of the workers had been answerable for Shattered Recollections. However classes had been clearly realized as a result of Shattered Recollections breaks from the pack by presenting one thing utterly totally different whereas nonetheless drawing from its supply materials.

Shattered Recollections is nearer to a strolling sim than it’s to any of the Silent Hill video games that got here earlier than. It’s a divergent retelling of the primary recreation, following Harry Mason as he wanders the eponymous locale searching for his lacking daughter. That’s largely the place the plot similarities finish.

Whereas Shattered Recollections is its distinct idea, it manages to be a haunting trip with a potent hidden payload. Its psychological components are fairly overblown, however the way it adjustments and reacts to your choices retains issues recent for a number of playthroughs. Surprisingly, all these years later, it’s nonetheless an expertise that may’t be discovered wherever else.

13: Xenoblade Chronicles (2010)

Xenoblade Chronicles had a memorably fraught journey to North America. Regardless of getting launched in Europe, Nintendo of America gave each indication potential that it wouldn’t launch it over right here. This resulted in Operation Rainfall, a fan marketing campaign that concerned quite a lot of ways, together with emails, bodily mail, and journalistic protection, to get not simply Xenoblade Chronicles but additionally Final Story and Pandora’s Tower localized. It labored, though NOA refused to acknowledge that it’s what led to their eventual determination. Additionally, XSEED needed to step up for the latter couple of video games, however I digress.

I picked up Xenoblade Chronicles at launch, and it was one of many grandest video games I’ve ever seen. Landscapes appeared to stretch on perpetually. Who may neglect climbing to the Bionis’ Leg (Thigh) and searching over the grassy plains? It was arduous to imagine it was on {hardware} that lagged behind the opposite consoles of the era in horsepower (although, not that onerous). Fortunately, it wasn’t the final time we noticed the sequence, because it helped kick off a brand new period for Monolith Tender as a powerhouse developer beneath Nintendo.

12: Mario Strikers Charged (2007)

The unique Mario Strikers on GameCube was nice. It did what it was alleged to: offered a model of soccer performed by Mario and associates. However are you aware what it was lacking? Violence.

Not that Tremendous Mario Strikers was a very clear model of soccer, however Mario Strikers Charged dials that up. There may be a lot ache on show in each match that it’s absurd. The partitions surrounding the sector (if there are any) are electrified, there’s a windy stage the place cows fly throughout the stage, and if you happen to get a mushroom, you possibly can step on folks. This makes for some hilarious replays as beloved characters get pushed into the mud.

Mario Strikers Charged is quick, difficult, and intense. I’m completely satisfied to see the sequence proceed with Battle League, however the lack of distinct teammates actually dampens issues.

11: No Extra Heroes (2007)

Had I written the preliminary record, this could have been my high decide. I used to be enamored by Killer7 when it was launched on GameCube, and Suda51’s subsequent recreation seemed like it could observe the identical type. It completely didn’t. No Extra Heroes could be very a lot its personal factor, and in some ways, I adore it extra due to that.

It has an identical pretense involving a group of world-class assassins, however taking out precedence targets for paying prospects isn’t the central premise. Assassination is barely a aspect gig for the disgustingly lecherous however very relatable loser Travis Landing: the true purpose is to climb the ranks of the UAA’s record of high assassins by killing them from the underside up. What follows is a sequence of ranges that drunkenly staggers round unpredictable encounters with weird characters, all anchored in place by an outline of Travis’ in any other case mundane life.

By my measurement, it was one of many video games that made the most effective use of Nintendo’s unusual management setup. The movement management works as a complement to its hack-and-slash fight, having you carry the controller to alter stances, swing in numerous instructions to carry out a catalog of suplexes, and work it such as you’re jerkin’ it to recharge your laser sword. It’s a recreation I return to continuously, and I really feel it could be time for one more playthrough.

10: Klonoa (2008)

When you’ve been following me on Destructoid, I really like Klonoa. Whereas I can’t in good conscience rank the Wii remake of Klonoa: Door to Phantomile larger than this, I can’t in good conscience omit it both.

Even when a few of it’s misguided, you possibly can inform loads of love went into this remake. The visuals are implausible, the controls are tight, and the extent design is devoted to the PlayStation authentic. Wii Klonoa additionally provides a couple of options you possibly can’t discover in Phantasy Reverie Sequence, corresponding to maddening further challenges and a full English voiceover (which, admittedly, pales compared to the Phantomilian voice appearing). It’s a recreation that deserved to promote greater than the ten copies that it did, particularly contemplating I used to be answerable for 9 of these.

9: WarioWare: Easy Strikes (2006)

WarioWare Easy Strikes does what the Wii was at all times meant to do: make you look foolish in entrance of your pals.

Positive, this isn’t a deep recreation, but it surely’s an expertise you simply received’t get on different consoles. The humor right here is iconic to the purpose that even the tutorials are hilarious. The presentation is pure WarioWare, with visuals that stroll the nice line between clear and crass. And the minigames… I imply, it has the dancing recreation. When you by no means coaxed your pals into enjoying this to your amusement, I’m sorry.

8: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006)

Twilight Princess may not be the most effective Zelda recreation, but it surely was a heck of a launch title.

You may inform it is a GameCube title at its core, however simply sufficient movement controls had been added to promote the Wii’s options with out detracting from the expertise. I wouldn’t essentially return to this model of Twilight Princess as a result of, let’s face it, urgent a button to swing a sword is healthier than waggling the distant. Nonetheless, this was a valiant effort to seize Nintendo’s core fanbase earlier than the Wii discovered its footing with the informal crowd.

7: Muramasa: The Demon Blade (2009)

Talking of core avid gamers, we had been a sorry bunch if we didn’t have a PS3 or Xbox 360 by the seventh console era’s midpoint. Positive, Nintendo’s choices had been implausible, however we had been so determined for high quality 3^rd celebration titles that video games like Lethal Creatures and Opoona generated hype on message boards. Each trickle of high quality we obtained was particular, which makes video games like Muramasa: The Demon Blade stand out way more.

The Wii couldn’t compete with the 3D visuals of the competitors, however the 2D artwork right here sang on the Wii. Whereas this lacks the exploration of a correct a Metroidvania, it greater than makes up for that with flashy and enjoyable hack-and-slash gameplay. This isn’t an ideal recreation, however its place within the Wii library makes it simply as iconic as Vanillaware’s different titles.

6: Mega Man 9 (2008)

I can’t correctly convey how thrilling Mega Man 9 was when it was introduced. As the sport that arguably impressed a number of retro revivals of this period, Mega Man 9 got here out the gate swinging. Between the devoted presentation, the inventive achievements, and arguably the most effective weapon set within the sequence, this wasn’t simply any Mega Man. This was peak basic Mega Man.

Even when it is a multiplatform launch, it simply feels proper enjoying this on the Wii. Flipping the Wii Distant on its aspect like an NES controller actually drove residence the sensation that this was a brand new NES recreation and never simply an homage. Even the native lack of HDMI help added to the authenticity. Mega Man 9 is sweet regardless of the place you play it, however this model is as genuine because it will get with out porting it wholesale to the NES.

5: Metroid Prime Trilogy (2009)

That is virtually unfair to incorporate, but on the identical time, holy moly, what a worth this bundle was.

Not solely did you get Metroid Prime 3 whereas it was nonetheless being bought individually, however you additionally had its two iconic predecessors included with revamped controls besides. Describing all three Metroid Prime video games would fill an article by itself, so simply know that Metroid Prime Trilogy stays the easiest way to play this sequence to today.

4: Tremendous Smash Bros Brawl (2008)

Tremendous Smash Bros Brawl is way and away essentially the most notorious entry within the sequence. On the identical time, that’s like saying the Lighthouse of Alexandria is your least favourite marvel of the world.

Brawl is a implausible recreation by itself deserves. If nothing else, Subspace Emissary makes Brawl price revisiting to today. Whereas I admit this single-player marketing campaign is a little bit of a multitude, it’s the greatest sort of mess. I really like the frilly story cutscenes that play out like an unlimited amalgamation of fanfiction mashed collectively. I really like the surreal mashup of iconic Nintendo enemies and the lifeless grunts with their bizarre purple eyes. The boss battles are genuinely thrilling, too, which completely paved the way in which for the single-player challenges in Tremendous Smash Bros Final.

Plus, if I’m being sincere, enjoying multiplayer in Brawl remains to be time. When you lacked entry to every other model of Smash Bros for some cause, this one nonetheless does the trick.

3: Resident Evil 4: Wii Version (2007)

There’s no want to explain Resident Evil 4. It’s thought-about among the finest video games of all time, and I really like each minute of this campy horror journey. But for all of the rereleases and remasters this recreation has acquired, Wii Version stays among the finest.

Resident Evil 4 Wii Version comes full of the content material added to the PS2 model. Extra importantly, the Wii controls change all the things about this recreation. Whereas the gradual tempo of the sequence’ trademark tank controls stay, Wii Version makes Leon goal like a champion. Actually, the movement controls really feel way more pure right here than in fast-paced trendy video games that help gyro aiming. It’s so enjoyable to get headshots and shoot projectiles out of the air that I don’t even care if it’s environment friendly; I simply get pleasure from doing it.

Does this make the sport considerably simpler? Sure, very a lot sure. But, if I wished to show my hardcore gaming credentials, I’d beat Ninja Gaiden for the NES with out utilizing continues. This can be a tremendous enjoyable technique to play an all-time basic.

2: Tremendous Mario Galaxy 1 & 2 (2007 & 2010)

Tremendous Mario Galaxy and its sequel are two of the most effective Mario video games of all time. Actually, even in comparison with the Swap model of Galaxy, these video games play so naturally with the Wii Distant and Nunchuck. I’d say extra right here, however I already waxed poetic about these titles in my greatest Mario video games record.

1: Wii Sports activities & Wii Sports activities Resort (2006 & 2009)

There are moments in life when all the things feels excellent. Perhaps it’s a birthday celebration the place you’re surrounded by your closest mates. Or possibly it’s the primary time you maintain your crush’s hand. After I keep in mind all my family and friends members excitedly gathered across the TV to play Wii Sports activities after the Wii launched, that’s the sensation I get.

If the Wii was gaming’s best magic trick, Wii Sports activities was the attractive assistant. By providing fundamental but acquainted sports activities to play along with your Wii Distant, we had been bought the fantasy of immersive gaming. That may sound deceitful, however right here’s the factor: magic exhibits are enjoyable. You may scale back this recreation to the only motions potential, however embracing the phantasm is far more enjoyable. There are far deeper video games than Wii Sports activities on this method, and Wii Sports activities Resort is technically the higher recreation. But the simplicity and approachability of the unique Wii Sports activities can’t be matched.

As you’re absolutely conscious, the informal gaming market blew up shortly after the Wii’s launch. The rise of smartphones gave non-gamers a platform to suit their wants with titles to match. But for this one second in historical past, everybody from the toughest of core avid gamers to essentially the most informal observers was aspect by aspect, all enthusiastic for Wii Sports activities. Perhaps it’s foolish to rank a recreation so extremely for its common attraction, particularly after I’ve ranked franchises by listening to my coronary heart. But, in a world as chaotic and divisive as ours, a small second of unity like enjoying Wii Sports activities fills me with peace. Even when it’s tougher to assemble the household round for Wii Sports activities now than it was in 2006, I need to maintain on to that reminiscence for so long as I can.