The 20 BEST Wii U Games

The 20 Best Wii U Games

The Wii U may have been a financial disaster, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t have a lot of great games. Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we’re looking back at the best games on Nintendo’s Wii U.

“Lego City Undercover” (2013)

We’ll try our best to stick to exclusives with a few exceptions, this being the first. Although it came to other platforms in 2017, “Lego City Undercover” did originally offer an experience you could only find on Wii U. And it was a pretty good one. Instead of relying on an existing franchise, it puts you in the role of a big city detective going undercover to take down a crime boss. Despite not having recognizable characters, the story is a lot of fun, and the key mechanic of swapping disguises to use different abilities and access new areas brings something fresh. Not for nothing, this version also made good use of the GamePad, letting you do things like eavesdrop on people or take pictures of clues.

“Pokkén Tournament” (2015)

“Pokémon” spin-offs are usually a bit of a gamble in terms of quality. But clearly, “Pokkén Tournament” is one of the better ones. The premise is admittedly odd, blending the world of “Pokémon” with the mechanics of “Tekken.” Yet, Bandai Namco made sure it worked quite well. Though the roster is obviously smaller than the main series, it gave players the technical freedom to go all out with a Pokémon’s offensive abilities. And still, it lets you play out some wild match-ups, with characters like Lucario, Chandelure, Suicune, Gengar, and of course, Pikachu. The Switch version is arguably better, with extra characters and modes. But like several other games on the list that would eventually make that jump, the original incarnation deserves respect.

“Nintendo Land” (2012)

Although it wasn’t the system selling juggernaut Nintendo needed it to be, like “Wii Sports” before it, there was still a lot to enjoy about “Nintendo Land.” With a hub modeled after a theme park where you could venture into various mini-games designed around Nintendo’s franchises, it was a celebration of the company’s history. Was every mini-game fun? No, but most of them were. Ones based on “Donkey Kong,” “Metroid,” “Zelda,” and “Luigi’s Mansion” were particularly easy to sink time into. And since it was designed as a pack-in game, there were plenty of clever uses for the GamePad across the game, which also offered variety in the number of players and their roles.

“Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker” (2014)

Unironically, Captain Toad is one of the best things to come out of “Super Mario 3D World.” His spin-off, released just a year later, features that same charming gameplay hook as his segments in that game, but on a much wider scale. It follows Toad and Toadette, swapping between rescuer and damsel as they deal with the giant crow, Wingo. The game puts you through a series of puzzle-filled obstacle courses, with the hindrance that you can’t jump. This way, it places the puzzles front and center, with clever brainteasers and lovely, little a-ha moments. And though it never really gets too difficult, it still triggers that signature delight found in Nintendo’s core experiences.

“Hyrule Warriors” (2014)

Who would have thought that “The Legend of Zelda” and “Dynasty Warriors” would be such a good match? While later entries would prove to be a bit better, there’s still a lot of enjoyment to be found in the absurdity and over-the-top action of the first. Link and co’s departure into the hack-and-slash genre not only mixed satisfying gameplay for those who wanted to play god battling hordes of peons, but it provided more than enough fan-service. Its original narrative brings characters from multiple timelines together. So, you can play as iconic characters like Midna, Ghirahim, Sheik, or one of the many other fan favorites in the base roster or DLC, and decimate entire armies. It may not be that deep, but it’s plenty entertaining.

“Yoshi’s Woolly World” (2015)

Many of the “Yoshi” games are known for their handmade, crafted aesthetics. For the Wii U, “Yoshi’s Woolly World” looks like everything is made of some type of fabric. And unless you can’t see your screen right now, it is clearly delightful. And it isn’t just a visual hook. It plays into Yoshi’s mechanics; eating an enemy produces a ball of yarn instead of an egg, which can fill in certain missing pieces in a level or tie up enemies. Like most of Yoshi’s adventures, the biggest criticism you could have is that, outside a few of the final, hidden challenges, the game is pretty easy. But when it still has this much charm, and its levels and mechanics are still fun, and it gives you the option of co-op, does it really matter?

“The Wonderful 101” (2013)

Although it isn’t quite as good as another PlatinumGames exclusive on Wii U that we’ll get to later, “The Wonderful 101” had plenty of bombastic, superhero action. The game focuses on a group of 101 heroes fighting against an alien threat. The main leaders have key abilities, each based on a different weapon, with the overall group literally banding together for powerful attacks. It’s a pretty unique concept for an action game. And despite a few technical hiccups, it works fairly well. Most who played it consider “The Wonderful 101” an underrated gem of the Wii U’s library, as it didn’t sell too well. Still, more got the chance to try it when it was remastered for other platforms in 2020.

“Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE” (2015)

Developed by Atlus, and bringing together the worlds of “Fire Emblem” and “Shin Megami Tensei,” if you haven’t played “Tokyo Mirage Sessions” …well, you’re in luck, because it’s another game that was given an enhanced port for the Switch. The main plot follows a group of teens fighting evil beings called Mirages, who kidnap people in modern day Tokyo. Very ‘core Atlus.’ But the heroes are able to fight them with the help of friendly Mirages, heroes from the first “Fire Emblem,” as well as some from 2012’s “Fire Emblem Awakening.” While it is admittedly a little lighter on “Fire Emblem” elements, the unique battle system is a lot of fun, and the story itself is more than entertaining enough to carry you through the playtime.

“New Super Mario Bros. U” (2012)

Did Nintendo oversaturate with too many “New Super Mario Bros.” games? Yes, which is why it took a while to get another 2D Mario. But does that make this a bad game? Clearly, we don’t think so. While there was definitely a feeling of “more of the same,” that “same” is still a solid sidescrolling Mario game, especially in multiplayer. The Acorn power up was a nice new addition to the series, and as the first HD Mario, it did look pretty nice at the time despite some uninteresting level and environment designs. Plus, for a challenge, the Luigi-centric expansion, which made the levels shorter, but much harder and with a 100-second time limit, is also worth a play.

“Rayman Legends” (2013)

Here we have the biggest exception to the Nintendo-exclusive rule. But in our defense, it was initially built as a Wii U exclusive before the console started performing poorly, and the Wii U version has the highest ratings on Metacritic. Plus, any chance I get to talk about “Rayman Legends,” I will take. Ubisoft took the foundation of 2011’s “Origins” and expanded on it in incredible ways. The HD visuals make the fantastically whacky art style pop, the silly sense of humor consistently lands, and the levels are ridiculously fun, especially the special musical ones. And, important for this list, there were other special levels with interactable environments that used the GamePad extremely well. It truly is a phenomenal 2D platformer.

“Xenoblade Chronicles X” (2015)

The spiritual successor to the original “Xenoblade Chronicles,” “X” was long lamented by fans to be stuck on the Wii U. That’s no longer the case, thankfully, yet we still must talk about why it’s one of the best RPGs on the system. Some may have had issues on the direction the story went, but the scale, scope, and beauty of planet Mira, along with improved mechanics, more than make it worth playing. Through the guise of their customisable avatar, players must navigate their new home, while at the same time taking on both extra-terrestrial and domestic threats. Throw in the fact you get to do this aboard your personal giant mech suit and go toe-to-toe with monstrous lifeforms, and you have a game truly worthy of bearing the “Xenoblade” name.

“Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze” (2014)

Following its tremendous “DKC” revival on the Wii, Retro Studios delivered another incredible platformer in “Tropical Freeze.” It follows the Kong crew taking on a group of Arctic Viking animals known as the Snowmads, who have invaded their home. Dixie Kong and her hover ability were welcome returns to the series, and Cranky Kong was a fun new addition with his Scrooge McDuck-like pogo ability. Most importantly, the game holds some of the most fun, and most challenging levels in “Donkey Kong” history, gloriously displayed in high definition for the first time. Along with the return of original “DKC” composer David Wise, “Tropical Freeze” reminded everyone why the series is considered 2D platforming royalty.

“Super Mario 3D World” (2013)

Following in the footsteps of the 3DS’s “Super Mario 3D Land,” albeit on a much larger scale, Mario’s side-scrolling adventures have never looked more pristine. Blending 2D and 3D to a fine polish, it sees Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, and an unlockable Rosalina set off to save a new Kingdom under the threat of Bowser. Supporting 4 player co-op and characters with different playstyles, levels are filled with the developer’s signature creativity, paying homage to the old while happily showing off the new. And let’s not forget it gave us one of the franchise’s all time best power-ups, letting us turn into cats. We’re grateful this is another one that got ported to Switch, since it came with “Bowser’s Fury,” but also because it meant more people could play such a phenomenal game.

“Pikmin 3” (2013)

Almost a decade after our last encounter with these bizarre, yet adorable little creatures, we were once again propelled to PNF-404 for a brand new encounter. In order to prevent mass famine from consuming their home, three explorers have to take advantage of a horde of Pikmin in order to gather food, overcome obstacles, and eventually find a way off of the planet. With new types of Pikmin and landscapes to provide a much more engrossing single player campaign, as well as bundles of cooperative multiplayer modes, there was more than enough content to satisfy long-time fans of the series. Plus, with the tech of an HD platform, the planet’s environments were stunning.

“Super Mario Maker” (2015)

The concept of giving players the tools to build their own 2D Mario levels is such a novel and genius idea. Which is why “Super Mario Maker” finds itself sitting comfortably on our list. What was originally conceived as a tool for the Nintendo development team soon became a platform for players around the world to make their own personal levels without any kind of restriction. With assets from a variety of 2D Marios, ranging from the original “Super Mario Bros.” all the way to “New Super Mario Bros. U,” players could let loose their inner designer and submit them online for others to play through. Of course, if crafting courses wasn’t your thing, you could dive right in with various challenges and try to conquer as many levels as possible.

“Splatoon” (2015)

With as long a history as Nintendo has, it isn’t too often we get a brand new first party IP. For the Wii U, we got “Splatoon.” And despite a zany premise completely unlike any other shooter, and the Wii U’s poor sales, this game was so good that it persisted, climbing its way to become one of Nintendo’s most popular franchises of its modern era. While there was an entertaining single player campaign, the real meat of the game came from its online multiplayer. Players waged ink-based war against each other in unique game modes like Turf War and Splat Zones, which required players to paint the stage to win, modes that wouldn’t be possible in any other online shooter.

“Mario Kart 8” (2014)

The best-selling game on the Wii U, and the Switch for that matter, when it comes to “Mario Kart 8,” it’s safe to believe the hype. Boasting the dynamic level design that made every entry in the franchise such a phenomenal hit, this installment is the peak of the franchise’s evolution. Nothing beats taking your favorite Mario character and burning rubber in stunning high definition across some of the craziest racetracks ever devised for the series. The visuals are gorgeous, the music is toe-tappingly fantastic, and the controls are as smooth as silk. It is the damn near perfect “Mario Kart” experience. While it would be perfected on Switch, with a better Battle Mode and an absolute ton of DLC, this was one of the biggest reasons to own a Wii U.

“Bayonetta 2” (2014)

Some fans may have been unhappy initially, but we’re grateful that Nintendo rescued “Bayonetta” from death. Although that meant the sequel was exclusive to a console most people didn’t have, it’s without a doubt the Umbra Witch’s very best. With a stylish and hot as hell new look, Bayonetta finds herself once again tussling with the forces of Paradiso and Inferno, this time taking on the mysterious Masked Lumen and the villainous God of Chaos. Thanks to the incredibly deep combat system, special Nintendo costumes that change up the gameplay, and some of the most epic boss battles gaming has ever seen, “Bayonetta 2” makes a very strong case as one of the best hack ‘n slash games ever made.

“Super Smash Bros. For Wii U” (2014)

Like every entry in Nintendo’s flagship crossover slugfest, the Wii U addition brought some awesome new fighters. Characters across Nintendo’s history like Greninja, Little Mac, Bowser Jr., and even the dog and duck from “Duck Hunt,” could now clash with third-party legends like Cloud Strife and Mega Man. And while that was all very exciting, it was also understandably an excellent fighter. Noticeable improvements were made to character builds and overall mechanics. And even though there was nothing like “Subspace Emissary,” there was a lot to do. Everything from tournament style battles, 8-player on-screen mayhem, specific event-oriented fights, and even the ability to customize each character. It might have been destined to live in the shadow of the Switch’s “Ultimate,” but I know people who bought the Wii U just to play this game. And that should tell you all you need to know.

“The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” (2017)

It should go without saying that the majority of us played “Breath of the Wild” on Switch. But when looking at everything the Wii U had to offer, if this is on the table, then it absolutely has to go here. It was a completely groundbreaking take on the open world formula; a gigantic toybox that gave you the tools to bend its physics to your will, with secrets and mysteries packed into every corner. And it looks gorgeous, with the level of quality between Wii U and Switch being almost unrecognizable. “Breath of the Wild” revitalized “Zelda,” while being yet another entry in the long-running series to influence an entire genre. And it was as strong a note to go out on as the Wii U could have hoped for.

What were some of your favorite games on the Wii U? Are there any gems we left off? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments, and we’ll see you next time!