Best Nintendo Wii U Games Of All Time

The Nintendo Wii U had to walk before the Switch could run. A sadly overlooked entry in the Nintendo family of consoles, the Wii U was never able to reach its full potential.

Partly due to poor marketing and a name that confused an already Wii-overloaded public, the Wii U greatest games of all time list may have many entries most people will never get to experience unless Nintendo pulls them over to newer consoles.

That being said, the Wii U has some fantastic titles that you should not miss out on.

Bayonetta 2

The adventures of Bayonetta moved to their new home at Nintendo with this stellar sequel to the gun-blazing, demon-slaying action adventure from Platinum Games.

Fans of the original were treated to a visual feast on the underappreciated Wii U. Slaying your way through the endless demon hordes while solving the odd mild puzzle is a whole lot of fun, albeit wrapped up in a typical Bayonetta bizarre narrative.

Bayonetta 2 will have you upgrading your weapons and attacks, even allowing guns to be attached to Bayonetta’s hands and feet. Slicing and dicing the evil hordes in your way feels absolutely fantastic as you unleash Torture Attacks upon them. Boss battles are a screen-filling delight, and the game keeps a pace from the start that will keep all fans of the genre engrossed and engaged until the credits roll.

Luckily, Nintendo saw sense and moved this absolute gem to their newer console – the Nintendo Switch, saving the sequel from obscurity. If you have a Wii U, Bayonetta 2 deserves a proud place on your shelf. Bonkers, frantic, and fun, Bayonetta 2 is a treat for franchise fans and newcomers alike.

Mario Kart 8

Mario Kart has been a staple for Nintendo since the original launched on the SNES in 1992. The eighth iteration of the franchise is the best yet, with amazing-looking visuals, tracks, and soundtrack.

Controls are tight, AI is challenging, and the fine-tuning makes each vehicle different, making this version an undeniable classic. An argument could be made for Mario Kart 8 being the best racing game of all time – it’s just that damn good!

With plenty of new additions to the core gameplay, the one that stands out the most in Mario Kart 8 is the new anti-gravity sections of the tracks. These sections flip your Kart upside down and all angles as they take you on a corkscrew ride each time on the ceilings and across walls. Motorbikes also make a return, allowing for even more variation each time you take to the track.

DLC extended the lifespan of the game on Wii U, adding new courses and racers, most notably Link for the Legend of Zelda. Mario Kart 8 would see even higher success with the re-release on the Nintendo Switch, which saw even more content added from new tracks, racers, modes, and much more. Having this game in your Wii U library is as standard as having the salt next to the pepper in your kitchen cupboard.

Xenoblade Chronicles X

The Xenoblade franchise has nicely found its home on Nintendo consoles; Xenoblade Chronicles on the Wii introduced us to Shulk and company as we journeyed with the team on a quest to learn the secrets of the Monado.

Xenoblade Chronicles X shares the name of Shulk’s adventure but is not a sequel to the Wii RPG title.

Set in a separate universe from the other Chronicles games, Xenoblade Chronicles X tells the tale of human survivors who escaped an alien battle that destroyed the Earth. You must explore the planet Mira and survive attacks from its indigenous species, which is not an easy task. Mira’s open world is mind-blowing to see running on the Wii U, and while the battle system is complex – once you get to grips with it, you’ll have a great time if you are a JRPG fan.

Strangely, Xenoblade Chronicles X is one of the only titles that has not seen a re-release on the Nintendo Switch. Fans of Xenoblade have been vocal about getting to play this open-world RPG classic on newer systems. For those with a Wii U, pick this one up today and give it a proud place in your collection, smugly knowing that it is a true Wii U exclusive!

Super Mario 3D World

No Nintendo console could go an entire lifecycle without a brand-new Super Mario game in its lineup. From the NES days to this day, the Italian plumber from Brooklyn has enjoyed success like no other mascot before or since.

The Wii U saw Super Mario World 3D come to its shores in 2013, bringing both 2D and 3D Mario titles together in a beautiful platforming-based blend.

Similar to previous Mario games, you must navigate varied worlds as you try to stop Bowser’s nefarious schemes. As always, the platforming is on point, and the challenge can go from beginner-friendly to expert-level without skipping a beat. That’s not to say 3D World is too hard—far from it; Nintendo masterfully creates a balance here for all skill levels.

The visuals are gorgeous, and the Wii U Gamepad is used in interesting ways, such as blowing into the mic to perform actions or find hidden blocks. Co-op mode is an absolute blast, and the new power-ups, like the double cherry, are incorporated well into the light puzzle sections. It is a great Mario game you don’t want to miss. Playing as Cat-Mario is worth the entry price alone—miaow!

Captain Toad Treasure Tracker

Captain Toad Treasure Tracker is a spin-off from the above game – Super Mario 3D World. In that game, the mini stages you could play when you found Captain Toad laid the foundations for this full-blown Toad adventure!

It was about time that Nintendo put respect on Toad’s name and gave him his own title.

Playing as Captain Toad, the gameplay is based around individual, complex, puzzle-like rooms where you must reach the goal to progress to the next stage. It sounds very simple (aren’t all good Nintendo games?), but the challenge arises fast. You need to rotate the stage to find the path to the end of each level while avoiding traps and enemies.

Treasure Tracker is a quirky title using a side character from Mario, who was shown little love before. Over on the PlayStation and Xbox, the days of riskier titles like this are from a forgotten time during the PS3/360 era; Nintendo can take more chances with their titles due to a dedicated fanbase. This puzzle gem is not to be overlooked, as it will have you scratching your head at the fiendishly good puzzles and wiping away the sweat from the tricky boss levels.

Splatoon

No one could have called this franchise taking off and staking a massive claim in Nintendo’s first-party lineup, but that is precisely what Splatoon achieved in a short period of time.

An online multiplayer shooter from Nintendo? How would that work? Both questions were answered when Splatoon arrived in 2015, late in the Wii U’s lifecycle.

Splatoon is a team-based, third-person shooter in which the objective is to paint the ground with your team’s color while preventing the other team from attempting to do the same. Sound simple? Well, it is, but as we said, that is the key ingredient for all good Nintendo games. This squid-loving, cutesy, neon-splashed title is an absolute banger of a game that all ages can jump in and enjoy.

Learning the ropes is easy, but the nuances of each weapon type are where the real challenge lies. Are you more of a paintbrush player, a bucket slosher, or maybe just standard pistols suit you best? Whatever arsenal you load up with – Splatoon is rock-solid fun for all the family, and the franchise began on the Nintendo Wii U. So grab this fantastic shooter when you can and see where this now beloved franchise began!

Pikmin 3

Pikmin began life on the Nintendo GameCube in 2001, created by Mario’s dad, Shigeru Miyamoto. It was a weird real-time strategy meets puzzle game unleashed to the public.

This strange game from the genius mind that brought us the Zelda, Donkey Kong, and Mario franchises was a strange addition to Nintendo’s roster.

This third version of Pikmin came to the Wii U in 2013, launching to positive reviews. Your goal in Pikmin is to utilise these strange seed-like elf creatures to explore, survive, and solve puzzles across the planet. Pikmin 3 has an excellent co-op campaign should you want to get some Wii U couch play on the go.

The Pikmin come in various colours, each with a different ability and use; some may be able to travel across water, while other Pikmin can break down barriers blocking the path. Visually, Pikmin 3 is incredible. Although it’s not the most taxing game for the Wii U, the stages all look fantastic. If you are looking for something different to pick up that has that Shigeru magic sprinkled throughout, Pikmin 3 may be the game you are looking for.

Super Mario Maker

Have you ever played a Mario game and felt you could better design levels than Nintendo? Well, now you can!

Super Mario Maker is a fantastic title that utilises the Wii U Gamepad to let players of all ages create their very own Super Mario levels and then play them!

Utilising a simple set of editing and creating tools, Super Mario Maker allows players of all ages to create courses based on the gameplay and visual style of Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, and New Super Mario Bros. U. You can choose enemy and trap placement, as well as warp pipes and blocks. To finalise a course you have created, you must be able to finish the level yourself to prove it can be completed.

Another latecomer to the Wii U party, Super Mario Maker, arrived in 2015 during the machine’s final years. That isn’t to say that no one played it – quite the opposite. After only a year of release, over seven million courses had been made by players worldwide, and they had been played more than 600 million times. Super Mario Maker is a must-have in any good Wii U collection.

Yoshi’s Wooly World

Yoshi, the best dinosaur pet/friend/steed to Mario, is here in yet another solo adventure. Yoshi’s Wooly World takes us to. A land made entirely of yarn. Yep, yarn – and it works!

The unique environment makes Wooly World truly stand out from the rest of the pack as you help Yoshi rescue his friends from the dastardly Kamek.

The aesthetics of Wooly World are truly the talking point for the game; every single aspect, from characters to landscapes, has the appearance of wool, fabric, and buttons, resulting in a cute, warm, and welcoming atmosphere. Navigating through the beautifully designed levels, you must use Yoshi’s abilities to solve puzzles and find secrets across the land.

You can play solo or in co-op mode, where you can team up and explore the Wooly World together. Perfect for the whole family, Yoshi’s Wooly World is a stunning-looking title that shouldn’t be overlooked due to its childlike design. The collectables in each level will have you coming back time and time again for that one last go. Pick it up and enjoy one of the best Wii U exclusives available on the platform.

Super Smash Bros. For Wii U

Super Smash Bros. For Wii U is an absolutely ridiculous title for this entry to the fighting franchise, with its counterpart Super Smash Bros. For 3DS launching closely, this was a strange yet exciting time for Nintendo’s famed brawler.

More characters than ever were added from other videogame franchises, and parity with the 3DS version led to even more fun on the go.

This was the era of the Amiibo; Nintendo created the physical NFC figures with Smash in mind. Scan your fighter into the game and level them up to battle friends who could bring their own Amiibo and save data to test your mettle. It’s an interesting concept, for sure, but sadly underutilised in execution.

Smash Bros on the Wii U still manages to be a great time. Seventeen new characters joined the roster, from Animal Crossing’s Villager to the Wii Fit Trainer. The huge selection of characters available was incredible. The action was faster than ever, and the game looked great, finally stepping into the HD arena. If you want some couch-based brawling action in your life, then look no further than Super Smash Bros. For Wii U.

That concludes our list of the top Nintendo Wii U games of all time; many more could easily be swapped in and out. What are some of your favourite Wii U games? Let us know on Facebook or X!