Some games that were previously recommended but can be played elsewhere. They are pretty good if your only option is the Wii, or if you just wanna setup the console with as many games as possible. Just remember that these below can be played on modern consoles or PC.
La-Mulana (Vita, PC, Mac, Linux)
Lit (PC, iOS, Android)
LostWinds (PC, iOS)
LostWinds2 (PC, iOS)
Max & the Magic Marker (PS3, DS, PC)
Mega Man 9 (PS3, 360)
Mega Man 10 (PS3, 360)
NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits (PC, Mac, iOS)
Phoenix Wright (DS, PS4, XBO, Steam)
Sonic 4 (PS3, 360, Steam)
Swords & Soldiers (PS3, Wii U, PC, iOS, Android)
Tales of Monkey Island (PS3, PC, Mac)
Toki Tori (Steam, Switch, Wii U)
World of Goo (Switch, PC, iOS, Android)
Screenshot
Title
Genre
Description
Alien Crush Returns
Pinball
The unexpected sequel in the Crush Pinball series. Surprisingly still great, but not quite as good as the original for the fact that it's rather short, but still enjoyable. Still has the mini-battle tables the series is famous for though. There's also a LOL-worthy story mode, but at least it has bosses.
ONLY ON WIIWARE
And Yet It Moves
Platformer
A very interesting, artistic indie platformer where the main gameplay feature is that at any given time, you may twist the world around you freely by wiimote, even in mid jump. The puzzles and levels are very creative, and the art style is unique and pleasing to the eyes. Also on PC, but rotations are limited to 90 degrees only.
Arkanoid Plus!
Puzzle / Vertical Pong
The WiiWare version of Taito's Arkanoid game, part of the Plus! line they released for WiiWare, which consists of ports of their classic games. Nothing really new, but Arkanoid is always fun, well, until it gets really hard later on.
Art Style: Cubello
Puzzle
Art Style is a series of games which combines sleek visuals and audio with unique gameplay. CUBELLO has you shooting and matching colored cubes; think a twisted 3D bust-a-move. About 50 or so levels but it's good while it lasts. You'll rage when the game decides to place a string of totally random blocks on your cubello, or when the thing smacks you in the face, but that's all part of the fun.
Art Style: Orbient
Puzzle
Art Style is a series of games which combines sleek visuals and audio with unique gameplay. ORBIENT involves playing with gravity to absorb stars and planets. Stupidly hard at times, lots of levels, and even some super hard bonus levels once you complete the main game! Based on the GBA game orbital.
Art Style: Rotohex
Puzzle
Art Style is a series of games which combines sleek visuals and audio with unique gameplay. ROTOHEX has a hexagonal grid of triangular tiles, which you rotate in groups of 6 in order to match up same-color mini hexagons. Starts off fairly easy, however, by the time you have four or five colors at once it becomes much more difficult... then, of course, you get four more colors! Based on the GBA game dialhex.
Art Style: Light Trax
Racing
Art Style is a series of...yeah, you get it by now, right? LIGHT TRAX places you in control of a line, and your objective is to beat your liney opponents to the finish by speed boosting and dodging obstacles. Looks easy, but can be deceptively challenging. Features some thoroughly fresh beatz and relaxing cruise modes. Based on the GBA game dotstream.
Art Style: Rotozoa
Puzzle / Action
Also known by the massivelyinferiorawesome name PENTA TENTACLES in European territories. In ROTOZOA, you take control of a microscopic tentacled being floating in the primordial soup. Your task is to catch smaller microorganisms with your tentacles in order to lengthen them - but you have to match up the colors. Do this by moving and rotating your protozoa (hence "rotozoa").
Blaster Master Overdrive
Action / Platformer
Holy shit, a new Blaster Master game? Well, it's more of a remix of the original game (similar map, but a new story about mutants and a scientist, instead of a frog and his owner, JASON), but it's got plenty of new stuff in it. All of the vehicle platforming and gunning you've come to expect. Just as hard as the original, except you can actually save!
Bubble Bobble Plus!
Platformer
Another entry in Taito's Plus! line of ports. Nothing really new, outside of diagonal platforms in arrange mode (which can be jerks at times), but features all the bubble-spitting and apple eating you've come to expect from Bub and Bob. About 300 levels with more as $1 DLC for even harder bubble blasting action.
Bust-a-Move Plus!
Puzzle
The last entry in Taito's Plus! line of ports. Pretty much the same story as the other Plus! games, meaning it's a new entry, but only with little new content. But, hey, Bust-a-Move's still a fuckawesome puzzle game.
Although this particular release appears to be exclusive to WiiWare, almost every platform has a Bust-A-Move / Puzzle Bobble game on it.
Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth
Action / Platformer
A reimagining of Castlevania: The Adventure (Old Gameboy game), this game is a 'brand new', Wiiware exclusive classic Castlevania title. Did you ever think you'd say that from you mouth in your lifetime? I think not. Game is fucking awesome, and the remixes are just as good. Prepare for some amazingly hard gameplay!
ONLY ON WIIWARE
Cave Story
Platformer / Metroidvania
The game widely considered to be the best independent-freeware game ever made, now on the Wii. The textures are smoothed and the character sprites are sharper, and the music is also revised and redone. Pixel helped out developer Nicalis quite a bit with the production of this version, and it shows. Sanctuary Time Attack Mode, Boss Rush Mode, and a mode that lets you play the story as Curly Brace are some new editions to the game. Updated graphics are optional, try the (free) pc original if you're unsure of this masterpeice. Update: If you had problems with the new music and SFX before, they've patched that now.
Cave Story is available on practically every platform.
Chronos Twins DX
Action / Platformer
A fun and interesting action-platformer that will mess up your mind with hard. Think Mega Man X, only you control two versions of yourself on two screens at the same time. Plenty of puzzles that require one screen doing something that effects the other. Also on DSiWare.
Contra ReBirth
Side-Scrolling Shoot 'Em Up
It's a fucking Wiiware exclusive Contra game. Let me say that again. IT'S FUCKING CONTRA. The same old punishing difficulty, two player co-op, spread-gun using gameplay we know and love. If you don't have this game already, you're obviously not a man. Also, no, I don't know whether the code works in it or not. The code does NOT work in it. Real men don't use cheat codes. The PAL version, though, contains a debug menu, in case you are a 99 lives casual.
ONLY ON WIIWARE
Dive: The Medes Island Secret
Metroidvania
Think of it as a Metroidvania style rendition of the Endless Ocean games, only without all the fish catching, and more swimming through huge levels full of death hazards to find treasures. Even though the game is pretty difficult, it still manages to be relaxing due to the graphics and sounds, and it has decent replayability, since you can upgrade your gear and access parts of older levels you couldn't before.
ONLY ON WIIWARE
Excitebike: World Rally
Racing
The guys who did Excite Truck and Excitebots decided to do a graphical overhaul of the original Excitebike and add in a bunch of online features, such as online racing, and a level editor that lets you send and download other people's custom levels. If you loved the original Excitebike, it is a worthy purchase.
ONLY ON WIIWARE
FAST - Racing League
Racing
Wipeout-ish game on Wiiware. Single player is lacking, 'cause there is only 12 short tracks in the game, but the fun part is challenge mode and frantic multiplayer.Not sure why, but it has a slight feel of Sonic Riders.
Has sequels in the form of FAST Racing NEO on the Wii U and FAST RMX on the Nintendo Switch, by the same developer.
Final Fantasy - Crystal Chronicles: My Life As A Darklord
Defense / RPG
Enemies (adventurers) will approach from the base of the tower, and you must prevent them from reaching the top. Place different floors, each with a different cost and effect, and then place different monsters upon each floor. Use the spoils to buy upgrades for your monsters, all of which have different strengths and attributes. TONS of DLC too, which can be gotten free as a .wad online (if you enjoy pirating).
ONLY ON WIIWARE
Final Fantasy - Crystal Chronicles: My Life As A King
Sim/RPG
As a king, build your city and commission and command your adventurers with daily commands, such as which dungeon to explore and what to do there. Keep your citizens happy and make sure everything is running smoothly, from donating to buildings to provide better equipment to your adventurers. Starts off slow but quickly spirals into micromanaging madness.
ONLY ON WIIWARE
Fluidity
(known in Europe as Hydroventure)
Platformer
Coax a pool of water around the level, hitting switches and splashing badguys. You don't move the water, though; you tilt the level left or right to pour the water around. Later powerups let you freeze the water or move as a cloud. Very lenghty (89 main missions with lots more to find), surprisingly challenging, and with a fantastically chill soundtrack.
Sequel out on 3DS. Fluidity: Spin Cycle
Gradius ReBirth
Gradius
Yup. WiiWare gets its own exclusive Gradius game. Similar to Contra ReBirth, this game is actually made up of various stages from all the other Gradius games. Still just as hard. A bit too bright and colourful though.
ONLY ON WIIWARE
HoopWorld
Sports
An over-the-top, arcade style 3-on-3 basketball game with great action and impressive stylish graphics for a Wiiware game. Great fun to play if you're already bored of NBA Jam but still want a good basketball game to play. The controls take some getting used to, and while there is an online leaderboard, there's no WiFi multiplayer. Still an awesome game.
ONLY ON WIIWARE
Jelly Car 2
Car Platformer
You're a car, you're made of jelly, your engine sounds like someone blowing a rasberry. Each level you have to get to a flag at the end probably by going though various contraptions that will squish your jelly body. Car can change size for a limited time, and there's also a balloon and sticky wheels power-up in this one. Pretty fucking fun. Also on PSP.
The original Jelly Car also has an unofficial, homebrew port, which you can find on the Homebrew browser. And while the second one has more content, it lack the unpolished charm (and better control scheme) of the first one. Both are worth checking out.
Jett Rocket
3D Platformer
A great 3D platformer with some impressive graphics for a Wiiware game. Reminds the player of fond memories from the platforming days of the N64. Has a few interesting puzzles and vehicle sections, and some decent music. The only down side is that it's a little short, as it only has three worlds. Still, well worth checking out if you like 3D Platformers.
Has a 3DS sequel, Jett Rocket 2: The Wrath of Taikai.
La-Mulana
Metroidvania
Remake of a freeware PC game. Metroidvania, tribute to MSX game Maze of Galious with interconnected dungeons, bosses, mini-bosses, rather obtuse puzzles and godly music. While WiiWare remake streamlines gameplay a bit compared to original version, the game is still brutally hard. It also mixes up puzzles a bit, redoes all boss encounters and adds new graphics. Also available on PC via Playism.Available on Vita, PC, Mac, Linux.
MaBoSHi: The Three Shape Arcade
Puzzle / Action
Three little games in one. Each is based on a shape. Sounds dull huh? It's not. Why? Because the idea is you get some friends and play all 3 games simultaneously, side by side split screen. Each game has the potential to affect the other games - enemies from one game can shoot over into the one next door if not destroyed, for example.
ONLY ON WIIWARE
Mr. Driller W
Action / Falling Block
The latest entry in the Mr. Driller series, absolutely full of all the colorful blocks, cute characters (each of which play a little differently) and sound effects the series is known for. Drill through the blocks, but don't get yourself smashed! Exclusive to WiiWare, but still pretty much the same as the other versions (on all formats since dreamcast).
Muscle March
Action / GAYMEN
Get ready for the balls-to-the-wall awesome that is MUSCLE MARCH. Some football player stole your jar of protein, and now it's time to MUSCLE. Choose from 6 different bodybuilders (and a polar bear) and strike poses whilst crashing through walls in a race to reclaim what is rightfully yours. Made by the developers of Katamari Damacy. Manliest game EVER! Also loved universally by /v/ due to its gloriously gay overtones.
ONLY ON WIIWARE
Onslaught
FPS
A well-made WiiWare game that manages to fit a full-fledged FPS into a tiny download due to Nintendo's file size limits. Controls are smooth and effective with some freaky-ass moments in the mix for added fun. Also, THAT'S WHY YOU'RE STILL A KID. (Don't worry, you'll find out.)
ONLY ON WIIWARE
Overturn
Mech Combat / TPS
An awesome mech combat game that can actually be controlled with the WiiFit balance board. Finally, a non-sports/exercise related use for that thing. Featuring 8 customizable mechs with upgradeable weaponry and impressive graphics for a downloadable Wii title. The single player is pretty stale, but it's the two-player splitscreen and four-player online that really make this title worth using your Nintendo points.
Also on iOS.
Pole's Big Adventure
Platformer / Joke 'Em Up
A game that was made as a parody of it's generation. Currently released only in Japan with no sign of an English release. Includes 100 "gags" for the player to uncover, which includes a bunch of parodies based off games like Super Mario Bros., and one of them is an item that gives the main character an erection. It isn't really a game meant to be taken seriously, as it features a lot of gameplay jokes like intentional glitches and mishaps.
Pokemon Rumble
Action / Arena
Essentially Pokemon: Gauntlet Edition, except no food, but a variety of different moves and types. You can have a full party of MORE than 6 Toy Pokemon, which you can get in various ways, and you can "bid them farewell" for money which can be used to buy better moves for better mons. Toy Pokemon never level up or evolve, but at the end of a level you'll almost always find yourself getting even more and better mons in the double digits. This game allows up to 3 extra players to join in, so if you feel you're getting swarmed from time to time, that's why. Not that fun playing solo - this game definitely shines when played with friends (preferrably friends who like Pokémon).
Has sequels on 3DS and Wii U.
Rage of the Gladiator
Action / Punchout! Clone
For all of you who were bitching that there weren't enough new characters in the recent Wii Punchout! game, this game was made for you. Pretty much plays exactly like a fantasy/gladiator themed Punchout! game, with options to either play it with just the Wiimote on its side, or with the Wiimote + Nunchuck. Ten monsters, magicians, knights, etc. all want a piece of you, and Little Macius is going to have to bring them down.Available on 3DS, iOS, Android.
Space Invaders Get Even
Shoot-em-Up
Think Space Invaders, except it plays nothing like Space Invaders, and you are the one attacking all the buildings, tanks, and ships. Really fun with great humor, but the price is ridiculous. To get all eight of the levels in the game, you need to fess up a total of 2000 points, 500 each. A great game if you can get it, erm, "cheaper".
ONLY ON WIIWARE
Tomena Sanner
Action
A game where you play as a Japanese business man dodging obstacles, avoiding samurai, tricking T-Rexes, and standing off with cowboys, all so that he can reach the ultimate dance party. Yeah, it's pretty bizarre, but that's Konami for you. Really cheap, only costs 5 bucks.
ONLY ON WIIWARE (The iOS version was de-listed)
Wild West Guns
Arcade
Fixed FPS
An overlooked arcade shooter. This game works like a railshooter except that only around 1/3 of the game is on rail, while the rest is just fixed screens. You shoot targets, indians and cowboys, as well as other western related things. The best thing about this game is its arcade feel and its scoring system. I always get back to it from times to times just to improve my high scores. Features a 2 players mod(e?) (co-op or compete for the best score).
Also on iOS.
Water Warfare
FPS
Water Warfare is Hudson's 2nd WiiWare FPS game (Onslaught being the first), and it's surprisingly good. The single player is a bit dull, but the main event here is the multiplayer. You can take water bazookas, water machine guns, dual water pistols, and SHOW THEM ONLINE. It's the first WiiWare FPS to have deathmatch modes, team battles, CTF, and all the other wonderful multiplayer modes you've came to love. The online is surprisingly active, so you'll always find a game. With a ranking system and leaderboards, it has replayability. At 800 points it's a 'bargain', for a FPS aimed at children anyway.
ONLY ON WIIWARE
Zombie Panic in Wonderland
Shmup
Homage to Wild Guns and Little Red Riding Hood's Zombie BBQ. The world's been infected by a zombie outbreak and it's up to Momotaro and his sexy fairy tale ladyfriends to clean shit up by razing it to the ground. Features pretty fun and frantic gameplay (on hard) and HIGHLY destrucible environments, which are handy to beating the stage and smashing zombies with. More fun with two players, but then again, what game that lets you isn't?
