Nintendo Wii

Wii

WiiWare

For emulators, see Wii emulators and Emulators on Wii.

"Experience a new way to play."

The underdog of the 7th generation.

Everyone thought it would fail and that Nintendo would bow out of the home console race. Instead it became the best-selling system of that generation, and one of the most successful consoles ever. How? Motion controls made for an interesting new gimmick and clever marketing aimed at the "casual gamer" people.

Tech-wise, it essentially is "a Gamecube with more ram"; thus, it was pretty cheap and easy to develop for. As a result, there's a shitload of shovelware on the system. But that's why this list is here.

Model Differences

• Early models have full backwards compatibility with the Gamecube's software, memory cards, and controllers.
• Later models lack the ports and have a new disc drive that can't read Gamecube discs; however, those systems still can be used for backwards compatibility with homebrew loaders and the Classic controller.
• Near the end of the system's run, they introduced a "budget" model, the smaller, black and red Wii Mini. It has no SD slot, no Gamecube compatibility, no internet connectivity, a top-loading disc drive, lousy build quality, and composite video only. It was a flop and you are obviously advised to not get one.
• Its successor, the Wii U, is also compatible with Wii software and hardware. It can also run Gamecube games if you've softmoded your vWii mode.

Homebrew and jailbreaking

The Wii is also know for its homebrew scene, almost rivaling the Xbox in that department. Check here to get your Wii setup for homebrew and here for what homebrew is available.

This system had a lot of online functionality, but all of it has been long shut down. Still, there are alternative ways to play online, such as wiimmfi. This also means there aren't any more updates, so it's safe to mod to your wagglan' heart's content!

If you are on the emulation side, Myrient, Viim's Lair and RetroGameTalk's Repo (former CDRomance) have pretty much all games on this list.

The List

WiiWare releases go on a separate page.

Cover	Title	Genre	Description	Screenshot
	A Boy and His Blob	Platformer	A Boy and His Blob for Wii is a re-imagining of the original NES classic. New levels, powers, and designs make this an astounding game. Beautiful visuals, sound and design in every aspect, nothing about this game will disappoint. The game feels like a perfect blend of old and new school. No Wii IR shit, just plug in dat Nunchuck and get playin', because this will fully envelope you in its child-like atmosphere and give you a warm feeling of nostalgia. The few drawbacks include a few strange choices in the control scheme, and signs fucking everywhere. Features a hug button which makes the boy hug the blob and the player 'aww'. Re-released on Xbox One, PS4 and PC.
	Animal Crossing: City Folk	Life Sim	Basically take Animal Crossing Wild World on the DS, add in a city, and you have Animal Crossing: City Folk. It's probably most fun if you don't own Wild World for DS and haven't played the Gamecube game (Or the original N64 version for that matter). If you haven't played an Animal Crossing game before, you are better off going for the superior Gamecube / DS versions.
	Another Code: R - A Journey into Lost Memories	Adventure	A direct sequel to the DS game Trace Memory/Another Code: Two Memories. Despite the so-so reviews for the game, it's actually quite great, and certainly a worthy sequel to its DS predecessor. Only released in Japan and Europe; so while it's in English, you will need some sort of homebrew on the Wii to play games from other regions, or a PAL Wii. Thankfully, both games were completely remade for the Nintendo Switch in 2024 and bundled together as Another Code: Recollection with traditonal controls.
	Arc Rise Fantasia	RPG	Very typical modern JRPG with Tales-esque characters and plot. Combat, however, is strictly turn-based and comparable to Final Fantasy X. The story's nothing worth writing home about and the voice acting is absolutely awful, so consider the undub version. Graphics are okay but sometimes too colorful for their own good. It's also surprisingly difficult at points. A solid but ordinary RPG in case you own a Wii and are desperate.
	Arcade Hits Pack: Gunblade NY / L.A. Machineguns	Light Gun	A no-frills port of two SEGA arcade rail shooters, which work splendidly well with the Wii's pointer controls. They don't look pretty, and there are basically no extras or add-ons, but L.A. Machineguns especially is a very fun game for rail shooter fans, as you zoom over virtual L.A. in a helicopter, shooting faceless "terrorists" and getting motion sickness. Both games can be played co-op. (Or you could just play L.A. Machineguns with two machineguns!)
	Battalion Wars 2	TPS / RTS	Battalion Wars 2 combines third person shooter and strategy. You control units in real time, but you need to move and attack tactically in order to win. This is a solid game overall. One main issue is that some of the motion controls are a little wonky. It is surprisingly difficult (especially compared to the first on the Gamecube).
	Bit.Trip Complete	Arcade	A compilation with all six Bit.Trip games, previously released on WiiWare: Beat, Core, Void, Runner, Fate, and Flux. They're all inspired by Atari 2600 aesthetics, early 80s arcade experimentation, and hypnotic rhythm-based gameplay. Watch this review to see what they're like. But wait, it also contains a ton of extra content: new difficulty levels, 120 new challenges, gallery modes containing production stills, concept art, 25+ movies telling Commander Video's story, 6 letters to fans by creator Alex Neuse, and a soundtrack sampler CD. This is the ultimate way to enjoy this retro-inspired series. If you want a portable version, there's Bit.Trip Saga on the 3DS, but that doesn't have the extra content.
	Blast Works: Build, Trade, Destroy	Shoot 'Em Up	A new stab at side-scrolling shooters, in Blast Works you are able to attach the different pieces of your defeated enemies to your ship, during play, allowing you to build up an awkward heap of a ship shooting randomly across the screen. As you can imagine, this can become chaotic fast, especially when playing with four players. The game's saving grace is that it has an incredible editor where you can create and customize anything from bullets and ships to entire levels and bosses so you can remove or improve the game's attachment mechanic. There was also the ability to download and upload your creations online, but that has been discontinued. Originally a free PC game that can still be downloaded here.
	Boom Blox: Bash Party	Party / Smash 'em up	Forget the original Boom Blox; this one is streets ahead of it (though the first is still good). A physics game which engages the player in a variety of tasks and puzzles all using the Wii's innovative IR. Grab and pull blocks Jenga style, shoot lasers at flying objects or throw baseballs at huge towers. Bash Party gives you access to the same level creation tool that the developers used, as well as the ability to instantly play levels from other players online.
	Bully: Scholarship Edition	Open World / Sandbox	A game by Rockstar that can be summed up as GTA in prep school. You must forge alliances and confront the various cliques in school and use your bully's arsenal (stink bombs, slingshot, good ol' fists) to establish your reign of terror. You can even seduce girls (and some boys). You also have to go to class, though. An original, lighthearted and inventive title. This an improved edition of original game. Originally on PS2, this is fixed up. Also on 360 with slightly improved models, textures, and much warmer lighting / smooth shadows. However, that version is significantly buggier, and the artstyle is a radical departure from the original.
	Calling	Survival Horror	A first person Survival Horror involving ghosts as well as a lot of J-Horror clichés. The game is reminiscent of Echo Night: Beyond (PS2) in many ways such as the look of the ghosts, also you don't have any weapon, your heart-rate is your "health" and you die if it's too high. The storyline is also very good.
	Castle of Shikigami III	Bullet Hell	If you are a fan of bullet hell/danmaku shooters, then this is definitely a game you should look into. Has the insane bullets-shooting-bullets difficulty that the genre is known for, and while the single player is kind of short, it features two-person co-op, and the story changes depending on what combination of characters is used. Scoring system relies on getting as close to bullets as you can without getting hit (aka "grazing"). Only recommended to those already familiar with bullet-hells.
	The Conduit	FPS	AA FPS game akin to games like Turok on the N64, or Darkwatch on PS2. Linear maps with various hidden collectables. Environments are bland but they went all in on the particle effects, weapons, especially the alien ones look and feel great. The Wii equivalent of Resistance: Fall of Man, incredibly tight Wiimote controls. Includes a ranking system and friendcode-less match-making. The biggest negative is the online is ridiculously hacked. It's almost impossible to find a clean match. Online has been revived Wiimmfi Good luck finding someone else to play though.
	Conduit 2	FPS	A improvement over the original in almost every possible way. The single-player mode takes you out of the boring sewers of Washington D.C into places like Atlantis, Central America and an oil rig in the Bermuda Triangle, the static cutscenes and explosive Drudge mines are gone, and the art direction is much better, at the cost of looking even more like a Halo clone. The fun but barebones multiplayer from the original now has co-op, splitscreen, a dozen different modes and it's the only Wii FPS to have supportted an actual headset instead of Wii Speak as well as a patching system. While the single-player is fun, it's also incredibly short at about 4–6 hours and the story is just an excuse for the game's settings. Also has one of the greatest endings in video game history.
	Cursed Mountain	Survival Horror	An atmospheric, creepy, and original horror game made exclusively for the Wii. This title is set in the snowy mountains of the Himalayas, with your character climbing up a forbidden mountain's heights searching for his brother, who had gone mysteriously missing on a previous expedition. On your way through the surprisingly decent story, you fight horrible Buddhist spirits and monsters using prayer movements and a MAGIC, LASER SHOOTING PICKAXE. It's less stupid than it sounds. Visuals are pretty impressive for a Wii title, the motion controls work fairly well, and while it's not Silent Hill scary, it definitely succeeds at being creepy. It also might be worth noting that the developers of this game, Deep Silver, are the same people who later created Dead Island. Also on PC.
	Dawn of Discovery	RTS / Sim	Basically a more colorful, kid-ish version of the PC game Anno 1404. Build your cities, amass your troops, explore new places, repeat. Surprisingly deep. Be warned that this game was made by Ubisoft's 'kiddie' division (responsible for the Petz/Imagine games).
	de Blob	Platformer	de Blob is like a platformer combined with a sandbox game. You color buildings and splat enemies using surprisingly well implemented motion control. Occasionally, you'll have to waggle the Wiimote furiously to paint certain landmarks. This has tons of missions that progressively get tougher. There's also optional missions, and a neat multiplayer mode. Has the most upbeat jazz-inspired sound track that you'll find in any video game. The music's intensity increases as the city gets more colorful and different instruments play based on your color. Original is on the PC as freeware, but bears little resemblance to the Wii game. Still, you can download it here at around 99mb. Also has alternate versions on DS and iPhone. Sequel is out and is multiplat! It's also fucking great!
	Dead Space: Extraction	Light Gun	A rail shooter for the Wii, prequel to Dead Space (PS3, 360 and PC). Surprisingly effective at freaking you out, despite the on-rails action. Has several bugs that can crash your game (It's EA, what'd you expect), but definitely worth playing through. Has nice graphics rivaling HOTD: Overkill and the Resident Evil shooters. Scary if you play alone in a dark room, but some scares are very cheap. Split screen mode is unlockable (through regular gameplay or with cheat code). Now for the PS3 with Move
	Deadly Creatures	Action	Although short, Deadly Creatures is a fun game. Controlling a tarantula and scorpion, you will traverse the various environments. Your enemies range from gila monsters, to rodents, to other creepy crawlies. I find the tarantula to be much more fun than the scorpion personally. The motion control here is hit and miss. Amazing voice acting with Dennis Hopper and Billybob Thornton!
	Dino Strike	Light Gun	A budget-priced game in the style of classic arcade light gun shooters, where you shoot hundreds of dinosaurs on some remote island. As expected, the story is hilariously cheesy with Australian voice acting included. Beware that this game is really hard, more than it looks, partly because many of the weapons are painfully slow to use. The game could've benefited from at least some basic features, but it does have four-player co-op, or one-player dual-wield.
	Disaster: Day of Crisis	Action / Light Gun / Survival	JP and PAL-only. Closely related to Japan's Zettai Zetsumei Toshi disaster survival series, the game puts you in the shoes of an ex Marine as he chases after terrorist cell SURGE while negotiating every natural disaster imaginable. Action, rail shooting, first aid mini-games and more await you; some sections are better-implemented than others. Points gained allow you to upgrade skills and equipment, but it is an overall arcade-y experience. You can replay stages for higher scores and the story is completely ridiculous and overacted to the point where you wonder if it's a parody.
	Dokapon Kingdom	Board Game / Party / RPG	Mario Party meets classic JRPGs. Pick a character and class and move across the board protecting towns, defeating bosses, and making lots of money. Games take longer than your average Mario Party round, though. Known as a friendship-destroying game because it actively encourages being an asshole, and allows you to humiliate players by doing things like changing their name or shaving their head. Lots of fun. Also on PS2 and now PC.
	Donkey Kong Country Returns	2D Platformer	A fantastic revival of the Donkey Kong Country series by Retro. Play solo or co-op with Donkey and Diddy Kong; you will need the abilities of both to succeed. This is actually very challenging and boasts amazing level design with tons of extra collectibles; everything looks vibrant and lively as well. The only downside are some annoying obligatory motion controls, which can be fixed with some homebrew cheat codes. Ported to 3DS and Switch with some extra content. The latter is the definitive version, combining the extra content of the 3DS version with the faster framerate of the Wii version. The sequel, Tropical Freeze, is on Wii U and Switch.
	Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat	2D Platformer	A port of the great GC platformer. Content-wise, this has more modes and levels. This game no longer uses the DK Bongos, but a mix of traditional and motion controls. Also, the number of beats no longer pertains to your health, using a more traditional heart and life system. This version of the game feels more like a traditional platformer, though easier than the GC version. Whether or not this is the best version is up to you. You can buy the GC+Bongos (both used) or this for about the same price. If you can find it, that is.
	Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3	Fighting	Considered one of the best Dragon Ball games ever. Sporting a huge roster of over 100 characters from the first three series and tons of easter eggs. Couples that with fast-paced action that emulates the show. Known as Dragon Ball Z: Sparking! Meteor in Japan.
	Elebits	FPS	A child-friendly first person shooter, Elebits is a unique game with an interesting game mechanic. You control a "capture gun," that can carry and throw objects to reveal hidden creatures called "Elebits". By shooting Elebits, you charge up your gun which allows you to pick up heavier objects to find more Elebits. The game has a robust, yet slightly unrealistic physics engine (picture catching butterflies in G-mod) and an excellently customizable level editor. This game is plagued with overly-long / tedious missions, lack of variation, lackluster graphics, and some slowdown, but is still pretty damn good. Multiplayer is frantic and exciting, but unbalanced. Called Eledees in Europe. Sequel on DS was also fairly nice though very different.
	Endless Ocean	Adventure	A game in which you scuba dive in the Manauri sea. Basically, you explore the ocean's depths and observe the sea's various forms of marine life. Not really a game so much as an experience, but sometimes there's nothing better than relaxing after spending a day raging at games. Educational, relaxing and beautiful. Called 'Forever Blue' in Japan.
	Endless Ocean: Blue World	Adventure	This improved pretty much everything over its predecessor. Perhaps even more relaxing than the prior entry in the series. Since these games aren't exactly all about plot, there's nothing wrong with skipping the first to go into the superior sequel. Even more educational and beautiful but now with more 'gamey' sections (damn sharks and underwater mansion). Called 'Forever Blue 2' in Japan. You can take photos in the game and save them to your SD card. Worth a pick up for that alone. Great game to play on LSD.
	Epic Mickey	3D Platformer	So Disney walked up to Warren Spector, the guy who helped make such games as System Shock 2 and Deus Ex, and told him "Hey, we want to make Mickey Mouse relevant to gaming again". So, he did just that. What we have is an awesome 3D platformer reminiscent of platformers from the days of PS1 and N64, like Banjo Kazooie or Spyro. All the levels are huge and beg you to explore them to find all kinds of secrets and collectibles, the art style and music is great, there's a surprising amount of replayability due to moral choices, alternate endings, and collectibles, and the story is fair enough. The only issues with the game is that sometimes the camera freaks out on you, and there're a lot of fetch quests. A great pick if you miss the openness of 3D platformers from days gone by. Has a 73 on Metacritic because game critics are much less forgiving with platformers than they are with cover-based shooters and Madden roster updates. Has a sequel which is also on the Wii, as well as the WiiU/PS3/X360. It sold badly and got poor reviews though, so Disney shut down Junction Point. RIP.
	Excite Truck	Racing	The first Wii entry of the Excite series, and a really fun game for a launch title. Has all the stunts and ridiculous speeds of Excitebots, but you can only play as different trucks but at amazingly fast speeds across deforming land. The one thing Excite Truck has that Excitebots doesn't is the ability to play whatever music you have on your SD card.
	Excitebots: Trick Racing	Racing	Sequel/update to launch title Excite Truck. This is an absolutely chaotic arcade racing experience. While the premise looks absolutely stupid on the outside, the execution and gameplay of it are a blast. You race as one of several transforming animal robots, doing tricks and stunts to get the most stars. There are tons of other modes to play, such as sports challenges, or poker. Yes, racing poker. The online is also really good, giving you the ability to earn more stars by betting on yourself to win. Essentially, this is a game where you can PLAY RACING-POKER ONLINE AS A TRANSFORMING PRAYING-MANTIS RACECAR. Unavailable in Europe, but it's worth importing! You'll just need an NTSC Wii or the Homebrew Channel.
	Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers	Action RPG	An unusual Final Fantasy game largely unrelated to other Crystal Chronicles titles. Play as a refreshingly cocky protagonist in a shallow but fun adventure. Gameplay revolves around magically levitating and throwing objects with motion controls. Features lots of mini-games and special gameplay sections, an eclectic soundtrack, and a short playtime. Might appeal to Final Fantasy non-fans.
	Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon	RPG / Roguelike	This is a new entry in the roguelike Chocobo's Dungeon series. There are many classes for Chocobo, and each one has unique features and skills. The best part of this are the bonus missions, which have various restrictions and are quite challenging, requiring some real strategy to finish. Also has a Japan-only DS remix with some new classes and change-ups, along with a special dungeon that lets you play as Cid(!). Has a gorgeous soundtrack made up of arrangements of the very best songs of Final Fantasy I to XI.
	Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn	Strategy / RPG	Direct sequel to Path of Radiance (GCN) with much of the returning cast. The plot deals with the aftermath of the war and the rebuilding effort in the face of a new conflict. It's very hard in the beginning but gets slightly better a few chapters in. Graphically it looks practically the same as its predecessor, and includes the same features such as equippable skills and weapon-forging, though support conversations are sadly gone. At least the Laguz are slightly more useful. Overall a decent entry in the series. Has a couple replay-only characters, too.
	Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon	Action RPG	An atmospheric, exploration-focused game where you play one of the few survivors in a post-apocalyptic Tokyo, trying to figure out what happened to the world. Very melancholy gameworld with ruined environments and anime-style characters. Meanwhile combat is very clunky and features survival game aspects such as breakable weapons and limited items. Definitely a game to play more for its look and feel than anything else. Has some awkwardly funny scenes as well.
	Geometry Wars: Galaxies	Shoot 'Em Up	Similar to the Geometry Wars on DS and 360. Incredible pointer controls set it apart from the others. Need the DS version to unlock the last levels which sucks. But they can be unlocked with homebrew cheats instead.
	Ghost Squad	Light Gun	Since neither Virtua Cop (difficult to port/Sega possibly lost the source code) nor Time Crisis (tied up to Sony) are coming on to the Wii any time soon, this is the next best thing. The usual daggy voice-overs and plot though with a counter-terrorism theme. Guns have multiple firing modes, missions are branching and there's a shitload of unlockables that add to the usual replayability of high scores. Like HotD2+3 on Wii, it doesn't have widescreen.
	Ghostbusters	Action / Puzzler	What sets this port apart from its 360/PS3 counterparts is the two player co-op mode, amusing animation style, and awesome control scheme. The story starts where the 2nd movie left off. You play the role of an unnamed rookie, solving puzzles and busting ghosts, testing new and badass weapons made by Egon and Ray. All of this while enjoying cutscenes written and voice-acted by the original Ghostbusters cast! On the downside, it's a short game (but with the unlockables it sports some replay-value) and your teammates' AI is a little slow at times. Also contains an alternate ending.
	GoldenEye 007	FPS	This game is an absolute blast. Good blend of stealth/"run and gun" gameplay, okay local multiplayer mode, and features "007 classic mode" which removes regen health, and you survive on health packs. It's not the nostalgic orgasm everyone expected. There is a lot of throwbacks to the 64 version, but it never goes overboard with it. If you're a FPS fan, and have a Wii, you won't find a better shooter on the console. It also has some of the greatest online multiplayer on the system which exemplifies what all online FPS on the Wii have community-wise thanks to the "crippled" online: a dedicated core of decently-skilled players mixed in with younger ones who 9/10 you can't hear thanks to the lack of mics! It's utterly refreshing in a way. Online multiplayer has been shut down. Search for unnoficial servers and how to use them in your homebrew-enabled Wii. Released on PS3/360 as an HD update, reviving the online multiplayer. Recommended controls: If you know how to configure it properly, use Wiimote + Nunchuck. Otherwise, use Classic Controller Pro.
	Groovin' Blocks	Falling Block / Rhythm	Basically a WiiWare version of Lumines, but with a larger variety of colors. Really fun if you don't already own Lumines. Also on the PSN. Strangly, got a retail release as well but don't buy that.
	The House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return	Light Gun	There's nothing much to say: two classics of cheesy B-movie rail gun arcade horror ported to the perfect home console for them. Boasts a good amount of unlockables and extra modes as well, but nothing outstanding. The simple pleasures of bad voice acting and zombie-shooting will never go out of style. Be warned that these games actually get pretty hard, but you will be awarded more lives and credits if you keep losing in them.
	The House of the Dead: Overkill	Light Gun	An all-new House of the Dead with a Tarantino-influenced grindhouse feel, intentionally cheesy writing, copious swearing, a B-movie plot, and the like. It doesn't really nail the style, but gameplay is pretty fun regardless, and there's lots of extra modes. Also easier than your average HotD. Dual Gun Mode is notable for letting you play with two guns alone or even letting four people play in teams of two. Ported to PS3 and Android OS. PS3 Version has 2 extra levels, including one in a strip club.
	Ivy the Kiwi?	Platformer	Incredibly aesthetically pleasing. You play as a kiwi wearing her eggshell on a tireless search for her mother. Very easy and simple, and the learning curve and difficulty level somehow makes the game fun for kids and adults alike. It's on the same level as A Boy and His Blob or Muramasa in terms of beauty. Only the American version is in full color - if you want sepia, try another version using region-free-enabling homebrew! Also on Wiiware, DS and DSiware.
	Ju-On: The Grudge	Survival Horror	A very underrated Survival Horror for the Wii. While short, it's also one of the scariest games this generation (and it costs very little). It is divided in several chapters in which you must solve simple item-based puzzles to find the exit, while trying not to get killed by ghosts. You don't have any weapons. You use the Wiimote as a flashlight. This game isn't for everybody; most people will probably find it as dull as the critics have. Recommended for horror fanatics, or if you're looking for a game that will scare casuals, as the game is so simple that anybody can play it.
	Kirby's Dream Collection: Special Edition	Platformer	Celebrate the 20th anniversary of Kirby with this special edition box set, which includes Kirby's Dream Land, Kirby's Adventure, Kirby's Dream Land 2, Kirby Super Star, Kirby's Dream Land 3, and Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, all on one disc. Also includes a bonus disc soundtrack and a nifty little art book too. There's also 3 episodes from the Kirby anime hidden within (But it's the 4Kids dub and is shit, but hey, it's there). All games are also available on Virtual Console, the main attraction being Kirby 64 due to difficulties emulating it elsewhere. Never released in Europe? What the fuck guys!
	Kirby's Epic Yarn	Platformer	Kirby is back in his most diabetes-inducing adventure yet! This time, he stumbles into another world where everything is made of yarn and fabric. He lost his ability to inhale his enemies and copy their power, but makes up for it with a number of Yoshi-like transformations, including a car, a submarine, and a giant robot armed with missiles. The art style is enchanting and features many clever surprises. Let's just say there is a LOT you can do with yarn. The gameplay is more similar to Wario Land 2; Kirby is invulnerable and only loses some of his collected beads when hit by an attack. Said beads can be used to buy furniture for Kirby's house, which unlocks mini games. The challenge lies in finding all the hidden treasure rather than just reaching the goal. Also on 3DS.
	Kirby's Return to Dream Land (US) / Kirby's Adventure Wii (EU)	Platformer	Visually similar to Kirby 64, while its gameplay is reminiscent of Brawl's Subspace Emissary story mode. A four-player co-op adventure with many copy powers for Kirby, each with a variety of moves and attacks. Motion controls are minimal and optional, while difficulty is low as usual. Has a surprising amount of extra content (and a weird twist at the end), especially in its 2023 Switch remake. Definitely pick this up if you love Kirby Super Star and miss Kirby 64. Has a critically acclaimed spiritual sequel on the 3DS titled Kirby Triple Deluxe.
	Klonoa	Puzzle / Platformer	Remake of the PS1 2.5D platformer Klonoa: Door to Phantomile. As Klonoa, a cute rabbit-thing, you explore the vibrant world of Phantomile. The main gameplay mechanic revolves around inflating enemies to use them as stepping stones to clear obstacles. Fair length and difficulty with a number of post-game extras and some jarring plot twists for a happy-go-lucky platformer. The graphics have been overhauled, but the style is completely different; some may construe this rendition as unfaithful or dull. There is also new and terrible voice acting, but you can turn on the old PS1 VA. If you didn't try this on the PS1, this is a great option. The sequel came out on PS2, there are some GBA spin-offs.
	Little King's Story	Strategy	This is a strategy game where you recruit civilians and assign them to various jobs. Then you go out into the open to explore, beat bosses, and conquer the world! There's a lot of secrets to find as well. Compared to Pikmin, there are a lot more kinds of minions to employ. The bosses in particular are a lot of fun here. They each have specific strategies and weaknesses that you will need to exploit. Party building and organizing are definitely a fairly important part of the game as well. Great humor and some of the most creative bosses you will ever fight. Largely regarded as the best Wii game of 2009! Has a poor remake on the Vita with a less cutesy art style.
	Lost in Shadow	Platformer	Artsy platformer by Hudson where you play as a boy's disembodied shadow, interacting with the shadows cast by objects in the foreground. This leads to some interesting puzzles involving light manipulation, and a cool gameplay twist later on. The game's architecture and "soft lighting" aesthetics scream Ico homage, but it's pretty decent on its own terms.
	MadWorld	Beat 'Em Up	From the creators of God Hand and Okami comes Mad World. Surreal, Sin City-esque graphics really set it apart from other games. Fun, over the top beat-em-up with hilarious and vulgar announcers (one is Bender and the other is from Whose Line). Waggle works rather well here. A bit short, but definitely worth your time. What other game lets you shove 3 signposts into some mook's head, throw them into a burning barrel and then slam them furiously and repeatedly against a spiked wall? An indirect sequel/spinoff is on the Xbox 360 and PS3 named Anarchy Reigns.
	Marble Saga: Kororinpa	Puzzle	The sequel to Kororinpa (Also a great game), this has a lot more features that make it superior to the original. New gameplay modes, tons of new levels and puzzles, Balance Board Support, and the ability to make your own levels and download other people's levels over WiFi. The tilt controls are really fun and quite responsive. Ignore the story mode involving helping out an ant. If you liked Super Monkey Ball, this is right down your alley. (much better tilt and no crappy minigames)
	Mario Kart Wii	Racing	A very popular game to hack and generate custom content for, such as textures, characters, vehicles, music, race tracks, and other fun stuff. (like 200cc racing!) Online multiplayer has been shut down, but alternate servers are now available through the Wiimmfi service. Classic and Gamecube controllers supported.
	Mario Party 8	Board Game / Minigames	I don't know how you could have the dignity to put "8" in this game's title. But anyway, the game has the same formula as the last ones. Collect stars, play minigames, etc, etc. Lacks widescreen support for whatever reason, but at least it's more akin to the Hudson games than its sequels.
	Mario Party 9	Board Game / Minigames	After 8, they decided to give Mario Party a 5 year break, and then tapped NDcube to make the 9th one. And they actually did something different this time. You now move in a car, an have to collect the most Mini-Stars, and now the Mini Games are less abundant. Hated on by most because it was too "different". Also has one of the most eye-searingly gaudy and thematically unfocused case cover art of all time.
	Mario Strikers Charged	Sports (Football)	A world-football/soccer game featuring Mario and company. It is the sequel to Super Mario Strikers on the GameCube, and features chaotic soccer gameplay and online competitions. The grim-dark special kicks are pretty badass, too.
	Mercury Meltdown Revolution	Puzzle	Remix of the PSP title. Navigate your way through various stages by either heating or cooling your little glob of mercury, making it either run faster or become more solid. Add in puzzles that require you to split the blob into multiple parts, color each in, join them to form a certain colour and somehow manage not to fly off the level and you have one hella hard game. The motion controls work really well in this game.
	Metal Slug Anthology	Run 'n' Gun	7 of the best Run n' Gun games ever made all together at last. A pretty good compilation and a must-have for all Slug fans. Great for you and a bro to waste the afternoon away together. Beautiful animation and fun-as-fuck gameplay all around. Has very weird pixel-scaling if that matters to you. GCN controller supported. Even if it doesn't say so on the box you just have to change it to GCN support in the control options menu. Only the JP version has Classic Controller support unfortunately.
	Metroid Prime 3: Corruption	FPS / Adventure	The third entry to the Prime saga that began on the GCN, now with a very developed story and lots of dialogue for a Metroid game. The gameplay is the same as in previous titles but flawlessly implements the Wii's motion controls, which especially makes for some very fun boss fights. Sadly it gets quite easy towards the end. Still a fantastic game. The Metroid Prime Trilogy was also released for Wii with motion controls for all three games, but is exceedingly rare. A Sequel is also coming out for the Switch and Switch 2 titled "Metroid Prime 4: Beyond".
	Metroid Prime Trilogy	FPS / Adventure	Entire Metroid Prime trilogy on a single Wii Game Disc, why not? The first two entries are enhanced with Wii controls and EDTV (480p widescreen), but there are some missing effects and visual glitches (Read more here). Warning: Saves from the non-Trilogy version of Prime 3 do NOT transfer to this version. The updated controls for 1 & 2 are generally regarded to make this the superior way to play the games, even if you own the original GCN games. Discontinued, so if you haven't got it by now, you know what to do! The PrimeHack emulator lets you play this on PC with PC-style keyboard and mouse controls.
	Monster Hunter 3 Tri	Action Adventure	SERVERS SHUTDOWN AS OF APRIL 30TH 2013 MOST CONTENT WAS ONLINE There are now unofficial homebrew patches to bring online content to offline mode Kickass monster hunting action now on the Wii. Features a completely redone engine and different areas and monsters than the PSP games as well as the new switch axe and medium bowgun. Unfortunately some of the old weapons were removed and the total number of monsters isn't as high as in the Freedom series, but the new attacks of the recurring weapons make up for it and the amount of original monsters is the highest in the series so far, so if you're bored of Kut-Ku, definitely give this a try. The online is free (outside Japan), features both keyboard and voice chat support and runs on Capcom's servers, so no friend code bullshit here. Now updated on Wii-U and 3DS, which both continue to have online play.
	Muramasa: The Demon Blade	Platformer / Action RPG	A visually impressive game with large and detailed sprite work similar to Odin Sphere (PS2). Play as a runaway ninja or a cursed princess and hack your way through gorgeous 2D levels teeming with mythical Japanese monsters. Though the gameplay is very repetitive, combat is fundamentally satisfying and there's lots of weapons to collect, not to mention multiple endings. Voice acting remained Japanese in English localization. Ported to PSVita (with better translation and DLC).
	Mushroom Men: The Spore Wars	Action / Platformer	A stylish action-platformer with fun gameplay that is kinda held back by an iffy camera. You play as a mushroom person exploring a world where the things small to us are massive to them. The combat is pretty simple, but building weapons is fun, the platforming works well, and the boss fights, ranging from a star-nosed mole to a jackalope, are fun. If only the camera didn't freak out every time you got near a corner. Prequel is on DS but is a bit crappy.
	NBA Jam	Sports	Started out as some basketball, turned into a remake of the classic NBA Jam. The Wii version is a bit "gimped" compared to other console releases (not as good graphically and no online mode), but has an extended single-player mode to supposedly make up for it. U.S. ex-president Obama, The Beastie Boys, Karl Malone, and Patrick Ewing, among others are playable. Play it while its references didn't get old.
	NEW Super Mario Bros. Wii	Platformer	Mario's first 2D adventure on a Nintendo home console since the SNES days. As a single-player game it's a pretty by-the-numbers retread of Mario platforming, with added Koopalings for the nostalgic. But as a multi-player co-op game (up to four players) it's extremely fun thanks to the ability to constantly troll each other by stealing power-ups or pushing them off ledges. Definitely a game to play with friends. Was previously bundled with the American version of the now discontinued Mario Red Wii for Mario's 25th Anniversary. Has more sequels than it should. All of them play the same.
	NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams	Action	The only existing sequel to NiGHTS into Dreams for the Sega Saturn, created by some of the original dev team including the same lead designer. It's a 2.5D platformer but without platforming- just point the analog stick to where you want to go and the titular character, Nights, will float in that direction. Hold the button to speed up, and do this in circle formation around enemies to defeat them. The sense of physics/momentum is not as refined as it was in the original game, and hurt even more by the fact that Nintendo controllers used an octagonal rest instead of a round one, but it's nonetheless a great love letter the original and has a wonderful art direction.
	No More Heroes	Hack 'n' Slash	A gory oddball title by the creator of Killer7. Play as an ordinary loser who mail-orders a lightsaber katana and sets out to become the world's best assassin, for which he'll have to take out the current top ten first. Stylish, cel-shaded graphics. The game revolves around its exhilarating boss battles; the rest is rather empty and lacking in variety, though there are some mini-games and side-quests. Has a cult following for its sense of humor and presentation. PAL version has censored violence. Ported to PS3 in HD with better graphics. Later ported on Switch and PC.
	No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle	Beat 'Em Up	Travis is back (with a few sections as two other assassins) but after a 3-year fall from grace, must once again be #1, but this time, it's personal. This time the non-killing side-jobs are pseudo 8-bit styled (except Suda51 trolled us all by having the only 3D one be the fucking scorpion-collecting one from NMH1). The ranking matches no longer cost anything, but are still cleverly designed, and there's even more now. Both American and PAL versions have full gore! Seems notably easier than the first but it's still one hell of a ride. Later ported on Switch and PC. Germany (and Austria?) received censored localizations.
	Okami	Action Adventure	Commonly considered the best game of all time by some. The brush is now used via the Wii Remote pointer, making drawing the magic a bit easier and harder at the same time an absolute pain due to poor implementation, when it should have felt second-nature. Attacks are complex and unique, combos are done with a whipping pattern. Now comes with widescreen and 480p support, as well as more vibrant colors with the sacrifice of no more loading screen minigames and no more epilogue after the credits (though it was added back in the Japanese version) and a weaker rice paper filter. Amusingly, the cover of this game has the IGN logo plastered on it due to some lazy fuck at Capcom; as an apology, Capcom has two alternate covers, as well as the same cover fixed, up for download as high-def pdfs, so you can print them out on glossy paper and replace the cover. The HD version on PS3 offers both motion controls, and standard controller options. The PS2 or PS3 versions are the way to go due to the superior control schemes.
	One Piece: Unlimited Adventure	Beat 'Em Up	Plays like a beat-em-up based game, pretty good all around One Piece game. Developed once again by Ganbarion. You play as the straw hat crew just beating ship up and having a grand old time. English voices are actually done by Funimation instead of 4Kids. If you are a fan of One Piece, get this. Sort of rare so the price can be up in the $40 range used, so keep an eye out for bargains. Honestly, just play Pirate Warriors on other platforms.
	Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers	Action / Hack and Slash	The OneeChanbara series aren't popular outside Japan so you probably don't know what's this game about. It's pretty simple, though. Aya and Saki, dem J-girls in tight clothes, wielding Katanas and a waves of zombies/monster/things to slash the fuck outta them. The story is forgettable and terribly translated so don't bother. The controls are quite simple; you do a short vertical/horizontal waggle to slash. It has some in-game tutorials for the dumbest to understand how to do each attack/movement, don't worry. Later on when you level up, you'll need a lot more timing and "rhythm" to achieve some cool combos (specially with the unlockable characters). Despite what some reviews says, the controls are remarkable intuitive and fits perfectly with the arcade-y gameplay. Unlock harder difficulties to find a real challenge. Overall, it's a really fun and overlooked game that will deliver many hours of entertainment. Also, dat Saki's suplex.
	Opoona	RPG / Life Simulator	A charming, quirky RPG with a unique style (based off of the puzzle series "Gussun Oyoyo"?) and an original battle system. Interestingly enough, the game can be controlled entirely with the nunchuck, which takes some getting used to. The battle system focuses on using the analog stick to angle or power up attacks from your characters' various, er, bon-bons. You can take on jobs and professions to get money, items, etc., and while the story is okay, it gets a little slow near the end. The official translation sucks balls though, so apply the Re-localitzation Project before playing it. Recommended if you want to play a unique RPG.
	Order Up!	Simulation	I know that just by looking at the boxart, one would think this is a "casual" game. Well, you would be right, but this is a casual game done well. You buy and manage various restaurants, trying to get them to 5 star rating by buying special ingredients for food, which is cooked in surprisingly well done "Cooking Mama"-esque mini games. May not appeal to everyone.
	Pandora's Tower	Action RPG	Ganbarion's submission to the Wii console comes across as a mesh between Shadow of the Colossus, Zelda, God of War, and a dating sim. Unfortunately, the game, due to its recycled areas, ill-paced plot, and repetitive soundtrack, isn't nearly as awesome as the aspects imply. Regardless, it's a solid title that's worth a playthrough. If you like it, it offers much by way of replayability, including several, significantly different endings based on how you bond with the love interest. An expansive crafting system adds a bit of depth to the game and is a good timesink for those with a completionist bent. If you're looking for an excuse to dust off your Wii for a bit, Pandora's Tower is definitely an option.
	Phantom Brave: We Meet Again	SRPG	A port of Nippon Ichi's PS2 strategy RPG, Phantom Brave. There's practically no changes to the main game other than the ability to display it in 480p, but the it does include a second campaign that picks off where the first one left off, letting you use some new characters, and also comes with a digital art disc, which has art work and sprites from the game. Worth checking out if you never played the PS2 version, as this is quite unique as far as SRPG's go. Minor updates to loading times and a few textures are barely noticable.
	Pikmin	Strategy	Not much has changed in this port of the GC game except the addition of some decent usage of motion controls that only enhance the experience. It's also in 16:9, as well. You play as Captain Olimar, who crash-landed on a planet that's implied to be Earth. Various parts of his ship have scattered across certain areas in a small part of the world (since Olimar's quite small himself). With the aid of plant-like creatures named 'Pikmin' you must retrieve the parts of your ship before the thirty-day limit is up.
	Pikmin 2	Strategy	Similar motion updates as Pikmin 1. Takes place after the first, and this time you get a partner named Louie to accompany Olimar. You travel back to Earth to pay back a steep debt for your boss by collecting what seems to be various pieces of junk and trash. Once again, you need the help of the Pikmin to accomplish this, and this time, there are two more varieties than in the first game. Unlike the 1st game, there is no limited day system and the levels are much bigger. The focus has shifted from exploring the overworld and archieving as much as possible as fast as possible to dungeon crawling and treasure collecting, which you might or might not like. Special challenge levels and multiplayer add variety.
	Project Zero 2: Wii Edition	Survival horror	You like Fatal Frame right? No? Too bad! This is a remake of Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly (widely regarded as the best iteration in the series) using the FF4 engine. Its story segues into FF1 related stuff, but is largely comprehensible so you don't have to worry about missing out on anything. The Wii Edition features the Haunted House multiplayer so if you have a woman over (ha!) you can get them scared enough to coerce them into having sex with you or something. Also features new endings and other features.
	Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands	Action / Adventure	Let me get this straight: did you play the PC/Xbox 360/PS3 version? It was quite average, right? Well, this is nothing like those. With soulful story and awesome game mechanics, which are hard to describe (INFINITE WALLCLIMBING WORKS) and beautiful design of stages, lots of bonuses and classic Prince of Persia included, you wouldn't want to miss this.
	Punch-Out!!	Fighting	Punch-Out!! for the Wii is a reinvention of the retro boxing classic. Watch your opponent for visual cues and dodge in time, then strike back with a perfectly timed hit! Little Mac and Doc Louis return, along with many fighters from previous installments and the infamous bike scene remastered for a new generation. Play it NES-style (by holding the Wii Remote horizontally) or use a Wii Remote and Nunchuk combination with optional Balance Board movement. The motion control is decent, but play NES-style if you want to beat the game. Contains a surprising amount of replay value with unique challenges: Title Defense, Last Stand and Champion modes.
	Rabbids Go Home	Action / Adventure	A non-party Raving Rabbids game that's actually really good. The story revolves around the Rabbids suddenly deciding that they need to go to the moon, because, I don't know, it's their home or something. So they decided to cause chaos throughout the city and the world by getting as much junk as they can by crashing into it and putting it into a shopping cart, Katamari-style, so that they can make a tower of junk that stretches to the moon. The game is fun, has good humor, a great soundtrack. Also on DS. Fourth (or fifth?) in the Rabbids series, with one similar to this coming out soon. Still no Rayman, though. Rayman Origins shows he's not dead yet!
	Rayman Origins	Platformer	A really good game with a lot of beautifully stunning artwork much like the 1st Rayman game. Kinda like New Super Mario Bros. Wii in which it has local 4-player consisting of Rayman, Globox, and two Teensie's. Remarkably keeps all of the effects intact from the HD versions, but with a lower-resolution 480p display. Also available on Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Vita and 3DS.A sequel called Rayman Legends is out and has all levels from this game, but Ubi gave our old Wii some rest, so get it on other consoles or PC.
	Red Steel 2	FPS / Action	You remember that Wii launch game, Red Steel? Remember how shitty that was? Now, forget about that, because this game is a sequel in name only. This game is single-player only, sports a cel-shaded style with a good soundtrack and a Western/Oriental setting. Requires Wii MotionPlus, but it works really well. There's nothing more satisfying than knocking someone into the air with your katana, then filling them with bullets on the way down.
	Resident Evil	Survival Horror	A straight port of the GC game with no additions or new controls aside from 480p. Unfortunally the FMV cutscenes have been borked and load times are a bit longer. Supports Classic and GameCube controllers. Haunting music, new puzzles, amazing visuals, and the addition of Crimson Heads and Lisa Trevor will make your skin crawl and keep you on your toes. An HD version is out for 7th and 8th gen HD consoles and for PC, albeit digital only. Some locations and cutscenes were updated, so that version is worth checking out.
	Resident Evil 0	Survival Horror	Same port job as Resident Evil. Takes place before the first game, play as Rebecca Chambers and escaped convict Billy Coen as they discover what's going on this damned mansion. Features a partner swapping system where you can switch the characters on the fly. Also on 7th and 8th gen HD consoles and PC, albeit digital only.
	Resident Evil 4	Survival Horror	The best iteration of Resident Evil 4 yet. It has the great graphics of the GameCube version, further enhanced by widescreen support and 480p, all the extras of the PS2 version, and without a doubt the best controls out of any of the versions. After playing the motion controls on this game, playing with a controller again feels like a step backwards, but if you want, the option to use a Gamecube controller is still there.
	Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles	Light Gun	Re-tells scenes from the original Resident Evil, Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, and Resident Evil 0, but in light gun shooter format! Yay! It tries to remain as faithful to RE as a rail shooter can, and it's competent at doing so. Headshots are hard to get though (Trying to shoot that spot below the hairline, above the eyes and in the middle is stupidly hard). Prepare for some really, REALLY hard bosses. Even upgrading your weapons will leave you suffering through some really hard levels.
	Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles	Light Gun	The sequel to Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles, this game re-tells the plot of Resident Evil 2 and Code Veronica in light-gun shooter format. The title also features something of a prequel chapter set prior to Resident Evil 4. Headshots are 'easier' to get now, sadly the newly added vomit-inducing shaky-cam renders a lot of the game needlessly hard but it's still a good game overall.
	Rhythm Heaven Fever	Rhythm	The third game in the quirky rhythm-based series, luckily sticking to the A and B button for the beats instead of wagglan. As expected, the songs in this game are addicting and pretty challenging if you want to perfect every single song. The visuals are also really nice, featuring vibrant colors and unique design you wouldn't really see nowadays. There's also a bunch of additional shit to unlock as well. Perfect for quick plays and parties. There are actually differences in the various regional releases of the game. The European version (Beat the Beat: Rhythm Paradise) is possibly the best version of the game, being fully translated and having the option to switch between Japanese and US soundtracks. However, only the Japanese version of the game (Minna no Rizumu Tengoku) has the endless game Manzai or Not where the English games replace it with Mr. Upbeat. Nice to blind people who can't enjoy other games.
	Rodea the Sky Soldier	Action	A flying android fights an evil empire in a world of floating islands. Announced back in 2010 and gone through numerous delays and various obstacles, Rodea ultimately came out five years later, ONLY as a bonus disc bundled with the Wii U version (which was quite different and widely considered far worse, see here). So this is quite a hidden gem, the swansong of the system. The gameplay is ridiculously fun. Best described as Sonic with NiGHTS influences, which is no wonder considering it was created by Yuji Naka.
	Rune Factory Frontier	Action RPG / Sim	A strange mix between Harvest Moon and a JRPG. Really addicting if you let yourself get caught up in it, like any good Harvest Moon game. Obviously a spin-off. Some argue this entry is better than the DS games but to each their own. Expect to pay no less than $45, though, as it's become somewhat rare $20 new on Amazon $54.99.
	Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love	SRPG	The first installment in the revered Sakura Wars series to make it stateside. In an alternate-universe, vaguely steampunk 1920's New York, you must manage a musical theatre troupe that is actually a front for a steam mech-riding world defense team! There is no grinding; deepening your relationship with the multi-ethnic cast of girls directly affects battle performance, which takes place in turn-based SRPG form. It's incredibly cheesy to the point of embarrassment, but that's part of its charm. The PS2 Premium Edition includes an extra CD with Japanese voice acting, but the English voice work is very competent.
	Sengoku Basara: Samurai Heroes	Hack 'n' Slash	A Dynasty Warriors-esque hack 'n' slash game made by our good friends at Capcom. It's actually the third game in the series, but the US only got the first one, which was called Devil Kings and was full of edits. Now you can enjoy all the over the top, VERY Japanese action translation of the Sengoku period of Japanese history. It may not be historically accurate, but it's still one of the most fun of the "slashing hundreds of soldiers" style action games. If you can handle the moonrunes and importing, Sengoku BASARA 3 Utage (this, but better) is preferable. You can learn more about it HERE.
	Shiren the Wanderer	RPG / Roguelike	The newest entry to Chunsoft's nail-bitingly difficult Mystery Dungeon series, locally published by Atlus (so put away your fake neckbeards). This game is the first to feature fully 3D characters and settings instead of sprites. The story is forgettable, but the tweaks made to the game actually made it slightly more accessible, and it was better for it, instead of "YOU DIED? BACK TO LEVEL ONE AND NO ITEMS". (It's not mandatory, so you can still cry and rage like a madman when you die!). Tons of hours of content. Prequels and sequels on the DS. The 1st is localized, the second may be coming, and there's no word on 4 or 5, but they look like the best entries yet!
	Silent Hill: Shattered Memories	Survival Horror	A "re-imagining" of the original Silent Hill with Harry still in the lead, now framed as a re-telling of past events during a psychiatry session. A psychological profiling system affects the story and ultimately the ending you get. Gameplay is strictly divided into investigation sections where you take pictures, recieve calls and solve puzzles, and action sections where you simply must run from emaciated, humanoid monsters in the icy other world. Easily the best Silent Hill not developed by Team Silent themselves. Also on PSP and PS2.
	Sin and Punishment: Star Successor	Rail Shooter	Almost a decade late, this is the sequel to Sin and Punishment, that N64 title from Treasure that everyone thought the world forgot about (thankfully it's on Virtual Console, in english!). Luckily, this game is just as badass and over-the-top as the one before it. Hard to describe and best experienced firsthand, it's like a fusion of Contra with Gradius and a lightgun shooter. 1cc-obsessed shmup players will have a tough time here thanks to its unusual length, but it's a breathlessly imaginative 3 hours that can't be faulted. Supports Wii Remote and Nunchuk, Wii Zapper, Classic Controller, and GameCube Controller. There is no way in holy hell you're going to beat this game with analog sticks and buttons. Strap on that Wiimote + Nunchuck.
	Sonic Colors	Platformer	A return to form for Sonic. The only friend is Tails and the only thing close to a gimmick are the "Wisps", basically living power ups, which are tons of fun and add a new depth to the levels without breaking up the flow of the gameplay. If you are not interested in using them they are seldom necessary to progress in a level, but you will need them to collect all the hidden red rings. The music and visuals are great and the script is less cringe-worthy than previous efforts, being more similar to the old Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog cartoons (with expy robots for Scratch and Grounder). The game is mostly 2D (but with some 3D) with a strong emphasis on slower puzzle platforming/exploration and shares some similarities with the 2D Mario games. It is NOT "Unleashed day with powerups". Some consider this to be the most well-designed modern Sonic game, full-stop. Recommended Controls: Wiimote turned sideways is the best option for enjoying this game fully. Excuse me, asshole? Hitting the B button with just a Wiimote can and will be a pain in the ass. You're gonna want a GameCube Controller for this one.
	Speed Racer	Racing / "Car-Fu"	Surprisingly inventive game based on the Wachowski film. You can side-ram opponents or drive up to them from behind and flick them into the air. You can spin around as an attack, you can jump into the air and you can even attack from the air! All these things are done with just the Wii remote and it's surprisingly intuitive. Also: When you boost, the screen turns all LSD-y. If you want a breath of fresh air, definitely this game a shot. Splitscreen co-op also included. (So fun!) Your mind will probably be screaming "WHY ISN'T THERE AN F-ZERO LIKE THIS??" Also on PS2 with more racers and tracks, but severely downgraded visuals.
	Super Mario Galaxy	3D Platformer	The Wii's big Mario 3D platformer launches him into space to collect stars on various floating galaxy-worlds with new power-ups and some amazing boss battles. Magnificent soundtrack as well. Though this game lacks the free-roaming feel of Super Mario 64 and Sunshine (most Star missions are very on-rails), it makes up for it with great presentation, a very nice hub world, and lots of challening stars, plus a Luigi mode to collect them all over again.
	Super Mario Galaxy 2	3D Platformer	In terms of content this is basically a Super Mario Galaxy standalone expansion: new levels, new bosses, new power-ups, and Yoshi. The story totally takes a backseat here, but that hardly matters when the gameplay is so fun. If you enjoyed Galaxy at all you'll love this game as well. Has some great musical throwback choices and old-school references as well. And Luigi mode, obvs.
	Super Paper Mario	Platformer / RPG	Though the game features some RPG elements, it is mostly a platformer now. It's still, nonetheless, a very fun game. The humor is great, the levels are over the top, and there are plenty of interesting puzzles. While not as good as the previous installments in the Paper Mario franchise, this is still definitely worth playing. Gameplay can get a little dull at times, but the game's quirky atmosphere and retro style will keep you playing. The Pit of 100 Trials returns (twice) for some added replay value, and you have to redo both of them at least once to get everything. Some people complained about the game not being an RPG, but they didn't expect the sequels would be worse.
	Super Smash Bros. Brawl	Fighting	Third edition of the wildly popular Nintendo crossover fighter with more characters and stages, a hefty story mode, and tons of side content to keep you busy for a long time. Includes online play. Some consider this too floaty and slow compared to Melee, but it's guaranteed fun with friends. GameCube controllers are strongly recommended. This game can softmod your console. If you get tired of its mechanics, check out Project+, a mod of this game that adds some stuff from Melee and SSB64 and you don't even need a modded Wii to play it.
	Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World	RPG	Direct sequel to the fan-favorite Tales of Symphonia, with new main characters and a returning cast as well. The basic Tales gameplay remains the same but the story and writing are abysmal even by series standards. Courage is the magic that turns dreams into reality. It's also lacking in content, but there's multiple endings, and you can capture and use monsters in battle. The NA version has extra content, and the PAL version even more. Ported to PS3 in HD along with the first game, with said first game based on the PS2 version rather than the GCN version.
	Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars	Fighting	A very colorful and cartoony tag-team crossover fighter in the style of Marvel vs Capcom, but with Tatsunoko (classic Japanese animation company) heroes, and an unusually obscure roster on the Capcom side. Full of cameos and references for fans of either company. Has online play. A solid and great-looking game that didn't find its intended fanbase on this console. NA release cut a Japan-only character (the Genie from Bob in a Bottle) but added many more, such as Frank West and Zero. It's on par with every other Vs. game, but people didn't play because it's on Wii.
	Tenchu: Shadow Assassins	Stealth	A decently made stealth title made by the developers of the original Tenchu games. Sneak around various locations taking out enemies from the shadows with really cool, brutal stealth kills. The only major downside about the game is that if you aren't REALLY careful, you'll get caught, and the motion-controlled sword fights with people who have spotted you control awkwardly.
	Tetris Party Deluxe	Tetris	It's fucking Tetris. You know how to play Tetris, right? Well, this version has a ton of new modes and can even let you control with the Balance Board, which doesn't really help, but it's fucking hilarious.
	The King of Fighters Collection: The Orochi Saga	Fighting	Even though the Wii didn't get much love from fighting game developers, some decent ports were made for it. KOF Orochi Saga has five games on it (KOF '94 to '98) which encompasses the first saga of the series (which itself has 14 main games until 2017). The flow of the 3 vs 3 battles is good, the loading times are imperceptible unlike the god-forsaken PS1 versions, the controls are nice (with Classic Controller, obviously) and the games themselves aged very well. If you're not familiar with the series or didn't have the opportunity to play Neo Geo games back in the day, give it a try. Also on PS2, which also has a more polished japanese version that lacks '94 and '98, but are ports instead of shady NeoGeo emulation. KOF Nests Saga (99, 2000 and 2001) is also a must in that console.
	The Last Story	RPG	Sakaguchi and Uematsu return and bring a decent RPG to the Wii. Features real-time combat with a cover system alongside the general slew of JRPG combat mechanics. Aside from the fairly forced love story, the plot itself is fairly focused and well done - going out of its way to subvert several cliches in the process. If you're looking to get a JRPG fix on the Wii, this is a pretty good option. Also features a Gamera cameo.
	The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword	Adventure / Action	Visually influenced by Impressionist paintings, Skyward Sword might be the prettiest Zelda title yet, with a whimsical airborne island setting and a story that finally ties together the convoluted Zelda timeline. Combat is delightful in the way that each enemy feels like a mini-puzzle to solve, and Wii Motion Plus controls are responsive (if your Wii Motion Plus is improperly calibrated, you may experience issues while diving or fighting). However, it's somewhat lacking in length and content for a mainline Zelda game. Remastered for the Nintendo Switch with traditional controls in 2021. A slew of homebrew cheat codes can enhance the game by disabling certain interruptions, such as rupee text boxes and Fi's constant tutorials.
	The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess	Adventure / Action	Clearly influenced by and trying to follow in the steps of Ocarina of Time, with a gloomy look, a darker storyline, and more grotesque monster designs. Also features a rather meaty plot with lots of supporting characters (for a Zelda game). In the Twilight World you play as wolf-Link, a style which some find annoying. Tons of dungeons and content, in any case. Simultaneously released on GCN; this version was visually flipped for right-handed motion controls. The GCN version also has a steadier FPS rate, but is rare. This game can softmod your console.
	Trauma Center: New Blood	Sim / Puzzle	The sequel to Trauma Center: Second Opinion, New Blood continues the story of Second Opinion along with adding even harder challenges and more general surgical stages to play through. If you haven't played Second Opinion yet are recommended to play through Second Opinion, as New Blood is more difficult and builds upon skills learned in Second Opinion.
	Trauma Center: Second Opinion	Sim / Puzzle	The remake of the first Trauma Center on the DS with the glorious precision controls of the Wii pointer. The game follows new surgeon Derek Stiles, who has a "Healing Touch," which lets him slow time during surgery. Healing wounds is satisfying in the first couple of levels, and the learning curve stays consistent with no awkward hiccups of random difficulty between transitions. For those looking for a challenge, this is for you, as simple mistakes in later levels will result in complete loss.
	Trauma Team	Sim / Puzzle / Point and Click Adventure	Even more hospital fun. This time, you play as six different doctors who all specialize in their own fields: first response, diagnosis, forensics, surgery, endoscopy and orthopedics, some of which play very differently from the usual Trauma Center fare (especially forensics, which is almost like Phoenix Wright investigations). The story intertwines between the docs and is told through a sort of animated and fully (badly poorly time-synced) voiced comic. Features animu!House, brown!Chie and an awesome Native American superhero. No Euro version again
	Wario Land: Shake It!	Platformer	Pretty fun and humourous 2D platformer. The amazing and fluid graphics were done by Production I.G.! Like 4, Wario isn't invincible, but a few enemy attacks and stage hazards DO still power him up in various ways (setting him on fire for instance). These powers, again, still can help him find secrets. The game is pretty easy if you just want to breeze through it. However, getting all treasures and completing every mission is VERY difficult, then take into account the hard-to-find bonus levels. It may not be the best Wario Land, but it's a pretty good one, especially if you find it for cheap.
	Warioware: Smooth Moves	Minigames	The frenzied WarioWare franchise comes to the Wii. Different microgames are forced to use wiimote and nunchuck in the most diverse way possible and waggle yourself to victory as the onslaught of challenges becomes faster and faster. Plenty of unlockables and fun multiplayer modes included. Said multiplayer is a blast but still not as good as the Gamecube version.
	Wii Sports Resort	Sports / Minigames	Wii ______ games are a taboo among "hardcores," yeah, but this is the best one. Includes Nintendo's official MotionPlus bundle, which as well as being fun, showcases the technology superbly. The best new sports are arguably Swordplay and Table Tennis, though everyone will have personal faves. Bowling has been improved. There's also "Stamps" which act like achievements, some of which are easy, but others are damn hard. The airplane mode lets you explore the resort and has a bonus that appears in some other games. Fun fact: control foundations of this game were used to make Skyward Sword. So if you're familiar with this, that will feel more natural.
	Xenoblade Chronicles	RPG	An amazing JRPG by Tri Ace Monolith Soft (of the Baten Kaitos series). Its the 5th game in the Xeno Meta Series, the first four were on the PS1 and 2, and the first one since Nintendo bought Monolith. Often regarded as a one-of-a-generation title and equally hailed as one of the most beloved and iconic JRPGs of the post PSX/2 era, as well as the best Xenoblade title(even though each game is different enough to be valued in its own way.) Though combat can get a bit repetitive over time due to focus on certain character combos you're gonna repeat ad nauseum if you wanna be efficient. There's hundreds of hours' worth of side content, cities full of named NPCs with daily schedules and connected relationships, as well as a massive, fully explore-able world. It all makes for a deeply satisfying experience. It had a pretty limited run in the west, but can still be had for $30-50. There's a port for the New 3DS, that is an inferior experience due to the inevitable graphics downgrade but worth it if you have no other choice to play. A HD Remaster for the Switch, with addition to enhanced visuals, updated controls, remixed music, and other quality-of-life improvements, includes a new epilogue titled Future Connected, set one year after the main game's events. There's an HD texture pack available for use with Dolphin Emulator that is generally considered to be a must if you're really feeling it. It not only enhances the textures by a great deal, but also features updated portraits as well as controller buttons for PS or Xbox controllers. A mid-to-high end PC is required.
	Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure	Adventure / Puzzle	A largely forgotten standalone Capcom game where a pirate boy and his magical monkey friend set out to find treasure. You interact with each level through a point-and-click interface reminiscent of classic adventure games, where you must explore your environment and use your ever-increasing assortment of gadgets to progress and ultimately solve each stage. Has a delightful toon-shaded style. Definitely try it if it sounds like your thing.

Japan exclusives

Cover	Title	Genre	Description	Translation	Screenshot
	Bomberman Blast	Action	Bomberman is always a blast with friends. Now with 8 players and wagglan items (or button mashing if you're using the Gamecube controller). Simple, fun and blastastic! Note: although this game got a western release on WiiWare, that version was butchered (no story mode) so it doesn't count.
	Milestone Shooting Collection 2	Shoot 'Em Up	A compilation of five definitive shmups made by Milestone Studio. It includes Radirgy, Karous, Chaos Field, Radirgy Noa and Ilvelo. Though it is Japan only, you can still get Ultimate Shooting Collection in America - which, however, leaves out Radirgy Noa and Ilvero. I recommend to pick this up at least for Radirgy Noa, which was done quite recently.
	Taiko no Tatsujin	Rhythm	FUCKWIN adorable rhythm game done by Namco. Has 5 versions on Wii at the moment: Taiko no Tatsujin Wii, Taiko no Tatsujin Do Don to 2 Daime, Taiko no Tatsujin Minna de Party 3 Daime, Taiko no Tatsujin Wii Ketteiban and Taiko no Tatsujin Chou Goukaban. Personally, I recommend the third one because of really fun party mode, or the second one if you are going to play it alone, but your mileage may vary. Ketteiban has BY FAR the most expansive song list of any console Taiko, with a total of 105 tracks - and almost half of them are Namco Originals, mostly boss songs (hope you like getting raped by 10-star Ura Onis!). A great deal of the list has to be unlocked, though. The fifth version, Chougoukaban, features a lot of titles new to CS, so check it out as well. It also has 100 tracks, just like Ketteiban. For those unfamiliar with it, its just Donkey Konga without bongos. As a matter of curiosity, the series DID have an english release called Taiko Drum Master for the PS2, with western songs and even Rock the Dragon. Some arcade versions were translated as well, but they're rare in US.
	Zangeki no Reginleiv	Action / Angry JP People	From the developers of Earth Defense Force. Same mindless fun, superior quality. Since the plot takes place in norse mythology, there's no guns, so you must use melee weapons and magic which are suprisingly effective. The real fun comes from the combat system. To hit an enemy you need to slash your wiimote through it to cut off their limbs, ensuing fountains of blood. There are five magic types, but with the most useful, charged magic, you can obliterate an army in one shot. Has fabulous motion+ support. Supports online co-op.	Link
	Zero Tsukihami no Kamen (Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse)	Survival Horror	The fourth game in the Fatal Frame survival horror series, developed by Tecmo and Grasshopper Manufacture. Join Ruka, Madoka, and Misaki as they return to Rougetsu Island to find out the truth behind the unknown disease that causes drastic memory loss, and to discover the hidden secrets and tragedies buried within their pasts. This can be played without having played the other ones. A multiplatform remaster got a worldwide release in March 2023.	Link

Recommendation Copypasta

• 
  List of wii games
• 
  Wii Games You want to have, February 2009
• 
  Some genre-based list of recommended Wii games.

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