Looking back, the Nintendo Wii was a bit of a mixed bag. While it was flooded with low-quality games and forced motion controls on everyone for a while, it was also one of Nintendo’s most successful consoles. Hidden among the bad games were some truly great titles, but you sometimes had to dig to find them.
Many of us have fond memories of the Wii, with several games consistently providing entertainment, even after repeated playthroughs. While the motion controls could sometimes be frustrating, it’s undeniable that the console offered a lot of fun. These games were often the reason we kept the Wii connected and ready to play.
10. Metal Slug Anthology
Seven Run ‘N Gun Classics In One
Arcade games have been designed for replayability for many years. The Wii offered a variety of these classic experiences through its Virtual Console, and also featured dedicated collections of popular titles. A great example is the Metal Slug Anthology, which included the first six Metal Slug games, as well as Metal Slug X.
These games are mostly recreations of the original versions released for the Neo-Geo home console. However, Metal Slug 6 is a direct copy of the arcade game. Regardless, the Metal Slug series was famous for its fast-paced, action-packed gameplay – and these versions still capture that exciting feeling, without needing any actual coins! It’s a great way to enjoy a classic part of arcade history, and they’re simply a lot of fun to play.
Even though this game came out before developers commonly focused on making games more user-friendly, it included some helpful features to prevent frustration. You could adjust the difficulty, had unlimited lives, and could even turn on a rapid-fire option. There’s nothing quite like spending a Saturday night enjoying some classic, pixelated action!
9. The House Of The Dead 2&3 Return
Everyone Loves Suffering Like G Did
The Wii was heavily promoted for its simple, arcade-like shooting games. That’s why they created the Wii Zapper – since you’re already pointing the Wii Remote at the screen, it made aiming even easier. For me, the best game that used the Zapper was the combination pack of House of the Dead 2 and 3.
No LAN party is complete without playing House of the Dead 2—and probably playing it multiple times if we have the chance. There’s just something undeniably fun about shooting zombies and mutants, and after playing it enough, it’s like watching a hilariously bad movie you love. You start to memorize all the cheesy lines!
I really enjoyed House of the Dead 3, though honestly, most people probably get this two-game set for House of the Dead 2 – it’s the classic! The best part is, each game only takes about 45 minutes to play, which is perfect for a fun night with friends and plenty of laughs. You’ll be talking about it for a while after!
8. Tatsunoko VS Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars
One Of The Console’s Go-To Fighters
The Wii wasn’t known for great arcade-style fighting games. There simply weren’t many available, and those that were often relied too much on motion controls. However, one standout title, a hidden gem from Capcom called Tatsunoko VS Capcom, remains exclusive to the Wii.
This fighting game isn’t a Marvel crossover like many others. Instead, it brings together popular and lesser-known characters from Capcom with heroes and villains from Tatsunoko Productions’ anime and films. Even if you’re not familiar with characters like Yatterman or Hurricane Polymar, it still delivers the fun and exciting gameplay you’d expect from a Capcom crossover fighter. Plus, it was a rare Wii title that offered online play, although the connection wasn’t always reliable.
A really cool thing about the game was the option to play with just one incredibly powerful robot instead of the standard two-player team. You could choose either Gold Lightan or PTX-40A. It wasn’t perfectly balanced, but it was a blast, and playing quick, random matches is a great way to have fun.
7. Resident Evil 4
Perfect On Any Platform
Capcom’s original Resident Evil 4 is widely considered one of their best games, and I definitely agree. Interestingly, one of the most polished versions of the game was actually released for the Wii, which was surprising at the time.
The Wii version of Resident Evil 4 included all the extra content from the PC and PlayStation 2 updates to the original GameCube release. Surprisingly, the Wii’s motion controls worked exceptionally well, making aiming and movement feel smooth and responsive. Quick Time Events still required a lot of shaking the controller, but that’s just part of the Resident Evil 4 experience.
The original Resident Evil 4 remained popular for a long time because it was fun to play through multiple times. Whether you were unlocking weapons, finding hidden secrets, or simply enjoying the exciting action sequences, there were plenty of reasons to return to the game – and that still holds true. While the remake is also good, it doesn’t quite capture the unique, over-the-top charm of the original.
6. New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Bouncing Off The Walls
The first New Super Mario Bros. game came out on the Nintendo DS in 2006 and was a big success. It successfully brought back the classic side-scrolling Mario gameplay, which encouraged Nintendo to develop more games like it. This led to New Super Mario Bros. Wii in 2009, another popular title that helped keep the Wii console selling well.
As a huge Mario fan, I was so excited for New Super Mario Bros. Wii! It really felt like the previous game, but better in almost every way. They added a ton of new levels and power-ups, and the Wii Remote controls let them do some cool new things, like spinning platforms. But the biggest deal for me was the four-player co-op – being able to play as Mario, Luigi, and two Toads at once was amazing! The idea was that we’d all work together to beat the game quickly, but honestly, it usually ended up being a chaotic, hilarious free-for-all!
The cooperative gameplay often turned chaotic, with players playfully hindering each other – pushing each other into pitfalls and generally causing trouble. But this wasn’t a problem at all! It was actually really funny and a great way to play with friends, as long as everyone was just having fun. It’s similar to a game like Monopoly, but faster-paced and less likely to end in arguments.
5. Kirby’s Return To Dream Land
Fun Solo Or With Friends
Around 2011, things were a little strange for Kirby fans. While classic Kirby platformer games were only available on handheld devices, the console releases were different, like the unique Epic Yarn. Luckily, that year brought us a brand new, traditional Kirby game for consoles, and it was fantastic! Plus, it featured a strong focus on cooperative multiplayer.
Kirby’s Return to Dream Land was a massive hit, offering a sprawling platforming experience with the option for up to four players to join in at any time. One player controls Kirby, while the others can choose to play as Meta Knight, King Dedede, or Bandana Waddle Dee. Like other Kirby games, it balanced easier stages with more creative and challenging ones, making it fun to replay and explore everything it had to offer.
Kirby’s Return to Dream Land marked the beginning of more substantial post-game challenges in the series. After completing the main story, players could test their skills in Extra Mode, The Arena, and the especially difficult True Arena. These modes offered a significant increase in difficulty for those who wanted a greater challenge after finishing the game.
4. Super Mario Galaxy
So Good, They Made A Movie Out Of It
As a huge Wii fan, I can’t talk about that console without immediately thinking of Super Mario Galaxy. It was the first brand new 3D Mario adventure since Super Mario Sunshine, and honestly, it was a game changer! It was such a big hit, it even got its own movie – that’s how much people loved it!
Super Mario Galaxy delivered on everything you’d want in a sequel to a 3D platformer. It expanded the world, introduced creative and unusual power-ups, and was packed with collectibles and secrets. Plus, it gave us some fantastic new characters like Rosalina and Captain Toad, who have become beloved staples of the Mario series.
Simply put, Super Mario Galaxy was just a really enjoyable game. It consistently delivered fun, no matter how many times you played a level. Whether you loved a specific challenge or a boss battle, the game remained consistently engaging. It wasn’t about complex storytelling or deep mechanics—it was just a well-made, solid game, and sometimes that’s enough reason to revisit it.
3. Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Still Smash, Even With Tripping
Super Smash Bros. Brawl hasn’t held up as well as other games in the series. It feels a bit slow and awkward to control, the characters aren’t very balanced, and some of the gameplay features, like random tripping, are frustrating. Despite these flaws, it remains a standout title for the Wii. Why? Because at its core, it’s still Super Smash Bros., and many players still enjoy it, even if it’s not ideal for competitive play.
I fondly remember the excitement leading up to Brawl’s release, especially how Nintendo slowly revealed new characters, including the exciting additions of Snake and Sonic. Even today, Brawl is packed with content – it actually has more single-player options than Ultimate, with a full story mode called Subspace Emissary, plus lots of multiplayer modes and classic extras like Classic Mode, All-Star Mode, and unique Event Matches.
Even small things in the game, like collecting trophies, are surprisingly addictive and can keep you playing for a long time. You might quickly spend all your coins trying to win trophies, then rush to play a quick match to earn more, only to spend those too. While it doesn’t look as modern as newer games, it’s still Super Smash Bros., and it still delivers that incredibly satisfying, instinctive fun.
2. WarioWare: Smooth Moves
The Ultimate Party Game
The early WarioWare games were designed for one player only, but Mega Party Games on the GameCube proved that the quick-play ‘microgame’ format was also perfect for group play. However, it was WarioWare: Smooth Moves that truly embraced the multiplayer potential, becoming famous for its silly, active gameplay.
Like all WarioWare games, WarioWare: Smooth Moves featured a unique way to play. This time, it used the Wii Remote, requiring you to hold it in different positions for each fast-paced, 10-second microgame. It was more active than the games on portable consoles, but incredibly enjoyable, particularly after completing the story mode. Once you unlocked everything, challenging friends for high scores on each stage offered endless replayability.
Plus, the game features a lot of minigames designed for multiplayer. Some are quick, fast-paced challenges, while others have unique mechanics like inflating a balloon or a hot-potato-style bomb passing game. It remains a classic party game, and anyone can have fun with it, even if they don’t typically play video games.
1. Mario Kart Wii
Still A Gold Standard
For almost ten years after its 2008 release, Mario Kart Wii was considered the best way to play Mario Kart on a home console. While Mario Kart 7 came out on the 3DS, and the first Mario Kart 8 was on the Wii U – a console few people owned – Mario Kart Wii remained the go-to version. It’s held up remarkably well over time, remaining popular until the release of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Switch.
Mario Kart Wii was a groundbreaking game for the series, adding bikes as playable vehicles and introducing motion controls – which players could choose to use or not. It also featured some of the most beloved tracks in Mario Kart history, like Coconut Mall, with its instantly recognizable and catchy music.
Despite its flaws, Mario Kart Wii struck a great balance between casual fun and serious competition. It was enjoyable whether you played alone, with friends, or online. But if you wanted a real challenge, you could use a good controller, select 150cc mode, and truly compete for the win. Many of today’s competitive Mario Kart players likely started their journey with Mario Kart Wii.
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2025-11-21 23:42