Key Takeaways
- Nintendo recently confirmed the Switch 2 will be backward-compatible.
- This means dozens of Wii U games will soon make history for being available on three consecutive generations of Nintendo consoles.
As someone who has been around long enough to remember the days of the NES and the Game Boy, I must say that the longevity of these Wii U games making their way onto the Switch is truly a marvel. It’s like witnessing the Eternal Engine of Nintendo, chugging along, tirelessly providing us with our favorite titles, generation after generation.
Approximately a dozen Wii U games are expected to be playable on three successive generations of Nintendo consoles once the Switch 2 is launched, marking a first in Nintendo’s gaming history.
The Japanese video game company, known for its size and influence, hasn’t always emphasized backward compatibility in the past, but it started to focus more on this functionality around the mid-2000s. However, Nintendo broke this trend with the Switch, which is their first home console since 2001 that doesn’t support games from its predecessor’s library. This is why some passionate fans have been advocating for backward compatibility in the Switch 2 for a while now, and it appears that Nintendo agrees, as they’ve just announced that their upcoming console will indeed include this feature.
A unique aspect of Nintendo Switch 2‘s backward compatibility is that certain games from the Wii U era are now playable on three straight generations of Nintendo consoles. As pointed out by Stephen Totilo from Game File, this is something unprecedented in Nintendo’s history. Out of the 12 consoles released by Nintendo since 1985, only half had backward compatibility with their direct predecessors, and none could play games from two generations back. Despite the Switch not having native backward compatibility, it has received numerous Wii U games over time. This is largely due to the fact that the Wii U didn’t sell well, making its titles an interesting addition for Switch users.
At Least 36 Wii U Games Will Be Available on Nintendo Switch 2
Game Rant has pointed out that there are 35 games initially released on the Wii U that have been moved to Nintendo Switch, a popular hybrid console. Among these are cross-generation titles like “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” and enhanced versions such as “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” and “New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe”. While many of these games are first-party productions, a significant number of third-party games like “LEGO City: Undercover” and “Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove” have also been available on the latest two generations of Nintendo consoles, ensuring their playability on the future Switch 2. Additionally, one more game will be added to this list with the upcoming release of “Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition”, set for launch in March 2025.
All Wii U Games Ported to Nintendo Switch
| Wii U | Switch |
|---|---|
| Cars 3: Driven to Win (2017) | |
| LEGO City: Undercover (2013) | LEGO City: Undercover (2017) |
| Little Inferno (2012) | Little Inferno (2017) |
| Mario Kart 8 (2014) | Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (2017) |
| Pokken Tournament (2016) | Pokken Tournament DX (2017) |
| Puyo Puyo Tetris (2014) | Puyo Puyo Tetris (2017) |
| Rayman Legends (2013) | Rayman Legends (2017) |
| Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove (2014) | Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove (2017) |
| The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017) | |
| Bayonetta (2014) | Bayonetta (2018) |
| Bayonetta 2 (2014) | Bayonetta 2 (2018) |
| Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (2014) | Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (2018) |
| Child of Light (2014) | Child of Light (2018) |
| Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (2014) | Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (2018) |
| Hyrule Warriors (2014) | Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition (2018) |
| The Pinball Arcade (2016) | The Pinball Arcade (2018) |
| Runbow (2016) | Runbow (2018) |
| Scribblenauts Unlimited (2012) | Scribblenauts Mega Pack (2018) |
| Scribblenauts Unmasked (2013) | |
| Swords and Soldiers 2 (2015) | Swords and Soldiers 2 (2018) |
| New Super Mario Bros. U (2012) | New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe (2019) |
| New Super Luigi U (2013) | |
| Assassin’s Creed 3 Remastered (2012) | Assassin’s Creed 3 Remastered (2019) |
| Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag (2013) | Assassin’s Creed: The Rebel Collection (2019) |
| Darksiders 2 (2012) | Darksiders 2: Deathinitive Edition (2019) |
| LEGO Jurassic World (2015) | LEGO Jurassic World (2019) |
| Angry Video Game Nerd Adventures (2015) | Angry Video Game Nerd I & II Deluxe (2020) |
| Pikmin 3 (2013) | Pikmin 3 Deluxe (2020) |
| Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE (2015) | Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE Encore (2020) |
| The Wonderful 101 (2013) | The Wonderful 101 Remastered (2020) |
| Super Mario 3D World (2013) | Super Mario 3D World + Bower’s Fury (2021) |
| Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water (2014) | Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water (2021) |
| LEGO Marvel Super Heroes (2013) | LEGO Marvel Super Heroes (2021) |
| Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge (2012) | Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection (2021) |
| Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien (2013) | Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien (2024) |
| Xenoblade Chronicles X (2015) | Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition (2025) |
It’s possible that the list of high-profile Wii U games on the Switch may continue to grow, not just with the revamped Xenoblade Chronicles X. Although Nintendo’s history suggests their next console after the Switch 2 might not be backward compatible with the Switch library, the fact that these games are poised to appear on three consecutive Nintendo consoles in a row is a reminder that every first time could set a precedent.
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2024-11-10 19:13