Although the Wii is now two generations of consoles in the past, it holds a special place in our hearts. Because of the high quality of many of the titles, some of these older games are still worth playing and have even been ported over to the Nintendo Switch.
Take a look at our top 25 list of the best of the best from the Wii generation. Read, enjoy, and rejoice that while there will never be new Wii games, the quality of what we did receive back then was stunning.
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25. Wii Sports Resort
Publisher: Nintendo | Developer: Nintendo
Release Date: July 26, 2009 | Read the Review
The original Wii Sports will probably be remembered as the quintessential Wii experience since it was initially included with the Wii system, but that would be a disservice to the awesome follow-up (and the Trojan horse for the Wii MotionPlus), Wii Sports Resort. Simple, wrist-flicking Wii Sports essentials like bowling and tennis are included in Resort, but new games like table tennis and Frisbee golf actually require finesse, even skill, thanks to the Wii MotionPlus add-on for the Wii Remote. Additionally, the use of Wuhu Island as a cohesive setting for all the events is a great idea – so great it was used again in Pilotwings Resort for 3DS!
24. Wario Ware: Smooth Moves
Publisher: Nintendo | Developer: Nintendo EAD / Intelligent Systems
Release Date: January 17, 2007 | Read the Review
With Wii Sports in the box and games like Wario Ware: Smooth Moves arriving shortly after launch, the Wii became known as the "party game" system early on. As party games go, the Wario Ware series is hard to top. Wario Ware: Smooth Moves presents collection of "micro games," doled out in quick succession. It's four-player, Wii Remote-waggling madness: you have only seconds to figure out what to do in each game before you're on to the next one. Additionally, Wario Ware: Smooth Moves features a healthy dose of Japanese wackiness. Some microgames are downright unintelligible, adding to the general sense of pandemonium.
23. Sin & Punishment: Star Successor
Publisher: Nintendo | Developer: Treasure
Release Date: June 27, 2010 | Read the Review
Sin & Punishment: Star Successor is one of the most intense, exciting games available on Wii. Two kids fly through fantastic environments on other planets, shooting everything in their way and taking down giant boss monsters. It barrels along at a breakneck pace, barely giving you a chance to wipe the sweat off your Wii Remote. Developer Treasure is basically teaching a master class on how to make an on-rails shooter. While the Wii has most often been regarded as the family-friendly or kid-friendly console of this generation, Sin & Punishment: Star Successor is exactly what is meant by the term "hardcore."
22. Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
Publisher: Nintendo | Developer: Intelligent Systems
Release Date: November 5, 2007 | Read the Review
As far as classic strategy games go, Fire Emblem pretty much harks back to the beginning of time. It's been one of those series that Nintendo held back for a long time from American audiences, but now that we've got it, we can recommend it to any and all strategy fans. Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn for Nintendo Wii did very little to change a formula that's been around for nearly two decades. The involving story is still there, the classic turn-based strategy originating on Famicom Wars (the 8-bit inspiration for the Advance Wars series) is at large once again, and players of a whole new generation got a chance to experience exactly what Fire Emblem is all about.
21. Muramasa: The Demon Blade
Publisher: Ignition Entertainment | Developer: Vanillaware / Marvelous Entertainment
Release Date: September 8, 2009 | Read the Review
According to the very few who have actually played this sleeper game, Muramasa: The Demon Blade is as much a piece of art as it is a video game. This Marvelous Entertainment-developed experience is one part role-playing game and one part old-school brawler, but most importantly it's one of the most visually creative games to be released in Wii's lifetime. There always seems to be something new around the next corner, giving this original action title an enormous sense of discovery. The seamless blending of visuals, audio, and fun makes Muramasa is a true 2D classic.
20. Punch-Out!!
Publisher: Nintendo | Developer: Next Level Games
Release Date: May 18, 2009 | Read the Review
Little Mac's Nintendo career may not be as strong as some of the company's more noteworthy characters, but he's one tough cookie and this Wii game makes a return to his early days in the ring. The NES classic has been given new life on the current generation console with the same pattern-focused boxing action that made the series a hit on the 8-bit system. All the classic characters are here: Glass Joe, King Hippo, Bald Bull, and they're all made larger than life by the designers at Next Level. This game will truly show if you've got the quick-reaction, old-school skills because when you get to the championship, you'll be kissing the canvas if you do something stupid … like blink.
19. Red Steel 2
Publisher: Ubisoft | Developer: Ubisoft
Release Date: March 23, 2010 | Read the Review
Red Steel 2 is everything the first Red Steel wasn't. It takes place in a cool cel-shaded western world where people solve their problems with guns and swords instead of talking. It was one of the first third-party games to show off the Wii MotionPlus technology, allowing players to swipe their sword in nearly 1:1 motion. The game is full of style, and a healthy amount of violence. Red Steel 2 proved that Wii MotionPlus could make games better and more immersive, and wasn't just relegated to mini-game collections.
18. Mario Kart Wii
Publisher: Nintendo | Developer: Nintendo EAD
Release Date: April 27, 2008 | Read the Review
Mario Kart is always a highlight of each Nintendo's console lifespan, and Wii is no exception. Mario Kart Wii is a strong entry in the series, and finally took the kart racer online on a home console. The addition of bikes and tricks kept the game fresh, adding new gameplay mechanics to a series that is built largely on staying the same. And while the game did feel like it was aimed at a more casual crowd, this was still a Mario Kart game at heart.
17. Okami
Publisher: Capcom | Developer: Clover Studio / Ready at Dawn
Release Date: April 15, 2008 | Read the Review
Wii fans everywhere rejoiced when it was announced Okami would be coming to the system. It's not hard to understand why either. The PS2 version was fantastic, and the addition of motion controls to wield the Celestial Paintbrush only made things better. The brush's special powers make way more sense with Wii's pointer controls, and the upgrade to widescreen shows off the game's stunning visuals that much more. Throw in an engrossing story and lovable characters and you have a game that everyone – especially adventure fans – should make it a point to play.
16. Monster Hunter Tri
Publisher: Capcom | Developer: Capcom
Release Date: April 20, 2010 | Read the Review
Monster Hunter Tri is not only one of the best looking games on Wii, it's one of the deepest. Not even counting online content, there is so much to do, explore and battle in the latest edition of this monumentally popular JRPG that you could find yourself busy for hundreds of hours. The game rewards players those who are patient, who want to explore, battle, upgrade and prepare to confront truly epic monsters. If you have a few dozen hours – or far, far more – there are few games more worthy of your time.
15. Super Paper Mario
Publisher: Nintendo | Developer: Intelligent Systems
Release Date: April 9, 2007 | Read the Review
Part platformer and part RPG, Super Paper Mario succeeds on both accounts. It controls tightly and uses the Wii Remote in a smart manner without any waggle gimmicks. The most attractive feature, the ability to switch from 2D to 3D, is built around clever and surprisingly complex and impressive puzzles. Plus the lengthy 20+ hour adventure will keep you hooked until the end. Our hero may be paper thin, but this is an enormous game.
14. No More Heroes 2
Publisher: Ubisoft | Developer: Grasshopper Manufacture
Release Date: January 6, 2010 | Read the Review
It's tough to pinpoint exactly why the No More Heroes series of games are such a blast to play, but it's probably because the simple joy of leaping in to the air and decapitating your foes with the Wii Remote just never gets old. Throw in a few clever nods to '80s era Nintendo games and you've got yourself one of the most clever and imaginative games on the Wii. With No More Heroes 2, developer Grasshopper Manufacture has written a brilliantly twisted love letter to the videogame medium, scrawled in blood and pixels.
13. Dead Space: Extraction
Publisher: Electronic Arts | Developer: Visceral Games / Eurocom
Release Date: September 29, 2009 | Read the Review
Bringing Dead Space to the Wii was no easy task, and it was clear from the beginning that it couldn't just be a port of Visceral's amazing game. Teaming up with Eurocom, the two developers brought us one of the scariest, and most fun on-rails shooters on the Wii. It packed in those terrifying moments of watching a Necromorph sprint towards you while you desperately shoot at its limbs, and expanded on the franchise's mythos. It was a prequel, which allowed the writers to do some cool, bold things with the story. This is how you do rail shooters, folks.
12. Resident Evil 4
Publisher: Capcom | Developer: Capcom
Release Date: June 19, 2007 | Read the Review
If Resident Evil 4 hadn't previously appeared on GameCube, it could easily have topped this list as a Wii exclusive. The upgraded controls in Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition are handled expertly, and detonating the heads of cultish near-zombies is probably the most satisfying shooting experience to be had on Wii. The addition of all the bonus content from all previous versions of RE4 makes this the definitive version.
11. Xenoblade Chronicles
Publisher: Nintendo | Developer: Monolith Software
Release Date: April 6, 2012 | Read the Review
One of the most remarkable things about Xenoblade Chronicles is how innovative it was – daring to revamp the JRPG formula and try something entirely different. While the result perhaps wasn’t as polished as a more traditional entry in the genre, Monolith Software’s experiment more than paid off. The result was a fully unique and truly exceptional adventure, one that perhaps pushed the Wii hardware too far past its limitations, but in doing so offered one of the grandest adventures in its library.
10. The Last Story
Publisher: XSEED Games | Developer: Mistwalker / AQ Interactive
Release Date: August 14, 2012 | Read the Review
The Last Story marked legendary game designer Hironobu Sakaguchi’s return to the director’s chair – and what a brilliant return it was. The game offered a wonderfully fresh take on the role playing genre, full of the heart and polish you’d expect from the man behind the Final Fantasy series. The battle system was innovative without sacrificing the soul of the genre, and the characters are beyond lovable. The game also makes incredible use of the Wii hardware, offering a large and sweeping adventure that never felt lacking for its hardware limitations. It’s a sad reality that the Wii housed far too few RPG epics in its time – do yourself a favor and don’t miss out on one of the best of the bunch.
9. Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars
Publisher: Capcom | Developer: Eighting
Release Date: January 26, 2010 | Read the Review
A system like Wii might not seem the ideal home for an excellent and original fighting game, but that's just what we got in Tatsunoko vs. Capcom. Though half the cast would never be recognized by Americans, the energetic and accessible gameplay means anyone looking for a fun time won't care. Plus Mega Man is actually in this game, giving Capcom fans plenty of reason to rejoice. Need more reason to play? Unlockable characters, online play and one awesome bonus mode should do it. There are plenty of reasons for the fighting genre hardcore and rookies alike, and the experience is very, very unique on Nintendo's home console.
8. New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Publisher: Nintendo | Developer: Nintendo EAD
Release Date: November 15, 2009 | Read the Review
Believe it or not, there's a world of gamers out there who never experienced the brilliance of the original Super Mario Bros. New Super Mario Bros. Wii is Nintendo's attempt at bringing back some of the greatest old-school experiences of its history, embracing the fun and simplicity while building on them with elements that just weren't possible 20 years ago. This is classic Super Mario Bros. gameplay with the optional fun of four player co-op. And let's be honest, there's no denying the insanity and delight of a living room full of players working together to get to the end of a truly vicious Mushroom Kingdom level.
7. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Publisher: Nintendo | Developer: Nintendo EAD
Release Date: November 19, 2006 | Read the Review
No Nintendo console had ever launched with a Zelda game – until Wii. Drawing inspiration from one of the greatest games ever made, Ocarina of Time, this modern console-based adventure finally gave us the realistic take on Link's world that we'd all been craving since the end of the N64 era. Twilight Princess managed to infuse the Zelda franchise with a darkness and sense of scale that it hadn't seen before, and some of the weapons and boss fights, particularly the final one, will go down as benchmarks for all future installments. Ocarina of Time may still be the defining modern Zelda adventure, but Twilight Princess raised the bar in a number of notable respects – giving Skyward Sword a sky-high level of expectation.
6. Donkey Kong Country Returns
Publisher: Nintendo | Developer: Retro Studios
Release Date: November 21, 2010 | Read the Review
Instead of dumbing down Donkey Kong for the Wii Remote-waggling masses, Metroid Prime developer Retro Studios ramped up the difficulty in Donkey Kong Country Returns, producing one of the toughest platformers of the millennium. While you watch your 1-Up supply plummet to zero, at least you'll have some gorgeous set pieces -- jungles, beaches and temples -- to take in, peppered with the mine carts, barrels and bananas of Donkey Kong Country's past. Like New Super Mario Brothers Wii, Returns' retro gameplay with a modern makeover proves to be a recipe for success.
5. Super Mario Galaxy
Publisher: Nintendo | Developer: Nintendo EAD Tokyo
Release Date: November 12, 2007 | Read the Review
The release of a Mario game is a monumental moment in the life of any Nintendo console, and Super Mario Galaxy more than lived up to that reputation. It cleverly mixed physics and brilliant design to create a series of environments that always felt fresh and exciting. This is one of those incredible titles that anyone – Wii owner or not – should find time to play. Seriously, next time your friends harp on your decision to buy a Wii, challenge them to play Super Mario Galaxy. Before they know it, they'll want to go out and buy one themselves.
4. Metroid Prime Trilogy
Publisher: Nintendo | Developer: Retro Studios
Release Date: August 24, 2009 | Read the Review
The Metroid Prime Trilogy is more than just three great games on a single disc. Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes have been upgraded with widescreen presentation, an achievement system and, perhaps most importantly, excellent Wii pointer controls, bringing them up to date with Metroid Prime 3. Although the games were released over a five year period, and across two consoles, the Metroid Trilogy presents them like one epic saga of a bounty hunter and her struggle against space piracy, hungry alien creatures and giant, radioactive brains. This is the best way to experience the Prime series, period.
3. Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Publisher: Nintendo | Developer: Nintendo / Game Arts
Release Date: March 9, 2008 | Read the Review
When it was first released, Super Smash Bros. looked like an enjoyable bit of fanservice; toss a bunch of Nintendo heroes in a game and let them push each other around. But what nobody really counted on was just how freakishly deep the fighting mechanics would be. And that's why gamers demanded this franchise return time and time again. Brawl is the biggest Smash yet, with a monster cast that – for the first time – is opened to non-Nintendo characters. Finally, Mario and Sonic could truly go head-to-head and settle some 20-year-old playground arguments.
2. Super Mario Galaxy 2
Publisher: Nintendo | Developer: Nintendo EAD Tokyo
Release Date: May 23, 2010 | Read the Review
It might seem blasphemous, but it wouldn't be too tough to argue that Super Mario Galaxy 2 is better than Super Mario 64. What the title doesn't necessarily do in originality or innovation, it more than makes up for it in creative spirit and a true evolution of the 3D platforming/adventure genre. With level design alone, Galaxy 2 is a textbook example of taking simple ideas and expanding upon them in remarkable ways. Even more impressive is how new concepts are regularly introduced in an intuitive, logical manner. You're never lost as a player. Even better is that Nintendo never dumbs down the difficulty, offering an adventure that is accessible to the inexperienced and experienced alike. Whatever Mario on Wii U looks like, it's sure going to have a tough time beating this game. Super Mario Galaxy 2 will always be remembered as one of the greatest games in a generation.
1. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Publisher: Nintendo | Developer: Nintendo
Release Date: November 20, 2011 | Read the Review
Heading into 2011, even as the system was fading in popularity, Wii was home to dozens of great games, several of which can easily be regarded as some of the best in history. Yet what Wii lacked was a game that fully and comprehensively proved its notion of movement-based play was right, that it could not only redefine a franchise, but do it for the better. Then The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword arrived.
Skyward Sword was a huge risk. It took a series - renowned for its innovations over the span of several decades – and completely revamped its core controls, thereby fundamentally altering its core gameplay. No longer would the franchise’s iconic hero, Link, swing his sword with the press of a button. Players would need to swing the Wii remote with precision. Suddenly motion gaming didn’t just matter – it was an essential part of the game, and the experience of that style of play wasn’t possible with a traditional control.
As if being the definitive game of the Wii generation wasn’t enough, Skyward Sword was an incredible Zelda experience, featuring some of the best dungeon design we’ve seen in the series, and packing one powerful narrative that increasingly escalated, culminating into one of the best endings we’ve seen in any game anywhere. It takes something monumental to stand alongside, and surpass, the likes of Super Mario Galaxy, the Metroid Prime Trilogy and even Super Smash Bros. Brawl. For its remarkable accomplishments in motion control, its series-defining accomplishments in story, and its overall spectacular design, Skyward Sword isn’t just a brilliant Wii game, it’s the best Wii game.
Although the Wii is a fairly old console, some of these games have ben ported over to the Nintendo Switch. Checkout our list of the best Switch games for the latest Nintendo titles.
Note: This post was originally published in 2012, updated in 2022 to fix formatting ang review links
