Top 20 Wii Games
The Wii has exceeded many peoples expectations. Not only veteran people in the industry, but also hardcore and casual gamers alike that never expected Nintendo to reclaim its position as the No. 1 console and game manufacturer. It's gone with a less powerful console to focus on new gameplay mechanics, incorporating a motion-sensoring controller and nunchuck to try and refine how we play games.
The execution has been up and down. While the Wii continues to fly off shelves and dominate sales charts worldwide, it's software isn't the most memorable. Nintendo's aim to push the Wii as a casual console has paid dividends, as "games" such as Wii Fit fly out of stores as "non-gamers" and casual gamers alike become intrigued in the consoles dedication to unique products.
The sad truth is that the Wii won't be remembered for its games...at least amongst the veteran gaming crowd. However, that's not to say it doesn't have some great games, because it does.
Below, we've created a list of the 20 games we think are the best on the Wii and no Wii owner should be without!
Let us know what you think in our official Top 20 Wii Games thread!
Nintendo Wii - Top 20 Games
20. De Blob
One of the more unique titles this generation, De Blob is a fun, energizing and unique game that takes full advantage of the Wii's capabilities.
What we said in our review
De Blob has simple, effective gameplay with some great looking visuals and sound effects. The controls feel naturally suited to the Wii. It has an entertaining single player storyline (complimented with some great cut scenes) and it also offers some addictive multiplayer modes. De Blob really sets a benchmark for what gamers should expect from “true” Wii games. This was the brainchild of Dutch game design and development students; so if this is a taste of what the future holds for gaming then it looks like we are headed in the right direction.
19. MadWorld
This controversial title has garnered plenty of public interest with its unique look, emphasis on blood and violent gameplay. While the gameplay can get repetitive, its unique story and gameplay make it a worth addition to the Wii game library.
What we said in our review
A very good title with great presentation, a nice soundtrack and some solid gameplay. Decent storyline and intuitive controls. Over the top blood and gore means adults only (sorry kids). Comic book fans will love and should appeal to most gamers.
18. Call of Duty: World at War
Not quite as good as the 360 and PS3 versions, the Wii version of World at War is still a great shooter. One of a few Wii titles to have a dedicated online mode, WAW is by far one of the best FPS available on a console that dictates so much more from the genre.
17. Deadly creatures
A unique concept that has you controlling deadly creatures through realistic environments. Fun gameplay and nice visuals make this title worthy of a look.
What we said in our review
Very good presentation, lots of battles with some well thought out moves. Good controls. Youngsters and those interested in nature may find appealing (although there are lots of critter-casualties). Arachnophobes and the like, give it a miss. Definitely worthy of a look.
16. WarioLand: The Shake Dimensions (Shake It!)
Hype grew for this game after the infamous YouTube video that advertised the games shaking features. The game takes advantage of the Wii's motion-sensoring capabilities and is worth a look for those looking for a great mini-game experience.
What we said in our review
Warioland: Shake Dimension is a great title for those who have been around since the era when platforming was where it was at. Casuals and those who missed it the first time around will also find joy here. Don't expect it to challenge you too deeply. Just lean back and enjoy the visuals, and everything will be just dandy.
15. Bully: Scholarship Edition
After a successful release on PS2, Bully came to the Wii and XBOX 360 with improved visuals and new gameplay features. It's probably the closest thing Wii owners have to a GTA game and with its typical Rockstar charm and great story, Bully: Scholarship Edition is a must-have.
What we said in our review
Bully is a great story with a great setting and game play. It's a little rough around the edges occasionally but it won't put you off and doesn't get in the way of the game. If you've never played it before, get onto it!
14. Disaster: Day of Crisis
A great third-person action title with engaging gameplay mechanics and nice visuals. A decent story and a great overall presentation make this title a must-have Wii title. Disaster: Day of Crisis is the exact kind of game the Wii needs more of.
13. Boom Blox
Steven Speilberg decided to try his hand at making games and his first attempt was successful with Boom Blox. A great puzzle title with nice visuals and accessible controls.
What we said in our review
Boom Blox is a really refreshing addition to the puzzle genre. So many puzzle games now (and games in general) tend to take a very direct path between problem and goal. The difference with Boom Blox is that it really frees you up to experiment with the possible ways to accomplish your goal. As such it's probably one of the only puzzle games in a while that is worth being played by all. Presentation flaws are there and they do ruin the fluidness of the game from time to time. Create mode is something that is going to be good bang for buck in the hands of the right person, and the fact you can share your levels via WiiConnect24 makes it all the sweeter.
12. House of the Dead: Overkill
Probably the most press this game got was for its record-breaking number of curse words. Overkill is about more than that though, with an overall great rail-shooting experience. The presentation is top-notch and while it won't take you that long to finish, it's so much fun that it's worthy of multiple playthroughs.
What we said in our review
It seems that Sega is trying hard to break the Wii's genre stereo-type with this game and the upcoming title MadWorld, which is already causing controversy by “tainting” the Wii’s “family friendly” status. This said there is something guiltily refreshing about playing this game after the oversupply of cutesy, thinking, puzzle and sports games on the Wii. However be warned this is not a kid’s game and for those that can’t stand swearing or watching zombies squish body parts into a meat grinder should probably go and buy Cooking Mama 2 instead.
11. Skate It
Often cited as the best (and only?) skating game on the Wii. Great gameplay features and decent graphics make for a worth addition to EA's latest sports franchise.
What we said in our review
Skate It is definitely the best skateboarding game you can get for the Wii. Skaters and non-skaters will both enjoy and get something out of it.
10. Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip
Road Trip is a title that has been praised for its use of the Wii Balance Board. The game is a lot of fun and we think the Wii version is by far the best.
What we said in our review
Ubisoft has to be congratulated on how they have tackled the development of Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip for the Wii. Too many mainstream cross platform titles attempt to force a square peg into a round hole in trying to port a game from the Xbox360 or PS3 directly to the Wii. Creating a version of the game designed specifically for the Wii with unique graphics and gameplay is an example that more developers should take note of.
9. Mario Kart Wii
Yet another successful addition to the popular franchise. Mart Kart Wii uses the Wii controller to advantage, offering great gameplay features and hours upon hours of fun. Great fun with friends and plenty of value on offer.
What we said in our review
Mario Kart Wii is a game of improvements, not revolutionary features. There's enough of these that if you're sitting on Double Dash or Mario Kart DS, you'll want to check these out. The introduction of Bikes is nice, but hasn't really added much more than a new handling class. Overall they don't perform that differently to the karts and the tricks, while fun and occasionally race changing, aren't gonna really affect the overall game. The removal of snaking has given us really balanced online play that isn't dumbed down, and the text chat interface has made it a much more social experience, even though it feels a tad forced politeness. The controls of Mario Kart Wii give you a lot of options, and the motion controls are some of the better ones we've seen in the racing genre. If you want a Wii game that is fun, social, and accessible to everyone Mario Kart is still the way to go, and the fact it has online has just made it so the party never stops.
8. Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Hyped up substantially before release...especially considering its delayed release in Australia. Upon release, it didn't set the sales charts alight, but as a Wii owner you'd be expected to have played this at least once. It's not your basic fighter and while we think the hype wasn't justified, it's still a hell of a lot of fun to play on your own or with a bunch of mates.
What we said in our review
At the end of the day, Brawl is still a fighter. It's a really good fighter, and probably one of the best ever produced in the genre. It's absolutely feature packed and really balanced. But if fighters don't do it for you chances Brawl won't either. With fighter fans in mind however, this is probably one of the best packages to ever come out in the genre. You've got good offline and online play, enough customization that you can tweak it to your play style, insane amounts of unlockable content, mini game events, and a nicely presented adventure mode. Brawl is real value as for as content goes and it's something that will probably get scratched to death before you truly shelve it.
7. No More Heroes
From Suda51, the unique individual who gave us Killer7, comes No More Heroes, another weird and innovative title. Set in an open-world, No More Heroes is just as much a wild ride as it is a highly enjoyable one.
What we said in our review
Overall chances are you won't end up playing No More Heroes for it's gameplay, but rather it's risking taking style and design. There's a lot of style elements that are really uncommon in games, and it's well worth getting your teeth into them. That being said, the combat aspect of the game is a fairly solid version of the beat-em-up design, and it's gonna appeal if you love just getting in there and kicking the crap out of anyone if your way. The boss fights are solid but once the kill method has been figured out it really just becomes a matter of timing
6. Resident Evil 4 Wii Edition
One of the best games of last generation, RE4 got a successful facelift for the Wii. No one really expected it to exceed the original, but the game feels natural using the Wii controls. A must-have.
What we said in our review
At the end of the day, while Resident Evil 4 on Wii isn't revolutionary in it's presentation, it's the best version of the game and it's still one of the best games for the platform. Long time RE fans will still find a lot of the traditional puzzles, though there is a distinct lack of the survival part of 'survival horror' genre. The gun play has been reved up, and while from time to time you'll still find yourself backing away from hordes of enemies, you won't find much of those 'think first' moments before firing your gun. The plot is incredibly well paced, and it's pretty rare you'll find yourself waiting for the next big part of the game. Instead chances are you'll be having epic sessions of the game as it really is very gripping.
5. Okami
Another port that exceeds the original, Okami is a fascinating title from Capcom. Great gameplay, beautiful visuals and an overall wonderful experience. Every Wii owner should experience Okami for its undeniable beauty.
4. Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure
Not many expected Zack & Wiki to be as good as it was. While at first glance it might seem like a game aimed at a younger crowd, this is undoubtedly an adult game. A fantastic action-adventure platformer, it's a game everyone should experience.
What we said in our review
One of the most amazing Wii games out there, innovative design and game play that keeps you challenged with out being frustrating. Also an excellent new spin on and old genre. Had the game been longer, it would have scored higher. Go buy it right now. No, seriously, now.
3. Legend of Zelda: The Twilight Princess
Nintendo fans waited and waited. And then they waited a little more. Then, it was finally announced that Twilight Princess would be coming to both Wii and Gamecube. While many claim the Gamecube version to be the superior of the two, the Wii version is still a fantastic title. It's everything we expected and more. It's beautiful and a must-have.
2. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
After two successful outings on the Gamecube as a FPS, the third addition to the Prime series, Corruption, ended up being the best of the series. With gorgeous visuals, amazing gameplay and some memorable boss battles, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption is the FPS that every Wii owner should have.
What we said in our review
While hard core Metroid Prime players may have lost a bit in challenge, the title has made up for it in great controls, intense battles and cinematic presentation. You'll feel like you're on an adventure, moving between planets across the galaxy as you see fit, exploring and back tracking when new gear is acquired. For the intense explorer you'll find enough to satisfy your Metroid fiction needs and for anyone who hates that stuff, it's not going to be forced down your throat like previous Prime games. Gameplay mechanics have changed enough for players to have to learn a few new tricks, and environments are bigger, better and more alive.
1. Super Mario Galaxy
Beautiful. Gorgeous. Breathtaking. Acessible. Fun. The words best used to describe Super Mario Galaxy. A near perfect game that is by far the best on the Wii. A brilliant title with all of the Mario charm we've come to love over the past few decades. If you own a Wii and don't own Super Mario Galaxy, go out and buy it now. Go. NOW!
What we said in our review
It's been a long time since we've played a game this is just so constantly interesting and varied. Between it's signature gameplay, constantly changing play style and general damn near perfect presentation, it's pretty hard to fault this game. You'll find a simple story coupled with high paced 'pick up and play' engrossing gameplay. We only found a few issues with this game, such as the camera and it's slightly linear nature, but beyond that Galaxy plays like the Mario game a lot of us have been waiting for. Along with that, visually and aurally it's a real treat.
Let us know what you think in our official Top 20 Wii Games thread!
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