The Nintendo Switch is launching later this week. Since it’s not backward compatible (yet), it’s only right that we list our favorite Wii U games.
No matter what anybody says, the Wii U was a great console. Yes, it had many problems, such as the lack of online features and a general lack of video games. However, everyone who owns one can tell you that there are a variety of gems to play on it. We’ll be talking about eight of them.
Think of it as a top eight Wii U games list. Obviously, there are plenty of other fun games, but we feel that these eight are the best that the console has to offer. Before we get into that, let’s discuss some honorable mentions.
Let it be known that Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon are incredible Wii U games. The good thing is that we’ll be able to revisit them on the Switch with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Splatoon 2. Splatoon 2 is a sequel, but from the gameplay we’ve seen, it looks more like an expansion than anything.
First up is The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD. The original game was released back in 2002 for the GameCube. We truly believe the definitive version is on the Wii U, though. With upgraded visuals and smoother controls, this is a can’t-miss game on the Wii U. It doesn’t make our top eight simply because it’s a remaster.
Next is Hyrule Warriors. Inspired by the Zelda lore, this was an extremely fun hack-and-slash game. There was plenty to do with the game at launch, and with all the DLC, it wasn’t hard to come back to it. Unfortunately, it was held back by the lackluster local co-op and the lack of online multiplayer.
Finally, there’s Tokyo Mirage Sessions. One of the few Wii U games to release in 2016 is actually one of the best. As a crossover RPG, it features characters from two different franchises: Fire Emblem and Shin Megami Tensei. It isn’t a game for everybody, but it’s very interesting and worth a shot.
8. Captain Toad Treasure Tracker
At first, this was simply a mini-game in Super Mario 3D World. In all honesty, it was an amazing addition to the game and we’re very glad it was created as a standalone. Treasure Tracker used the Wii U’s gamepad very well, which is what most games missed out on.
Some things did hold it back. For example, the lack of content. We beat this game fairly quickly and soon enough,there was nothing else to accomplish. We can’t say we didn’t have an absolute blast solving all the puzzles, though.
This is simply a fun puzzle solving game. We would love to see a sequel down the line on the Switch with more content. For now, we’ll just have to revisit it on the Wii U.