The 50 Best Nintendo Wii U Games of All Time

What are the best Wii U games of all time?

The Wii U was designed to be the successor to the original Wii console, and it was the first Nintendo console to support HD graphics.

However, it fell behind its competitors, such as the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, causing it to be discontinued in 2017 after only a brief four-year run.

Despite this, the Wii U supported loads of fantastic games and still boasts a dedicated fan base.

The Best Wii U Games of All Time

Today we’re giving the greatest games on the Wii U the attention they deserve and serving up some nostalgia for the gamers who enjoyed them.

If you enjoy this list, don’t forget to check out our other Nintendo game lists:

• The 50 Best GameCube Games of All Time
• The 50 Best Gameboy Color Games of All Time
• The 50 Best GBA Games of All Time
• The 50 Best Nintendo DS Games of All Time
• The 50 Best Nintendo Wii Games of All Time

Here’s our list of the 50 best Wii U games of all time:

50. Mass Effect 3: Special Edition

The (seemingly) final entry into the saga of Commander Shepard, Mass Effect 3: Special Edition, brought the galaxy face to face with the Reaper threat once and for all.

In the Special Edition, players are treated to extra missions, bonus weapons, and new characters that flesh the game out even more.

While the ending divided a lot of fans, the game succeeds as a whole with excellent graphics, solid gameplay mechanics, a phenomenal soundtrack, and unforgettable characters.

49. Minecraft: Wii U Edition

While fans may not be able to use the best Minecraft mods with this version of the game, it is still loads of fun to play and gives fans a new way to experience the game.

The Wii U version also supports multiplayer with various servers in multiple different game modes so that you can still play with friends even without using a computer.

48. Runbow

Runbow is a fast-paced game with a unique and fun aesthetic.

It allows players to face off against up to nine other people in a race where platforms and obstacles appear and disappear randomly.

As an indie multiplayer, it is one of the best and extraordinarily hard to put down once you start playing it.

47. Resident Evil Revelations

Telling the story of what happened between the events of Resident Evil 4 and 5, Revelations is a suspense-filled survival horror game that fans of the series love.

While this game could also be played on the 3DS, it looks amazing on the Wii U in HD.

Plus, the Wii U gamepad functionality works perfectly for the game, and its two joysticks, as opposed to the one on the 3DS, make it much easier to navigate.

46. LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes

Boasting entertaining stories and great humor LEGO games are popular with gamers of all ages, and LEGO Batman 2 is one of the best of the series on the Wii U.

Loaded with iconic villains and heroes from throughout the Batman universe, this game is incredibly entertaining to play through when you just wanted to have some fun.

45. Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag

Following the story of infamous pirate Edward Kenway, grandfather of the Assassin’s Creed III protagonist Connor, this installment of the series is a fantastic Caribbean experience.

This game is one of the best Assassin’s Creed games of all time, and it is a must-play for fans of the franchise.

Black Flag also introduced a rich naval exploration system and is nearly impossible to put down once you start playing, taking players on an action-packed swashbuckling adventure.

44. Shantae: Half-Genie Hero

Although long-term fans of this retro-inspired platformer may have had reservations about the updated graphics and streamlined design, it was hard not to get obsessed once you started playing.

The gameplay is tight, the controls make sense, and the story is unique and consistently humorous.

As the fourth game in the series, Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is a great game that does the franchise justice and serves as a solid introduction for new players.

43. NES Remix

This compilation brought 16 classic NES games to the modern Wii U, and it is perfect for fans to replay old favorites or for younger gamers to experience the classics for the first time.

Games include classic titles such as Donkey Kong 3 and Donkey Kong Jr, Super Mario Bros., Legend of Zelda, wrecking crew, and many others.

42. LEGO Marvel Super Heroes

Another hit Lego title; this great Wii U game brought the heroes of the Marvel universe to the forefront and give players a chance to play as their favorite characters.

The game’s goal is to unite as many heroes as possible to stop Loki and a handful of other Marvel villains from creating a superweapon capable of worldwide destruction.

Basically, an average day in the Marvel Universe. 

41. DuckTales: Remastered

Taking levels from the original 1989 release and expanding them greatly, DuckTales: Remastered brings all the charm and visuals from the 8-bit game and updates them for modern gamers.

Better yet, the original voice actors, including some from the cartoon, returned to voice their beloved characters making this game even more nostalgic.

40. Project Zero: Maiden of Black Water

This survival horror game served as the fifth entry in the Fatal Frame series, and it allows players to explore a dark world filled with hostile ghosts that can only be combated by using the camera controlled by the Wii U gamepad.

For fans of horror, Maiden of the Black Water is a must-have on the Wii U, and while the battles can get a bit repetitive, it is hard to stop playing once you started.

39. New Super Luigi U

While Super Mario Bros. has long been one of the most popular video games, New Super Luigi gives Mario’s brother a piece of the limelight, and it provides gamers with over 80 stages to play through.

This game allows players to switch between these Luigi stages and stages from Super Mario Bros. U, providing a new level of challenge that helps diversify the series.

38. Affordable Space Adventures

This puzzle game uniquely uses the Wii U gamepad by allowing players to control a spaceship using the controls shown on the touchscreen.

Throughout the game, players will tackle puzzles of increasing difficulty, many of which require a lot of creative thinking to be able to solve.

37. Tekken Tag Tournament 2

Featuring the most extensive Tekken lineup ever and brand new stages to play through, Tekken Tag Tournament 2 comes with a re-designed online multiplayer option.

The Wii U version also comes with unique battle modes and exclusive costumes that you can’t find on any other console.

Players using the Wii U gamepad can also use special shortcuts that other controllers didn’t feature.

36. New Super Mario Bros. U

When the unrelenting Koopa fleet invades the Mushroom Kingdom, it falls to our favorite characters to band together to try and save a trapped Princess Peach.

Boasting creative level designs, loads of exciting new content, and tweaks that made this 2D platformer one of the best Nintendo Wii U games ever released, New Super Mario Bros. U knocked all expectations out of the park.

There is so much to do and explore when paired with New Super Luigi U that hours could easily be lost trying to see and do everything.

35. FAST Racing NEO

FAST Racing Neo put gamers in control of their own anti-gravity vehicles and challenged them to become the best racer in the game.

It was fast, action-packed, and ridiculously fun, easily competing against more well-known titles like Need for Speed.

34. The Wonderful 101

With Earth under attack from towering aliens, the only thing that could stop the invasion were young heroes with incredible abilities.

Each hero can morph into different weapons to beat back the invaders or turn into objects like bridges to help make traversing the environment easier.

This was one game that didn’t get the widespread attention it deserved, but those who have played it knew just how amazing it was.

33. Shantae And The Pirate’s Curse

The half-genie returns in this Wii game, and it pairs her up with her old pirate rival, Risky Boots.

Now able to play as a pirate, Shantae has access to a load of new weapons, and there is no shortage of great puzzles, bosses, and levels to play through that show off all of the hard work that went into making this fantastic game.

32. Child of Light

This platform RPG game follows the story of Aurora, a child who wakes up after having died from a mysterious illness and is tasked with returning the sun, moon, and stars from the evil Queen of Night.

Child of light was praised for its visual style and gameplay, with players finding themselves easily enraptured by this unique and well-written story.

31. Need for Speed: Most Wanted U

Need for Speed is one of the best racing games of all time, and the Wii U version had racers facing off against the police as they tried to complete races without getting caught.

Every race has a beginning and endpoint, and players can use the open world to complete each race in whatever way they like.

There are even additional modes that combine simulation and arcade gameplay, as well as social play options where you can enter multiplayer races.

30. NES Remix 2

The second in the compilation series, NES Remiz 2, gives players even more classic games to experience on the Wii U.

This title includes hits like Dr. Mario, Metroid, Super Mario Bros. 2 & 3, Zelda II, and Kirby’s Adventure.

It was a great way to re-experience these fantastic retro games, and it gives younger gamers a great introduction to some of the best classic Nintendo games that they may not have heard of before.

29. Hyrule Warriors

With the balance of the Triforce disrupted and the Hyrule Kingdom was thrown into chaos, it is up to Link to battle hordes of enemies to find the missing Princess Zelda.

In this game, players can play as both Link and Impa and take on some of the most formidable enemies in the series.

You really need to think tactically in order to complete missions, and finishing this game is incredibly satisfying given all the hard work you have to do.

28. Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition

Drawing inspiration from Mexican culture and folklore, Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition features loads of entertaining characters in a Metroid-style action game.

This game has a perfect blend of combat and performance based on Lucha libre wrestling, and there are tons of impressive moves that you can use to take down opponents and come out on top.

27. Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed

Sonic is one of the most popular video game characters of all time, and he, along with everyone’s favorite characters from the series, returns in one of the best racing Wii U games.

Giving players access to loads of vehicles that transform to speed across land, air, and sea, there is a lot of fun to be had racing against your friends in this Sonic game.

26. SteamWorld Heist

SteamWorld Heist follows smuggler and part-time pirate Captain Piper Faraday as she blasts and loots her way through enemy spaceships.

With her rag-tag band of steam-powered robots that players can upgrade to overcome challenges, there is no shortage of great places to explore in this intergalactic thieves’ game.

25. Skylanders SuperChargers

When it first debuted Skylanders was hugely popular, and because players could purchase toys to use as in-game characters, it quickly became a big business that other games tried to build upon.

However, nothing else could quite match up to the Skylanders franchise, and when SuperChargers was released for the Wii U, it was an instant hit with fans.

Bringing to life a whole new group of 20 heroes, each with new powers and weapons, players went to great lengths to collect their favorite characters.

24. Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director’s Cut

The Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director’s Cut tasks players with providing security to a high-tech biotech facility, but things quickly go wrong when an elite black ops team storms the building.

Players are quickly thrown into the deep end as they try to unravel the secrets of why the facility was attacked while also grappling with the knowledge that every consequence could have dire repercussions for the future of mankind.

23. Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE

This RPG was specially created for the Wii U and serves as a crossover between Shin Megami Tensei and Nintendo’s Fire Emblem series.

Set in modern Tokyo, the game follows the story of a talent agency that must fight against hostile beings from another world.

It was split into several different chapters, with players able to participate with several other playable characters.

22. Xenoblade Chronicles X

Fans of Xenoblade Chronicles on the original Wii Nintendo console or 3DS had a lot to celebrate when this game came to the Wii U.

Not only was it a new way to experience the Xenoblade universe, but it offered loads of combat customizations and places to discover.

Any fan of the series quickly lost hours to Xenoblade Chronicles X, and we’d argue that it was time well spent!

21. Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate

Although Monster Hunter Rise is one of the best multiplayer games of all time, on the Wii U, it was Monster Hunter 3 that held that title.

With over 200 quests, monsters as tall as mountains, and more weapons than you could ever hope to choose from, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate more than lived up to its name.

Players can either hunt monsters alongside their AI companions or connect to the Wii U system with up to three friends online.

While the gameplay was excellent, the graphics also garnered a lot of praise, with stunning HD visuals that made it the best Monster Hunter game at the time.

20. Axiom Verge

This Metroidvania game was first released for the PlayStation 4 and later ported to the Wii U in 2016. However, despite not originally debuting on the console, it quickly became one of the best Wii U games.

Designed as a side-scrolling adventure, Axiom Verge allows players to explore a strange high-tech world with over 60 powerups and a focus on exploration.

It borrows many elements from classic games like Metroid, which make it feel both familiar and unique.

19. Bayonetta

Giving players control of a gun-toting witch, Bayonetta had no limit to the number of enemies it would throw at you, which could be killed using over-the-top finishing moves.

This game is incredibly fast-paced with loads of outlandish action that make it hard to put down once you start playing.

18. LEGO City: Undercover

Yet another fantastic LEGO game for the Wii U, LEGO City: Undercover, allows players to take on the role of Chase McCain, a detective armed with no shortage of creative disguises.

While the main plot revolves around stopping the crime spree around LEGO City, many side missions also give players endless hours of entertainment.

17. Yoshi’s Woolly World

Yoshi has starred in many of the most popular Nintendo games of all time, but he takes the main focus in this adventure.

It features a truly unique art style on a knitted island filled with Yarn Yoshi’s.

In-game, Yoshi’s story takes him through six different worlds as he tries to rescue his wooly friends, and while it isn’t the most challenging game, it is a great and adorable way to kill some time.

16. Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition

An enhanced version of the game initially developed by Rocksteady Studios, this Wii U version tells the same story as the original but with improved gameplay made possible with the Wii U gamepad.

It features many of the most popular Batman villains, including The Riddler, The Joker, Harley Quinn, and Two-Face, giving players the chance to experience what crime-fighting is like in Gotham City.

15. Nintendo Land

Nintendo Land introduces players to a vast theme park containing 12 attractions, each giving a unique flair from one of the most popular Nintendo series.

These attractions also come with different game modes where players can play alone, against other players, or co-op.

Gameplay will change depending on whether players use a Wii remote or gamepad.

14. Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker

Another great character from the Mario franchise, Toad, takes center stage in his own adventure for the first time in Treasure Tracker.

In this game, players will have to help Captain Toad navigate through tricky maze-like levels filled with enemies to try and grab as many gold stars as possible.

13. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is one of the best GameCube games of all time, and its HD remake earns a spot as one of the best on the Wii U.

This emotional adventure came to the Wii U with new, improved graphics and controls and brand-new challenges.

Players can try their hand at Hero mode, where they will take 2x damage or take on the Cave of Shadows, a challenging dungeon not available in the original game.

12. Splatoon

This four-on-four multiplayer game throws players into a brutal battle arena to duke it out against other players to claim victory for themselves.

Players on both teams can shoot ink on the ground to claim opponent territory, and everyone can turn into squid creatures to swim through their team’s ink pools.

11. Shovel Knight

With this crowdfunded game, Shovel Knight brought all the charm of classic 8-bit games into the modern era.

As Shovel Knight, wielding their trusty shovel, players have to battle through numerous foes to try and stop the evil Enchantress and rescue his lost love.

10. Rayman Legends

The armless and legless hero returns in Rayman Legends for the Wii U, and in this installment of the series, players have to run, jump, and fight their way through numerous worlds to uncover secrets and save the world.

With the Wii U, gamepad players can use the touchscreen to take out enemies, manipulate platforms, and more.

9. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

Tropical Freeze is a ridiculously entertaining entry in the series, and it focuses on Donkey Kong and his friends trying to take back their home from Vikings.

In-game, players have to jump, swing, swim, and blast their way through tons of levels to save DK Island from being permanently lost under the ice.

8. Mario Kart 8

Mario Kart has been one of the most successful spin-offs from the best Super Mario games and Mario Kart 8 is no exception.

With brand new tracks to race around and new gravity-defying karts, there are many things for players to experience.

The 12-player online competitive racing also made a comeback, allowing players to test their skills against others across the globe.

7. Bayonetta 2

This cinematic sequel built on what its critically acclaimed predecessor started and upped the ante to ensure gamers would constantly be on the edges of their seats.

Filled with even more gorgeous cut-scenes and epic battles, you can fight against loads of outrageous enemies like giant angels or towering demonic monsters, all while scaling skyscrapers or running across the top of a train.

6. Super Smash Bros For Wii U

Super Smash Mario Bros. for Wii U is a game any Mario fan needed to have, and it is the best game for testing your fighting skills against your friends.

All of the best characters from the previous Super Smash Bros. games are available, and the stages look better than ever!

5. Pikmin 3

In the third entry in the acclaimed Pikmin series, players can control three explorers trying to survive by using their array of cute Pikmin, who each have their own unique abilities.

By using these abilities, players can solve puzzles, fight off predators, and scavenge for food needed to stay alive.

It is a cute game, but one that definitely requires players to think strategically.

4. Super Mario Maker

Super Mario Maker is one of the most creative Wii U games, and it gives players the ability to create their own levels using the Wii U gamepad.

There are so many crazy things that you can do, from combining enemies into wacky new amalgamations to making cannons that shoot Piranha Plants.

For gamers who love being able to show off their creativity, Super Mario Maker is a must-have.

3. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD

This remastered version of one of the best Zelda games of all time comes with 1080p graphics and a streamlined interface that makes managing your inventory a lot easier.

Considered to be the definitive version of the game, there are a lot of new items, and features added that make it an instant hit with fans of the original Zelda games.

2. Super Mario 3D World

The first 3D Mario game for the Wii U gives players the ability to play as either Mario, Luigi, Peach, or Toad, as they jump through platformer levels to try and rescue as many Sprixies as possible.

While critics didn’t praise the multiplayer mode highly, everything else, including the graphics, gameplay, soundtrack, and replay value, are all top of the line.

1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Of course, our number one spot goes to the best ever designed game and arguably the best video game of all time. 

While there are a lot of Zelda games, Breath of the Wild is truly phenomenal, and it handles exploration and adventure unlike any other.

Free exploration is encouraged, and so much freedom is given to the player as they battle enemies, gather items, and learn more about the world around them.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild iwas as much of a must-play then as it is now, and it has undoubtedly made a lasting mark in video game history.

Summary

We hope you enjoyed our list of the best Wii U games of all time!

The Wii U has some genuinely amazing games, so trying to pick out the best was tough. However, these were the games that stood out from all the rest and took up a lot of our time on the console!

Here’s a quick recap of the 50 best Wii U games of all time:

1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
2. Super Mario 3D World
3. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD
4. Super Mario Maker
5. Pikmin 3
6. Super Smash Bros For Wii U
7. Bayonetta 2
8. Mario Kart 8
9. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
10. Rayman Legends
11. Shovel Knight
12. Splatoon
13. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD
14. Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
15. Nintendo Land
16. Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition
17. Yoshi’s Woolly World
18. LEGO City: Undercover
19. Bayonetta
20. Axiom Verge
21. Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate
22. Xenoblade Chronicles X
23. Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE
24. Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director’s Cut
25. Skylanders SuperChargers
26. SteamWorld Heist
27. Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
28. Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition
29. Hyrule Warriors
30. NES Remix 2
31. Need for Speed: Most Wanted U
32. Child of Light
33. Shantae And The Pirate’s Curse
34. The Wonderful 101
35. FAST Racing NEO
36. New Super Mario Bros. U
37. Tekken Tag Tournament 2
38. Affordable Space Adventures
39. New Super Luigi U
40. Project Zero: Maiden of Black Water
41. DuckTales: Remastered
42. LEGO Marvel Super Heroes
43. NES Remix
44. Shantae: Half-Genie Hero
45. Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag
46. LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes
47. Resident Evil Revelations
48. Runbow
49. Minecraft: Wii U Edition
50. Mass Effect 3: Special Edition

What’s the best Wii U game, in your opinion? Leave a comment below.