Top 10 Nintendo Wii U games

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The Nintendo Wii U made landfall in late 2012, proving a reasonably decent successor of the original Nintendo Wii. It sported multiple cutting-edge features in its time, such as a highly refined touchscreen and an extensive array of top-tier exclusive IPs. It was once considered one of the best family entertainment consoles that parents could pick up to play with their kids, and even in 2021, some deem the console worth buying. Nintendo has done something right with the Wii U for people to dole out such statements for the handheld gaming device.

As it is with every console in the world, one of the best reasons people choose one platform over the other is the library of games. For instance, the PlayStation 4 has managed to sell more profoundly than the Xbox One. Now, this can be due to multiple reasons, but it’s safe to put it out here that the fantastic catalog of exclusive titles available on the former has been one of the defining reasons for this occurring as well.

Therefore, we’re going to round up the top 10 Nintendo Wii U games that you can try out right now if you still happen to own a Wii U. All of these titles have amassed their fair share of reputation. So it’s genuinely no wonder how they’ve managed to land a spot on this list. So without any further ado, then, let’s jump right into the action.

The best Nintendo Wii U games

The following are the top 10 Nintendo Wii U games. We will outline a description under each game to know what you’re getting yourself into.

SUGGESTED READ: Play Wii U Games on Chromebook

1. Shovel Knight

Starting off this list is the ever-brilliant Shovel Knight—a classic side-scrolling title where you play as a small-scale knight who has set out on his journey to lay the evil Enchantress to rest. The game follows delightful gameplay with excellent graphics and a terrific narrative.

It grips in players right from the get-go and presents an incredibly thought-out retro aesthetic. You have to defeat six types of bosses in the game to get to the main antagonist: the Enchantress. Yacht Club Games is the mastermind behind this title, with loads of other titles to brag about.

If you purchase it from Amazon for your Wii U, you’ll get a bunch of goodies with your copy of the game, including a 40-page introductory manual. The soundtrack is also included within the game, should you want to listen to it apart from when it plays. People have loved the music created for Shovel Knight, so if you’re an audiophile, you’ll genuinely admire the title for this feature.

It’s currently available for about $39 online, but you can probably find it cheaper near your locality. Apart from the main game mode within the title, there are other ways to play the game, such as the Challenge Mode and the Battle Mode. You cannot go wrong with the glamor of a title like Shovel Knight. It’s easily one of the best games ever made for the Nintendo Wii U.

You can purchase Shovel Knight directly from Amazon.

2. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is set to go down in history as one of the best games ever made. It’s filled with surprises and features adventure gameplay elements like no other. However, what makes the game unique is your choices’ effect in the long run during the main storyline.

You’re simply going to be making your path in Breath of the Wild while exploring the vast stretches of the ethereal landscapes, mountains, and stunning deserts. There’s a lot to discover and even more to unlock in this top-tier action-adventure for Nintendo Wii U.

This iteration of The Legend of Zelda features a wide diversity of enemies. From monumental giants to lightning-throwing dark beasts, you’ll have to overcome the odds stacked against you to come out on top. However, the game pays off heavily to those willing to dive into exploration. You never know what you’ll find as a reward in the next seemingly friendly corner.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a full-fledged RPG released on the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Wii U back in 2017. By opting for this game, you’re simply jumping into a mesmerizing story teeming with lovable characters, formidable villains, beautiful graphics, and enticing combat—all of which put the title at somewhere near the top of the hierarchy.

You can purchase The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild directly from Amazon.

3. Bayonetta 2

Bayonetta 2 is another fantastic game to play on the Nintendo Wii U. It is a direct sequel to Bayonetta, another well-established title released for multiple platforms, including Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and others.

In Bayonetta 2, you play as the eponymous Bayonetta—an exceedingly potent witch who uses a diverse combination of melee blows and gunplay to hammer down foes with swift precision. At times, the game’s combat resembles the Devil May Cry franchise, which is another top-of-the-line hack-and-slash title launched on most modern-day platforms.

Bayonetta 2 follows the storyline of our female protagonist embarking on a mission to save her friend Jeanne’s soul, which was captured during a routine fight against the angels. Bayonetta travels to a mountain called Fimbulventr and meets another important character named Loki.

The duo team up to help accomplish their objectives and fend off evil forces together. Exhilarating combat, stylish combos, and gravity-defying skill moves are some of the most enjoyed aspects of Bayonetta 2. This is a must-play for owners of the Nintendo Wii U.

You can purchase Bayonetta 2 directly from Amazon today.

4. Mario Kart 8

Mario Kart 8 is the best-selling Nintendo Wii U game of all time, and this already says a lot about what we’re going to talk about. Boasting a sales record of more than 8 million units, Mario Kart 8 is a racing game where characters of the Mario franchise use karts to battle it out with each other in a comprehensive assortment of tracks.

It features the tried-and-tested winning formula of the previous Mario Kart installments gameplay-wise but is also well-admired for introducing a bey of new tricks and functionality. To talk about one, players can drive anti-gravity karts in the game that defy the laws of Physics and let users go upside down on walls and other ceilings.

What’s more, you can Mario Kart 8 online with your friends and random players for free, but this is more of a hallmark of the Nintendo Woo U console than the game itself. There are 32 base tracks in the game and 16 additional ones released as DLC.

You can also set the game difficulty by your skill level. If you’re a newbie and are worried that the gameplay will be unforgiving, you’re stressed up over nothing. You can play without breaking a sweat in Easy mode to get the hang of the title and how different power-ups influence the race. It’s only a matter of time before you understand how the Mario Kart series plays, so don’t worry about not being able to play the game.

You can purchase Mario Kart 8 directly from Amazon today, but we suggest looking into other retailers for lower prices.

5. Rayman Legends

Rayman Legends is another must-play title for you to go wild on a Nintendo Wii U. You can buy it currently for somewhere around $15, which is dirt cheap for a game of this stature. It’s yet another 2D side-scrolling game like Shovel Knight but is simply on another level of graphics, gameplay, and combat.

This is a kid-friendly game as well, featuring amusing characters and an entertaining storyline that lets you enjoy the whole affair with your kids if you’re looking to pick this game up for your little one. The controls are smooth, and the gameplay is seemingly never out of fun ideas to crack up the player.

What interests us the most about this game is how it harnesses the Nintendo Wii U console and utilizes its full potential. You’re free to rotate full-blown platforms using the device’s touchscreen and even defeat enemies using the same functionality.

The gyroscope, which can be used to control the game’s orientation, is also an essential game element that’ll prove its worth as you make progress in the game. There’s a lot that Rayman Legends can offer to its players, including 5-player cooperative gameplay with 3D boss battles, even though the game itself is 2-dimensional. Lastly, there are remarkable “Rayman Rocks” stages in the game where you have to dance to the rhythm and beat the music-oriented level in style.

You can purchase Rayman Legends directly from Amazon today.

6. Super Mario 3D World

Super Mario 3D World is one more title that has secured its position as one of the best Nintendo Wii U games ever made. The legendary Mario franchise has another game to boast about, and this time, it’s the Super Mario 3D World with a terrific reception at the time of its launch.

To this day, it remains the second best-selling Wii U game, with the number one spot being claimed by the aforementioned Mario Kart 8. The game has sold more than 5.88 million units, and all the thanks here are owed to Super Mario 3D World’s unique storyline, fun gameplay, and enjoyable game mechanics. You’re looking at a polished title that’s double the fun when paired with another player.

That is to say; the game features a co-op mode where up to 4 players can play at once. In addition, the touchscreen of the Nintendo Wii U can be used to do in-game searches for hidden rewards and to freeze your foes on the spot as well. This makes the game much more appealing, especially to younger audiences.

Super Mario 3D World also features distinct cat transformation scenes where you undergo metamorphosis and become a furry feline. However, this feline isn’t as cute as it sounds. The cat can cut down enemies, run at a fast pace, climb up structures, and help you traverse the game seamlessly.

Purchase the game directly from Amazon today.

7. Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition

The Nintendo Wii U console is home to some of the best 2D games on the entire planet, and Guacamelee! is out here putting truth to just that. This is a fighting game with fluid, uninterrupted combat with striking visuals that feature an exciting storyline. Games that offer good gameplay and storyline are some of the best ones to try.

You begin your journey (again) as a Mexican wrestler called Juan, who once saved the world from the ferocious Carlos Calaca. Years after the colossal battle, when Juan is enjoying his retirement as a dedicated husband and father, threats from his difficult past start to surface again and he is yet again compelled to put on the mask of the luchadors.

The spirits and the Gods in the game help Juan get back to his peak physique as retirement indeed did a number on him. Once he restores his body, he sets out once again to save the president’s daughter and rescue the world one more time from the deadly plans of Carlos Calaca.

The gameplay of Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition as if wasn’t enough a treat that the developer decided to make the title cooperative, so up to four players can rock the game at once. Beware, though, that the game’s difficulty will increase accordingly as more players join in by your side so that the experience will remain equally challenging.

You can buy the digital code of Guacamelee! directly from Amazon today.

8. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD is an all-time fantastic Nintendo Wii U game that players can enjoy on their consoles. It was a remastered version of the original iteration for Nintendo Gamecube back in 2002.

The revamped variant of the game is now back on a much more advanced console, letting players experience the adventures of Link in 1080p resolution, which pave the way to excellent visual gameplay. The toon-shaded art style is observed throughout the game, not to mention the advanced range of features you’ll get while playing.

Another impressive facet of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD that will uplift your time spent with this game even more is how it takes full advantage of the Nintendo Wii U GamePad controller. Essential gameplay mechanics like viewing the inventory and sifting through the map can be done using the touch-enabled screen of the console.

In addition, the GamePad gyroscope can be utilized to steer through the gam whenever you wish to play it in first-person mode, along with a bunch of other features that the gyroscope can perform. Finally, compared to the original Wind Waker iteration, the developers have implemented another game mode, called Hero Mode, where the difficulty increases and your foes hit twice as hard.

How you regain health is also swapped with another methodology: discovering a Fairy Fountain or finding a Heart Piece will replenish health points. Therefore, you’re looking at an exceedingly intricate design of the Hero Mode where only skilled players will survive and thrive. This doesn’t mean you can’t choose a more manageable difficulty level if you want to get started with the title.

Today, you can purchase The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker directly from Amazon.

9. Super Smash Bros.

Super Smash Bros. is one of the best all-time fighting games globally, let alone one of the best Nintendo Wii U games. It’s a highly rated affair that features your favorite characters from the whole Mario franchise, including, Sonic, Bowser, and a whole bunch of others.

You need to be playing this game with either a friend or an acquaintance to have hours and hours of non-stop fun. There are a wide variety of combat moves in the game, including special ones that make your opponents fly away in total disbelief. There’s a lot to experiment with once you’ve got the hang of the game, so make sure to give the game some time before jumping to a conclusion about it.

To talk about the title’s reach on Amazon, we’re looking at a highly celebrated position with more than 3,000 global ratings and a 4.7/5.0 overall rating. Furthermore, about 82% of the people who bought the game have left a 5-star review lauded with praise for Super Mario Smash Bro. While many have regarded the game as high-quality by the looks, others have pointed out the lack of variety in the game maps.

Other than that, the graphics are flat-our beautiful, and there’s no skipping past the visual glory of Super Smash Bros. on the Nintendo Wii U. One user writes that the music has done nothing but rain nostalgia on them by taking them back to the good, glory days of the classic Nintendo consoles. Nevertheless, this is a decent game to pick up to play with your little one, and we can vouch for that without a doubt.

You can purchase this game directly from Amazon today.

10. Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition

Concluding this list is the ever-brilliant Batman: Arkham City that gives us an accurate Batman game to experience. Step into the shoes of The Caped Crusader and tread about the city of Gotham to put a stop to criminal masterminds and restore peace. The game features top-tier hand-to-hand combat with many gadgets up Batman’s sleeve and down on his belt, too, literally. The game was released way back in 2011.

However, do not let its outdated launch date fool you into thinking that Batman: Arkham City isn’t worth picking up. You will seldom find the narrative that this thriller offers in other titles, so best believe that we’re pointing you in the right direction with your Wii U.

The Armored Edition of the game lets you play as Catwoman too. This is a huge benefit compared to the regular version of the game. Watch how the story of Selina Kyle integrates with the one of Batman and enjoy her unique skillset and gadget equipment. Furthermore, this is yet another game where the GamePad controller utilization is simply at its peak.

Switch between Batman’s gadgets flawlessly with the handheld device and benefit from a more immersive experience when radio frequencies heard by Batman come out of the GamePad speakers. Lastly, a real-time map comes up on the controller instead of checking the in-game map time and time again. A flawless adaptation of Batman is shown in this title, and fans cannot be happier.

You can purchase Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition directly from Amazon today.

Conclusion

The Nintendo Wii U is a timeless console that features the power of a handheld gaming device, so users without a concurrently available television can easily play games through the GamePad controller. Although the Wii U has been a disappointment in the number of units sold, it’s still a worthy affair to get into even today amidst high-ranking competitors like the Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. It houses some of the best games ever made, such as Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart 8.

In this article, we’ve talked about the 10 best Nintendo Wii U games that you can try out today. We’ve also given out Amazon links if you want to grab the game as soon as possible. Our personal favorite out of the bunch is Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition for its fantastic gameplay, storyline, and the utilization of the GamePad controller that makes the whole game a whole lot more enjoyable. It’s an easy recommendation if you’re into comic games, especially fighting ones.

Chrome Ready wishes you happy gaming!