TheWiilaunched in 2006 to young gamers around the world, bringing a wireless controller to households everywhere. The Wii lasted from 2006 until 2013 when the console was eventually discontinued as the Wii U would become its successor.
Within this time period, we had eight full years of Wii games, with some powerhouse titles standing out among the rest. Sure, there are a lot of games based on some forgotten animated movie, but each year, we received a few gems that continue to be talked about. Here, we are going to take a look at the best Wii games for each year of the console’s life.
The years mentioned in this list are based on North American launch dates.
First up, we have The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Any game within this franchise is bound to be popular, but Twilight Princess took a welcomed dark turn. Many gamers today still consider this as one of the best titles in The Legend of Zelda franchise.
As one of the first games on the console, Twilight Princess really left its mark. Of course, we can’t forget one of the most iconic games on the Wii as an honorable mention; Wii Sports. Everyone knows this game, and while it may not be as good as Twilight Princess, it’s definitely a household name.
Super Mario Galaxy is often considered one of the best Mario games in the franchise. While it’snot the first 3D Mario gameout here (this title goes to Super Mario 64), it’s definitely one of the most memorable, helping shape Mario as we know him today and in Super Mario Odyssey.
The game serves as the first Nintendo title to win a BAFTA Award for Best Game, with other nominees including Fallout 3, Grand Theft Auto 4, and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. If you are a fan of Super Mario Galaxy and have yet to play the sequel (Super Mario Galaxy 2, launching in 2010), be sure to check it out!
62008
Animal Crossing: City Folk
2008 was a good year for Wii games, especially with the third game in the Animal Crossing franchise launching, titled City Folk. While some believed it to be too similar to the previous two games, there is no denying that those similarities make Animal Crossing games cozy and enjoyable.
Interestingly, Animal Crossing: City Folk was the first game on Wii to use Wii Speak, which was essentially a microphone that let you speak with other players. As an honorable mention, we have Mario Kart Wii. This is one of the best-selling Mario Kart games in the franchise, and many gamers havefond memories of playing Mario Kart Wiiwhile growing up (myself included).
Next up, we have Muramasa: The Demon Blade. This 2009 title is brought to us by Vanillaware, who most recently developed Unicorn Overload for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox. For many gamers, this might have even been one of the first JPRGs experienced.
Muramasa: The Demon Blade involved 2D, side-scrolling combat and gameplay, with absolutely gorgeous art and character design. As a 2009 honorable mention, we also have Punch Out. While boxing games aren’t for everyone, Punch Out is definitely one of the best fighting games on the Wii.
2010 brought us a classic; Donkey Kong Country Returns. While the game is ‘returning’, it’s the first game in the franchise not to be developed by Rare. Instead, it was brought to us by Retro Studios, who are also the developers behind the Metroid Franchise.
Although Donkey Kong isn’t as well-known as Mario, there is no denying that Donkey Kong Country Returns is a fun, fast-paced platformer that brings in new fans of Donkey Kong (and, of course, Diddy Kong). Oh, and mark your calendars; this game is getting a Switch port early in 2025!
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is the second of two games from The Legend of Zelda franchise that we have on our list. Although this was the second release for the Wii, there were three other games in the franchise that launched between Twilight Princess and this one.
Skyward Sword is an important game in the franchise, with many considering it at thestart of the branching, chronological timeline. This is on the exact opposite end of the newest games in the franchise; Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.
22012
Xenoblade Chronicles
For JRPG fans, Xenoblade Chronicles is a household name. This is the first entry into the franchise, but interestingly, it launched in Japan in 2010. At this point in time, a North American version wasn’t on the table, but enough people showed interest, so two years later, we received Xenoblade Chronicles.
This was a great decision, as Xenoblade Chronicles is now one of the most popular franchises out there. You can find several other games in the franchise, including Xenoblade Chronicles which launched on the Nintendo Switch in 2022.
12013+
Just Dance
Last but not least, we have Just Dance. This is an incredibly long-running franchise that started in 2009 and is still going strong. In 2013, the Wii didn’t see any monumental titles, especially as it was the last official year of its life. Just Dance was in a unique position though, as it continued launching even after this.
That’s right; the Just Dance franchise went all the way to 2020. These Wii games still maintained a loyal fanbase, so Ubisoft continued making more. Interestingly, the Nintendo Switch had already existed for three years when Just Dance 2020 launched on Wii.
