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The best Wii U games depend on what you want to play: Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U are natural picks for multiplayer, while The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD and Breath of the Wild suit solo adventures. This shortlist draws on Nintendo’s notable Wii U releases and its 2015 reader-voted favorites—not a definitive or timeless critical ranking.
How these Wii U games were selected
Nintendo UK’s June 2015 reader poll named Mario Kart 8 its top Wii U game and included Super Mario 3D World, The Wind Waker HD, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Bayonetta 2 among its favorites. That is useful evidence of what Nintendo’s audience valued at the time, but it is a poll rather than an objective ranking. Nintendo’s Wii U catalog also highlights Super Mario Maker and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The picks below are organized by the kind of play they offer, with solo and multiplayer strengths distinguished where relevant.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens - Wii U Standard Edition | $7.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
The LEGO Movie Videogame - Wii U | $11.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Super Mario 3D World - Nintendo Wii U (Renewed) | $17.31 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Warner Bros Lego Marvel Avengers - Wii U | $12.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Super Smash Bros. - Nintendo Wii U (Renewed) | $14.35 | Buy on Amazon |
Nintendo’s 2015 reader-voted list and Wii U game catalog provide the basis for the selection; neither establishes a current critical consensus.
Best Wii U games by what you want to play
Best for racing with friends: Mario Kart 8
Released for Wii U on 30 May 2014, Mario Kart 8 pairs familiar kart racing with antigravity sections. Nintendo describes both same-room competition and online play, and lists several controller options: the Wii U GamePad, Wii U Pro Controller, Wii Wheel with Wii Remote, Wii Remote with Nunchuk, and Classic Controller Pro. That flexibility makes it an especially easy recommendation for a group with different controller preferences.
#1 Best Overall
- The No. 1 LEGO videogame franchise triumphantly returns with a fun-filled, humorous journey based on the blockbuster Star Wars film.
- LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens
- LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Nintendo UK’s 2016 Mario feature counted 32 courses in the standard game and 16 additional courses as add-on content, and described online races for up to 12 players. Those are Nintendo’s figures from 2016; they should not be taken as a statement about the present availability or status of online services. Nintendo says Wii U eShop purchases ended on 27 March 2023, so players seeking the game for original hardware may need to find a physical copy.
Sources: Nintendo’s Mario Kart 8 page and its 2016 Mario feature.
Best for cooperative platforming: Super Mario 3D World
Super Mario 3D World is the clearest pick here for a group that wants to explore and platform together rather than compete. Nintendo’s 2015 poll described it as the first 3D Super Mario game to let up to four players join in together. That four-player figure comes from Nintendo’s 2015 description. The game also appeared among the poll’s reader favorites.
Rank #2
- The LEGO Movie Videogame puts LEGO kids into the role of Emmet, an ordinary, rules-following, perfectly average LEGO minifigure who is mistakenly identified as the most extraordinary person and the key to saving the world.
- Players guide Emmet as he is drafted into a fellowship of strangers on an epic quest to stop an evil tyrant, a journey for which Emmet is hopelessly and hilariously underprepared.
Source: Nintendo UK’s 2015 reader-voted list.
Best for competitive local play: Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is a strong choice when the appeal is a lively couch-play session or a more tournament-minded fighting game. Nintendo’s reader feature pointed to its broad character appeal and audiences ranging from tournament players to people playing casually at home. It is a distinct alternative to Mario Kart 8: rather than racing through courses, players face off in a fighting game.
Sources: Nintendo’s Wii U catalog and 2015 reader-voted list.
Best for a solo nautical adventure: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD
The Wind Waker HD is a Wii U high-definition remaster of the 2003 GameCube game, not a Wii U-original adventure. Its place among Nintendo UK’s 2015 reader favorites makes it a sensible choice for players seeking a single-player Zelda journey on the console. Choose it if you want the Wii U version of a recognized GameCube adventure rather than a game created exclusively for Wii U.
Rank #3
- Disc only. Original case and manual not included. Will come packaged in a generic case.
- Each character has unique abilities and play styles. For example, Princess Peach glides over gaps, while Luigi has his trademark extra-high jump.
- The new cat transformation allows players to run on all fours, pounce on enemies, attack in midair, or use their claws to scamper up walls and goal poles.
- Explore colorful 3D environments filled with obstacles and contraptions like transparent pipes and vertical conveyor belts, which add new puzzle elements.
- Use the Wii U GamePad Controller's touch screen to search for hidden blocks and freeze enemies in place.
Sources: Nintendo’s description of the HD remaster and 2015 reader-voted list.
Best for stylish action: Bayonetta 2
Bayonetta 2 is another of Nintendo UK’s 2015 reader-voted favorites and a featured Wii U release in Nintendo’s catalog. It is the shortlist’s action-game pick, offering a different kind of recommendation from the platforming and adventure games around it.
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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Sources: Nintendo’s Wii U catalog and 2015 reader-voted list.
Rank #4
- Diverse roster of Marvel’s Avengers characters –Play and unlock more than 100 new and returning characters with an array of exciting capabilities, including fan favorites like Hulk, Iron Man, Captain America and Thor, new characters from Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, and more.
- New and enhanced powers and abilities – Battle in new ways with enhanced powers and character abilities. Team up with core Avengers to execute incredible combo moves.
- Free Roam Gameplay – Enjoy LEGO Marvel’s Avengers’ unique take on open world gameplay as you assume the roles of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes to collect gold bricks, studs, and unlock additional characters.
- Variety of iconic locations – Visit iconic Marvel Cinematic Universe locations from around the world.
- Experience the blockbuster action from the Avengers films – Relive key moments from Marvel’s The Avengers, Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron and more, with a splash of classic LEGO humor.
Best for making and sharing courses: Super Mario Maker
Super Mario Maker is the pick for players who want to build as well as play. Nintendo describes it as offering a practically infinite number of courses and calls it available only on Wii U. “Practically infinite” is Nintendo’s description, not a literal count; the useful distinction is that course creation is central to the game rather than an extra mode in a conventional platformer.
Source: Nintendo’s Wii U game catalog.
Best for a sweeping solo adventure: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Breath of the Wild is listed for Wii U with a release date of 3 March 2017, and Nintendo describes the game as an adventure for one player. It is the solo-adventure choice for readers who want a major open-ended Zelda journey on the console. The Wii U release date and player description come from Nintendo’s official game page.
Source: Nintendo’s Breath of the Wild page.
Quick comparison
| Game | Best fit | Play style | Wii U-specific context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mario Kart 8 | Racing and group play | Same-room and online competition, according to Nintendo | Wii U release: 30 May 2014; Nintendo’s 2016 feature counted 32 standard courses and 16 add-on courses. |
| Super Mario 3D World | Cooperative platforming | Up to four players together, in Nintendo’s 2015 description | A Nintendo reader favorite in 2015. |
| Super Smash Bros. for Wii U | Competitive local play | Fighting game for couch play and tournament audiences | Featured in Nintendo’s Wii U catalog and 2015 reader list. |
| The Wind Waker HD | Solo adventure | High-definition remaster of a GameCube game | Wii U remaster of the 2003 original. |
| Bayonetta 2 | Action | Action game | Featured in Nintendo’s Wii U catalog and 2015 reader list. |
| Super Mario Maker | Course creation | Build and play courses | Nintendo called it available only on Wii U. |
| Breath of the Wild | Solo adventure | One-player adventure, per Nintendo | Wii U release: 3 March 2017. |
How to get and play these games now
Nintendo says purchases in the Wii U eShop ended on 27 March 2023. That means new eShop purchases are not an option; for original hardware, a physical copy may be necessary. Availability, condition, price, regional compatibility, and seller reliability vary, and no current stock or price is established here.
Best Value
- Disc only. Original case and manual not included. Will come packaged in a generic case.
- This renewed game has been cleaned, tested, and shows minimal wear.
If you do not already have the hardware, Nintendo describes Wii U as a home console centered on the Wii U GamePad. Check that any used console and its GamePad are included and working before buying; a replacement GamePad may be useful to an existing owner, but compatibility and current availability should be verified with the seller. Nintendo lists the GamePad among the controller options for Mario Kart 8.
Sources: Nintendo’s Mario Kart 8 page, Breath of the Wild page, and Wii U catalog.
Quick Recap
Which Wii U game should you start with?
- Choose Mario Kart 8 for racing and flexible multiplayer.
- Choose Super Mario 3D World for cooperative platforming.
- Choose Super Smash Bros. for Wii U for competitive fighting-game sessions.
- Choose The Wind Waker HD or Breath of the Wild for a solo Zelda adventure, with the former a remaster of a 2003 GameCube game.
- Choose Super Mario Maker if creating courses is as appealing as playing them.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
