The best Wii U shooter for you depends on what kind of shooting you want: Splatoon for team-based ink battles, Star Fox Zero for motion-aimed space combat, or Call of Duty: Black Ops II and Call of Duty: Ghosts for military first-person shooters. These are distinct recommendations, not a tested, universal ranking: Nintendo’s product pages document features, but do not establish comparative review consensus. Wii U eShop purchases ended on March 27, 2023, and the available product information does not confirm whether these games’ online services work today.
Which Wii U shooter suits your play style?
| Your priority | Best fit | What it offers |
|---|---|---|
| Team-based matches and distinctive movement | Splatoon | Nintendo describes 4-versus-4 online matches, Inkling transformations between human and squid forms, weapons, and gear abilities. Nintendo’s Splatoon page |
| Space combat and dual-screen aiming | Star Fox Zero | A cinematic TV view paired with a cockpit view and motion-controlled aiming on the Wii U GamePad. Nintendo’s Star Fox Zero page |
| A military FPS campaign with branching storylines | Call of Duty: Black Ops II | Nintendo describes a campaign with branching storylines and decisions that affect missions, alongside multiplayer. Nintendo’s Black Ops II page |
| A military FPS with named multiplayer modes | Call of Duty: Ghosts | Nintendo lists a campaign and multiplayer modes including Team Deathmatch, Domination, and Free-For-All. Nintendo’s Ghosts page |
The player counts, modes, and controls below are product features listed by Nintendo, not confirmation of current matchmaking or a head-to-head quality comparison.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Call of Duty: Ghosts - Nintendo Wii U | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Call of Duty: Black Ops II - Nintendo Wii U | $59.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 - Nintendo Wii | $26.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Mass Effect 3 - Nintendo Wii U | $19.60 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
StarFox Zero - Wii U | $57.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Splatoon: best for team-based, objective-focused shooting
Splatoon is the Wii U pick for players who want colorful team battles built around movement and territory. Rather than simply aiming at opponents, Inklings can switch between human and squid forms, and the game’s ink is central to how teams play. Nintendo describes online matches as 4-versus-4 and says weapons combine Main, Sub, and Special components; gear supplies abilities. Its Wii U release date is listed as May 29, 2015. Nintendo’s product page calls it “a brand new kind of battle.”
Choose it if you value team coordination and its unusual ink-and-transformation system over a conventional military campaign. Nintendo’s page documents online features as part of the product; it does not establish that online play is currently available.
#1 Best Overall
- Call of Duty: Ghosts Wii-U
- Call of Duty: Ghosts Wii-U
- Call of Duty: Ghosts Wii-U
Star Fox Zero: best for motion-aimed space combat
Star Fox Zero is a 3D shooter built around using the television and GamePad together. Nintendo describes the TV as showing a cinematic view while the GamePad presents a cockpit view and aiming reticle; motion controls are used for aiming. The game includes the Arwing, Walker, Gyrowing, and Landmaster. Nintendo lists an April 22, 2016 European release date. Nintendo’s product page
This is the fit for players seeking arcade-style vehicle combat and willing to use the GamePad’s second screen and motion aiming as core parts of play. Nintendo’s description establishes how the control scheme works, not whether every player will enjoy it. A physical First Print Edition bundled Star Fox Zero with Star Fox Guard; Nintendo describes Guard as a strategy title, so it is not another shooter in this selection.
Rank #2
- Brand New in box. The product ships with all relevant accessories
Call of Duty: Black Ops II: best for a branching military FPS campaign
Nintendo classifies the Wii U version of Call of Duty: Black Ops II as a first-person shooter, developed by Treyarch and published by Activision Publishing. Its product description highlights a campaign with branching storylines and decisions that affect missions, as well as multiplayer and GamePad features. Nintendo lists its European Wii U release date as November 30, 2012, one to eight simultaneous players, and a PEGI 18 rating. Nintendo’s product page
Pick this edition if a military FPS campaign with consequential choices is your main draw. The listed player range is a product specification; it should not be read as evidence that multiplayer servers are currently operating.
Rank #3
- The definitive multiplayer experience returns bigger than ever
- Special Ops co-op reinvented with all-new survival mode
Call of Duty: Ghosts: best for a military FPS with varied multiplayer modes
Nintendo lists the Wii U edition of Call of Duty: Ghosts as an action/first-person shooter developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision. Its page describes a campaign and multiplayer modes including Team Deathmatch, Domination, and Free-For-All. Nintendo lists a European Wii U release date of November 5, 2013, one to twelve simultaneous players, and a PEGI 16 rating. Nintendo’s product page
Choose Ghosts if those named multiplayer modes matter more to you than Black Ops II’s branching-campaign premise. The product description lists the modes but does not verify current online service status.
Rank #4
- A New Way to Wage War: Command the battlefield with the WiiPad as the Mass Effect franchise makes its debut on the Wii U with new features and bonus content. "Mass Effect 3" features additional missions, weapons, and characters for both single player and multiplayer including the Extended Cut ending and an interactive backstory experience
- Interactive Storytelling: Mass Effect 3 plunges you into an emotional sci-fi story unlike any other where each decision you make will completely shape your experience and the outcome of a galaxy-wide war for survival
- Unleash a Customizable Arsenal: Build your character and squad with dozens of unique weapons and abilities, each with powerful upgrades and modifications
- Class-Based Co-operative Multiplayer Missions: Fight the war alongside your friends in four-player co-op missions. Choose from a variety of races and classes and combine your skills to overcome overwhelming odds. Your success can have an impact on the outcome of your single-player experience
- Adrenaline-Pumping Gameplay: Feel every bullet impact, roll into cover, and unleash devastating heavy weapons in an intense and pulse-pounding action-shooter game
How to buy and check availability
Nintendo’s game pages state that Wii U eShop purchases ended on March 27, 2023. Nintendo’s eShop discontinuation notice Physical copies are therefore the relevant route to look for these Wii U games. Availability and condition vary by seller, and current listings have not been confirmed here.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Watch video screens as you frantically shoot down waves of attacking robots
- Defend your facility from the evil (but cute) forces of Andross
- Create your own waves of attacking enemies and share them with friends
- Level up to unlock more missions and special cameras
- Check that the listing is specifically for the Wii U edition, not a version for another console.
- Confirm disc condition and region compatibility with your setup.
- If online play is important, verify the current service status separately; historical product pages are not server-status notices.
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.
