Remember, remember the 18th of November – the tenth anniversary of Nintendo’s oft-forgot Wii U console. In honour of Nintendo’s worst-ever selling console (selling even less than the GameCube), we’ve rounded up the top ten Wii U games that can be played on the Nintendo Switch. Because if we’re being honest, that’s the only place we’ll ever get to try them out.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
It feels a little silly that on every Nintendo top 10 we do, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild manages to find itself in the number one spot. It even finds itself on lists that don’t concern Nintendo-specific games. It’s just that good. But when people refer to Breath of the Wild, it’s often talked about on the Switch, which is where it gained its popularity as a launch title for the far better-selling console. People seem to forget that Breath of the Wild was originally built for the Wii U.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was the first in the series to shake up the age-old formula, adding a beautifully crafted open world that granted the player a certain freedom to go about the game at whatever pace they’d like. There isn’t so much of a story to follow here. Link’s tasks are the same as ever: Defeat Ganon and save Princess Zelda. But the way that Link gets there is entirely up to the player. Attempting to defeat Ganon with three hearts is an option, though we’d recommend getting just a teeny bit stronger first. Four hearts should be enough, right?
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
One of the best ‘Mario Karts’ we’ve ever played, Mario Kart 8 originally got its start on the Wii U in 2014. Three years later it would receive critical acclaim in the form of the newly revamped Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Switch. Almost everyone who has a Switch already has this one. If you don’t, what’s stopping you?
The Deluxe version added all the previous DLCs, a reworked Battle Mode, and new characters such as the Splatoon Inklings. We’re so glad that it finally hit a console with a larger player base than the number of fingers on one hand. Otherwise, we might have missed out on some of the best courses and racing gameplay the series has ever seen. Deluxe became so popular that Nintendo did away with a sequel, opting to release the Booster Course Pass – a DLC that will see 48 new (and old) tracks added to the game before 2023 is finished.
Bayonetta 2
Disputes with the series’ main voice actor aside, Bayonetta 2 is one of the Wii U’s few must-play titles. If a witch that makes teenage boys feel something performing silly but rather rad finishers on her enemies (using her hair and large quantities of bullets) sounds like the perfect package, then you need to try out Bayonetta 2.
The Switch’s version isn’t really an upgrade in any way. It’ll perform exactly the same on a Wii U, should you actually own one. Getting it on the Switch is more out of necessity rather than performance upgrades. But you can’t improve on perfection, right? The long-awaited sequel to this one may have just been released, but don’t get too hung up on the witch’s voice in number two. It doesn’t return for the third installment.
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury
While not nearly as good as the Super Mario Galaxy titles for the Wii that came before it, or Super Mario Odyssey that came after it, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury is still a solid Mario game. There’s everything you’d expect from a 3D Mario platformer here. Great level design and a new bell item that lets Mario turn into a cat that can fight off enemies and stick to the walls.
The Switch version throws in Bowser’s Fury to keep you playing just a little longer. We mean it. Bowser’s Fury isn’t very long. But it’s still worth giving a try – Mario fan or not.
Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition
Despite releasing on multiple platforms, playing Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition on the Switch is really the definitive way to play through the 2D platformer (pun intended). We had our fun with Rayman and his friends on the PS3 when it first launched, sure – but playing it in handheld mode is where it shines brightest. Especially if you’ve picked up the Nintendo Switch OLED.
Playing on the Switch grants access to a host of new multiplayer mini-games, but it’s hardly needed since the main attraction is what you’ll be spending most of your time with. What with its vibrant, clever level design and stunning music levels, there’s no reason to not pick this one up. Besides the size of your wallet. Fortunately, Nintendo likes to throw this one up on its sales page quite often. Unfortunately, there’s no sale going on at the moment.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
Unlike some of the other entries on this list, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze doesn’t do much to warrant the inflated price tag. Sure, it added a new difficulty mode to its repertoire, but that’s about it. The strangely dubbed Funky mode may not be a good justification for Nintendo to take more of your money, but it’s not an unfun addition either.
Funky Mode turns the player into Funky Kong (hahaha), a character given the power of the double jump, a floating surfboard, and stronger hit points. It makes completing the game’s hardcore challenges a little more bearable. Under all that, Tropical Freeze is still a decent 2D platformer with fun levels, a really good score, and some pretty visuals to stare at.
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
If playing as Toad – a side character in many of the Mario games out there – has been on your bucket list, it could be time to cross that one off. Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is essentially a Super Mario 3D world mini-game brought to life as its own standalone title. Captain Toad found life on both the 3DS and Switch as well as the Wii U, possibly because it’s at its best when played on a small screen.
Captain Toad lets the player explore miniature dioramas teeming with little puzzles and gems to discover at your own pace. The Switch port added a few extras such as new levels, better graphics, and the ability to play as Toadette in a co-op mode.
Pikmin 3 Deluxe
From the brilliant mind of Shigeru Miyamoto comes the Pikmin series. It’s certainly not as well-known as his other creations like Mario and the Legend of Zelda, though it is a fun playthrough all the same. Pikmin 3 is a strange but wonderful survival and strategy hybrid, letting you control armies of Pikmin on an alien planet, sourcing food, solving puzzles, and bashing giant enemies that want to stop you at any cost.
And what better time to jump into Pikmin 3 with the long-rumoured Pikmin 4 officially confirmed to be released sometime in 2023? The Deluxe Switch port is easily the better version to play, including all previous DLC missions and an entirely new prologue and epilogue missions to enjoy. It’s cute. It’s fun. It’s not cheap. But for the time you can sink into Pikmin 3, it’s worth it.
The Wonderful 101: Remastered
The creators of Bayonetta, PlatinumGames were also behind The Wonderful 101, a Wii U exclusive that was designed specifically with the Wii U gamepad’s touchscreen in mind. Fortunately, the Switch’s own touchscreen gamepad is a far better accessory for it. That’s because where the Wii U required you to draw using the right stick, the Switch lets you draw using the touchscreen in handheld mode.
The Wonderful 101: Remastered is the only (good) way of playing this flawed, but still quite fun action game. Players find themselves amidst the third war between Earth and the GEATHJERK Federation – also known as aliens trying to take over the world. You recruit and play as a horde of superheroes tasked with defending everyone’s mama: Gaia.
(P.S. The Wonderful 101: Remastered is currently on sale ’til 6 January. Grab it while you can)
Lego City: Undercover
A Lego game that mostly went (mostly) under the radar when it was released exclusively on the Wii U all the way back in 2013. Why? Because it was on the Wii U (we’ve covered this already). It later found a revival on multiple consoles – the PS4, PC, Xbox One, and most importantly, the Switch. What is Lego City: Undercover then? It may sound like we’re joking, but it draws similarities to Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto series, except without the 18+ rating we’ve become accustomed to.
You get to explore the open-world city as Chase McCain – complete with eight different outfits that give the player different gameplay mechanics. Wearing the astronaut suit for example lets you fly around in a jetpack. Don’t ask us why – it’s a Lego game designed for children. As with any Lego game, there are fun things to build around the city, and a half-decent story to boot. Though we’re still not sure how we feel about Lego games that let the characters talk. It’s weird.
Honourable Mention: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
We’ve deceived you. Sorry about that. There is no The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker on the Switch. Just as there’s no war in Ba-Sing Se (wink wink). We say that because we know that somewhere at the Nintendo HQ, there’s a Switch port sitting in a vault, just waiting to be unleashed upon the world. Or maybe there isn’t.
Nintendo has somehow let one of its best Zelda games of all time rot on its two worst-selling consoles – the GameCube and the Wii U. Why? We couldn’t tell you. What we can tell you is that the Switch would be the perfect companion for The Wind Waker’s wonderful cartoony graphics and amazing gameplay. Not to mention the best side character of all time – the boat Link travels the seas with.