North America saw the release of the now fan-favorite console the Nintendo Wii back in November 2006. While the Wii certainly wasn’t the most graphically impressive console, it managed to stand out from every other console with its numerous innovations, and incredible games. Many disabled gamers credit the Wii as one of the first consoles to really kickstart the conversation surrounding accessibility in gaming.

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As with every Nintendo console, the Wii saw some amazing titles from Nintendo’s heaviest hitters. Fans of Mario, Zelda, and Metroid were all likely particularly excited by the console thanks to its numerous highly-rated entries from each franchise. There were many games that resonated with fans of the console, and it’s likely that because of that, just about any ranked list will be hotly debated.

10 Mario Kart Wii

Every Nintendo console has its own rendition of the classic Mario Kart formula, and the Wii was no different. Some fans have argued that this is actually the most engaging game throughout the series thanks to the unique driving controls with the Wii remote.

A series favorite for many players, Mario Kart Wii not only features plenty of different characters, but also plenty of unique vehicles to race your friends in. With a huge level selection and even the ability to do tricks throughout some of the best levels in the series, fans got a great kart-racer for the Wii.

9 Xenoblade Chronicles

Best Fictional Planets a wide shot of Rex, Pyra, Zeke, Pandoria, Nia and Dromarch from Xenoblade Chronicles 2 running on a grassy field towards a floating Titan in Alrest

While Nintendo consoles have ignored the desires of RPG fans around the world for years, their consoles do tend to feature at least one or two instant classic RPGs. Xenoblade Chronicles is often said to be the greatest RPG the Wii has to offer.

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For RPG fans that picked up the Wii, they were met with a title that they could easily put over 100+ hours into. While some have said the plot is rather convoluted, that does tend to be the case with most RPGs and dedicated fans never seem to care about complicated plots.

8 No More Heroes 1 & 2

NoMoreHeroes

No More Heroes could be described as weird by fans of the usual Nintendo classics, but just because something is weird doesn’t mean it isn’t incredible. The No More Heroes games brought a lot of unique life to a system that at times struggled to stand out against its competitors.

The original game was surprisingly adult-themed for the typically kid-friendly Wii. The player was tasked with becoming the number one assassin in the game's world, but the many twists and turns keep the unique game interesting to completion.

7 Skyward Sword

Skyward Sword Wii

While Skyward Sword was one of the more divisive entries in The Legend of Zelda series, it still told one of the best stories the series has ever seen in the eyes of many gamers. One of the features that pulled gamers in was the incredibly precise swordplay.

This game took the series back to its roots and offered players an incredible origin story for the entirety of the series. There were plenty of complaints about the game, but with some of the best music in the series, arguably one of the best stories, and some of the greatest temples, Skyward Sword was a great title for the Wii.

6 Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Every major Nintendo console since the Nintendo 64 has had to have its own version of Super Smash Bros, and Brawl on the Wii is loved by many for a variety of reasons. The full story mode featured in the game is often looked fondly upon by fans of the series.

The game roster was huge and fans finally got the highly requested Sonic The Hedgehog playable character to use in both the game’s sprawling story and in PVP. You probably could have picked up this title and played it for the majority of the Wii’s life cycle thanks to the sheer amount of content.

5 Donkey Kong Country Returns

Donkey Kong Country Returns promo art

By the time of Donkey Kong Country Returns’ release, it had been quite a while since fans had seen a truly good game starring Donkey Kong. This title is one of the few that is credited with the true revival of 2D gaming in the eyes of many people.

While some may scoff at a return to 2D, DKCR not only had incredibly imaginative levels but also some surprisingly difficult ones. Many fans of classic platformers have argued that this title is actually the best platformer on the Wii, and its soundtrack only helps that argument.

4 Metroid Prime Trilogy

MetroidPrime

While many Wii fans would have pointed to Metroid Prime 3’s release on the system, the superior option features that game and its two predecessors. Metroid Prime Trilogy gave fans of the franchise access to three incredible games for one price.

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While the Metroid Prime games are generally loved, there were some who didn’t love the original control schemes. The Wii fixed most of those issues thanks to its motion controls that felt tailor-made for the Prime series. With three critically-acclaimed games available at any time, Metroid fans were surely in heaven.

3 Twilight Princess

Twilight Princess Link with sword

While the game was also featured on the Nintendo Gamecube, The Legend of Zelda: The Twilight Princess was the reason many people bought a Wii in the first place. With one of the most ambitious stories in the entirety of the franchise, it’s safe to say fans weren’t disappointed.

Fans always wanted a darker Zelda story, and the Wii didn’t fail to deliver. While the way the motion controls are integrated isn’t the greatest by today’s standards, at the time, swinging a remote to swings Link’s sword in-game was something people couldn’t get enough of.

2 Super Mario Galaxy 1 & 2

Mario flying through one of the first galaxies in Super Mario Galaxy

Every Nintendo console has its own incredible Mario title, but few are as highly regarded as the Super Mario Galaxy games. While they don’t offer players quite as much exploration as other titles, the two games offer some of the best levels in the franchise’s history.

Fans often point to the Mario Galaxy games as the standard for what platformer-level design should strive for. Plenty of creative levels that utilize game mechanics in new and fresh ways with each new world. With tight controls and a gorgeous soundtrack that still holds up today, the Galaxy games are always great to replay.

1 Wii Sports

Wii Sports gameplay screenshot

It would be shocking to learn that someone owned a Wii and never once attempted to play the simple, but beloved pack-in title, Wii Sports. The game was a simple way to introduce players of all ages and skill levels to the Wii and its unique controls.

Just about everything from this game is iconic to Wii fans from the catchy music, to the silly Mii’s, to the feeling of accomplishment each time you completed a game. There’s a reason that fans compare their Wii boxing and Wii bowling abilities to this day.

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