The Nintendo Wii is one of the most popular and successful consoles. The decision to use motion controls and aim for a more casual market ended up paying huge dividends for Nintendo, with the Wii selling vast numbers upon launch. Players love the social nature of the console and its motion controls, leading to a highly engaging experience from start to end.

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The Wii has its fair share of excellent and accessible games; however, the console also has its fair share of tough games that can be a pain to complete. The following games are pretty popular for being challenging and satisfying experiences on the Wii.

8 Punch-Out!!

very small man fighting a very large man in the ring

Punch-Out!! is easily one of the hardest games on the Wii by a country mile. The title is full to the brim with a bevy of opponents that are all pretty tough in their own right, barring a few opponents in the junior leagues.

The game is colorful, charming, and features a deep boxing system that feels quite refreshing to play even now. The caricatures present in the game might not have aged well at all, but Punch-Out!! is still a great game that fans should definitely check out.

7 Monster Hunter Tri

Lagiacrus Monster Hunter Tri on land

The Monster Hunter games are lauded by many as some of the most fun, action-packed titles anyone can check out. The games are absolutely brilliant, with players having to plan out each hunt meticulously to attain success every time.

Monster Hunter Tri is a great game that keeps the tradition of hardcore monster-hunting going on a new console. The late-game hunts in this game are especially brutal, and players need to be sure that their equipment is perfect before they can tackle these imposing beasts.

6 Castle Of Shikigami 3

Castle Of Shikigami 3

Bullet hell games are notorious for requiring nigh-perfect reflexes and immense concentration to get through each grueling stage. One popular shoot-em-up series that is wildly underrated is Castle of Shikigami.

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The great thing about the third game was that the translation team was finally approved, leading to this title actually having somewhat of a legible story. Of course, the core gameplay was solid as always and severely punished players for even the smallest lapse in concentration.

5 Donkey Kong Country Returns

Donkey Kong Country Returns Screenshot of Treehouse

Donkey Kong platformers are generally sidescrolling adventures that are tougher than the usual Nintendo platforming games that come out. This was the case with Donkey Kong Country Returns, which was a pretty engaging platformer in its own right.

It's also an extremely challenging game that will make players rage quite a bit, especially with the levels where Kong needs to stay on a cart throughout the level. The sheer anger felt after losing to a level for the hundredth time is something that will only be experienced in Donkey Kong Country Returns.

4 Mega Man 9

Mega Man 9 screenshot

The Mega Man series houses some of the hardest action platformers ever made. Each title in the series can be devilishly complex, and players need to employ all the weapons in their arsenal while also trying to survive across all these games.

Mega Man 9 is no exception to this golden rule, with each stage being extremely challenging in its own right. Once players start defeating bosses and going on a roll, they'll have more than enough firepower in their arsenal to combat the game's toughest enemies, but this still doesn't mean they should take the stages lightly.

3 Baroque

one of the many possible death scenes in Baroque

Baroque is one of the industry's first-ever attempts at a roguelike title, and the end result was pretty mixed, to say the least. The game's randomness and massive difficulty spikes made it a hard sell for many people.

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At the time, Baroque was simply too challenging for most people to enjoy. Despite having a pretty decent story, players just ultimately got frustrated with each death until they gave up on this underrated title.

2 Sin & Punishment: Star Successor

The Sin and Punishment Star Successor heroes pose before the camera

It's a shame that rail shooters have pretty much become a thing of the past. After all, some developers could be really imaginative with this concept, with the Sin & Punishment series being a great example.

The highly cinematic and challenging title puts players in the shoes of Isa Jo as he fights against waves upon waves of enemies who are trying to subdue him and his partner, Kachi. It received critical acclaim upon release and is perhaps the greatest game on the Wii you've never played.

1 Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn

fire emblem radiant dawn

It was only a matter of time before a Fire Emblem game would make its way on this list. The series is notorious for using a combination of tough strategy combat and permadeath to make for a truly riveting experience, where each combat encounter can have long-term and permanent ramifications.

Radiant Dawn can prove to be quite a challenging experience, especially on higher difficulties. Players need to craft meticulous strategies and think one step ahead of the AI if they don't want their favorite characters to bite the dust.

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