10. Mario Party 8
This game is great in many ways. It's the classic Nintendo party game that everyone loves, but now with better visuals, interesting gameplay including wii-mote pointers and motion and some really memorable tunes to make it all feel right. If i had to describe this game with one word, i think feel-good or bright would be good choices. This game, however is only worth its slot on this list in 3-4 player games. The single-player is not at all worth buying the game for, but that is never necessarily too important in the party-game genre. Get your friends over and you will have an amazing time playing this game!
9. Donkey Kong Country Returns
For all of you platformer-fans out there, this is a must-have. It is not developed by rare, which is a bummer, but it catches the essence of the earty DK Country games and wraps it up in nice visual design, thrilling gameplay and an awesome variety of levels to conquer. This game is, in my opinion, also a bit more challenging than the old Snes games, which is always nice in a game (unless you're a rage-quitter like me...) There are not a lot of controls to master, as per usual in a platformer, and the game is therefor easy to understand, yet difficult to master. All in all, you simply need to play this game.
8. Metroid Prime Corruption
Nintendo's first person shooter Metroid returned to the Wii in the third part of the "Prime" series, and it is a great game to play. Its got nice visuals and the gameplay is great, and you get all the exploring and re-exploring that has made the Metroid series so awesome. It might look, feel and play very similarly to the other two titles in the triology, but that is not necessarily a bad thing as the concept and the design is really good. The cutscenes in MP Corruption is amazing, and is one of the things that make this cinematic adventure so great. If you're main reason for buying an FPS is to shoot things at random, this game is not for you. This game is about exploring and conquering foreign land and has more in common with The Legend of Zelda than it has with Call of Duty.
7. Epic Mickey
I know there's a 2nd game in this franchise, but i haven't played it yet. However it is said to be way worse that the original game, and i will simply go with the popular opinion on that one. Anyways, the first game was great. It lets you wander through disney classics from decades before, add or remove content to the levels to proceed and fight goons with a magic paintbrush. Too much about this game is awesome for it not to be on a list like this, and when the game was so fun to play and the gameplay was so well designed, there was no doubt. Story-wise this game is neither great nor horrible, and since the focus always leans towards the nostalgia of the classic disney heroes the game introduces, it makes no huge difference in this thrilling adventure-puzzle-platformer.
6. Mario Kart Wii
This is not a deep game with a great story and a heartbreaking ending. This game is pure fun, thrilling gameplay and the best Mario Kart game yet. The graphics are beautiful, the level-design is stunning (check out Wario's gold mine and Kopa Cape). As with the previous Mario Kart game for the DS, this game features 16 new tracks and 16 retro ones. I love this concept so much, but i must admit it makes me angry too. Why didn't you give me Wario Colosseum or Waluigi Pinball for MK Wii!? Anyways, this is the 2nd best party game for the Wii and probably the 2nd best party game out there, so if you wanna have some great amounts of fun with your friends, get this game in your collection. Why did this game beat, for instance, Mario Party 8? It can be played as a single-player game! The online gameplay is awesome, and you fight for glory against up to 12 people on the inter-webs. How cool is that? In 2008 Mario Kart Wii was fifth on the list of most played online games, where games like World of Warcraft, Call of Duty, and Battlefield have a regular spot.
5. Super Mario Galaxy
This game is so great i don't even know where to start... It has planets you can explore, level-design that beats all the games above and the coolest game-physics i've seen in a long time: All the small planets have individual gravity fields. Another great thing about this game is that it doesn't feel like the result of years and years trying to drain money out of a franchise that was popular years ago; This game is an instant classic, and it feels fresh. Nintendo is better than most when it comes to actually delivering really good sequels, and this is a prime example. At its release, it was the greatest Mario game ever made, although it has been beaten by its sequel that was even better (I'll talk about that one later).
4. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
This is the oldest title on this list, and was also released for the Game Cube (R.I.P.). It features a darker Hyrule than we're used to, which is a fresh approach in the Zelda series (especially after the more cartoony (yet really amazing) Wind Waker). The Zelda games never disappoint me, and this one blew me away. The story is great, and features a world that has gone under to darkness, and a young Link who must restore the light. To do this, he must become one with the shadow, and he takes the shape of a wolf. Together with the quirky, yet mystical sidekick, Midna, you fight to defeat the master of twilight, Zant, and to restore the light and the peace in Hyrule. Parallel to this story, there is also a moving story about links friend that is kidnapped by crooks. Next to saving the world, you also have to look for clues leading to your long lost friend. All in all this is a great game, but i have some criticism towards it too. There weren't too many side-quests for me to explore, and the world felt kinda empty and lonely. I also felt that the wii-mote motion controls were a bit awkward this time around, and aside from the bow (which was awesome with the wii pointer), i preferred the Game Cube version in terms of controls. I mean seriously the Wii has Game Cube controller ports... Why can i not play Twilight Princess for the wii with a GC-controller? I guess i'll never know... But despite all that, this is still an amazing game that you shouldn't pass on.
3. Super Mario Galaxy 2
You heard me before, the original Galaxy was good, this one better. It has a lot of the same mechanics, but the levels are better, the design bolder, and you get to unite with Mario's classic sidekick, Yoshi. This game is more intense, more interesting, and more fun that the original, but they are both really well made games.
2. Super Smash Brothers: Brawl
This game... This game... Where to start. Ok: Stunning visuals, amazing level design, exhilarating gameplay, wildly amusing use of items, a fun new adventure mode, all the great modes from the previous games and so fourth. This game is so much fun it could easily won 1st place on this list one and a half year ago. At the end of 2011, the only one Wii game that deserved to win over this game came along, and that tells a story on its own. The game is simple: Choose your character from a huge array of classic nintendo heroes from Link, Pikachu, Mario, Sonic, Snake, Olimar, Samus, and even Mr. Game and Watch. Every character has their own skill set and their own ultimate smash move. The plot of the game is to send your enemies (a.k.a. your friends) flying of the map. AND: The game features online matches with friends or just random matchmaking. This game is to date the best party game available for the Wii, and probably all together. Playstation All-Stars can go and cry in a corner.
1. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
I might say that this game changed my life. I might say that. I wouldn't be lying. This is by far the best game i've ever played, and while that might be a personal opinion, i still will say that this is the best Wii game of all time. It has a beautiful visual style that really captures all the complex emotions of the characters in the long and moving story. This game is the latest game in this list, and its apparent that the developers had a lot of time to analyse what did and did not work for the Wii system. Another great side to this game is the controls. Remember how i said the controls in Twilight Princess was awkward? Well i wasn't the only one who thought so, and Nintendo rectified their mistake by making the best wii-mote controlled game ever. With the wii motion plus, the sword gestures are 1-1, and you see Links sword move as you move your hand. Never before in a Zelda game have you felt so connected to what's happening on the screen. The characters from all around the world, the inhabitants of Skyloft, the Kikwis, the Mogmas, the Goron explorers, the Dragons and the bad guys are all very memorable. After playing the game you feel like you've gotten to know a whole bunch of people, which is a great video-game accomplishment. When i played Twilight Princess, i was concerned that they would not be able to make an even better game. They were able to do that. I am concerned again now. This game made me feel like Zelda had reached its peak, as there are simply very few bad things to say about this game. But to get back to the earth, if you were getting a Wii or Wii U and were to get ONE Wii game, get Skyward Sword. You'll be doing yourself a favour.
