Though the Wii U wasn’t as successful as Nintendo would have liked, the system did still amass a considerable catalog of fun and creative titles over its fairly long lifespan. There were definitely a few standout hits that could be consideredsystem sellers, such asSplatoonandSuper Mario 3D Worldfor example, but because of how obscure the console became, it also resulted in a lot of games flying completely under the radar for many people.
Some of these games are actually very high quality and clearly filled with a lot of passion from the developers, despite them not being talked about too often or praised by many fans. It’s time to dust off the Wii U and take a look at the games which maybe didn’t gain quite as much attention as they should have, and whether they are worth returning to nowadays.
7Devil’s Third
An Exhilarating Hack And Slash/FPS Hybrid
Devil’s Thirdis an ambitious title that attempts to merge fast-pacedhack n' slash gameplaywith FPS elements, and despite this weighty task, developers Valhalla Game Studio managed to pull it off pretty well. For most of the game, players will be tasked with slicing their enemies to ribbons and racking up their score meter. The big and bombastic takedowns that can be performed at the end of a combo help to make each and every encounter feel that extra bit more cinematic and a joy to be a part of.
There’s also the option to switch to an FPS view and pick enemies off at range, providing a lot of variety to the gameplay which helps to keep things fresh.Devil’s Third’sstory also manages to balance political intrigue with over-the-top antics to make for a fun and exciting tale that keeps the player guessing until the very end. The game had an awkward release schedule due to Nintendo going back and forth on whether to publish it in North America and while this did harm sales, the creativity on display here still makes for a fun experience overall.
6Runbow
One Of The Most Intense And Fast-Paced Multiplayer Games On The Wii U
Runbowis amultiplayer gamethat sees up to nine players racing against one another through a level to reach the trophy at the end of the course. However, as the level goes on, the colors in the back of the stage will begin to change, with any platforms or hazards of the same color also disappearing alongside it. This adds a level of unpredictability to the gameplay which means anyone, no matter their skill level, has a chance of grabbing the number one spot if they get lucky.
Outside of the regular races,Runbowalso features King of the Hill and an Arena mode, alongside a fairly in-depth character customization screen.Runbowwas released in the dwindling years of the Wii U’s life cycle, so while it was sadly ignored by a lot of people, it’s without a doubt one of the most exhilarating multiplayer games to have ever been released for the system.
5Kirby And The Rainbow Curse
A Colorful And Creative Spin On The Traditional Kirby Platformer
One of the biggest problems people had with the Wii U was how much reliance it placed on the GamePad screen. The truth is, after a while, the gimmick of having to look between the GamePad and the TV screen got old, so much so that it causedKirby and the Rainbow Curseto be largely swept under the rug when it was released. Though the game does encourage players to use the GamePad to help Kirby by creating pathways and interacting with the environment, the game itself is still just as fun as previous entries thanks to how varied its levels are.
Whether it’s the gorgeous Green Valley, the beautiful Indigo Ocean, or the otherworldy Purple Fortress,Rainbow Cursewas pushing the Wii U to its limit when it came to visual fidelity, but it’s not just the graphics that make this game such a blast to play. The gameplay itself mixes traditional classicKirbyplatforming with a new sense of creative freedom that comes from the GamePad, resulting in undoubtedly one ofthe most uniqueKirbygames to date.
The idea of a Toad-centered game first began withSuper Mario 3D Worldwhich featured a handful of mini-levels that allowed players to take control of Mario’s plucky young companion. When the final product,Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, was eventually released though, a lot of people saw it as little more than a simplified version of the much longer mainlineMariogames to which it was constantly being compared.
Captain Toad: Treasure Trackerdoes still do enough to stand on its own though through its mechanics, such as how it allows players to rotate its levels with the press of a button to access certain areas. The fact Toad also cannot jump due to his heavy backpack makes the game feel a little more strategic and methodical than the everydayMariotitle, and it’s definitely one worth going back to, especially if there’s a friend available to jump into the co-op mode.
3Game & Wario
Game & Wario’s Unique Minigames Grant It Tons Of Replay Value
Game & Wariois often considered the black sheep ofthe much belovedWarioseries of party games. One of the biggest criticisms the game received upon its release was it didn’t contain the bundles of content that previous entries did, but this honesty isn’t too much of an issue considering how replayable each of the sixteen minigames is. Whether it’s the intense high-speed Taxi or the more experimental gameplay of Gamer, there’s a ton of fun to be had here.
The story is once again a little light for this entry, but it’s clear the inventive gameplay is what Intelligent Systems focused most of its efforts on this time around. It might not have received the plaudits ofSmooth MovesorWarioWare Gold, but this shouldn’t stop anyone from jumping intoGame & Warioas it still provides plenty of enjoyable minigames to toy around with.
2Stick It To The Man!
Stick It To The Man’s Gorgeous Art Style Is Complimented By An Addictive Gameplay Loop
One of the most striking aspects ofStick It to the Man!is the stiltedcardboard-esque art style. It manages to look creepy yet charming at the same time, and it does an excellent job of bringing each of the characters to life, while also allowing the dimly lit environment to pop out of the screen. Though the game starts off as a pretty familiar 2.5D platformer, it’s not long before it starts incorporating more puzzles and open-ended levels for players to explore.
Stick It to the Man!clearly takes a lot of inspiration from Tim Schafer, including its off-the-wall humor which adds a lot of charm and personality to the many characters who are introduced into the story. Witty, creative, and packed full of laughs,Stick it to the Man!is a riveting thrill ride that plays great and looks amazing to boot.
1The Fall
The Fall Successfully Manages To Merge Sci-Fi And Horror Into One Big Spooky Package
Outside of theMetroidseries, there aren’t many sci-fi games that ended up landing on the Wii U,especially ones that also lean into the horror genre. One exception to this though isThe Fall, a 2.5D platformer where players assume control of Arid, an AI suit who must try and navigate the unconscious suit-wearer to safety while keeping him in one piece. The dark and gloomy aesthetic ofThe Falladds so much tension to the gameplay, leaving it up to the player to imagine what monstrosities might be lurking in the shadows.
Though the game largely plays as a platformer, it does also throw some survival horror elements into the mix, such as how the player will need to use a flashlight to seek out items and resources in the environment to move forward. It’s a fascinating blend of genres that is quite reminiscent of another game many call a hidden gem, that beingLimbofor the Xbox 360. Sci-fi fans definitely shouldn’t skip out on this one as it’s certainly very different from anything else the Wii U has to offer.
