5 Best Nintendo Wii Games Of All Time, Ranked

Among the standout home video game consoles in Nintendo history is the Wii, which launched in 2006. Rather than trying to match the processing power of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, the Wii focused on gameplay built around the console's signature motion controls. A global hit, including with more casual gamers, the Wii even counted Queen Elizabeth II among its fans. Since then, Nintendo's subsequent home consoles have incorporated a degree of motion controls, including the Switch and Switch 2.

Many of Nintendo's biggest franchises saw titles released for the Wii, like "The Legend of Zelda," while new properties were introduced. There are scores of excellent games for the Wii, helping buoy the console's commercial success around the world. With that in mind, there are a handful of games that rise above the rest to truly be among some of the greatest games ever made. Here are the five best Nintendo Wii games of all time ranked, epitomizing the console's enduring fun factor.

After shifting to first-person gameplay on the GameCube with "Metroid Prime," Nintendo's sci-fi action series was reinvigorated for a new generation. Heightening the tension, speed, and futuristic gunplay, the "Metroid Prime" story continued with 2007's "Metroid Prime 3: Corruption." Picking up from the events of 2004's "Metroid Prime 2: Echoes," bounty hunter Samus Aran is infected by Phazon while continuing her fight against her sinister doppelganger Dark Samus. Samus moves to stop the corrosive Phazon from spreading to other planets while moving to defeat her devious double once and for all.

Up until "Metroid Prime 4: Beyond," "Corruption" was the best-looking game in the "Metroid Prime" series, and it still feels thoroughly more satisfying than its 2025 sequel. The game incorporates the Wii's motion control mechanics well as the first-person shooter elements feel more refined accordingly. Interestingly, "Metroid Prime 3" was planned to go open-world, but the game functions so well because of its more traditionally Metroidvania-oriented progression. A fitting conclusion to the original "Metroid Prime" trilogy, "Corruption" is one of the best first-person games on the Wii.

After experimenting with a two-driver mechanic on the GameCube's "Mario Kart: Double Dash!!," Nintendo brought things back to basics with "Mario Kart Wii." Released in 2008, the game reverts to a single-racer setup while featuring a mix of new and classic race tracks in a variety of game modes. The game initially shipped with a racing wheel peripheral, though players can use standard button inputs rather than relying entirely on motion controls. Taking a cue from 2005's "Mario Kart DS," "Mario Kart Wii" is the first home console title in the series to utilize online gameplay.

"Mario Kart Wii" has some of the most engagingly designed tracks in the series and boasts the usual frenetic gameplay as its predecessors. On the higher difficulties, the computer-controlled opponents can be noticeably unforgiving, even in comparison to other "Mario Kart" titles, giving even veteran players a real challenge. But like any "Mario Kart," this is an experience best shared with friends, either locally or online, especially on tracks like DK Mountain or Wario's Gold Mine. A significant improvement over "Double Dash," "Mario Kart Wii" is both accessible to newcomers and offers a healthy challenge at its higher levels all at once.

While "Super Smash Bros. Melee" marked a huge improvement over the fighting game series' original title on the GameCube, "Super Smash Bros. Brawl" took the series to another level. Expanding the playable roster significantly, the 2008 game was the first in the series to bring in third-party characters, specifically Sonic the Hedgehog and Solid Snake. The game also featured a full-on story mode, dubbed "The Subspace Emissary," depicting its vast roster aligning against a common threat. Taking advantage of the Wii hardware, "Brawl" allowed several different controller styles to play, along with online multiplayer, another first for the series.

While it may not rank among "Super Smash Bros." games as highly as "Melee" or "Ultimate," "Brawl" definitely stands as an enjoyable title in the series. The franchise has yet to top "The Subspace Emissary" in terms of single-player experiences, and the roster and level selection went up considerably from its predecessors. Since "Brawl," Nintendo has only doubled down on the game's features, including online gameplay and custom level editors, as a nod to its influence. One of the best multiplayer games on the Wii, "Super Smash Bros. Brawl" continues the series' sterling legacy.

Just like the GameCube, the Wii didn't feature a new "Super Mario" game at launch, with "Super Mario Galaxy" released a full year later. After Bowser kidnaps Princess Peach once again, he flees into outer space, this time in a large flying saucer. Pursuing his longtime nemesis into the cosmos, Mario teams up with an adorable baby star, Luma, and Princess Rosalina. Mario travels to various planets to gather Power Stars, fueling the Comet Observatory to catch up to Bowser and rescue Peach.

"Super Mario Galaxy" refines the 3D platforming gameplay mechanics from "Super Mario 64" and "Super Mario Sunshine" with its own distinct level design. The game takes advantage of its gravitational mechanics as Mario zips from planet to planet, often within a single stage. At the same time, Nintendo packed "Super Mario Galaxy" with plenty of secrets to reward players revisiting past levels and digging into every nook and cranny. One of the most joyous 3D "Super Mario" platformers ever made, "Super Mario Galaxy" is an imaginative reinvention of Nintendo's flagship franchise.

The game that essentially sold the overall Wii experience, Nintendo wisely made "Wii Sports" a pack-in title for the console when it launched in 2006. A collection of athletically themed minigames, the original "Wii Sports" contains baseball, bowling, boxing, golf, and tennis. Led by Nintendo's Miis, user-designed avatars, gamers can play alone or with friends in these various experiences. Each of these minigames use the Wii's motion controls in differing ways, from punching and blocking in boxing to swinging the controller around like a tennis racket or baseball bat.

The majority of polled players named "Wii Sports" as their favorite Wii game and that distinction is well-earned. The game offers endless fun, even played alone, as gamers try to pursue high scores or just enjoy low-stakes gameplay. But "Wii Sports" really excels when playing with friends, especially when it comes to experiences like bowling and tennis. Completely accessible to veteran and novice gamers alike, "Wii Sports" captures a universal fun factor and demonstrates what the console's motion controls could be capable of.