The Wii has such a massive number of games in its back catalogue, but which of these are the most underrated Nintendo Wii games that you might have missed out on over the years?
If you think back to the fact that the N64 had less than 400 games, and the Gamecube just 650. So, when the Wii amassed 1640 titles, it felt like all our Christmases had come at once. All that choice was like Scrooge McDuck jumping into a pool filled with gold coins!
With that many titles hiding behind mainstream games like Super Mario Galaxy and Mario Kart Wii, however, there’s no surprise that some of the games have gone under the radar.
From swimming in a world under the waves to experiencing bullet hell in space, there are some incredible games for Nintendo’s, up till recently best selling console, that you might never have even heard of before.
Let’s check them out and see which one took the top spot!
Table of Contents
10. Endless Ocean (2007)
Endless Ocean takes the 10th spot in this list of the most underrated Nintendo Wii games of all time!
I know that I for one have spent a lot of time talking about how much I hate all of the underwater segments of Skyward Sword on the Wii, but Endless Ocean is much different.
For starters it feels like you’re exploring around on a game like MYST crossed with Echo The Dolphin. The world under the waves is fantastic to look at, and the gameplay isn’t stressful or demanding at all.
The main premise of the game is to discover and find out more about marine life. There’s no secret plot twists or massive bosses to fight, making for a relaxing explorative adventure that everyone can enjoy.
Seriously, swimming alongside a massive whale never gets old, and you’ll find yourself eager to learn more about what goes on under the water long after you finish playing this beautiful game.
9. Shiren The Wanderer (2008)
If you’re looking to add a slick RPG to your list, then Shiren the Wanderer should definitely be on your list.
I have to admit, it’s a bit of a wild card. These games are notorious for being insanely hard to complete and are often the cause of nerds going bald at a young age (most of the Retro Dodo team included!).
It has a bit of a feel of Holy Magic Century meets Final Fantasy about it, just with the difficulty ramped up to 111.
The annoying thing is that the graphics definitely don’t look like something that you would expect to see on the Wii. They look more like an N64 game that has been ported to the GameCube, so you’ll have to look past that in the same way you would look at a house with ‘potential’.
But, if you want an RPG with Roguelike features that you can truly sink your teeth into, then get Shiren into your collection, stat. We can’t guarantee you won’t break your Wiimote, however!
8. Elebits (2006)
Just take a look at the cover for Elebits; it’s everything a Wii game should be. We’re talking cutesy, colourful, weird characters in exciting environments. They look a little like Pikmin crosed with Moomins, and we’re all here for it.
It’s very strange that this family-friendly game never made bigger waves with Wii customers. It’s jam-packed full of collecting and exploring as you seek out new Elebits.
so it really is just like Pikmin… now I’m beginning to see why it didn’t do as well!
The motion controls are really intuative and cleverly designed in this game too. Players must pick up and shake objects to get the Elebits out of them, before watching them dancing around and eventually powering up an area.
The Elebits could have been much bigger for Nintendo if they had been given the right backing. The level editor mode could have rivalled LittleBigPlanet, but sadly it never saw the attention it deserved.
At least we can right this wrong now; get out there and show some Elebits some love!
7. Rune Factory Frontier (2009)
Rune Factory Frontier is up next in this list of the most underrated Nintendo Wii games of all time!
If there’s one thing that I’ve learned since we launched Retro Dodo, it’s that people love a farming sim game.
The thing about farming is, and don’t take this the wrong way if you are a farmer, is that it can sometimes be a little slow. When that’s the entire concept of a game and there’s a lot of waiting around to do, you can sometimes find yourself twiddling your thumbs.
But that’s not a problem you’ll ever encounter in this farming sim!
This is more of an action/adventure RPG crossed with a SIM game, with players heading out in to the open world to fight monsters and delving into dungeons to explore while their cows are chewing the cud.
All of the usual farming features that we’ve come to know from Harvest Moon make an appearance for the hardcore SIM fans such as marrying a spouse and continually looking after your crops and farmstead, but if you’re unsure about whether a farming SIM could be for you or if you’re coming from an adventure background, then this would be a great place to start!
6. Scarface: The World Is Yours (2006)
Imagine, if you will, a world where Tony Montana stars in Grand Theft Auto. Well, that’s exactly what Scarface: The World Is Yours feels and plays like.
Ok, so there’s a lot more mob action than in GTA, but you get the drift. And, it’s one of the more brutal games in the Wii’s back catalogue, which kind of explains why it’s ended up in this overrated games list!
In this title, Tony Montana didn’t die at the end of Scarface, and he goes on to star in a story that does the original film justice. It’s a perfect add on, though most people assumed it would be a massive flop.
They couldn’t have been more wrong!
The character in the game looks exactly like Tony Montana too, but sadly there’s no Pacino voiceover to tempt fans into parting with their cold hard cash.
Here’s something you’ll like though – the person who voices Montana was actually picked personally by Pacino. If that’s not cool, then I don’t know what is!
5. A Boy And His Blob (2009)
Some of you might have played A Boy and his Blob on the NES back in the day. It’s one that my housemate remembers fondly and, while not the worlds most intense or imaginative game, did have a loyal fanbase of blob-loving gamers.
The premise is simple – feed your pet blob jellybeans and solve puzzles. It’s a simple life and one that I wouldn’t mind every once in a while.
The still above reminds me of Earthworm Jim’s pal Snot helping him get from place to place in his side-scrolling adventures, albeit less dark, dingy, and dungeony.
The Wii version brought an updated graphic style that puts the game more in line with a Rayman title or Child of Light, giving it an almost hand-drawn feel that will try to calm you down when the levels become frustrating.
And let’s face it, any game with a button for cuddling a blob wins big in our books!
4. Dead Space: Extraction
Dead Space Extraction takes the 4th place in our list of the most underrated Nintendo Wii games, but it’s not the first time you’ve heard of it here on Retro Dodo.
This rail shooter is, for want of a better word, terrifying. Necromorphs coming at you left, right, and centre while trying to keep people who live in a terrorised Space Colony alive…
It’s not exactly Mario Kart Wii, is it?
The fact that this game revolves around first-person gameplay ala Metroid Prime makes it even scarier. The first time you see a monster is usually when they are all up in your grill trying to eat your face.
The Wii Zapper makes everything even more exciting too. I mean, cowering behind your sofa pointing a gun over the top never felt so good!
3. Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars (2010)
We’re all used to Capcom vs Marvel games here in Europe, but if I was to ask you to come and play Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars with me, you might not immediately be as excited about having a good-old-fashioned throw down.
But I’m about to change that!
Ippatsuman, Joe the Condor, Tekkaman Blade; these characters are insanely cool, and their movesets will leave you wondering why you ever got excited about Ryu throwing a Hadouken in the first place!
I love the Marvel vs Capcom games so much, but I’ve played them to death. It’s nice to feel a similar formula with characters that I just wasn’t initially used to playing with.
Since then I’ve got into the Tastunoko world in a big way, and this game plays so well on the Wii. I think the simple nature of the controls when it comes to the Wiimote makes this geel like a button-mashing fighter of old with slick graphics and immersive backgrounds to boot.
Oh, and giant mechs… I probably should have mentioned that part first!
2. Silent Hill: Shattered Memories (2009)
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories isn’t a game that you would usually associate with the Wii’s family friendly back catalogue, but that’s why it’s so exciting to play. And, it’s anything but a ported version of the first Silent Hill game.
This is a fully reimagined version of the original title, with scary sounds popping out of your Wiimote and a brand new plot for players to play through.
There are various similarities – Harry Mason still makes an appearance, but there are new characters, enemies, and five possible endings to reach.
To keep the action fresh, players must navigate both over-the-shoulder gameplay akin to the later Resident Evil games and psychiatric therapy segments that will affect future gameplay actions depending on how the sessions go
With a stunning score, plenty of scares, and lots of action, this is one of the best examples of a psychological horror that we’ve ever seen on a Nintendo console, and it’s one of the most underrated Nintendo Wii games in our collection. More people need to play it!
1. Sin & Punishment: Star Successor (2009)
As die hard Wii fans, it took a lot of deliberation to pick the title that would sit at the top spot. Still, the vote was unanimous, and Sin & Punishment: Star Successor is officially the most underrated Nintendo Wii game in our collections!
I think we can all agree that the first game in the series was a bit mad to play and possibly not what we were expecting from the N64 at a time where Ocarina of Time and Mario 64 were reigning supreme.
And weirdly, if you’re an NTSC gamer, then you’ve probably never even seen the first game in stores before. That’s probably the main part of why the sequel never got much traction either.
This rail shooter sees a human boy and girl from another planet working together to escape Earth after their ship crashes. It’s one of those games where bullets, big bosses, and battles reign supreme, with some incredible fights taking place in amazing places.
Plus, players can either use the classic controller, the Wii Zapper, and even the Gamecube Controller while playing.
It’s one of those games that you need to experience yourself to full understand everything that’s going on – imagine if Space Harrier met Gunstar Heroes and Final Fantasy, and you’ll be somewhere near to understanding just how amazing this title is.
It’s a firm winner of the best underrated Nintendo Wii games of all time and one that needs to be on your games shelf asap!
