15. Game X
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Wii U
Wii U Boxed Game Collection (34 games)
Note: The Wii U can be used and played without the GamePad—that is, unless a game says requires in the lists below. To turn off the Wii U GamePad, walk it out of range and then hold down power on the tablet.
** indicates Off-TV Play is NOT supported
[MP] specifies the Wii MotionPlus accessory
α showcases special amiibo compatibility
  • Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I DON'T KNOW!
    • up to 4p co-op same screen using the Wii Remote/Nunchuk combo (does NOT support the Wii Classic Controller)
  • Batman Arkham City: Armored Edition
    • requires Wii U GamePad (1p only)
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops II
    • GamePad allows 2p on separate screens (press & hold the (+) and (-) buttons to disable screen mirroring); also supports Wii U Pro, Wii Classic, and Wii Remote/Nunchuk motion controls; Campaign (1p max); Multiplayer > Local (2p separate, 3-4p split) + CPU bots; Zombies (1-2p only)
  • Call of Duty: Ghosts
    • GamePad allows 2p on separate screens (same controller options as BLOPS II); Campaign (1p max); Multiplayer > Local (2p separate OR split; no 3-4p) + bots Squads (1p or 2p) create custom AI players to play alongside with or against; Extinction (1-2p only)
  • Captain Toad: Treasure Trackerα
    • requires Wii U GamePad (1p only)
  • Ducktales Remastered
    • requires Wii U GamePad to start; may use Wii U Pro controller (but NOT the Wii Classic Controller)
  • Guitar Hero Live **
    • uses GH guitar w/ 6 buttons
  • How To Train Your Dragon 2 (no manual)
    • GamePad allows 2 players on separate screens (P2 must use Wiimote; Wii U Pro controller NOT supported)
  • Hyrule Warriors
    • GamePad required (P1) for 2p co-op on separate screens (no split screen);
      P2 may use Wii U Pro controller (but NOT the Wii Classic Controller)
  • Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildα
    • Wii U GamePad needed to 100%; Wii U Pro controller lacks Gyro
  • Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD
    • Swift Sail on Windfall Island (after 1st dungeon); Wii U GamePad for maps, items, Gyro; also supports Pro
  • Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HDα
    • use Wii U GamePad for maps & inventory as well as Gyro——or use Wii U Pro
  • LEGO Jurassic World
    • GamePad allows 2p co-op on separate screens; P2 may use Wii U Pro (but NOT the Wii Classic Controller)
  • Madden NFL 13
    • Detached: hold (-) button on GamePad for 3 seconds before game; P2 may use Wii U Pro (but NOT the Wii Classic); separate screens for playcalling
  • Mario Kart 8 (NS)
    • no Steering Assist like on Switch; multiplayer only supports split screen (no Off-TV); supports all controllers
  • Need for Speed: Most Wanted U
    • Co-Driver: P1 drives with Pro controller or Wiimote, and P2 uses
      Wii U GamePad to provide assistance
  • NES Remix Pack
    • short, rapid-fire challenges from 25+ NES classics
  • New Super Mario Bros. U + New Super Luigi U Bundle
    • requires Wii U GamePad for one player, but it cannot be used in multi-player
    • Original disc for saves; Luigi U bundle disc for DLC
  • Nintendo Land [MP]
    • requires Wii U GamePad and supports up to 5 players; some mini-games require Wii Remote/Nunchuk (MotionPlus is required for Zelda & Metroid)
  • Planes Fire & Rescue
    • requires Wii U GamePad (1p only)
  • Pokkén Tournament
    • GamePad required (P1) for 2p on separate screens; also supports Wii U Pro, Wii Classic Controller, and HORI Pokken Tournament Pro Pad
  • Rabbids Land **
    • requires Wii U GamePad & only one (1) Wii Remote/Nunchuk combo for up to
      4 players——but all mini-games 2p max
  • Shakedown: Hawaii
    • Standard Edition; 1 of 3000 copies made in 2020; supports all controllers
  • Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
    • GamePad allows 2+ players on separate screens (but also has split screen); supports all controllers and up to
      5 players w/ GamePad
  • Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric
    • GamePad allows 2p co-op on separate screens in Story Mode (press + on controller 2); also includes 4-player in Team Challenges mode
  • Star Fox Guardα **
    • requires Wii U GamePad (1p only) for touchscreen while monitoring security camera feeds on the TV
  • Star Fox Zeroα **
    • requires Wii U GamePad for Gyro motion aiming while maneuvering on the TV; for Co-op Play, start a level, back out, and then re-select the level;
      P1 uses GamePad to aim and fire, whereas P2 uses Wii U Pro for piloting
  • Super Mario 3D World (NS)
    • Wii U GamePad needed to 100%, incl. Captain Toad levels; 4-player mode requires GamePad
  • Super Mario Makerα
    • requires Wii U GamePad (1p only); Downloaded Levels: Play > Course World > Three Bars (+) > Coursebot Coursebot icon
  • Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
    • supports up to 8 players and the following controllers: Wii U Pro, Wii Classic, and GameCube (GCN) controller w/ adapter
  • Tank! Tank! Tank!
    • GamePad allows 2+ players on separate screens; supports Wii U Pro, Wii Classic, and Wiimote in multiplayer
  • Tekken Tag Tournament 2: Wii U Edition
    • includes exclusive Mushroom Battle and Tekken Ball modes and Nintendo-themed costumes; also supports Wii U Pro controller and Wii Classic Controller
  • Yoshi's Woolly Worldα
    • offers 2p co-op; also supports Wii U Pro, Wii Classic, and Wiimote; Mellow Mode is easier for kids
  • ZombiU **
    • requires Wii U GamePad for real-time management of inventory in 1p mode; in multiplayer, a.k.a. King of Zombies, King Boris (P1) uses the Wii U GamePad to command hordes of zombies and the Survivor (P2) uses the Wii U Pro controller or Wii Remote/Nunchuk combo to kill infected or capture flags
Nintendo eShop Downloads
Wii U Downloads (18 games)
  • amiibo tap: Nintendo's Greatest Bitsα
    • One (1) amiibo accessory is required
  • Angry Video Game Nerd Adventures (NS)
    • original release is harder and less polished——but has more AVGN & Movie references (death screen quotes, characters not in Switch remaster)
  • Art of Balance
    • supports Wii U GamePad touchscreen or Wii Remote motion controls and up to
      5 players w/ GamePad
  • Cake Ninja 3: The Legend Continues
    • supports Wii Remote motion controls as well as the Wii U GamePad touchscreen
  • Dolphin Up
    • also supports Wii U Pro controller
  • Dr. Luigi
    • requires P1 to use the Wii U GamePad; Virus Buster uses touchscreen
  • Ducktales Remastered
    • not downloaded; play via physical disc
  • Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara
    • up to 4p co-op same screen in Tower of Doom (1994) & Shadow over Mystara (1996); supports all controllers
  • Games for Toddlers
    • requires Wii U GamePad (touchscreen)
  • Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition (NS)
    • not downloaded to Wii U; play via Switch
  • Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challengeα
    • Mario-series amiibo required (Mini Spek can't access amiibo doors)
  • My First Songs
    • requires P1 to use the Wii U
      GamePad for the microphone;
      P2 may connect a USB microphone
  • New Super Luigi U
    • not downloaded; play via bundle disc
  • Pikmin 3
    • Wiimote & Nunchuk + GamePad is ideal
  • Pumped BMX+ (Archived) & Pro on (NS)
    • not downloaded to Wii U (455 MB)
  • Shovel Knightα (NS)
    • not downloaded to Wii U; play via Switch
  • Star Fox Guardα **
    • not downloaded; play via physical disc
  • Wii Sports Club (Wii) [MP] Bowling & Tennis
    • requires Wii U GamePad for some menus and sports, and MotionPlus is
      required for each Wii Remote
** indicates Off-TV Play is NOT supported
[MP] specifies the Wii MotionPlus accessory
Wii U Virtual Console Breakdown (74 games)
Nintendo (NES) = 26 
TurboGrafx-16 (TG-16) = 3 
Super Nintendo (SNES) = 14 
Nintendo 64 (N64) = 9 
Game Boy Advance (GBA) = 17 
Nintendo DS (DS) = 4 
Wii (Wii) = 1 


Wii U Virtual Console (74 games)
  • 1080° Snowboarding (N64) *
  • Adventures of Bayou Billy, The (NES) *
  • Axelay (SNES) *
  • Balloon Fight (NES) *
  • Battle Lode Runner (TG-16) 5 players
  • Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (GBA)
  • Castlevania: Dracula X (SNES)
  • Donkey Kong (NES) *
  • Donkey Kong Country (SNES) *
  • DKC2: Diddy's Kong Quest (SNES) *
  • DKC3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! (SNES)
  • Dr. Mario (NES) *
  • Duck Hunt (NES) * Wii Remote
  • EarthBound (SNES) *
  • EarthBound Beginnings (NES)
  • Excitebike 64 (N64)
  • F-Zero (SNES) *
  • F-Zero X (N64) *
  • Game & Watch Gallery 4 (GBA)
  • Hogan's Alley (NES) * Wii Remote
  • Ice Climber (NES) *
  • Konami Krazy Racers (GBA)
  • Kuru Kuru Kururin (GBA)
  • Legend of Zelda, The  (NES) *
  • Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES) *
  • Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (N64)
  • Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64)*
  • Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (GBA)
  • Life Force (NES) *
  • Mario Pinball Land (GBA)
  • Mega Man & Bass (GBA)
  • Mega Man Battle Network 3 (GBA)
  • Mega Man Zero 3 (GBA)
  • Metroid (NES) *
  • Metroid: Zero Mission (GBA)
  • Metroid Fusion (GBA)
  • New Adventure Island (TG-16)
  • New Super Mario Bros. (DS) *
  • Ninja Gaiden (NES) *
  • Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of (NES) *
  • Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of (NES) *
  • Pilotwings (SNES) *
  • Punch-Out!!* feat. Mr. Dream (NES)
  • Rhythm Heaven Fever (Wii) Wii Remote
  • Salamander (TG-16) ARC on (NS)
  • Star Fox 64 (N64) *
  • StarTropics (NES) *
  • Stinger (NES) *
  • Street Fighter 2010: The Final Fight (NES)
  • Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts (SNES) *
  • Super Mario Advance:
      Super Mario Bros. 2 (GBA)
  • Super Mario Advance 2:
      Super Mario World (GBA)
  • Super Mario Advance 3:
      Yoshi's Island (GBA)
  • Super Mario Advance 4:
      Super Mario Bros. 3 (GBA)
  • Super Mario Bros. (NES) *
  • Super Mario Bros: Lost Levels (Wii) (NES)
  • Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES) *
  • Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES) *
  • Super Mario RPG (SNES) *
  • Super Mario World (SNES) *
  • Super Mario 64 (N64) *
  • Super Mario 64 DS (DS)
  • Super Metroid (SNES) *
  • Super Punch-Out!! (SNES)
  • Tecmo Bowl (NES)
  • Vs. Excitebike (NES/Famicom Disk) *
  • Wario Land 4 (GBA)
  • WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames! (GBA)
  • WarioWare: Touched! (DS)
  • Wave Race 64 (N64) *
  • Yoshi (NES)
  • Yoshi's Island DS (DS)
  • Yoshi's Story (N64) *
  • Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES) *
All-Time Favorite Wii U Games
1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Wii U) screenshot
Guitar Hero Live (Wii U) screenshot
3. Mario Kart 8
Mario Kart 8 (Wii U) screenshot
4. Tank! Tank! Tank!
Tank! Tank! Tank! (Wii U) screenshot
5. Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed (Wii U) screenshot
6. Need for Speed: Most Wanted U
Need for Speed: Most Wanted U (Wii U) screenshot
7. Nintendo Land
Nintendo Land (Wii U) screenshot
8. LEGO Jurassic World
Lego Jurassic World (Wii U) screenshot
Super Mario Maker (Wii U) screenshot
Honorable Mention: Super Mario Maker,
New Super Mario Bros. U, Super Mario 3D World, NES Remix 1 & 2 Pack
amiibo (α) compatibility that showcases special unlocks (i.e., more than receiving items) on these games for Wii U:
  • amiibo tap: Nintendo's Greatest Bits (All) - Unlock one randomly selected demo scene from 32 NES and Super NES games
  • Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (Toad) - Unlock Pixel Toad hide-and-seek challenges
  • Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, The (Wolf Link) - Bring Wolf Link into the game as a partner character & (Link) - Bring Epona into the game as a rideable horse
  • Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD (Wolf Link) - Unlock the Cave of Shadows, and save hearts to the amiibo
  • Mini-Mario & Friends (Bowser/Donkey Kong/Luigi/Mario/Peach/Toad/Yoshi) - Play stages as a Mini version of this character, with a unique special ability, and unlock character-specific stages
  • Shovel Knight (Shovel Knight) - Unlock co-op mode, challenge stages, & customizable gear, and summon a Fairy of Shovelry
  • Star Fox Guard (Fox) - Wipe out all enemies on the current stage
  • Star Fox Zero (Fox) - Play as an SNES-styled Arwing
  • Super Mario Maker (Mario 30th Annv.) - Add a Big Mushroom power-up to your course
  • Yoshi's Woolly World (Yoshi) - Play with two Yoshis at the same time in 1p mode
Copyright © Scott McCall. All Rights Reserved.  ™ and © for all products, characters, and indicia related thereto which are contained herein are owned by the companies who market or license those products.