Nintendo 3DS. Wii U. PlayStation Vita. With all the latest hardware and software news out there, it's sometimes easy to forget what's already in front of us. While Wii hasn't been overwhelmed with content this year, it's worth remembering just how incredible Nintendo's motion-based platform has actually been. We're revisiting out Top 25 list, focusing not only on the best retail games out there, but what truly set Wii apart from other systems. The results are pretty stunning, and we often found ourselves struggling to make sure all deserving software made the cut.
To assemble this 2011 edition of the Top 25 Wii games, I gathered a small group of editors who are passionate about Nintendo products. Audrey Drake, Brian Altano, Jack DeVries and Sam Claiborn helped me sort through games big and small, first party and third, to come up with our picks for the best of Nintendo's current generation. We moved the Best of WiiWare to its own list – definitely check that out if you haven't. The bottom line is this: if you have a friend just discovering Wii or who doubts the system's ability to deliver compelling content, show them this article. Make them play these games. They'll be surprised.
Keep it cool, Koopalings.
Richard George
Executive Editor, IGN Nintendo
PS. I hate lists that are 25 pages long. I know you hate lists that are 25 pages long. This article is not 25 pages long. Enjoy!!
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Wii Sports will probably be remembered as the quintessential Wii experience since it was initially included with the Wii system, but that would be a disservice to the awesome follow-up (and Wii MotionPlus Trojan horse), Wii Sports Resort. Simple, wrist-flicking Wii Sports essentials like bowling and tennis are included in Wii Sports Resort, but new games like table tennis and Frisbee golf actually require finesse, even skill, thanks to the Wii MotionPlus add-on for the Wii Remote. Additionally, the use of Wuhu Island as a cohesive setting for all the events is a great idea -- so great it was used again in Pilotwings Resort for 3DS!
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With Wii Sports in the box and games like Wario Ware: Smooth Moves arriving shortly after launch, the Wii became known as the "party game" system early on. As party games go, the Wario Ware series is hard to top. Wario Ware: Smooth Moves presents collection of "micro games," doled out in quick succession. It's four-player, Wii Remote-waggling madness: You have only seconds to figure out what to do in each game before you're on to the next one. Additionally, Wario Ware: Smooth Moves features a healthy dose of Japanese wackiness. Some micro games are downright unintelligible, adding to the general sense of pandemonium.
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Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jurassic Park … Boom Blox? Steven Spielberg's foray into games was widely hyped, but Boom Blox, a sort of manic Jenga, was certainly not the blockbuster (heh) title anyone expected. Nevertheless, Boom Blox is notable for perfectly utilizing the Wii Remote's motion abilities. Activities like delicately extracting blocks from teetering towers and flinging bombs at block structures simply feels natural, and the remote soon becomes invisible in your hands as you let your brain sync with the simple physics of Boom Blox. Boom Blox is one of very few truly "revolutionary" experiences on the Wii.
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Sin & Punishment: Star Successor is one of the most intense, exciting games available on Wii. Two kids fly through fantastic environments on other planets, shooting everything in their way and taking down giant boss monsters. It barrels along at a breakneck pace, barely giving you a chance to wipe the sweat off your Wii Remote. Developer Treasure is basically teaching a master class on how to make an on-rails shooter. While the Wii is sometimes regarded as the family-friendly or kid-friendly console of this generation, Sin & Punishment: Star Successor is exactly what is meant by the term "hardcore."
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The last thing any of us expected from a Kirby game was something involving yarn, cloth and absolutely no inhaling and cloning. What kind of Kirby adventure is that? Answer – one of the best Kirby games we've played, and one of the best games on Wii.
What Kirby's Epic Yarn lacks in difficulty it makes up for in sheer charm and ingenuity. The game's commitment to its bold visual design is what sets it apart from most games, allowing players to tear, zip and generally unravel the world around them. We're all more than excited to see Kirby's next Wii adventure, but Epic Yarn was a breath of fresh air for a franchise that often does very similar things time and time again – though that's not necessarily a bad thing.
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