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WiiU

Top 10 Wii U Games: Year One

by Neal Ronaghan - December 2, 2013, 12:30 pm EST
Total comments: 37

We've had a year of Nintendo next-gen. What are our favorite games?

We're through November 2013, and that means that Nintendo's latest console, the Wii U, has made it through one year. It certainly was tumultuous with delays and low sales and assorted chaos. What matters most to gamers are the games, though.

So, we put on our game-loving caps on and picked out our Top 10 Wii U Games for its first year. Enjoy our list of our favorite Wii U games that came out between the system's November 18, 2012 launch and the end of November 2013.

Talkback

KITT 10KDecember 02, 2013

My top 10 favorite Wii U games (from #1 favorite down) for year one are as follows:
1. Assassin's Creed III
2. Zombiu
3. Ninja Gaiden III Razor's Edge
4. Batman Arkham City Armored Addition
5. LEGO City Undercover
6. Super Mario 3D World, (I'm not sure it'swith in year one but I'm still counting it anyway)
7. New Super Mario Bros. U
8. New Super Luigi U (the downloaded version of NSMBU)
9. New Super Luigi U (the disc version)
10. Nintendo Land

ShyGuyDecember 02, 2013

My list, in no particular order:

Zombi U
Rayman Legends
Need For Speed: Most Wanted
Nano Assault Neo
Lego City Undercover
Pikmin 3
Wonderful 101
Little Inferno
Art Academy Sketchpad
Splinter Cell: Blacklist

pokepal148Spencer Johnson, Contributing WriterDecember 02, 2013

Insert 'there were 10 wii u games this year' joke here

Quote from: pokepal148

Insert 'there were 10 wii u games this year' joke here

Get out.

Leo13December 02, 2013


1-Wind Waker2-Mario 3D World
3-Wonderful 101
4-NBA 2K13
5-Rayman Legends

6-Nintendo Land
7-Sonic Racing
8-Wii Party U
9-Luigi U
10-Tank Tank Tank!!!
I want to put Madden 13 as an honorable mention also.

WiiUIVLifeDecember 02, 2013

Here are my top 5 indie games for Wii U--




1. Nano Assault NEO
2. Mighty Switch Force: Hyper Drive Edition
3. Disney's DuckTales Remastered (developed by WayForward)
4. Trine 2: Director's Cut
5. BIT.TRIP Presents... Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien






And my top 5 Wii U games of 2013.




1. Super Mario 3D World
2. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD
3. The Wonderful 101
4. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
5. Call of Duty: Ghosts

Quote from: pokepal148

Insert 'there were 10 wii u games this year' joke here

I hate to admit, that's exactly where my mind went.  Even if it's categorically untrue, I got a good laugh.


That said, my favorite 10 games so far:


10) Madden 13
9) Nintendoland
8) Scribblenauts Unlimited
7) Ducktales Remastered
6) Lego City: Undercover
5) New Super Mario Bros U
4)New Super Luigi Bros U
3) Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate
2) Injustice: Gods Among Us
1) Super Mario 3D World - I've only played a few levels worth, but it's been a complete joy thus far.



KITT 10KDecember 02, 2013

I wanna revise my number 10 and replace Nintendo Land with Injustice: Gods Among Us, (forgot about it for some reason). It WOULD have rated higher for me if it had gotten ALL of the DLC content also. I'm not sure why it didn't get all of it like Xbox and PS3 but it pisses me off that it hasn't!

KhushrenadaDecember 02, 2013

Quote from: KITT

I wanna revise my number 10 and replace Nintendo Land with Injustice: Gods Among Us, (forgot about it for some reason). It WOULD have rated higher for me if it had gotten ALL of the DLC content also. I'm not sure why it didn't get all of it like Xbox and PS3 but it pisses me off that it hasn't!

Wouldn't worry too much about it. There'll probably be a thread made for the all forum users to post their top ten lists later. I'd do it now myself but I don't want to step on any toes. It's just usually done after the NWR list has been completely posted so expect it about then. At least you can then edit your list to your heart's content at that time.

I figured ZombiiU was #10, but I totally thought #9 was going to be Assassin's Creed something. Shows how little I care about Rayman, apparently.

azekeDecember 02, 2013

1. Wonderful 101
2. Super Mario 3d World
3. Toki Tori 2

That's it.

Of course i played Rayman and Assasin's Creed and New Super Mario but i don't think any of them are "Top X" material.

Though Assasin's Creed IV miiiight get into the Top of the next year when i will get it.

Honorable mention: Wii mode.

Wii games, VC and WiiWare also took significant share of my Wii U playtime. Majora's Mask and La Mulana were basically all i played in the first few months of 2013 on Wii U.

reginDecember 03, 2013

1. The Wonderful 101
2. Super Mario 3D World
3. Edge

I had fun with all three games I played for Wii U, but there's really no question which game belongs in the number one spot.

ejamerDecember 03, 2013

Quote from: azeke

...
Honorable mention: Wii mode.
...

No kidding - I'm with you on this one, although might've listed it higher than honorable mention.
Full backwards compatibility is a huge boon for Wii U - especially when the Wii library was so diverse.

iMarcusDecember 03, 2013

Top 10 Wii U Games

1. Super Mario 3D World
2. Wonderful 101
3. Pikmin 3
4. Zelda Windwaker HD
5. Super Mario Bros U
6. Nintendo Land
7. Monster Hunter 3
8. Lego City Undercover
9.  Zombie U
10. Ninja Gaiden 3

StratosDecember 03, 2013

I've been looking to see these appear since I will be getting a U later this month.

PhilPhillip Stortzum, December 03, 2013

My list (no order yet)


The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD
Pikmin 3
LEGO City Undercover
New Super Mario Bros. U
Nintendo Land
Rayman Legends
ZombiU
Need for Speed: Most Wanted U
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate
The Wonderful 101


Technically, SM3DW came out after the Wii U's 1st anniversary, at least here in North America.

Leo13December 03, 2013

Lego City Undercover:
First of all I don't enjoy Lego games, but my wife does.
We rented it and she said she would love it if not for the long loading times and the long story clips. She didn't play very long.
Here are my questions,
1-How much have the loading times improved with the system updates?
2-Is there a lot of story cut scenes throughout or just at the first of the game?


I just may have to get this for her for Christmas if it's better than her first impression.

ShyGuyDecember 03, 2013

There are multiple story cut scenes along the main storyline, but it's not Metal Gear.

Because a couple people mentioned it, not to spoil things too much but to get the complaining out of the way now, we decided that Super Mario 3D World would be eligible for this list despite technically coming out a few days too late.

azekeDecember 04, 2013

Quote from: Leo13

1-How much have the loading times improved with the system updates?

Unfortunately, loading times are still the same D:
Even having digital version won't speed it up.

Quote from: azeke

Quote from: Leo13

1-How much have the loading times improved with the system updates?

Unfortunately, loading times are still the same D:
Even having digital version won't speed it up.

In my experience, the load times have gotten considerably better via the various system updates, although they're still longer than they really should be.

KhushrenadaDecember 04, 2013

Quote from: NWR_insanolord

Because a couple people mentioned it, not to spoil things too much but to get the complaining out of the way now, we decided that Super Mario 3D World would be eligible for this list despite technically coming out a few days too late.


I had figured that out because of this:

Quote:

Enjoy our list of our favorite Wii U games that came out between the system's November 18, 2012 launch and the end of November 2013.


Clearly, the list makers wanted to extend the date and there is only game as to why that would be.

That's why it was stated that this extend to the end of November. Seemed arbitrary to cut off 3D World because it came out 4 days after the system's North American one-year anniversary.

ShyGuyDecember 04, 2013

I don't see the problem, 3D World is in Nintendo's launch window.

Leo13December 04, 2013



Azeke,
Did you try with the disc or just digital?
NWR_insanolord-Is it possible you played on disc and Azeke digitally and it's faster on the disc?


azeke4 hours ag
Unfortunately, loading times are still the same D:
Even having digital version won't speed it up.


NWR_insanolordJ.P. Corbran, Community Manager4 hours ago


Quote from: azeke

Quote from: Leo13

1-How much have the loading times improved with the system updates?
Unfortunately, loading times are still the same D:
Even having digital version won't speed it up.


In my experience, the load times have gotten considerably better via the various system updates, although they're still longer than they really should be.

EvilMarioDecember 04, 2013

1. Monster Hunter Tri Ultimate
2. Super Mario 3D World
3. Pikmin 3
4. New Super Mario Bros. U / Super Luigi U
5. Nintendo Land
6. ZombiU
7. Nano Assault Neo
8. Spin the Bottle: Bumpie's Party
-snip-
9. The Wonderful 101
10. Sonic Lost World


I really feel like most people, especially those that don't own a Wii U, or just recently bought it, underrate just how good Nintendo Land can be. Not just for the 'party games', but the single player offerings are stellar too.


I added the snip under 8 because I wouldn't really put W101, or Sonic on my recommended list for the Wii U's first year, but I just didn't have much else to add. Notably other titles I considered, Toki Tori 2, which didn't click with me too well and Dungeons & Dragons, which was fine for what it was.


Obviously the odd choice on the list is Spin the Bottle: Bumpie's Party. But it really is quite an entertaining title for the price. That is, if you have people that will actually want to play it, since the games are sometimes weird, odd, hilarious and anything, but what you would expect from a video game. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTC6h2IG1CA&t=7m45s


Overall, I enjoyed the Wii U plenty for the first year. I think for a gamer, it had plenty to offer, even with the early drought. But for joe-public and more casual fans of games, it still doesn't have 'that' game to bring them in.

PhilPhillip Stortzum, December 04, 2013

Quote from: NWR_insanolord

Because a couple people mentioned it, not to spoil things too much but to get the complaining out of the way now, we decided that Super Mario 3D World would be eligible for this list despite technically coming out a few days too late.

That's just the reason I didn't include it. You guys are fine, and it was understood, at least by me. :)

Leo13December 04, 2013

Evil Mario- I'm glad to hear i'm not the only one that likes bumpies party

azekeDecember 04, 2013

Leo13, i also have disc version, but i heard impressions that digital version has the same ridiculous loading times.

Also in my experience digital versions on Wii U don't improve loading, like i got W101 digitally, and my loading times look about the same as on disc from what i can tell from videos.

Quote from: azeke

Leo13, i also have disc version, but i heard impressions that digital version has the same ridiculous loading times.

Also in my experience digital versions on Wii U don't improve loading, like i got W101 digitally, and my loading times look about the same as on disc from what i can tell from videos.

I don't currently own any Wii U disc games, so my experience is based solely on digital games. However, during my long run with FIFA 13 I did notice significant cuts in load times along with a lot of the system updates.

Leo13December 05, 2013

NWR_insanolord


Thanks for the info. I also have almost all digital games (though I wish I could get all, but Wii Party U and Nintendo Land aren't offered digitally so I have those discs)


I will consider the possibility of getting lego city for her although I'm tempted to get the 3DS one for her instead as Best Buy currently has it (and several other games) for $15


azekeDecember 05, 2013

Quote from: Leo13

I will consider the possibility of getting lego city for her although I'm tempted to get the 3DS one for her instead...

From what i hear 3DS game also has huge loading times. I gather at this point this developer's engine problem.

KITT 10KDecember 06, 2013

LEGO City Undercover for the Wii U and the 3DS both do have long loading times while the 3DS has less cinematics and you need to read what they're saying at times, BUT that being said I have both versions and love the hell out of them both. I highly recommend getting them both.

KisakiProjectDecember 09, 2013

Lol..I think included eshop I have more than 10 games now.  I think ZombiU should be higher...especially with the bug fix.  So here is my top 5.

5) Nano Assault Neo.  Very fun twin stick shooter.  It's a throw back to the mid 2000s but an enjoyable one.
4) Pikmin 3.  Wonderful co-op and multiplayer.  Too bad its not online.  The single player is pretty fun too.  The only one I completed and 100%ed.
3) ZombiU.  Brilliant use of the system features.  Excellent roguelike qualities and atmosphere.  I don't even like zombies and I love this game.  The multiplayer is really good too.  Again should have had online.
2) SM3DWorld.  Amazing.  It's a great step up from 3D land.  Collecting green stars is actually fun and not tedious.  3D multiplayer.  Still not on par with the 64-Galaxy 2 vein though.
1) TLofZ: WW  One of the best Zeldas made even better.  Fast sail makes exploration as brilliant as it should have been.  My only complaint is the tri force hunt is still not streamlined enough and the dungeons could be gharder.

ResettisCousinDecember 14, 2013

Most Wanted U absolutely should have been on here. It's one of the best WiiU ports (IMHO it is the best- I was underwhelmed by Deus Ex). It literally might be the only game of its genre to be released for the WiiU, especially meaningful since the Wii had almost no games of this type either, possibly excluding Driver San Francisco. I'd say Luigi shouldn't have had its own spot, and Bit Trip Runner 2 is nice, but not better than NFSMW U.

SorenDecember 15, 2013

My ten in no particular order.


New Super Mario Bros U
New Super Luigi U
FIFA 13
Wind Waker HD
Earthbound
Mutant Mudds Deluxe
Runner 2
NBA 2K13
Need For Speed Most Wanted U
Cloudberry Kingdom

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