All these : Get a Wii U
Why ?
......because it has 'fun' games?
The problem with a lot of 'AAA' development is that much of it takes itself far too seriously. The industry has for some time now been pushing this idea that games need to be these complex constructs for us to navigate through. The stories need to be deep and emotional with characters we can relate too, the game world needs to be large, dynamic and full of interactivty, the visuals need to be as life like as the technology can possibly allow and the games need to present us with mature themes engage us with 'cinematic' like quality to 'immerse' us in their game world.
Thats not necessarily a bad thing, I like games that do all of the above; but they are sometimes draining. You cant just play them sporadically, you need to invest a reasonable amount of time in that game world each time you play to really get what the developers have set out to achieve.
Sometimes, I just dont feel up to that sort of thing. I want something that is simple to pick up and play. Something that doesnt revolve around complex game mechanics, an involving story and simply being bombarded with so many thing to do you dont know where to begin. You just want it simple, accessible and easy to jump in and out of. Something that nails its core mechanic too a tee and progression doesnt mean fleshing out a games story but simply progressing through a series of challenges set out by the games world.
Wii U gets mentioned for this because its games arent about heavy stories and cinematics and expansive game worlds but simple, superbly executed game mechanics that are used to overcome a series of progressively increasing challenges set out by smart level design challenges. There is nothing pretentious about many of the Wii U titles. You could virtually throw the stories from the games entirely and they would still be every bit as enjoyable.
This same logic can be applied to many mobile and indie titles that rely on the same core principles; accessible, easy to get into with no illusions of being some sort of grandiose life changing experience; they are just there to be enjoyed. You dont need to scrutinise their lack of depth in story telling, whether its pushing technological boundaries or whether its revolutionising the way we play games.
On consoles, the Wii U is really hitting that mark. The games are unapologetic in their straight forward approach to game design and many of their games are all the better for it. Look at games like 3D World, its the same basic concept that has existed in the Mario universe since it first appeared on the NES, you navigate your way via a series of platforms , jumping on or over enemies until you reach the goal. Sure some items have been added that expand upon that idea to a small degree and the shift to 3D has allowed the developers to come with new ways in which to challenge players in their level design but the core concept hasnt changed and its a game that relies on a single button to jump, and another to run. Thats it.
Again I will reiterate that sometimes, I want a game more visceral, something that challenges me on multiple levels and provides me with a thought provoking or gripping story; but I enjoy them for a different reason to the reason I enjoy games on Wii U.
Basically, I play Wii U games when I want to play a game that is just good ol fashion 'fun' to play.
And then I play games like Alien Isolation, Evil Within or Assassins Creed when I want an 'experience.'