A couple days ago, I wanted to do a quick "Nintendo Wii Top 20" based purely on what's in my software library and what I've actually played. Because I went on a buying binge a couple years ago while my disc drive was busted (I finally replaced it early last year), I have a stack of Wii games that I haven't actually played yet. Ya know, stuff like Goldeneye, Metroid Prime 3 and Resident Evil 4, which is just unbelievably crazy.
So please note that this is based only on what I own and have played. I still don't have Galaxy 2, Super Paper Mario or Zelda Skyward Sword, don't have any of the main RPGs (which are no doubt becoming crazy expensive) and am still missing at least a hundred hidden gems.
That said, here's my Wii Top 20 for May 2021, no particular order:
New Super Mario Bros Wii: Absolutely fantastic return to Mario's 2D roots. The multiplayer is glorified chaos that quickly turns into Three Stooges slapstick, but isn't that part of the fun? I think NSMB U might be a little better, but this is still a classic.
Super Mario Galaxy: Probably most hardcore gamers' favorite Wii game, and for good reason. It plays a lot like Super Mario Bros 3 with its short, obstacle course-oriented stage designs, and it's a bit tougher than you'd expect. The spherical theme is played to the hilt and everything is so brilliant. Galaxy 2 probably beats it, but it's a close call.
Mario Kart Wii: Sometimes, I think this is the best Mario Kart, although MK8 on Switch probably deserves the crown. There's just an extra layer of danger and excitement in these course designs, where you can fall off the edges or miss crucial ramps. Love the bikes, the half-pipes and especially the winter and autumn tree stages.
Excitebots: I hated the idea of racing bug cars when this was released, but it's really a fantastic racer and much improved over Excite Truck in every way. It feels like a Sega Dreamcast videogame, which is the highest praise I can offer. If Nintendo is looking for more back catalog titles to bring to Switch, they need to look here.
Batman: The Brave and the Bold: Way Forward's excellent 2D throwback looks like a side-scrolling platformer and plays like a beat-em-up and it's terrific. There are loads of characters, animations and voice clips, lots of powerful attacks and enemies to fight and it all comes together so nicely. I miss the fun, cartoony Batman, don't you? This is the best brawler on the Wii, hands down.
Wii Party: Made by the same crew responsible for Mario Party, this game has a feel and groove all its own and there's more than enough content to keep you happy. I'm not a big fan of board games or minigame collections, but there's so much here to offer that you can't go wrong. And did you notice that Nintendo totally clipped Steely Dan's "Peg" in the soundtrack?
Wii Sports Resort: Probably my favorite Wii game, absolutely packed with great sporting events like sword fighting (how I wish Lucasarts could have given us a real lightsaber game like this), waterboarding, basketball and table tennis. Bowling feels more precise here, but I do kinda prefer the wobblier controls on the original Wii Sports (probably because I'm lousy at bowling).
Wii Fit: I managed to lose 25-30 pounds this past year thanks largely to Wii Fit, even if I'm using it mostly for the scale and the occasional exercise routine. So that means I have to put it in here. I still haven't looked at Wii Fit Plus to see what's different, should probably do that one of these days.
Wii Music: Easily the most controversial title in my list, this game was hated, despised, tarred and feathered upon release. Personally, I think it's because 1) hardcore gamers just wanted to beat up on Nintendo and 2) they were expecting a Guitar Hero clone. Instead, it's a music tool similar to the "construction set" computer games of the 1980s, and if you understand it's all about teaching improvisation and group dynamics, it will click with you. Not perfect, definitely needs a sequel, definitely needs a ton of jazz songs.
Wii Sports: Obviously, we've all played Wii Sports Bowling to death, and that alone is one of the all-time greatest videogames. Tennis is also fantastic, and I was surprised by how little I missed controlling player movements, as well as how much fun doubles matches could be. Baseball and Golf should have been spun off into their own full games. Boxing has aged a bit, but it's still good waggle-mashing fun.
Guilty Party: A real surprise from Disney, this game is like a cross between the board game Clue and a minigame collection, except that the minigames are actually good and fit the theme nicely. The character designs are terrific and you can see that Disney was hoping this game would become a hit, so they could spin this into a TV cartoon series. They still ought to do that. I'd watch in a heartbeat. Just put it on right after Ducktales and Buzz Lightyear.
Muramasa: Vanillaware's brilliant anime hack-and-slash that helped bring 2D videogames back to the limelight after a decade of 3D polygon obsessions. And Thank God for that! Tell me you still don't love the art design to pieces. This is another obvious candidate for a Switch remake.
Geometry Wars Galaxies: Classic Robotron-inspired arcade shooting with 60fps and crisp visuals. There's glorious explosions everywhere, chaotic enemies that surround you at all times, a richly complex scoring system that rewards strategy and planning, a gazillion stages to play and enjoy. Heck, it's a must-own just for the shiny cover design. This is another videogame that gives me strong Dreamcast vibes.
Just Dance 1 & 2: Easily the most successful third-party franchise on the Wii, this series fulfills all the promises of the Nintendo Wii, giving us something novel and new, something that appeals to women, fitness freaks and people of all ages. I'll choose the first two games in the series because they have all the best songs. I have JD2021 on Switch and it's...okay? The songs aren't all that good. But that's probably because I'm 48 years old and would rather jump around to Surfin' Bird, MC Hammer and Viva Las Vegas.
NHL Slapshot: The hockey stick add-on screamed, "gimmick," and probably scared everybody away, but this is actually a fantastic hockey game that plays like an updated NHL 94. I'm serious. If you want NHL 94--the greatest sports videogame ever made or ever will be made--for a "modern" home console, this is the one to get. Bonus points for the fantastic pee-wee league mode, a 3-on3 match with no refs and a million hard hits. Get this. Play this. Love this.
NBA Jam: Performing dunks by slamming down the Wiimote is one of the great joys in life. You have no idea how satisfying it is until you've played a couple quarters. Is this the best Jam ever? It certainly feels that way, or to be more precise, it feels like a proper modern-era remake of the original classic. This does for basketball what NHL Slapshot does for hockey. Pity EA kneecapped this game the way they did. What was the deal about that, anyway?
Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip: Terrific snowboarding game that reminds you of Tony Hawk Pro Skater and Steep Slope Sliders in all the right ways. The Wiimote controls are very simple, yet very effective and I never felt like I was struggling to do what I wanted to do. Bonus points for the soundtrack, which skews a bit left-field for a sports game--seriously, they use the Harry Nilsson song that was used in Goodfellas.
De Blob: Is Nintendo Wii the true heir to Sega Dreamcast? De Blob feels like just the sort of thing you'd find on Sega's final system--bright and crisp visuals, clean art design, clever and original gameplay, cheerful atmosphere. I'm reminded of the multiplayer mode in Tony Hawk where you tag areas, which is probably why I love it so. That, and killing enemies by swatting down the Wiimote like they're bugs (something that was cruelly taken away in the sequel and Switch remake). The only problem, of course, is the lack of proper save points. If you're going to play, just set aside a couple hours to get through the massive city stages.
Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom: Easily the best fighting game on Wii and arguably the best of Generation Seven. You're never going to see this one again, thanks to the licensing, so enjoy the chance to play with all these wild and obscure Japanese superheroes. The sideways-Wiimote control option is excellent and really opens the game up for those who don't have joysticks (just like Marvel Super Heroes vs Street Fighter on Sega Saturn).