The Wii U was one of Nintendo’s biggest failures. Compared to other systems such as Nintendo’s own Switch or Sony’s PlayStation 4, it becomes clear how out of place and commercially unsuccessful Nintendo’s first eighth-generation console was.
But is the Wii U really that bad? We think there’s still a lot to love about Nintendo’s problem child, and years after its launch, now might be the best time to dive into the world of Wii U. Why do you ask? Let’s find out!
1. The Wii U has an amazing library of games
At the end of the day, the most important thing to consider when buying a gaming console is the games you can play on it. That’s what you’re going to use it for, after all. And the Wii U does not disappoint when it comes to its library of games.
The Wii U generation brought us tons of Nintendo classics like Mario Kart 8, Super Smash Bros: Wii U, Xenoblade Chronicles X, Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze — the list goes on. Even The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild came out on the Wii U.
If you’ve been thinking about making the switch to the world of Nintendo, but didn’t want to fork over the hefty price tag for a Nintendo Switch just yet, the Wii U is a more cost-effective way to experience these incredible games.
2. Wii U is Nintendo’s best virtual console
The Wii U is arguably Nintendo’s best virtual console. You can play games from multiple Nintendo systems on the Wii U, from Game Boy Advance to NES and N64 games. The Nintendo Switch doesn’t offer anything similar, opting for a paid subscription service to access some older retro titles.
While you can play some SNES and NES games on the Switch if you sign up for a Nintendo Switch Online account, N64 titles are still locked behind another paywall in the form of the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pass.
Wii U’s Virtual Console offers many more retro games from many more systems with a fresh coat of HD paint. If you love playing retro games, the Wii U is the console for you.
3. The Wii U eShop is closing soon
The Wii U eShop will close in March 2023, making now the best time to pick one up. The Wii U eShop is a treasure trove of exclusive online stores that will be lost forever when it closes its virtual doors.
Many Wii U games could not get physical releases or were only released physically in certain regions. And since the Wii U is region locked, digital may be the only option. There are plenty of great Wii U games worth buying before the eShop closes. So if you’ve been considering it, make sure you get on it before it’s too late.
4. The Wii U is an important part of gaming history
Flop or not, the Wii U remains an important part of Nintendo’s history. It also provided the basis for the Nintendo Switch. The Wii U and Nintendo Switch share many similarities, such as their portable nature and ability to be played both handheld and on TV.
The Wii U is an incredibly unique piece of hardware. And the experience of playing one cannot be replicated. So whether it sold one million or one billion units, it’s still an important piece of the Nintendo puzzle. If you’re an avid Nintendo fan or collector, that should be reason enough to add this unique console to your collection.
5. The Wii U is a modder’s dream
If you’re interested in modding or want to learn how, the Wii U would be a great place to start. Modifying the Wii U is a relatively easy process if you know what you’re doing and has a much lower risk of breaking the system than other consoles.
As an added bonus, since the Wii U has been discontinued, there are no more warranties that can be voided. By hacking the Wii U, you can turn the console into a DVD player or even install emulators. If you’ve been considering dipping your toes into the world of modding and are a GameCube fan, check out our guide on how to play GameCube games on Wii U with Nintendont.
6. Wii U is the best way to play Wii games
The Wii U is basically an improved Wii. Almost all Wii games can be played on Wii U and in HD, no less, making it the best way to experience almost any Wii game you want.
Backwards compatibility is something Switch owners have never experienced. While you can play ports on the system, you must purchase them separately. However, the Wii U still used the same discs as the Wii did, so you can switch between the two systems easily and without additional cost.
7. Wii U has tons of amazing exclusive titles
As well as having a large selection of games from older consoles available in the Wii U’s expansive library, the system also had its share of exclusive titles. That’s right, not all Wii U games have been ported to the Switch!
While many have made the move to Nintendo’s newest system, the Wii U library still has many of its own exclusive titles such as Affordable Space Adventure and HD remakes of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker.
8. Wii U is a multiplayer machine
While many consider the Nintendo Switch to be the best multiplayer console, the Wii U Switch offers great value for money. Due to its incredibly unique design, the Wii U console has mastered the art of collaboration.
On other systems, co-op games require you to share the screen with your friends by dividing it into sections. However, the Wii U surpassed the need for split-screen collaboration. With one player using the TV and the other using the screen on the gamepad, the Wii U lets you play two-player games with an entire screen to yourself.
9. Wii U is still pretty cheap
Video game consoles go through different stages in their lives. They start out quite expensive, then as they get older and newer consoles come out, they start to drop in price. Once they are old enough, however, prices seem to skyrocket as they become “retro”.
The Wii U is currently sitting in a sweet spot. It’s nearing the end of its life and will soon be retro, but the prices of Wii U consoles and games are still relatively cheap. If you’re a retro collector, now’s the perfect time to get your hands on one of these systems before prices skyrocket.
10. Wii U is much rarer than other consoles
The fact that the Wii U flopped so hard is a silver lining for avid collectors. Since the system sold so poorly, there are fewer of them. The Wii U sold only a fraction of the amount other Nintendo consoles have. Due to the lack of demand for the Wii U, Nintendo didn’t make that many of them.
There aren’t nearly as many Wii U’s on the market, making it far rarer than other Nintendo consoles. Wii U prices are low now, but they could quickly rise in the future as it becomes a collector’s item and demand for them grows.
It’s never too late to get a Wii U
If you’ve been interested in adding a Wii U to your collection, now might be the best time to do so while prices are still low. There were many factors that led to the failure of the Wii U, but many of these factors were due to marketing rather than the system itself being bad.
The Wii U is a unique and important part of video game history, and there are many reasons why you should get yourself one.
