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The best Wii U games are Breath of the Wild, Super Mario 3D World, Mario Kart 8, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and Xenoblade Chronicles X, and every one of those now has a Nintendo Switch version. That changes the real question. Nintendo moved most of the Wii U’s top games to Switch, so the useful split today is between games you can buy new on Switch and games that still only run on a Wii U, like Splatoon, Twilight Princess HD, Wind Waker HD and Nintendo Land. Below are 14 picks, each with the place it runs in 2026.
How we chose
We started from the games that keep appearing at the top of the current search results for this question: Metacritic’s Wii U ranking, Nintendo Life’s 50 best Wii U games and a 2025 Famiboards community vote. Then we checked every pick against a list of Wii U games ported to Switch, Nintendo’s own product pages, and Nintendo’s notices about the Wii U eShop and online shutdown. Ratings come from the Amazon listings, checked in October 2026. Nobody on our side ran hands-on tests; the notes summarize official information, critic aggregates and owner reviews.
The best Wii U games at a glance
| Game | Genre | Wii U release | Where to play it today |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | Open-world adventure | 2017 | Switch (released the same day) |
| Super Mario 3D World | 3D platformer | 2013 | Switch, as Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury |
| Mario Kart 8 | Kart racing | 2014 | Switch, as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe |
| Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze | 2D platformer | 2014 | Switch |
| Xenoblade Chronicles X | Open-world RPG | 2015 | Switch Definitive Edition, plus a Switch 2 Edition |
| Pikmin 3 | Real-time strategy | 2013 | Switch, as Pikmin 3 Deluxe |
| Bayonetta 2 | Action | 2014 | Switch |
| Rayman Legends | 2D platformer | 2013 | Switch |
| Splatoon | Team shooter | 2015 | Wii U only, online play ended |
| Super Smash Bros. for Wii U | Fighting | 2014 | Wii U only |
| The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD | Action adventure | 2013 | Wii U only (GameCube original on Switch 2) |
| The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD | Action adventure | 2016 | Wii U only |
| Super Mario Maker | Level builder | 2015 | Wii U, or a 3DS version |
| Nintendo Land | Party collection | 2012 | Wii U only |
Port status per the Nintendo Fandom list of Wii U games ported to Switch and Nintendo’s product pages, checked October 29, 2026. Release years for ported games follow that list.
Before you buy a Wii U for these games
Three dates from Nintendo decide what a Wii U can still do. Since March 27, 2023, you can’t buy anything in the Wii U eShop, and since April 3, 2023, you can’t redeem download codes there. Since April 8, 2024, online play and every other online feature in Wii U software has ended. Nintendo says you can still redownload games you already own and receive updates “for the foreseeable future”, but a new owner can’t buy a digital Wii U game at all.
So every Wii U-only pick on this list now means a physical disc. The console also plays Wii discs, which helps, but it does not accept GameCube discs, per Nintendo’s support page. If you already own a Switch, buy the ports below first and treat a Wii U as an extra for the handful of games that never left it.
The 8 Wii U games you can buy on Switch
1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
It is the top Wii U game on Metacritic’s list and the Famiboards vote, and it launched on Wii U and Switch at the same time in March 2017. The open world lets you tackle Hyrule in any order, with puzzles that have several solutions. There is no reason to hunt down the Wii U disc unless you collect, because the Switch version is the same game.
Who it’s for: anyone who skipped it in 2017. Who should skip it: players who want the classic dungeon-by-dungeon Zelda structure; Twilight Princess HD further down fits them better.
- 4.8/5 from 53,800+ Amazon ratings for the Switch version (October 2026).
- Amazon’s review summary praises the open world and the volume of quests and challenges.
- Cook food, brew elixirs and scavenge gear, per the listing’s feature list.
Cons: one owner quoted in Amazon’s summary notes it renders at 720p/900p on the original Switch, so it is not a sharp-looking game on a large TV. It is single player only per the listing, so it does nothing for a group night.
Check price on Amazon: Breath of the Wild (Switch)
2. Super Mario 3D World (+ Bowser’s Fury)
The 2013 Wii U platformer is built for four people on one couch, with short, dense stages and the cat suit power-up. The Switch release adds online co-op for the first time, faster character movement and a separate open-world adventure, Bowser’s Fury, where a second player can control Bowser Jr. A free Switch 2 update improves image quality and frame rate, per Nintendo.
Who it’s for: families and couples who want co-op Mario. Who should skip it: owners of the Wii U version who don’t care about Bowser’s Fury; one GameStop reviewer said exactly that.
- 1-4 players on one system, 2-4 local wireless or online, per Nintendo.
- Snapshot Mode in both adventures.
- 4.8/5 from 32,700+ Amazon ratings (October 2026).
Cons: some players find the faster movement on Switch harder to control than on Wii U, according to Metacritic user reviews. A GameStop owner review reports heavy lag in local wireless play that forced them back to one console.
Check price on Amazon: Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury
3. Mario Kart 8 (Deluxe)
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was the first Wii U game Nintendo brought to Switch. Nintendo’s official site lists eight dedicated Battle Mode courses, and a paid Booster Course Pass adds 48 more race courses and eight characters.
Who it’s for: anyone who wants one multiplayer game for mixed ages. Who should skip it: Wii U owners who only want the same base tracks again.
- 4.8/5 from 76,000+ Amazon ratings (October 2026), the largest rating pool on this list.
- Amazon’s review summary calls it a party game that works docked and handheld.
- Compatible with Switch, Switch OLED, Switch Lite and Switch 2 per the listing.
Cons: it is a re-release, which disappointed some buyers who wanted a new Mario Kart, per an Amazon.ca review. The extra 48 courses cost extra through the Booster Course Pass.
Check price on Amazon: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
4. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
This 2014 platformer moves the Kongs through six islands of side-scrolling stages, from the Lost Mangroves to a frozen Donkey Kong Island. The Switch version keeps the same title and box art, with a “New Funky Mode” sticker for the play option added on Switch. Nintendo lists it as 1-2 players.
Who it’s for: fans of side-scrolling Donkey Kong. Who should skip it: anyone expecting Switch 2 upgrades: Nintendo only says the game behaves the same as on Switch.
- 4.8/5 from 8,100+ Amazon ratings (October 2026).
- Two-player co-op on one system.
- Runs on all Switch models and Switch 2 per the listing.
Cons: no Switch 2 Edition or visual update. If you still own the Wii U disc, the Switch copy mainly buys portability and Funky Mode.
Check price on Amazon: DKC: Tropical Freeze (Switch)
5. Xenoblade Chronicles X
The 2015 Wii U RPG stayed on Wii U until March 2025, when Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition arrived on Switch. The listing says it includes all content from the Wii U version plus new story elements. A Switch 2 Edition followed on April 16, 2026, with a smoother frame rate and 4K in TV mode per its listing.
Who it’s for: RPG players who want a huge sci-fi world with piloted mechs called Skells. Who should skip it: anyone short on time; it is a long open-world RPG.
- 4.8/5 from 170+ Amazon ratings for the Switch Definitive Edition (October 2026); the Switch 2 Edition shows 4.6/5 from 55 ratings.
- Online squads of up to 32 players with a Nintendo Switch Online membership.
- Includes all Wii U content.
Cons: online features need a paid Switch Online membership. Rating pools are small compared with the Mario games, so treat them as early signals.
Check price on Amazon: Xenoblade Chronicles X DE
6. Pikmin 3 (Deluxe)
Pikmin 3 placed second in the 2025 Famiboards Wii U vote. You command squads of plant creatures to gather fruit before each day ends. Pikmin 3 Deluxe on Switch adds side-story missions with Olimar and Louie, co-op Story mode and all the original DLC, per Nintendo. It holds an 85 Metacritic critic score from 93 reviews.
Who it’s for: strategy fans and co-op pairs who want something calmer than a shooter. Who should skip it: players who hate timers; Polygon’s review title calls it relaxing “until it isn’t”.
- Co-op Story mode is new to Deluxe.
- Includes all Wii U DLC.
- Metacritic user score 8.6 from 362 ratings (October 2026).
Cons: PCMag notes the core game is largely unchanged from Wii U. One Metacritic user mentions Pikmin pathfinding failing at times.
Check price on Amazon: Pikmin 3 Deluxe
7. Bayonetta 2
The 2014 action game launched as a Wii U exclusive and came to Switch in 2018 under the same title and box art. It belongs on the list for players who want fast, combo-based action rather than a Nintendo family game.
8. Rayman Legends
Metacritic ranks it fourth among Wii U games, and it came to Switch in 2017. It is the pick for players who liked Tropical Freeze and want another 2D platformer with co-op.
The 6 that still need a Wii U
9. Splatoon
Nintendo Life ranks Splatoon seventh among Wii U games. The original was built around online team battles, and those ended with all Wii U online play on April 8, 2024. What remains is the offline content, so play the Switch sequels if multiplayer is what you want.
10. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
It isn’t on the list of Wii U games ported to Switch. Nintendo’s GameCube Controller Adapter for Wii U works only with this game, so if you own GameCube pads, they work here and nowhere else on the console. Local play is the only option now.
11. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD
The 2013 remaster added HD visuals, gyro aiming, faster sailing and a shorter Triforce quest, per VGC. On Switch 2, the GameCube original is playable through Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, but that isn’t the HD version, and original Switch owners don’t get the GameCube library at all. Nintendo of America’s Nate Bihldorff said a port is not ruled out, but none has been announced.
12. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD
Nintendo Life ranks it sixth. Game Rant lists Twilight Princess as missing from both Switch and Switch 2 in any version, so the Wii U disc is the only official way to play the HD remaster.
13. Super Mario Maker
The original level builder came to 3DS but not Switch, per the Fandom port list. The Wii U version’s online course sharing ended with the April 2024 shutdown, so today it works as an offline builder.
14. Nintendo Land
The 2012 launch game is a set of Nintendo-themed mini-games built around the GamePad and TV showing different things at once. Nintendo Life gives a Switch port a 0.25/10 chance for that reason. If you pick up a Wii U for local multiplayer, this is the game that shows what the GamePad was for.
Which route fits you
- You own a Switch or Switch 2: buy the ported versions. Breath of the Wild, 3D World, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Tropical Freeze, Xenoblade X and Pikmin 3 Deluxe cover most of the Wii U’s best list, with extras the Wii U discs lack.
- You want Twilight Princess HD, Wind Waker HD, Nintendo Land or Smash for Wii U: you need a Wii U and physical discs, because the eShop no longer sells anything. Switch 2 owners who only want Wind Waker can play the GameCube original through Expansion Pack.
- You want Splatoon or Super Mario Maker for online play: skip the Wii U versions; their online features are gone.
- You are building a retro corner: a Wii U also runs Wii discs. For what to connect it to, see our CRT vs LCD guide, and compare other systems in our retro game console picks.
If you are working backward through Nintendo’s history, our best N64 games list uses the same format and shows which of those run on Switch Online.
FAQ
What is the best Wii U game?
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild tops Metacritic’s Wii U list and the 2025 Famiboards vote. Super Mario 3D World and Mario Kart 8 are the usual multiplayer picks.
Can you still buy Wii U games digitally?
No. Purchases in the Wii U eShop ended on March 27, 2023. You can only redownload games you already bought.
Does Wii U online still work?
No. Nintendo ended online play and other online features for Wii U software on April 8, 2024.
Which Wii U games are not on Switch?
Among the big names: Splatoon, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, Wind Waker HD, Twilight Princess HD, Super Mario Maker, Yoshi’s Woolly World and Nintendo Land. Star Fox Zero has no direct port either; Nintendo describes its 2026 Star Fox for Switch 2 as a remake of Star Fox 64.
Can a Wii U play GameCube or Wii games?
It plays Wii discs. GameCube discs are not supported, per Nintendo.
Sources
- Metacritic, Best Games on Wii U: https://www.metacritic.com/browse/game/wii-u/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- Nintendo Life, 50 Best Wii U Games Of All Time: https://www.nintendolife.com/guides/50-best-wii-u-games-of-all-time (checked 2026-10-29)
- Nintendo Life, The Wii U Games That Haven’t Come To Switch (port probabilities, Nintendo Land, Star Fox Zero): https://www.nintendolife.com/guides/potential-switch-port-round-up-the-wii-u-games-that-havent-come-to-switch (checked 2026-10-29)
- Famiboards, Top 10: Nintendo Wii U Edition results (May 2025): https://famiboards.com/threads/top-10-nintendo-wii-u-edition-results-are-in.13901/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- Nintendo Fandom, List of Wii U games ported to the Nintendo Switch system: https://nintendo.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_Wii_U_games_ported_to_the_Nintendo_Switch_system (checked 2026-10-29)
- Nintendo Support, Wii U & Nintendo 3DS eShop Discontinuation Q&A: https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/57847 (checked 2026-10-29)
- Nintendo Support, What Discs Are Compatible with the Wii U?: https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1158 (checked 2026-10-29)
- Nintendo Support, GameCube Controller Adapter FAQ: https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/13277 (checked 2026-10-29)
- Nintendo, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury product page: https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/super-mario-3d-world-plus-bowsers-fury-switch/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- Nintendo, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe official site and Booster Course Pass: https://mariokart8.nintendo.com/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- Nintendo, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze product and game pages: https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/donkey-kong-country-tropical-freeze-switch and https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/games/oms/dkc-tf/world.html (checked 2026-10-29)
- Nintendo, Pikmin 3 Deluxe product page: https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/pikmin-3-deluxe-switch/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- Nintendo, Star Fox for Nintendo Switch 2 announcement: https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/star-fox-direct-sees-fox-mccloud-and-crew-prepare-for-liftoff-on-nintendo-switch-2-june-25/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- VGC, Wind Waker HD port comments by Nate Bihldorff: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/wind-waker-gamecube-on-switch-2-doesnt-mean-wind-waker-hd-wont-get-ported-nintendo-says/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- Game Rant, Twilight Princess HD and Wind Waker HD on Switch: https://gamerant.com/nintendo-switch-2-zelda-games-twilight-princess-wind-waker-hd/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- Metacritic, Pikmin 3 Deluxe critic and user scores: https://www.metacritic.com/game/pikmin-3-deluxe (checked 2026-10-29)
- Metacritic user reviews and GameStop owner reviews, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury: https://www.metacritic.com/game/super-mario-3d-world-plus-bowsers-fury/user-reviews/ and https://www.gamestop.com/video-games/nintendo-switch/products/super-mario-3d-world-plus-bowsers-fury—nintendo-switch/224728.html (checked 2026-10-29)
- Polygon, Pikmin 3 Deluxe impressions; PCMag, Pikmin 3 Deluxe review (checked 2026-10-29)
- Amazon listings ASIN B01MS6MO77, B08H9M7LDY, B01N1037CV, B078Y4FLCL, B0DLK17ZY5, B0GP9QJQK3, B08FC1GZ62 (features, compatibility, ratings, review summaries) and an Amazon.ca review of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – checked 2026-10-29
- Owner notes / photos: none