All good things must come to an end. And sadly, this is about to be the case for Nintendo's Wii U eShop. The Wii U eShop will close for good in March 2023 and will take with it many games that still have a lot of life to give.
Many of these games capitalized on the Wii U's unique mechanics to create genuinely remarkable gaming experiences that are just as interesting as the system itself. We hate the thought of these games being lost forever, so we have compiled a list of some of the best ones worth buying.
1. Xenoblade Chronicles X
Xenoblade Chronicles X is available physically, but the eShop has DLC that thoroughly improves the game's performance on the system. These DLC packs deliver massive quality of life improvements such as helping assets load in and improving framerates.
If you plan to play this game on the Wii U, consider downloading it from the eShop, as it comes with the DLC preinstalled. If you own the physical version already but haven't played it yet, make sure you download the DLC before it's too late.
2. Art Academy Home Studio
Art Academy Home Studio is a fantastic tool for any budding or experienced artist. It supplies a wide range of tools and materials to make drawing easier than its real-world counterpart. Unlike real-life drawing, Art Academy Home Studio has grid patterns and, of course, undo and redo buttons. The textures of the materials you choose to work with are also very life-like.
Art Academy Home Studio could be the perfect game to play around with if you've been thinking about buying programs like Procreate but are hesitant to dive in due to that hefty price tag.
3. Pushmo World
Pushmo World is another one of those wholesome Nintendo games that we have all grown to love. Controlling the adorable squishy character Mallo, it's your job to push and pull the blocks so you can jump your way up the course.
The colors are lively, the characters and soundtrack are charming, and the whole experience is like a hug. If you are into some light-hearted fun, Pushmo World would be a wonderful addition to your library.
4. Affordable Space Adventures
Affordable Space Adventure is an ingenious indie game that creates an entirely new use for the Wii U gamepad. Here, it becomes the control unit for your spaceship. The gamepad also feeds you information on how to make it past certain obstacles you will have to overcome during your adventure.
This creative use of the Wii U's functionality is also accompanied by a hilarious and charming story. Affordable Space Adventure is quite possibly the most inventive and quirky game on the system and is definitely worth picking up before it's too late.
5. The Swapper
The Swapper is an incredibly unique physics puzzle game with platforming elements and the same sense of existential dread that you feel in a Metroid game. Although The Swapper bears similarities to Metroid, it still remains incredibly distinct.
Instead of brutally hard enemies, the gameplay involves puzzles solved with a cloning device. This device allows you to clone yourself and swap positions with your doubles to make your way through the map.
The HD graphics of the Wii U really shine here. The desolate landscape is speckled with dynamic lighting. And if you look closely, you will notice that a lot of the elements are handcrafted with clay.
6. Year Walk
If you are a fan of horror games, Year Walk could be right up your alley. It is a first-person puzzle adventure game with a dark storyline inspired by Swedish folklore.
But what would an eerie and dark storyline be if not combined with an eerie and dark art style? Year Walk truly delivers in that sense. The monotonal color palette and picture book art style succeed in creating an unsettling atmosphere.
Year Walk uses the gamepad as a notepad and implements gyro controls, making it another perfect example of the Wii U's unique library of games. This indie adventure is short, totaling about 2 hours to complete the main storyline, but that's reflected in its price on the eShop.
7. Dungeons and Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara
Dungeons and Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara is a remake of the critically acclaimed Japan-exclusive Sega Saturn game. This edition was ported to the Wii U in 2013, bringing HD graphics and more content along with it.
The vast cast of playable characters and branching storyline give this addictive title a ton of replayability, while the cleaned-up graphics make the Wii U version of Dungeons and Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara the definitive way to play this title in the west.
8. Lone Survivor
Usually, pixel art styles inspire a feeling of peaceful nostalgia. But Lone Survivor is anything but peaceful. As one of the few survival horror titles on the Wii U, the story sees you as one of the last men standing during a mutant zombie outbreak.
Drawing from many popular survival horror game tactics such as a mental health bar, Lone Survivor requires a more tactical approach than just blasting through hordes of zombies guns blazing.
You have a limited amount of food, batteries for your flashlight, and ammo. And with no melee attacks available, you have to be more strategic and know when to preserve your resources in Lone Survivor
9. Tengami
If you enjoy relaxing puzzle games, you will love Tengami. It is a stunningly beautiful and artistic adventure rendered in a picture book art style. This art style seems to be on the rise, seen in games such as Wytchwood and other indie titles. But Tengami takes it to the next level.
Using the Wii U gamepad, you can physically interact with the pop-up book world, turning pages to change the scene and solve puzzles. The story tells of a character moving through Feudal Japan on a quest to revive a metaphorical Sakura tree.
The story, the interactive pop-up book art style, intuitive puzzle solving, and relaxing and ambient soundtrack create a calming and therapeutic experience.
10. Star Fox Guard
Star Fox Guard is a tower defense game that also makes use of the Wii U's gamepad. The screen displays a video feed from 12 security cameras stationed around your base. In contrast, the gamepad displays a radar and an overview of the map, allowing you to switch between video feeds to engage enemies.
Your base is at risk from infiltration by bots, and it's your job to defend it. As you complete missions, you are introduced to new bots with increasingly crafty skills, such as bots that evade your radar and those who will replace your video feed with a fake video loop while the bots sneak into your base.
Where Can I Find the Wii U eShop?
The best way to get your hands on these games before the eShop closes is by accessing the Wii U eShop on your Wii U.
The Wii Channel on the Wii U was disconnected on January 30, 2019. You can redownload already purchased content there, but you will be unable to get any new games on the service.
You can still access the Wii U eShop online by making sure you have a Nintendo Network ID, connecting to the internet, and accepting the user agreements. You will then be able to access the Wii U eShop on your Wii U.
It's a Digital World
The rise of digital media and entertainment is exciting. But while it has many positive aspects, there are also negatives. One of those is that when servers are inevitably shut down, everything that was once on there is gone forever.
There are many examples of this, but the Wii U eShop is a perfect one. Many games on this list never got a physical release, meaning they only exist on the eShop. And once the eShop is gone, so are they.
The Wii U eShop is not the only victim in this situation. The 3DS eShop will also hang up the closed sign in March 2023. So, if you have a 3DS and want to know what games to get, check out the greatest games on the 3DS eShop.
The good news is that it is not too late to make purchases before these shops are closed. Nintendo has removed the ability to top up your Wii U and 3DS eShop accounts with a credit card, but you can still top them up with eShop vouchers or by sending funds from your Nintendo Account. Check out our guide on how to connect your Nintendo Account to your 3DS and Wii U to do so.
Take Advantage of the eShop Before It Closes for Good
There are so many titles on the Wii U eShop that finding a good one can be overwhelming. Fortunately, that's why you have us! No matter which of these games you try, you will surely find a gameplay experience here that you will enjoy.
But if you're looking for games from even older consoles like the N64, try looking for them in the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack.