Feature: The 28 Best Wii Games!

By GamePro Staff
September 09, 2008 12:39 PM PST
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#18: LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga

Putting the entire story of Luke, Darth Vader, and the rest of the Star Wars cast through a LEGO filter was seen by many gamers as a gamble, but each title was better than the last. LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga was an epic adventure, especially when you heard genuine lightsaber sound effects though the speaker on your Wii Remote. The levels were huge, popular characters could be replayed anywhere, and even the space combat didn't disappoint.

#17: WarioWare: Smooth Moves

Wario is at his best in bite-sized minigames, and Smooth Moves was no exception. The Wii's take on WarioWare challenged us with gameplay that tested our reflexes with tons of motion-based tasks. If you've got friends over, there's nothing more fun than watching them flail around in a vain attempt to keep up with this game. The characters were crazy, the mini-games were wacky, and the experience was perfect for Wii parties.

#16: Wii Fit

At $90, Wii Fit may seem like an exorbitantly-priced game, but what you get for the money makes it one of the biggest bargains. With the Wii Balance Board, you get a highly-accurate weighing scale that also happens to be the most innovative controller since the Wii Remote--one that will surely be incorporated into many first and third-party titles coming soon. Along with the board comes Wii Fit, which features both effective excercises as well as enjoyable active minigames. When you consider that $90 won't get you more than three months at a local gym, Wii Fit is one of the best gaming--and fitness--deals around.

#15: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King

This WiiWare title from Square Enix was part Harvest Moon and part Sim City, with all of the charm of a Final Fantasy title. Taking on the role of a young king you were tasked with re-constructing your kingdom one building at a time, from various shops to homes, to whatever your citizens needed. My Life as King proved not only a fun and inventive Wii title, but a great way for Nintendo to kick off their WiiWare service.

#14: LostWinds

Lost Winds encapsulates what WiiWare is capable of. It's gorgeous, original, and only possible on the Nintendo Wii. While the game is every bit as feature-filled as any disc-based games, the amazing-looking platformer is at home on the download service, where the more hardcore fanbase will find it. With your Wii Remote's movements dictating the wind, it's one of the most intuitive yet immersive ways we've seen the accessory utilized. If we can continue to see this caliber of gaming on WiiWare, Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network will have a tough new competitor.

#13: Wii Sports

In terms of sheer popularity, Wii Sports is one of the most important console pack-in titles since Super Mario Bros. with the NES and Tetris with the Game Boy. A collection of five meaty mini-games--golf, tennis, boxing, bowling, and baseball--Wii Sports highlights the excellent motion-control aspects of the Wii perfectly. With the ease of use for every game catering to the casual, with enough gameplay packed in to pique the interest of the hardcore, Wii Sports is one of the most accessible games ever made.

#12: Mario Kart Wii

There's something for everyone in Mario Kart Wii. For the dedicated fans of the series, there's plenty of classic tracks remixed with a glorious Wii sheen, for newer fans, there's plenty of crazy new tracks as well as the addition of motorcycles. And for folks who frustrated online gamers by snaking through Mario Kart DS, Mario Kart Wii has an online mode, ready for you to practice your cheap racing tactics against.

#11: Mario Strikers Charged

It doesn't matter if you live for soccer or you think that a shinguard is a really tiny guard that protects lower legs, Mario Strikers Charged is some of the most fun to be had on the Wii. There's a reason we're still playing Mario Strikers Charged here in at GamePro HQ, well over a year since it's arrived in our office. The fast paced arcade play is extremely balanced, with every character offering distinct advantages and disadvantages. The items are set at the exact right power--good enough to provide a potential advantage, but still something that can be overcome with enough skill. Charged is the best arcade style soccer game we've ever played.

#10: Boom Blox

At first glance, it's easy to write off Boom Blox as a Jenga wannabe, but it's SO much more. Boom Blox sports hundreds of crazy physics-based puzzles, all comprised of block towers that you can take apart with well-aimed flings of the Wii Remote. Most of the fun comes from playing with your pals, as you scrutinize every level to gain the most points possible. It looks simple, but Boom Blox is truly a thinker's game. Best drinking game for the Wii too.