The Wii’s motion controls proved to be a hit even with players that didn’t usually like gaming. It also adds a lot of spice to local multiplayer, as everyone flails their arms around confidently toward victory. And even if it wasn’t Nintendo’s focus, the Wii did get some solid online multiplayer titles. As of this writing, Nintendo no longer supports the Wii’s online servers – but you can always learn how to play on private servers through Wiimmfi. And if you need some games for that, let’s take a look at some of the best titles from the Wii’s multiplayer roster.
30. Water Warfare (2009)
The WiiWare store was full of low-profile titles with amazing gameplay that went largely overlooked back in the day – including Water Warfare. Water Warfare is a pretty simple FPS with water guns rather than AK47s and L96A1 sniper rifles. It features 8-player online shootouts in six modes like Team Deathmatch and Capture the Flag and supports 2-player split-screen.
29. Worms Battle Islands (2010)
Who doesn’t love Worms? This turn-based artillery tactics game is one of the most universally appealing titles ever. It’s always a good time to try and blow your friends up with mortars and grenades, or at least bury them in an inconveniently deep pit. Worms Battle Islands on the Wii brings more of the same enjoyable gameplay, both the game’s strong point and its biggest weakness. Despite being on the Wii, it doesn’t really make use of motion controls in any creative fashion. It’s a fun multiplayer game, but a mediocre product all-around.
28. The Conduit (2009)
The Wii wasn’t known for its online multiplayer FPS titles. But there were a couple of gems here and there – including The Conduit. The game’s single-player takes place in Washington D.C. during an alien invasion. It draws a lot from corruption in the US government, making the narrative reminiscent of a Dan Brown novel. The multiplayer is similar to Halo: Combat Evolved, but with some thoroughly customizable controls that make the experience much smoother.
27. Conduit II (2010)
The sequel to The Conduit took us out of Washington D.C. and into varied locales like Central America, an oil rig in the Bermuda Triangle, and even the mythical city of Atlantis. These varied scenarios translate well to Conduit II’s multiplayer, and they’re one of the game’s main improvements over the original. It also features split-screen co-op and competitive gameplay, which can’t be taken for granted on the Wii. Something else you can’t take for granted is headset support, which Conduit II has in spades.
26. Elebits (2006)
Elebits is a soothing shooter game – something you don’t see every day. On the other hand, the multiplayer is a frantic match of speed where each player struggles to capture more Elebits than their opponent. Anyone can quickly pick up the basics of tracking down Elebits, so it’s a great game to play with gaming newbies or young children.
25. Pikmin 2 (2012)
The Pikmin series isn’t exactly known for its multiplayer. But that’s precisely what I love so much about Pikmin 2. Besides letting you explore an alien planet collecting trinkets for profit, the game features both competitive and co-op multiplayer too. Competitive multiplayer takes the form of a hectic marble-collecting competition similar to capture-the-flag. Challenge Mode lets you take on hard-as-nails bosses and complete seemingly unreasonable objectives as a team. Both are worth trying if you’re into the series.
24. De Blob (2008)
When it comes to multiplayer, I love colorful titles that break the monotony of team-based shooters and fighters that usually dominate the scene. De Blob is just one such title. This sandbox platformer tasks you with returning color to an alien city that an evil corporation has taken over. The game’s multiplayer element is as hectic as you’d expect, with everyone trying to paint as many landmarks and objects as possible across four competitive modes. This game is ambitious, colorful, and fresh – and so is its multiplayer.
23. Boom Blox (2008)
I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that Steven Spielberg and EA teaming up for a physics-based puzzle game is something I could never have foreseen. Boom Blox is an incredibly addictive game about very precarious towers. Each level has you either protecting a tower’s stability, or trying to bring it down. The game features a whopping 300 different puzzles for single-player, and over 100 for co-op and competitive play. Lots to keep you busy.
22. Rayman Raving Rabbids (2006)
One of the most unusual multiplayer offerings on the Wii is Rayman Raving Rabbids, a series that foregoes any pretense of seriousness in favor of pure, unadulterated fun. The game’s multiplayer element includes competing in mini-games that utilize motion controls wonderfully. They’re all hosted by the Rabbids, which makes everything hilarious. My favorite thing to do with friends in RRB is competing to shoot the most toilet plungers onto panicking bunnies in Score mode.
21. House of the Dead: Overkill (2009)
Everyone has played the classic House of the Dead arcade games at least once. If these classic on-rails shooters were to your liking, Overkill is a must-have on the Wii. The game lets up to four people tackle monstrous horrors and enjoy the intentionally cheesy story, full of very creative swearing and absurd situations. Zombies aren’t scary anymore, so going the comedic way was a definite win on the part of Overkill – and you’ll have just as much fun killing zombies in a humorous context.
20. Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars (2008)
I don’t know many people who are familiar with Tatsunoko’s super sentai hero characters. But don’t let that stop you from trying out this fantastic fighter. It features fairly technical combat similar to the Marvel vs. Capcom series, with some very appealing graphics that make the most of the Wii’s hardware. The over-the-top special attacks are huge, colorful, and one of the most attractive aspects. If you’ve got at least one friend who likes Tatsunoko shows like Science Ninja Team Gatchaman or Yatterman, you’ll change their lives.
19. Metal Slug Anthology (2006)
Along with Contra and Gunstar Heroes, Metal Slug is one of the most entertaining side-scrolling shooters ever made – and now, you can play every single title in the series on your Wii. The Metal Slug Anthology includes MS 1-6 and X, providing you with a staggering amount of levels to shoot your way through alone or with a 2P. Playing this with another person can be exhilarating, though you better have a stable friendship that can withstand you yelling at each other for causing your mutual demise.
18. GoldenEye 007 (2010)
Everyone remembers the gaming landmark that was the original GoldenEye 007 on the N64. And the 2010 “homage” to this classic brings a lot of the same charm. This game features four modes for 1-4 player split-screen competition over ten varied maps and a couple of extra modes for online play. And if you want to have the most classic GoldenEye experience possible, you can always play with the Classic Controller rather than the Wiimote.
17. Bomberman Blast (2008)
There’s a reason Bomberman keeps coming back over and over again. This franchise’s classic bomb-dropping gameplay never gets old. And anyone can pick it up and get right into the action without so much as an explanation. The best part about Bomberman Blast as a multiplayer game is that up to eight people can play on the same console. Sure, getting four GameCube controllers and four Wii ones may be hard. But it’s worth it. Alternatively, you can go up against seven players online.
16. Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz (2006)
The Super Monkey Ball series saw a fantastic entry on the Wii. With sleek cel-shaded visuals, good use of the Wii’s motion controls, and plenty of challenging boards to roll your monkey on, Banana Blitz is a must in anyone’s library. Regrettably, it’s not possible to go through the game’s campaign with another friendly monkey. Instead, you and your four-chimp troupe can compete in 50 multiplayer mini-games, including monkey snowboard, monkey yacht racing, and classic monkey ball racing. If you’re looking for something that’s fun for all ages and for gaming experience levels, this is the way to go.
15. Just Dance 4 (2012)
Dancing. It’s possibly the oldest form of entertainment humans have had access to. And it doesn’t seem like we’ll get tired anytime soon. Where our ancestors had their voices and maybe a couple of sticks and rocks to make their music, we have the Just Dance franchise. Just turn on your Wii, pick a song, and try to nail the movements and poses on the screen to the music’s beat. It includes over 40 incredible pop tracks, including chart-topping hits like Las Ketchup’s Asereje, and classics like Europe’s Final Countdown, along with plenty of DLC.
14. Guitar Hero 5 (2009)
We all know Guitar Hero III was a landmark in gaming. But it’s definitely not the best title in the franchise – especially when it comes to multiplayer. Guitar Hero 5 features a full four-person band experience, allowing your pals to play as the lead guitar, bass, drums, and vocals – as long as you have the instruments, that is. Even if you get tired of its 85 songs, there’s plenty of downloadable content – and you can always hit the Mii Freestyle mode to jam without a care in the world.
13. Rock Band 3 (2010)
You know, Guitar Hero is cool – but is it as cool as Rock Band 3? Definitely not. It’s not that Guitar Hero doesn’t have great music, style, and gameplay. Because Guitar Hero is great. But Rock Band 3’s Pro Mode is out of this world. With 83 new songs and access to countless more through the Rock Band Network, RB3 was an ambitious game that actually delivered.
12. FAST Racing League (2011)
If you like the fast-paced hover-ship racing gameplay seen on games like WipeOut, then FAST Racing League is a must-have on the Wii. This WiiWare title plays like a middle ground between WipeOut and Sonic Riders – only less furry. It’s an underrated gem that can definitely hold its own against heavyweights of the genre like F-Zero and the more recent Pacer.
11. Mario Strikers Charged (2007)
Whenever Mario and his friends get a hold of some new sporting equipment, you know things are about to get fun. And soccer might be the best fit for these denizens of the Mushroom Kingdom. Its focus on fun rather than realism (or respect for the real-life game) makes gameplay chaotic and exhilarating. Believe me, I’m not too fond of simulation sports games. But I love Mario Strikers Charged. With 17 interactive fields to play in and countless amazing Mega Strikes to witness, this title wins the match 7-0.
10. Donkey Kong Country Returns (2010)
Over the past few years, I’ve become a die-hard fan of the classic Donkey Kong Country series – and its return on the Wii is definitely one of my favorites. It’s not that it’s better than its predecessors in terms of level design, or overall aesthetic (after all, it’s hard to beat the original pseudo-3D sprites). But still, this reboot respects the originals profoundly, and manages to bring a lot of the same charm to the Wii. The environments are colorful and vibrant, the music is fantastic – and the motion controls aren’t even that bad. You’ll have a lot of fun retrieving DK’s banana hoard with a friend in co-op.
9. Dokapon Kingdom (2008)
I never get tired of singing Dokapon Kingdom’s praises. And when I sat down to search for all these awesome multiplayer games on the Wii, this title was the first thing on my mind. It takes the best parts of Mario Party and brings them together with high fantasy RPG tropes. Up to four players make their way around a board representing the Kingdom as one of three classes – Rogue, Warrior, and Mage – and try to amass as much wealth as possible in a set number of turns. What’s so unique and entertaining about Dokapon Kingdom is how it promotes aggressively hampering your rival’s progress by setting up traps, stealing their money, or even just shaving the hair off their heads to destroy their morale. Honestly it’s a lot of fun.
8. Kirby’s Return to Dreamland (2011)
I’m a Kirby fan through and through – and the classic 2D side-scrolling games are my favorites. That’s probably why I liked Kirby’s Return to Dreamland so much. It’s the first traditional platformer Kirby game since Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, but brings a new focus on multiplayer into the mix. The game can be played by up to four people controlling four colored Kirbys, or characters like Waddle Dee, King Dedede, and Meta Knight. Players share the same pool of lives, so anyone can drop-in at any moment during the campaign.
7. Mario Party 8 (2007)
Mario Party 8 was the last entry of Nintendo’s seminal party game franchise to be developed by Hudson Soft. And therefore, the last one to follow the classic formula. It’s Mario Party, again, on the Wii. Not that I’m complaining, mind you. This game can provide countless hours of fun for up to four players as you make your way around the boards, playing mini-games and collecting stars – it’s just that, well… I’ve been playing the same game since I was 7 years old or so. Mario Party 8 does offer some remarkably creative boards to play in. Take that and couple it with the game’s roster of 14 characters, and this is really a solid entry in the series.
6. Mario Party 9 (2012)
After the development of Nintendo’s favorite party game franchise changed hands from Hudson Soft to NDcube, it was time to make some changes to the age-old formula. Mario Party 9 does so by putting everyone in the same wagon – literally. Players in MP9 ride around together in a kart – like the ones in Mario Kart – collecting “Mini-stars” (or bananas, depending on the board) rather than the usual Power Stars. The boards are not quite as creative, and you’ve only got access to 12 characters this time around. But the mini-games are as solid as ever, and the new gameplay holds some surprises even for series veterans.
5. Mario Kart Wii (2008)
Mario Kart Wii set itself apart by introducing responsive motion controls and bringing competent online multiplayer to the Nintendo racing formula. It also introduced bikes, which nobody was expecting, but everybody loved. The game has pretty solid graphics, 24 playable characters, and a whopping 32 race tracks. And you can add even more race tracks or custom characters with a few nifty mods. What I remember the most about my time playing Mario Kart Wii is that you’re never safe. Races can completely change in a matter of seconds! It’s almost a bad idea to stay in 1st place before the last few seconds, lest a Blue Shell inevitably targets you.
4. Wii Sports (2006)
If we’re discussing amazing multiplayer games, we can’t skip over the best-selling game on the entire platform – the humble Wii Sports. I was a bit dubious when I first saw the Wii Sports disc included with every console. I mean, sports? Part of my whole character as a gamer teen was that I didn’t like sports! And yet, I loved this game. Every single one of Wii Sports’ activities is crafted in a way that’s simple to pick-up and play and instantly addictive – especially if you have someone to compete against in multiplayer.
3. Wii Sports Resort (2008)
After the positive feedback Wii Sports got from users worldwide, it’s no surprise Nintendo got to work on a sequel – this time to promote the Wii MotionPlus accessory. The game features 12 different sports, some of which have 4-player multiplayer. They’re more varied and a little bit more complex than those in the original Wii Sports, but they’re just as easy to jump into with no experience. My favorite part about Wii Sports Resort is the somewhat unusual choice of sports. These include canoeing, wakeboarding, archery, and even swordplay. Yes, multiplayer archery on the Wii. What a time to be alive.
2. Warioware: Smooth Moves (2007)
It may come as a surprise for many of you, but in my time as a Wii owner, I’ve yet to find a game as hilarious, engaging, and profoundly fun as Warioware: Smooth Moves. Mario’s questionable look-alike has found a magic artifact known as the Form Baton that’s suspiciously similar to a Wiimote. Now you need to wield the Baton in weird ways throughout countless micro-games to unlock its power (or something of the sort). The game’s hectic stream of five-second-long microgames keeps everyone glued to the screen, waiting for the next unreasonable request that’ll make the player look like a fool as they try to get the point. One of the best parts about this game is that you only need a single Wiimote for up to twelve players to compete in a series of these uncanny micro-games.
1. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008)
I love WarioWare with a passion. But the multiplayer undisputed champion for the Wii has to be Super Smash Bros. Brawl. This third entry in Nintendo’s classic crossover fighter was one more critically acclaimed hit under N’s belt. Mostly thanks to its excellent graphics, inspiring musical score, and fantastic gameplay. It has a massive roster size of 39 playable characters, with some surprise additions like Sonic the Hedgehog and Solid Snake that helped diversify SSBB’s fighters. Everyone can find at least one character they love in this game. My friends used to play this hardcore, and we made a lot of friends through SSBB – a story I’ve heard from many people. If a multiplayer game brings people together, it’s a win in my book.
