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-gen console was.
But is the Wii U really that bad? We think there is still a lot to love about Nintendo’s problem child, and years from its launch, now could be the best time to dive into the world of the Wii U. Why, you ask? Let’s find out!
1. The Wii U Has an Amazing Library of Games
At the end of the day, the main thing to consider when purchasing a gaming console is what games you can play on it. That’s what you will be using it for, after all. And the Wii U does not disappoint in terms of its library of games.
The Wii U generation brought us tons of Nintendo classics such as 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 were thinking of transitioning into the world of Nintendo but didn’t want to fork out 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. The Wii U Is Nintendo’s Best Virtual Console
The Wii U is, by far, 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 to this, opting for a paid subscription service to access some older retro titles.
Even though 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.
The 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 is closing down in March 2023, making now the best time to pick one up. The Wii U eShop is a treasure trove of online exclusives that will be lost forever when it closes its virtual doors.
Many Wii U games weren’t able to get physical releases or were only released physically in certain regions. And since the Wii U is region-locked, digital could be your only option. There are many great Wii U games worth buying before the eShop closes. So if you have been considering it, make sure you get on it before it’s too late.
4. The Wii U Is a Vital Part of Gaming History
Flop or not, the Wii U is still a vital part of Nintendo’s history. It also provided the groundwork for the Nintendo Switch. The Wii U and the Nintendo Switch do share many similarities, such as their portable nature and ability to be played both handheld and on the TV.
The Wii U is an incredibly unique piece of hardware. And the experience of playing one can not be replicated. So regardless of whether it sold one million or one billion units, it is still an important piece of the Nintendo puzzle. If you are 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 are into modding or want to learn how, the Wii U would be a great place to start. Modding the Wii U is a relatively easy process if you know what you are doing and has a much lower risk of breaking your system than other consoles.
As an added bonus, since the Wii U is discontinued there are no more warranties to void. Hacking your Wii U allows you to turn your console into a DVD player or even install emulators. If you were considering dipping your toes into the world of modding and are a fan of the GameCube, check out our guide on how to play GameCube games on your Wii U with Nintendont.
6. The Wii U Is the Best Way to Play Wii Games
The Wii U is basically an improved Wii. Nearly all Wii games are playable on the Wii U and in HD, no less, making it the best way to experience almost any Wii game you desire.
Backward compatibility is something that Switch owners have never experienced. While you can play ports on the system, you have to purchase those separately. The Wii U, however, still used the same disks that the Wii did, allowing you to switch between the two systems easily and without any further cost.
7. The Wii U Has Tons of Amazing Exclusive Titles
As well as having a huge variety of games from older consoles available in the Wii U’s expansive library, the system also had its own share of exclusive titles. That’s right, not all Wii U games have been ported to the Switch!
While many have made their way over to Nintendo’s latest system, the Wii U library still boasts 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. The Wii U Is a Multiplayer Machine
While many consider the Nintendo Switch the best multiplayer console, the Wii U gives the Switch a run for its money. Due to its incredibly unique design, the Wii U console has mastered the art of co-op.
On other systems, co-op play requires sharing your screen with your friends by splitting it into sections. The Wii U, however, surpassed the need for split-screen co-op. With one player using the TV, and the other using the screen on the gamepad, the Wii U allows you to play two-player games with a whole screen to yourself.
9. The Wii U Is Still Pretty Cheap
Video game consoles go through varying stages in life. 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, the prices seem to skyrocket as they become ‘retro’.
The Wii U is currently sitting in a sweet spot. It is nearing the end of its life and is soon to be retro, but the prices of Wii U consoles and games are still relatively cheap. If you are a retro collector, it is the perfect time to get your hands on one of these systems before the prices rise.
10. The 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, fewer of them are around. The Wii U sold only a fraction of the amount other Nintendo consoles have. Because of the lack of demand for Wii U’s, Nintendo didn’t make as many of them.
There are nowhere near as many Wii U’s on the market, making it far rarer than other Nintendo consoles. The prices of the Wii U are low now, but they could quickly rise in the future as it becomes a collector’s item and the demand for them grows.
It’s Never Too Late to Get a Wii U
If you have been interested in adding a Wii U to your collection, now could be the best time to do so while the prices are still low. There were many factors that led to the Wii U failing, 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 purchase one for yourself.
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