Nintendo should add a Wii library to Nintendo Switch Online—not because it has announced one, but because the console’s best games would give the service a distinct mix of motion-controlled play, local multiplayer and overlooked classics. These 12 are strong candidates, provided Nintendo can make their controls work well and clear the rights needed for each release.
Will Wii games come to Nintendo Switch Online?
There is no announced Wii collection or confirmed plan to add one. Nintendo Support says, “There is no set schedule for new releases, but each collection will continue to grow.” That describes Nintendo Classics in general, not a promise about Wii games. Nintendo’s Nintendo Classics FAQ is the place to check for current service terms.
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Nintendo’s current Classics collections include NES, Super NES, Game Boy, Nintendo 64, SEGA Genesis, Game Boy Advance, Virtual Boy and GameCube. Nintendo says GameCube Classics is playable only on Switch 2. The base Nintendo Switch Online membership includes NES, Super NES and Game Boy; the Expansion Pack adds Nintendo 64, SEGA Genesis, Game Boy Advance, Virtual Boy and GameCube. Classic-game access requires an active membership, and collection availability can vary by region. Check Nintendo’s Nintendo Switch Online library page for local details.
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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Nintendo also says that classic games in Nintendo Classics are not planned to be made available outside the Nintendo Switch Online service. That statement concerns those Classics offerings; it does not mean every Wii game or re-release is exclusive to the subscription.
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Can you play Wii games on Nintendo Switch?
There is no Wii collection in the current Nintendo Classics lineup. Some Wii games have instead returned as separate Switch releases. For example, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is an HD re-release of the 2010 Wii original, so Nintendo would need to consider its existing Switch version before adding the original to a subscription library. Tom’s Guide’s Switch multiplayer roundup describes the release.
Access to older Wii purchases has also become harder. Nintendo says software purchases through the Wii Shop Channel ended on January 30, 2019. Purchases in the Wii U eShop ended on March 27, 2023; Nintendo’s FAQ said redownloads and updates would remain available for the foreseeable future, which is not the same as allowing new purchases. Nintendo’s Wii Shop Channel discontinuation notice and Wii U and Nintendo 3DS eShop discontinuation Q&A explain the changes.
Which Wii games should Nintendo bring back?
A useful Wii collection should be more than a nostalgia shelf. The games below illustrate the range Nintendo could offer: party play, approachable motion games, platformers, action, and titles whose unusual controls would need thoughtful adaptation. These are editorial picks, not confirmed additions. Any re-release would also depend on whether Nintendo can secure the relevant rights and create controls that work on current hardware.
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- Bundle Includes: Wii Console, 2 Wii Remotes, 2 Nunchuks, 2 Wii Remote Jackets, Sensor Bar, Wii AC Adaptor, Wii AV Cable And Controller Charging Dock
- Two Included Rechargable Batteries For Your Controller
- Plays two disc formats in a single, self-loading media bay
- Built-in Wi-Fi Access For Easy Connection To Internet
- Thorough cleaning, carefully tested and guaranteed. Comes with a 90-day Amazon Certified Refurbished guarantee
1. Wii Sports Resort
A Wii library needs a social centerpiece, and Wii Sports Resort is an obvious candidate for one. Its collection of motion-based activities could give a subscription a pick-up-and-play option for households and groups, rather than another long single-player campaign. A modern version would need to explain which activities work with Joy-Con motion and provide an accessible alternative where motion is inconvenient.
2. Wii Play
Wii Play made short motion-controlled games easy to pass around. Its appeal is less about one deep game than a set of quick, low-pressure diversions—useful in a Classics library that serves casual players as well as enthusiasts. Nintendo would have to decide whether the original pointer-style interactions can be recreated comfortably with Joy-Con or should be redesigned.
3. Mario Party 8
Mario Party 8 would add another local party option, with the Wii’s motion controls giving its mini-games a different feel from entries designed around buttons alone. A good re-release should make it clear which activities require motion and how players can join locally; the point is to preserve the social rhythm, not merely display the old software.
Rank #3
- Bundle Includes: Wii Console, Wii Remote, Nunchuk, Wii Remote Jacket, Sensor Bar, Wii AC Adaptor, Wii AV Cable
4. Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Super Smash Bros. Brawl would bring a major multiplayer fighter from the Wii era into the service. Its value is the chance to revisit a distinct entry in the series, not to replace newer options. Nintendo would need to make the control scheme legible for modern controllers and explain how local play works in the version offered.
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5. Super Mario Galaxy 2
Super Mario Galaxy 2 is a strong single-player choice whose motion-pointer interactions are central to parts of the experience. It would broaden the library beyond party games and give players a substantial platform adventure. The case for bringing it back is strongest if Nintendo can offer reliable pointer control without making ordinary play awkward.
6. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Skyward Sword is a telling example of why a Wii reissue cannot be a simple emulation exercise: its swordplay was built around motion input. Nintendo has already released The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD for Switch, so the Wii original is less urgent as a way to access the game. It could still have archival value, but a Classics version would need a clear reason to coexist with that release and a sound control plan.
Rank #4
- Includes: Wii console (white), console stand, 2 genuine Wii remotes with silicone sleeve and safety strap, 2 nunchuks, AV cables, AC adapter, sensor bar, HDMI adatper for modern TVs. Choose your option for 1 or 2 sets of controllers.
- Wii Play Game: 9 Classic Mini-Games Enjoy fan favorites like Tanks!, Table Tennis, and Fishing.
- Fully cleaned, inspected and tested for proper operation. Ships with all necessary cables and accessories — just plug in and play.
- Note on Online Features – Support has been discontinued for online play, WiiConnect24, and other internet-based services. All included games function fully offline and do not require internet connectivity.
7. Metroid Prime Trilogy
Metroid Prime Trilogy would represent the Wii’s pointer-driven first-person play and give the collection a different kind of action game. The distinctive aiming is also the challenge: pointer control needs to feel dependable, and a modern option should not assume every player wants to use motion. Its place in the lineup would depend on how well Nintendo can preserve that interaction.
8. Donkey Kong Country Returns
The original Donkey Kong Country Returns is worth considering for players who want the Wii version’s history and feel, but the case is complicated by Donkey Kong Country Returns HD on Switch. A subscription addition should offer meaningful value beyond making a game available in another format; Nintendo would need to distinguish the original from the existing HD release rather than imply the latter is unavailable.
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9. Kirby’s Epic Yarn
Kirby’s Epic Yarn would add a gentler platforming option and a different visual identity from the collection’s action-heavy picks. Its appeal does not rely on reproducing a pointer-heavy control scheme, which could make it a practical contrast to games whose motion input is harder to translate. Nintendo should still make clear what version is being offered and whether local play is supported.
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10. Punch-Out!!
Punch-Out!! would bring a focused, timing-based boxing game into the mix. Its Wii controls are part of its identity, but a re-release could benefit from offering both motion and button-based play if the original design permits. That choice would make the game more flexible without making motion the price of entry.
11. Sin & Punishment: Star Successor
Sin & Punishment: Star Successor would give the list a more demanding, arcade-style action pick rather than another family party game. Its pointer-oriented play makes it a useful test of whether a Wii collection can handle games that rely on precise aiming. A faithful release would need careful control mapping, not just a claim of compatibility.
12. Last Story
Last Story would widen the range with a role-playing adventure and make the proposed library more than a set of short multiplayer sessions. Its inclusion would also illustrate that a service collection depends on more than Nintendo’s own platform plans: rights and publishing arrangements can make some games harder to bring back than others. Nintendo should not imply that every Wii-era favorite is equally straightforward to reissue.
What would make a Wii collection worthwhile?
The strongest argument is access: a subscription could gather games whose original purchase channels no longer accept new purchases, while giving them a place alongside other Nintendo Classics. But access alone is not enough. The service should label motion requirements, offer sensible controller options where feasible, and distinguish original Wii releases from existing Switch ports or remakes. A varied library that balances local play, solo adventures and games with unusual controls would be more compelling than a dozen titles chosen only for name recognition.
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