Super Smash Bros. for Wii U ($59.99)
Giving the game about as high of a recommendation as we possibly can, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U debuted just under a month ago after getting a version on the 3DS the month before. Featuring new fighters, stages, and plenty of game modes, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is one of the best games to release in 2014 easily. If they can be found, the amiibo and GameCube controller adapter can go great with this as well, but the shortages have been a major problem over the last month.
Mario Kart 8 ($59.99)
After the somewhat mixed reception behind Mario Kart Wii, gamers were ecstatic to see just how good Mario Kart 8 turned out this year. Pushing the Wii U to a new level upon its release in May, Mario Kart 8 offered a quality roster of characters and tracks, along with the brand new anti-gravity racing. Making this game look even better is that of the DLC for the game, the first pack of which is already out. For only $7.99, you can get the first DLC pack that includes new racers including The Legend of Zelda’s Link, two brand new Cups, and new vehicles. The much better option is to go ahead and pay $11.99 to get the DLC pack available now as well as the one coming out next spring. Those looking to pick up Mario Kart 8 today, December 20 can get it for only $51.99 at Best Buy as well.
Bayonetta 2 ($59.99)
Known as the game that caused some of the largest internet meltdowns in gaming history, Bayonetta 2 ended up becoming a Wii U exclusive due to Nintendo basically making the game happen in a partnership with Platinum Games. Offering the best action gameplay we’ve seen in a long time, Bayonetta 2 is a pure joy to experience, especially as a very adult game on a console that many consider to be for kids only. The best part is that you do not only get Bayonetta 2, but also the first Bayonetta game, complete with Nintendo themed costumes like Samus and Link to enjoy.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze ($49.99)
Releasing way back in February, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze often seems to get overlooked by a lot of people. However, that is certainly not due to its quality, as is one of my personal favorite games of the year. The difficulty may be what some call NES hard at times, but the game is excellently designed in that way and it feels incredibly rewarding when beating the hardest stages. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze easily offers some of the best platforming action of the year, with beautiful level design that is hard to beat.
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker ($39.99)
The newest game of the bunch, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker offers some very fun puzzle gameplay that the gaming industry did not give us much of in 2014. Building off of the series of mini-games in last year’s Super Mario 3D World, Captain Toad and Toadette take center stage this time in a number of puzzles. The game may be a little short, but the replay value and the cheaper retail price makes this one not to miss out on for new Wii U owners. However, it might be a good idea to try out the mini-games in Super Mario 3D World beforehand to make sure you like it though.
Hyrule Warriors ($59.99)
2014 saw Nintendo branching out with pretty new ventures, two of which showed up with the release of Hyrule Warriors. Teaming up with Tecmo Koei to make Hyrule Warriors, the game combines The Legend of Zelda franchise with Dynasty Warriors in a pretty unique mashup that is a love letter to long time fans of Zelda. The implementation of DLC was close to a first for a major title from Nintendo, which we also saw carried over in the aforementioned Mario Kart 8. The gameplay can get repetitive, but any Zelda fan should at least give this one a try.
Wii Sports Club ($39.99)
While technically releasing in 2013 with the first few sports, the package worth discussing for Wii Sports Club came out earlier this year with the retail packaged release. Rather than renting the individual sports by the day or permanently, the physical Wii Sports Club disc offers all five sports, without a pass being needed to play. Still a little pricy, the implementation of online play and the remastered graphics from the original Wii Sports makes this an excellent party game once again.
Check out the next page for the best Wii U games that released prior to 2014.
