9 Wii U Remasters that NEED to be on Nintendo Switch

Samantha Loveridge
Games Nintendo
Games Nintendo

With the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe release bringing back some classic Wii U memories and building a whole host of new ones, it’s got us thinking. There are plenty of people who skipped the Wii U entirely and therefore missed out on its great titles.

Whether you loved, hated or were indifferent to the Wii U, there’s no denying that there were a tonne of great Wii U games.

With that in mind, here are nine Wii U remasters that we’d love to have on Nintendo Switch.

Pokkén Tournament

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe really showed off how awesome the instant multiplayer of the Switch can be, but now we just want more. Yes, there’s the awesome Snipperclips, but there’s a huge part of us that wants to see something a little more competitive.

Pokkén Tournament was one of the unsung heroes of the latter years of the Wii U. It takes well-known characters from the Pokémon series, including Pikachu and Charizard and Tekken gameplay to make quite the unique brawler.

It’s just the sort of game that you could play at a party or with your work crew on your lunch break on the Switch, beating your mate’s Lucario with your Dark Mewtwo. And seeing as the game already supports two-player local multiplayer, it could just be a straight port with a resolution boost for TV mode.

Super Smash Bros Wii U

Nintendo has already teased that there’s a Super Smash Bros Switch entry in the works, but we’re not sure we can wait. If there’s one Wii U remaster that should be a priority, then it’s bringing Super Smash Bros for Wii U to the Switch ASAP.

The last Super Smash Bros was a sight to behold with its exuberant visual, polished gameplay and generous game modes, so it deserves to get a reprisal on Nintendo Switch.

Plus, the portability of a Switch remaster would make the Super Smash Bros eSports scene much more accessible.

Bayonetta and Bayonetta 2

SEGA just launched a special bundle containing the original Bayonetta and its sequel for PC gamers on Steam. Originally, Bayonetta 2 was a Wii U exclusive, so unless you were rocking a GamePad, you’d miss out on Bayonetta’s killer stilettos and magic hair.

Next on SEGA’s list should be bringing this particular package to the Nintendo Switch. Experiencing both Bayonetta games is something everyone should have the opportunity to do, as its combat is rather spectacular.

Super Mario 3D World

Super Mario 3D World is easily the Wii U’s greatest game, with a fantastic blend of the free-roaming found in 3D Mario games and the side-scrolling action of older titles.

But they aren’t the only reasons it deserves to have a Wii U remaster. The entire storyline can be played as a four-player co-op adventure with players taking control of Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and Toad. It’s excellent fun and something we never quite took full advantage of on Wii U. That’s where the Switch remaster could come in with some Joy-Con fun.

Of course, there’s also the fact that we’ve got to wait until much, much later this year in order to get our mitts on a new Mario adventure with Super Mario Odyssey, so a remaster would certainly help keep us busy until then.

Captain Toad Treasure Tracker

One of the most underrated adventures on the Wii U comes in the form of Captain Toad Treasure Tracker. Although our little mushroom-headed friend can’t jump in this particular adventure, the levels are just so ingeniously designed that they deserve a resurgence. Each level is basically a cleverly crafted puzzle box world, not dissimilar to games like Monument Valley, just with a strong Nintendo spin.

The graphics are incredible but the bite-sized levels make it absolutely perfect for a portable Switch adventure.

Affordable Space Adventures

You may not have heard of Affordable Space Adventures before, which is an absolute shame. It’s a digital only, Wii U exclusive indie game but one that used the Wii U’s gamepad to genius effect. You use it to incredibly carefully control the various elements of the Small Craft™ including thrust, stabilisation, weight and more to make you feel like a real pilot.

But where this game really comes alive, at least for us, is in multiplayer. It’s here that up to two other people can join in (but two-player co-op is best) and control different aspects of the ship, making communication absolutely crucial. It would be a hilarious game to play on the Switch with a buddy, if they can just find a way to make it work without the GamePad.

Xenoblade Chronicles X

Most people in the US and Europe missed out on the original Xenoblade Chronicles because it was a Wii exclusive that took nearly two years to get translated from its native Japanese. But then Xenoblade Chronicles X came along for Wii U and made the original epic JRPG even more impressive. We lost hundreds of hours to its sprawling open world and the thought of being able to do that both at home and on the road makes us very excited indeed.

This could be your next addiction after Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild after you’ve discovered everything Hyrule has to offer.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

One of the games we loved most as a kid was Donkey Kong Country, first on the SNES and later when it was re-released on the Game Boy Colour. That original title wowed fans with its eye-catching visuals and brilliant 2D sidescrolling level design. It wasn’t really until Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze that the series really got back its mojo with stunning HD graphics and levels that really did surprise and entertain.

However, you missed out on this title entirely unless you owned a Wii U and that seems like a terrible shame. What better opportunity than now to bring it to the Switch?

Pikmin 3

Although we’re pretty excited for the side-scrolling Hey! Pikmin for Nintendo 3DS, we were mightily disappointed that Nintendo still hasn’t given us any details on Pikmin 4, despite the fact that it’s been “very close to completion” for nearly two years now. So we reckon Pikmin 3 remaster would be an excellent way to satisfy our 3D Pikmin cravings.

After all, Pikmin 3 is nothing short of a masterpiece of gaming. It’s a fantastic combination of calm atmospheric and deliciously strategic gameplay is an absolute joy. It’s just a shame that not many people got to actually appreciate it the first time around.

Samantha Loveridge
Sam is the UK Gaming Editor at Fandom. She's been addicted to games since she first got her paws on a GameBoy and hasn't looked back.