20 Cheap Wii Games to Play On Your Wii U For $20 or Less

Currently, Wii U owners don't have a lot to play as of right now. However, the Wii U does feature something that makes it still worthy to own for those who missed out on the awesome Wii back catalog of games. A common criticism among those who are ignorant is that the Wii has few games worth playing. This assumption is most definitely false, as evident by our list of fifty of the best Wii games. That said, while you wait for some titles to finally launch on the Wii U, why not use the system's backwards compatibility to play some Wii titles that you may have missed out on? Better yet, how about you check out this list of twenty Wii games that are available for $20 or less? We could all use some financial assistance, especially in this economy, so why not be a bit frugal in our purchases? That is exactly what this list is for. If you missed out on the Wii for any reason, and you are looking for something to play on your Wii U, this list is for you!

Disclaimer: The games listed here and linked to other sites had prices that were $20.00 and under at the time of this article's publication. SuperPhillip Central cannot be held responsible for increased prices that make a given game over $20 after the fact.

Super Mario Galaxy (buy here)

It's a tough fight between Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 if you ask which of the top-rated games of the generation is better. (Actually, SuperPhillip Central rated Super Mario Galaxy 2 higher with a perfect 10.) Regardless, if you own a Wii U and you missed out on this game, a true pinnacle of the platforming genre, then what are you waiting for, an engraved invitation? Games that are as great as Galaxy come out rarely, and rarely are they available for such a cheap price.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (buy here)

It makes sense that a launch title for the Wii would hit the $20 and under category, but then you are talking about Nintendo who seldom see the prices of their games drop often. With the Nintendo Selects lineup of games, you get terrific titles for a low price. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess might have an extended tutorial (but nowhere near the length of Skyward Sword), but once players get into a rhythm, the game is packed with awesome adventure, dazzling dungeons, and wicked weaponry.

Monster Hunter Tri (buy here)

When it was announced that this next game was canceled on the PlayStation 3 and had its development shifted to the Wii, the gaming world had yet another one of its many overreactions. Although an expanded version of the game is coming to both Wii U and Nintendo 3DS, and the servers for the game are being shut down, Monster Hunter Tri is still an incredibly lengthy and deep title to look into. It's also half the price of the 3DS version and $40 less of the price of the Wii U version. Whether you prefer swords or lances, hammers or switch axes, or whatever, Monster Hunter Tri is a worthy purchase.

Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition (buy here)

Another game that received a perfect score by SuperPhillip Central is Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition, without a doubt the definitive version of the game. Some argue that the sensational Wii Remote controls make aiming, and moreover the game, too easy. However, Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition offers Classic Controller support, so if you don't want motion controls, you don't need them. This version comes with all of the content of the GameCube and PlayStation 2 iterations. The only thing missing is HD.

Sonic Colors (buy here)

After a torrent of less-than-stellar Sonic games, Sonic Colors was like a fresh and crisp tonic on a warm summer's day. My point is that the game was refreshing. Although it featured what could be called a gimmick, Wisps, which give Sonic different powers, the game was a brilliant blend of 2D and 3D gameplay. It could be said that the foundation of Sonic Colors is what became Sonic Generations. It could be said, mind you, not it should be said. What should be said, however, is Sonic Colors is a gem of a game, and an absolutely splendid Sonic.

ExciteBots: Trick Racing (buy here)

Without any hesitation, I consider ExciteBots: Trick Racing to be two things: 1) One of the most overlooked games on the Wii, and 2) One of the best racers of the generation on any system. Yes, seriously. ExciteBots is simply put a creative and manic racer where mid-race one second you're swinging off a pole while the next you're kicking a field goal. This is all to earn more stars than your opponents to be the victor. Online play, multiple animal and insect-themed bots, and plenty of unlockables make for one game that is not only extremely cheap, but extremely fun.

The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces (buy here)

From the team behind the Ace Combat franchise comes a dog-fighting title that might scratch your itch to soar with the eagles... and then shoot them down. (We at SuperPhillip Central do not condone animal cruelty.) With The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces, you can choose to use motion controls for flight or opt for traditional Classic Controller play. Play through various missions with varying objectives as you follow along an animated story. Another particular item of interest with this game is the insanely good soundtrack. Find some videos on YouTube and you'll see what we mean!

Sin and Punishment: Star Successor  (buy here)

The original Sin and Punishment finally made it to the West in the form of a Virtual Console game on Wii. The sequel, one that many thought would never happen, released on Wii as a brand-new retail title. Suffice to say, the game bombed due to no marketing and little interest from the mainstream. That said, Sin and Punishment: Star Successor is still worth a look. It's an action game in 2D and 3D where getting multipliers is the way to boost your score to insane levels. Speaking of insane things, the gameplay is just absolutely crazy fun. You can get the game for dirt cheap, so what do you have to lose in trying it out?

Fishing Resort (buy here)

From the mind and creator behind Sonic the Hedgehog comes a fun and cheap fishing game for the Wii, Fishing Resort. Journey across multiple locales: jungles, beaches, icy areas, as your fully customized character expands his or her fishing credentials, gains new licenses, new lures, and new poles, and populates the local aquarium. It's a game that will tire your arms out at first, but the low price point and amount of content more than makes up for it. Note the game has two SKUs, one with a controller peripheral and one without. The one without is $20 while the one with the peripheral is $30.

De Blob (buy here)

Paint the town red... and blue.. and yellow... and green... and orange in De Blob! While the developer Blue Tongue may no longer be with us, their legacy lives on in this excellent platforming adventure. The game is all about giving color to stale gray buildings, washing pollution from the evil INKT corporation, and trying to survive during the process. An awesome jazz soundtrack backs this affordable platformer with lots of charm and lots of heart. Do yourself a favor and look into De Blob!

Blast Works: Build, Trade, Destroy (buy here)

Think of Blast Works: Build, Trade, Destroy as the LittleBigPlanet of shoot-em-ups. The game comes with its own levels, but you can create your own planes, objects (either background or elsewhere), and levels and share them with the Blast Works community. We at SuperPhillip Central cannot recommend this game enough. It even comes with the inspiration for Blast Works, Tumiki Fighters. Given how cheap Blast Works currently is and how much content it contains, you'd be foolish to miss out on this title.

Dewy's Adventure (buy here)

From the makers of Elebits, a clever near-launch title for the Wii, Dewy's Adventure has you in a platforming adventure starring Dewy, a water droplet that slides around levels, can turn into ice and a lightning cloud, and is tasked with saving his land from the evil that occupies it. This is all down with tilting the Wii Remote while holding it like a NES controller. The game is a charming one, and it has plenty of colorful lands to explore, puzzles to solve, and bosses to beat. For under $20, there's little to lose by trying it out.

The Munchables (buy here)

A mix between Katamari Damacy and Pac-man, The Munchables might have a sickeningly sweet exterior, but the gameplay is absolutely aces. By gobbling up enemies, your Munchable grows larger and larger, able to access new parts of each level. At the beginning of a level your Munchable might be as small as can be, but by the end, mountains that were once enormous can leaped over in a single hop. The Munchables is a title that released to no fanfare whatsoever, hardly any even by its own publisher, but it is definitely worth taking a look if you can get over the childish tone.

Fortune Street (buy here)

While it is nowhere near as crazy as Mario Party, Fortune Street is still a competent board game video game. It has hints of Monopoly, the stock market, and Mario Party all rolled up into one game. The casts of the Mushroom Kingdom and the worlds of Dragon Quest combine for some good old fashioned fun. While the Itadaki Street series (as it's known in Japan) has been around for a while, this is the first game published in the West. I found the game worth buying at full price, but at under $20 it is an absolute steal and a good deal.... and I know something about good deals since Fortune Street taught me some lessons in money!

We Love Golf! (buy here)

If you wish to play a motion-controlled golfing experience with colorful characters, then Capcom and Camelot's We Love Golf! is the game for you. Filled with eight unique regular length courses, three short courses, multiple characters, unlockable Capcom costumes for said characters, online play, a soundtrack by Motoi Sakuraba, and various other modes, We Love Golf! is absolutely packed with content and will take players dozens of hours to perfect and master. Its low entry price point makes it an easy choice to play for fans of taking it to the links.

Mario Strikers Charged (buy here)

One of the first online-enabled Wii games, Mario Strikers Charged brings with it an exciting take on soccer where items, craziness, and Mushroom Kingdom all-stars rule. Compete in solo and multi-player tournaments, face off against friends and family locally, and score that game-winning final-second goal! Mario Strikers Charged is an excellent addition to Mario's sports legacy, and besides, who doesn't love it when Waluigi scores and does his out-of-nowhere crotch chop animation? You'd have to be soulless not to love it!

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers (buy here)

A Final Fantasy game that the Wii can call its own (other than the fabulous Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon), Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers offers motion-controlled combat, various gameplay styles, and a superb soundtrack. While nowhere near a typical Final Fantasy game, The Crystal Bearer possesses plenty of things to do and see, which will give that New Game+ option a lot of use. See Square Enix's experiment with a new type of Final Fantasy game by trying The Crystal Bearers today.

No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle (buy here)

The original No More Heroes was put on the HD consoles, but the second game, No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle, is still exclusive to the Wii, and cheap to boot. Join Travis Touchdown as he aims to make it to the top of a list of assassins. This ultra violent (but stylishly so) game is one where the motion controls feel great for the game. Moving the Wii Remote in a given direction to finish off an enemy feels oh-so nice, even after the hundredth time doing so. For a gamer on a budget, No More Heroes 2 is certainly worth a look.

Red Steel 2 (buy here)

Red Steel 2 offers something similar to The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword-- that is, 1:1 swordplay. What Skyward Sword lacks, however, is some fun gun firing for added enjoyment. The two gameplay styles combine to create an overlooked but insanely fantastic first-person experience on Wii. No doubt the original Red Steel and its empty promises burned a lot of Wii owners, so it is to be expected Red Steel 2 would have done poorly, at least in hindsight. That said, the game is full of action, intense sword fights, gun battles, and plenty of cool missions to do. Note: The game requires the MotionPlus add on.

MadWorld (buy here) 

In a world where anything and everything can be used as a means to attack, Verrigan City is a fighter's dream. An M-rated offering, MadWorld was Platinum Games' sole Wii offering, delivering over-the-top violence, an awesome graphic novel-style aesthetic, and a good bit of humor thrown in for good measure. Early this year, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 owners were able to experience the follow-up to the game in the form of Anarchy Reigns. If you liked that title, then give MadWorld a try. It's cheap after all.

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So cheer up, Wii U owners. Things are bleak as ever with this drought of games for the system, but you can pass the time until LEGO City Undercover and other titles with some of the games listed here for you today. Not only are they competent, but they are also cheap and won't damage your wallet too terribly much. If you have other Wii games that are not one of these twenty that you believe should be listed, post your thoughts in the comments section. Because of this list, do you personally see any Wii games that you might be buying now?

The 50 Best Nintendo Wii Games - Part Three

We've already had two weeks totaling twenty unique Wii titles that are the best the system has to offer. We continue our look back at the Wii's library with ten more games spanning various genres and franchises like Donkey Kong, Kirby, Final Fantasy, and Resident Evil. It is my hope that with this list of fifty that the mindset of the Wii having a weak library is, well, weakened. It's a console with an overwhelming amount of variety and mass diversification within its collection of games. Let us see what the next ten highlights of the Wii's library are.

Once again, I remind people that only North American releases will be listed here. Sorry, Fatal Frame, Disaster, and Pandora's Tower fans. 

Wii Sports

Not just a game but a phenomenon, Wii Sports is one of the primary reasons for the Wii system's sensational success. The game transcended gaming, showing up on TV shows, talk shows, commercials, movies, and award shows. And this is all for good reason to, Wii Sports has the gameplay to back up the hype. Containing five sports: tennis, baseball, bowling, golf, and boxing, Wii Sports introduced a majority to motion control gaming. The simplicity of the controls allowed even grandparents to get in on the action, using the Wii remote as an extension of their body as a golf club, as a baseball bat, or as a tennis racket. Each sport had three modes: a standard mode, a training mode, and a multiplayer mode. Solo players could compete for medals which were earned through satisfying certain in-game conditions. Training mode would give a player a fitness test based on their stamina, skill, and ability. By far the most popular part of the Wii Sports package, though, was the multiplayer. Parties and family functions focused on playing the game took place. Wii Sports is without a doubt one of the most revolutionary games of the generation, and its title as best-selling game of all time (bundles included) is well earned.

Donkey Kong Country Returns

It seemed with Twycross-based developer Rare's departure from Nintendo that the Donkey Kong Country series would never be returned to. That was until another Western collaborator with Nintendo, Retro Studios, was given the task to create a brand new entry in the franchise. The end result was Donkey Kong Country Returns for the Wii. The game featured all the throwbacks to the original trilogy that you might expect: mine cart levels, KONG letters (though these did more than just give the player an extra life this time around), secret areas, vine-swinging, and banana-nabbing. However, there were several changes made to the formula. For one, the Kremlings were nowhere to be found. Instead, a group known as the Tiki Tak Tribe were the antagonists after DK's precious banana hoard. Also new to this installment of the Donkey Kong Country franchise was the ability for two players to cooperatively play through levels simultaneously. In solo mode, Diddy Kong would ride on DK's back, giving him jet pack support. Donkey Kong Country Returns was a great *ahem* return to retro sensibilities. The game was mighty challenging and fans of the great ape can be rest assured that if the DKC line continues with Retro Studios, the series is in quite capable hands.

Kirby's Epic Yarn 

It had been ten full years since a Kirby platformer arrived on a home console (the last was Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards in 2000). Despite it being an atypical Kirby adventure, Kirby's Epic Yarn was a spectacular addition to the franchise nonetheless. I said the game was atypical, and that is most certainly true. Kirby's traditional ability to copy the powers of foes through inhaling and then digesting them was gone. Instead, his primary form of attack was unwinding his arm like a whip to lash at enemies, turn them into balls of yarn, and toss them at other baddies. Kirby could transform into a number of forms such a gliding parachute to replace his ability to float, a car which allows Kirby to traverse the ground at a faster rate than normal, a dolphin for underwater exploration, and even a toy train. This Good Feel and HAL Laboratory collaboration does not have health or lives for Kirby. The sole penalty for taking damage or falling down a bottomless pit was the loss of valuable beads that Kirby had collected. These beads unlocked new, more challenging levels as well as were used to purchase furniture for Kirby's pad in Quilty Square, so holding onto them was paramount. Finally, like Donkey Kong Country Returns, Kirby's Epic Yarn could be played with two players cooperatively. A charming game with one of the most interesting art styles this generation, Kirby's Epic Yarn is a terrific title that oozes with visual and gameplay delights.

Excitebots: Trick Racing

Part One of The 50 Best Nintendo Wii Games had Excite Truck being represented in the first batch of ten excellent Wii games. Now, what I consider to be the superior game as well as one of the best arcade racers this generation, Excitebots: Trick Racing gets its chance to shine. No doubt the game was overlooked by many as it was released with no fanfare whatsoever by Nintendo, was not released in PAL territories, and was only given the opportunity to be owned by Japanese gamers via Club Nintendo. Despite these mitigating factors, Excitebots: Trick Racing is worth tracking down. The game was solely controlled by tilting the Wii remote in a horizontal position. The 20+ courses offeedr plenty of opportunities for going off the beaten path, finding places to score big air and big points in the process. You see, getting first place wasn't the sole goal in Excitebots. No, getting the most points (or as they are referred to withing the game, stars) possible was the objective here. By performing tricks, spins, stunts, beating the rest of the bots across the finish line, and participating in short mini-games mid-race, players earned stars. At the end of the race the stars were tallied and the racer with the most was deemed the winner. So while one was racing they could gain stars by smashing into another racer, kicking a football through the uprights, hitting a soccer ball into the net, slamming into a set of bowling pins for a strike, throwing a pie into a clown's face, and many other tasks. The replay value of the game came from getting S ranks in every track in every difficulty, as well as online races. Excitebots: Trick Racing is not your average racer, and that is most definitely what makes it an outstanding game.

Endless Ocean: Blue World

Known as Endless Ocean 2: Adventures of the Deep in PAL territories, Endless Ocean: Blue World put players within the waters of oceans, seas, and rivers in search of aquatic life, treasure, and ancient lore with increased graphical fidelity and much grander in scale areas to explore than in the original hard-to-find 2007 game. Blue World was primarily a scuba diving adventure game with a major focus on plundering the deep, though the ability to swim in the river of a South American jungle was added, in addition to a new polar area. The waters were home to a wide variety of animals like whales, manatees, sea lions, penguins, and dolphins -- the latter of which could be rode to traverse through the waters much more quickly. However, the waters of Endless Ocean: Blue World weren't habituated by all friendly creatures. Sharks, piranha, and crocodiles also called various sectors of water their home, and while things wouldn't get violent, they would take a good portion of your oxygen away, cutting a dive short if a player wasn't careful. Aside from the single player story, Endless Ocean: Blue World also featured multiplayer functionality for two players to communicate with each other online via Wii Speak, taking pictures, and exploring the vast blue together. A soothing and relaxing experience, Endless Ocean: Blue World will pour waves of intriguing gameplay onto those that are open enough to try it.

The Munchables

No. Really. Take a trip to the planet of Star Ving as this is where The Munchables call their home. The eponymous characters are embattled with the evil space pirates known as the Tabemon. The Munchables was a game that was similar to Katamari Damacy in how levels were completed. The basic premise had either heroes Chomper or Munchy starting at a certain, predetermined size and let loose within a level. At the start, smaller enemies could be eaten up easily, but larger scale and larger level foes could not. By gulping down smaller or enemies of the size, your Munchable could grow more and more until it could chomp the previously mentioned larger leveled baddies. Every enemy devoured would give you a meal point. At the conclusion of a level, the meal points added up to reward you with a letter grade. The more your Munchable ate in succession without much of a breather, the higher your meal point total would be. There were eight worlds within The Munchables, and the game takes about five to six hours to complete the first go 'round. However, if you want to see everything there is to the game, that total amount of time could exponentially increase. Namco Bandai quietly slipped out this low-budget Wii exclusive onto stores shelves for a budget price, but if you can get over the wacky and zany look of the game, you are bound to find a title that is appetizing. 

Little King's Story

One part real-time strategy, one part life simulation, and one part role-playing game, Little King's Story was a title that encapsulated charm and ingenuity. Players took control of a young boy named Corobo who became king of a place called Alpoko. The kingdom does not look like much to begin with, but with some ordering around of the faithful denizens, Corobo could start making them create buildings and training places for new citizen types. As the little king sauntered around Alpoko, he could enlist the help of various citizens to accompany him in and around the kingdom or out into uncharted lands. The citizens of Alpoko start off weak, but Corobo could send them into various training facilities to turn them into different types of workers such as farmers, hunters, soldiers, and carpenters. Each type of worker had their own strengths and weaknesses and helpful abilities such as being able to build bridges or do well in combat. When the little king and his followers left the safety of Alpoko, they were greeted with monsters and creatures of all shapes and sizes. The main story had them trying to conquer the seven surrounding rival kingdoms, but there were also a wide breadth of side quests to partake in within Little King's Story's world. Little King's Story got new life recently as it was made available in remake form on the PlayStation Vita in New Little King's Story. Which ever version you decide upon, you are destined with greatness when you are in the presence of the little king.

Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon

A roguelike game that is perfect for beginners and especially fans of the Final Fantasy franchise, Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon offered a light-hearted story revolving around a town of Lostime and the city's citizens' forgotten memories. When Chocobo entered the mind of a citizen, he entered a peril-filled, multi-floor dungeon. Each dungeon was made up of a number of floors which ranged from small to large. The later dungeons in the game being the lengthiest, some of which lasted 100 floors. Each dungeon was randomly generated, so no two trips to a single dungeon were ever the same. Monsters filled the halls and rooms of each dungeon, having Chocobo participate in turn-based battles. New to this installment of the Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon series was the ability for Chocobo to join the working class and get one of ten jobs such as Thief, White Mage, Black Mage, and so forth. One of the reasons I love Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon, outside of the accessible gameplay, is the wide array of Final Fantasy touches the game has such as memorable monsters, bosses, items, and spells, as well as remixed music (some of the best Final Fantasy remixes of any spin-off). What you are left with is one tremendous Final Fantasy spin-off that is immensely enjoyable (mechanics and presentation), simple enough to learn, hard enough and deep enough to feel rewarding, and anchored by compelling gameplay.

Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles

A rail shooter might not be your idea of an exciting genre, but the Wii made them popular once again. Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles is one of the deepest rail-shooting experiences on any platform. The game featured scenarios from Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil Code: Veronica, and all-new scenario starring Leon S. Kennedy and Jack Krauser, prior to their appearances in Resident Evil 4. There are a myriad of missions within Darkside Chronicles, having Resident Evil fans relive moments from past games. Pulling off head shots was much easier and much more satisfying. At the end of every mission, players were rewarded a ranking detailing how well they performed. Overall score, time taken, enemies blown away, head shots achieved, and more were taken into account. The rating system not only encouraged multiple play-throughs of missions, but it also unlocked cool costumes for player's characters. Along with rankings, gold was earned for completing missions. This could be spent on new upgrades to preexisting weaponry such as better rate of fire and strength. Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles and its predecessor, The Umbrella Chronicles, would be ported and placed in glorious high-definition on the PlayStation 3 last year (Move recommended). Regardless of the version you choose, this rail shooter is one of the best on the market.

The House of the Dead: Overkill

The final game for this batch of ten Wii games is The House of the Dead: Overkill, a game that had the claim to fame of having a Guinness World Record for most expletives in a video game (the record would be beaten a year later by Mafia II). I find Overkill to most definitely be a guilty pleasure with content that is more immature than mature. Regardless, The House of the Dead: Overkill's seven chapters took players through a bayou mansion, a hospital, a carnival, a train, a swampland, a prison, and an underground lab in search of mutants to mutilate. Like Darkside Chronicles, grades were awarded for a player's performance, and money could be spent on new guns, new upgrades, and new content. A combo could be achieved through attaining multiple head shots and killing as many mutants as possible without missing a shot. Additionally, the game could also be played with a second person for double the mutant destroying fun. The House of the Dead: Overkill had a distinctive grindhouse feel to it with grainy film reel graphics, the aforementioned excessive expletives, and bizarre story. The end result is a title that is unabashedly unapologetic, full of point and shoot fun, and is entertaining from the title screen to the closing credits.

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If you missed a previous part of my list of the fifty best Nintendo Wii games, no need to panic. I have the article listed as part of my feature catalog for the site. Also, they're right here for your viewing and reading pleasure:

The 50 Best Nintendo Wii Games - Part One
The 50 Best Nintendo Wii Games - Part Two

Next week we will see ten more Wii games as Part Four of The 50 Best Nintendo Wii Games is posted.

Top Ten Nintendo Wii Games You May Not Have Heard Of

The Nintendo Wii is a system that I believe will be thought of more fondly in the future. As of right now it is a popular lightning rod for hatred from a certain sect of gamer. The main argument is that the console has a limited amount of compelling games. Well, that couldn't be further from the truth. It's almost as if these gamers only consider big blockbusters to be worthy of their attention and not the smaller, more niche software. This list focuses on the latter. These are titles that not only received little to no publicity (except maybe outside of the occasional one page magazine advertisement), but these are ones that you may not even know exist! It's important to note that I obviously have not played every Wii game in existence, so if your favorite game that you believe no one outside of a small percentage of people have heard of isn't represented on this list, don't be offended. These are the games that I am most familiar with.

10) Go Vacation

Welcome to Kawawii Island, your virtual getaway destination with four specific resorts to explore and play around in: Marine, City, Snow, and Mountain. Go Vacation is essentially a mini-game collection that strives to be much more. For instance, the various resorts you visit act like a sandbox. You can find and participate in unique activities like ATV races, jetski competitions, tennis, equestrian games, scuba diving, skydiving, skateboarding, mini golf, and many more. Some activities control better than others, but the majority of them exude plenty of entertainment.

Journeying across the four resorts offers plenty of opportunities for exploration including uncovering hidden treasure chests that contain gear for your avatar character, photo ops, missions to complete, and other optional tasks. The game focuses heavily on customization as well. You can earn silver keys from finishing off all challenges for a specific activity to unlock different types of furniture for your villa. From getting your interior decorator on with villa creation to personalizing the look of your in-game avatar, there's plenty of room to show off your creativity. Then there's the clean presentation of the game and the absolutely infectious music. Sometimes soothing, sometimes something from 80s pop, it all sounds terrific. Go Vacation sold relatively well in Japan - it even received an Iwata Asks segment. Unfortunately, the sales didn't carry over to North America.

9) The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces

From the team behind the Ace Combat series, Project Aces made a companion game to The Sky Crawlers anime movie. As you can probably guess since Project Aces is aboard, the high flying dogfight-ing turmoil of Innocent Aces is quite high. Whether your mission is to obliterate all enemies from the sky, take out specific targets, or defend a supply freighter or friendly base, you have a heap of aerial action to satiate your thirst for high octane heroics. There are several plane types that you are assigned to using on special missions that add some artificial difficulty to the game, such as having to use a horrible to maneuver aircraft in Senryu to save your squadmates with a panic-inducing strict time limit to boot.

The difficulty is uneven throughout the game, but overcoming it yields great rewards as the gameplay is just so brilliant. Taking down enemy fighters with TMC moves or Tactical Maneuver Commands allow you to shoot down foes effortlessly and while doing so in style. Primary and secondary weapons for each aircraft offer alternative methods to achieve your quota for destruction. Apart from the flying, you might find yourself just soaring around the skies freely just to marvel at the magnificent music and surrounding locales. The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces released at the price point of $30 USD, so it is bound to be even less now.

8) Kororinpa: Marble Mania

Following the lead of Sega's Super Monkey Ball series, Hudson Soft's Kororinpa: Marble Mania has players tilting and rotating the Wii remote to maneuver the simple-at-the-start, complicated-later-on levels of the game. It sounds like child's play, but things become much more challenging later on down the line when a player has to deal with moving platforms, narrow pathways, and an abundance of rail-free sections of levels. The object of each Kororinpa level is to collect all of the colored crystals to unlock the goal which the player must then reach. There are over 50 unique levels in the game to become victorious on as well as to master. Players earn trophies based on their time besting a level, either gold, silver, or bronze.

After a round of levels has been completed, players are whisked away to new level types with different environments. From tranquil gardens to sickening sweet confectionery delights to roll your marble on, there's no shortage of locales to be had. Unlockable marbles each with their own stats and secret, much more arduous levels add to the replay value of the game. A sequel would be made called Marble Saga: Kororinpa, which would allow players to devise and create their own levels. The reason I chose the original Kororinpa is because that of the two games, Marble Mania is considered the rarer of the two, thus giving it more of chance that many haven't heard of it.

7) Dewy's Adventure

After a near launch title for the Wii in Elebits (which one could argue deserves to be on this list as well) was completed, the development team began work on a totally different project and new intellectual property starring a dew droplet appropriately named Dewy. Dewy's Adventure follows the cutesy water droplet as he tries to abolish the threat of Black Water from the land. The game uses the Wii remote held horizontally and has players tilting it to move Dewy around. Sometimes it can feel like you're sliding him around like butter on a hot skillet, but more often than not this works.

Dewy isn't your ordinary living droplet of water either. He has the power to affect the weather. Many times these powers allow him to advance in the various worlds and levels in the game by solving puzzles and taking down large groups of baddies. He can create strong winds that put some foes to sleep. He can summon disastrous earthquakes to destroy boulders in his way, and he can turn to ice to freeze bodies of water, allowing Dewy to cross them without worry. Experimenting with Dewy's various forms is always recommended for when players reach a dead end. I proudly have my Dewy pre-order plushie presented on one of my shelves. I know the game did not receive its fair share of fanfare - and Konami is much less willing to risk money in unsure ideas - but I would love to see Dewy return to the gaming landscape.

6) We Love Golf!

At its outward appearance, We Love Golf! is a standard fare Japanese-centric golf game containing an abundance of colorful anime-esque characters and bright and cheery courses. Delving more inside the core of the game, you realize that We Love Golf! is a remarkably deeper and more rewarding game than you first realized. Tournament mode puts players against a field of 29 names who all vie for the spot of number one as they play 18 holes of a given golf course. The player with the best score at the conclusion of 18 holes is deemed the champion. There are three difficulties with regards to Tournament: the regular Tournament, the more sloped greens and tougher conditions of the Pro Tournament, and the agonizingly challenging Mirror Tournament.

At the start of the game, your choices of courses and golfers are limited, but by the end of the game you have eight courses (not including the three short courses) and a dozen or so bland golfing personalities (though the personality problem is lessened when you unlock Capcom-themed costumes for your characters such as Apollo Justice, Arthur from Ghost 'n' Goblins, and Chun-Li of Street Fighter fame). Unfortunately, I can only imagine that the publisher of the game, Capcom, was banking on Nintendo fans buying the game solely because Camelot developed it. This did not happen. Even with its addicting and rewarding gameplay, bounty of unlockables, online play, and clever course design, We Love Golf! was mightily overlooked and uncelebrated by Wii owners. In fact, I surmise that more Wii owners know of Super Swing Golf than Camelot's wonderful golfing game.

5) Sin and Punishment: Star Successor

I hesitated to put this game on the list because it has been the subject of a metric ton of sales, usually putting the game around the extraordinarily-worth-it five dollar price point to pick up. The original Sin and Punishment released on the Nintendo 64, but it was only available in Japan up until the game came out on the Wii's Virtual Console service in late 2007. The game was 100% true to the original game. Sin and Punishment: Star Successor is the first sequel of that Nintendo 64 classic and the first to get a retail release in the west. Players take on the role of either a boy or a girl in this 3D shoot 'em up. Players zoom in and out of areas, bombarding baddies with blasts and melee attacks to send their shots back at them, and battle big bosses with most levels consisting of multiple encounters with more powerful creatures.

This Treasure-developed game rewards players with not getting hit by increasing their score multiplier. Some serious scoring can be done if one doesn't lose their multiplier by taking damage. Scores can even be compared online on the leaderboards, so it's great to literally shoot for number one. If you don't like aiming by pointing at the screen with the Wii remote (why you wouldn't is beyond me), you can opt to use a GameCube controller or use the Classic Controller. From discovering a boss's weak point to the adrenaline rush of carefully dodging a flurry of fiery shots, Sin and Punishment: Star Successor is a terrific title. It's just a shame that Nintendo of America let it slip through the cracks instead of letting people know more about the game. That notwithstanding, I guess we should be glad they even decided to localize the game, judging by their recent history.

4) Fishing Resort

Fishing Resort was developed by Prope, a studio founded by Sonic the Hedgehog creator Yuji Naka.While his games after leaving Sonic Team and Sega have not been significant sellers, the originality and quality of each game has been pretty much all top-of-the-line. Speaking of lines (at least in regards to fishing lines), Fishing Resort puts players on a vacation-like island full of different locales. Fish in the steamy jungle, go ice fishing on the island's tall glacier mountains, or just relax by the beach for some good ol' fishin' fun. The actual fishing has players casting the line with the Wii remote and reeling fish in by performing circular motions with the nunchuk. It can feel like an exercise when one is trying to nab something as ferocious as a ten-foot barracuda!

Also, there are twenty or so fishing-related mini-games such as casting one's line to fall within a target with varying scores based on how close they reach the bull's eye. In addition to the mini-games, players can also strive to catch the hundreds of fish types to add to their collection or give to the local aquarium. There's even online leaderboards as well as local play for up to four anglers to try to determine who is the top fisherman. The customization is also very nice, allowing players to dress up, equip themselves with the best bait and rod for the right occasion, and personalize themselves as they see fit. Fishing Resort released late last year (with or without a special peripheral), and it sort of got away from most gamers like a tough-to-catch fish.

3) Blast Works: Build, Trade, Destroy

Based off the game by Kenta Cho, Tuniki Fighters, Blast Works' gameplay is a 2D shoot 'em up with a twist. Destroyed enemies can attach themselves to the player's ship, allowing them to act as either extra protection or even extra offense. For example, if a defeated enemy with a cannon falls onto the player's ship, it will intermittently fire at foes as long as it is in commission. This gameplay element serves as something refreshing for a game that might be considered stale without it. But then these people who might consider it stale otherwise haven't met the exhaustive editing tools Blast Works possesses. Players can build their own fighters, enemies, buildings and other architecture for backgrounds, and design their own levels. Or, if one lacks the creative touch to design something wholly original, they can edit already created assets and add a personalized touch to them. These creations could be shared on the official Blast Works site and be shared via the seldom used WiiConnect24 function. Blast Works is like the LittleBigPlanet of shoot 'em up games with a ton of customization and the gameplay to back it up. For twenty dollars (USD) at release, the game was a brilliant bargain. It still is today.

2) The Munchables

Alluding to another one of Namco Bandai's games, Katamari Damacy, the goal of each level in The Munchables is to try to grow your hungry mascot as large as possible. The main attraction to The Munchables is to gobble up enemies. Each level, you start fresh. A predetermined size is given to you at the beginning of a level. Your size is indicated by a level number. You can easily eat up smaller enemies, but if an enemy has a higher level than you, your Munchable won't be able to fit its jaws around it. In this case, you have to attack the enemy so it will divide itself into smaller, lower level enemies. For each enemy you digest, you earn a meal point. These are totaled up at the end of the level to reward you a letter ranking based on your performance, up to an "S" ranking. In order to maximize your meal counter, you'll want to go to town on several space pirates in a row. The more you eat in a continuous manner without taking much of a breather, the higher the meal bonus you'll acquire. You can hold down the chow down button to charge at enemies with your mouth open for a relatively swift way to digest a myriad of adversaries.

There's eight worlds to complete, each with three stages. The third of which is always a boss battle against a food-related foe like a bad piece of broccoli or a sour attitude vine of grapes. Even after the game is completed, a mirror mode unlocks. Then there's unlockable costumes and secrets in each level to discover. The Munchables will no doubt satisfy your craving for something colorful and fresh. Additionally, The Munchables was so overlooked by gamers that SuperPhillip Central was actually the first place to review the game. That's saying something.

1) Excitebots: Trick Racing

In the world of Excitebots: Trick Racing, obtaining first place is not good enough to win. No, no. You have to win in style. By choosing one of many already unlocked or secret bot vehicles which range from a rat to a lobster, players speed through tracks strewn across the world and even in space. Through each of a given race's three laps, players must earn stars through doing a bevy of cool tricks and stunts such as spinning multiple times in midair, smashing into another vehicle, kicking a field goal through the uprights, scoring a soccer goal, knocking down ten bowling pins to achieve a strike, collecting a group of butterflies, playing the role of a daredevil and flirting with danger by passing through a narrow path surrounded by trees, and other incredible feats of amazement. For every successful trick or stunt a racer pulls off, they earn stars (a bonus of stars is rewarded to first place). The racer with the most stars at the conclusion of a race is determined the victor.

Excitebots is a tremendous arcade racer that will certainly get the adrenaline going. One might think that using the Wii remote to steer and perform tricks would be - for lack of a better word - tricky, but that honestly couldn't be more of a folly to believe. The racing feels absolutely sensational, and I couldn't imagine playing the game with a regular controller. The level of fun would be lessened. Excitebots: Trick Racing was released with no applause or recognition on its release - not even by Nintendo. It never even made it to Europe, sadly, so Europeans missed out on a stellar racer, though they did get to experience the launch game, Excite Truck, which Excitebots is a spiritual sequel of. Excitebots: Trick Racing is definitely worth a look as it has a remarkable sense of speed, action, entertainment, great online, and loads to unlock.

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The Wii library is so robust that there are plenty of other titles that I would have liked to have listed here but could not because of the ten game limit. I am referring to titles like A Boy and His Blob, Endless Ocean and its sequel, MySims Racing, Opoona, Zack & Wiki: Quest For Barbaros' Treasure, MLB Power Pros, and a wide assortment of others. The Wii truly has a tremendous library, given you take the opportunity to banish the preconceived notions of the system you might have and actually attempt to give the library a chance.