With GameCube games now available to play on Nintendo Switch Online with the Expansion Pack upgrade, it’s fun to think about other hardware that might benefit from similar treatment. The Wii springs most readily to mind, with a lineup of amazing games many players will remember from the system’s heyday.
There’s no shortage of gems in the Wii library, and they didn’t all come from Nintendo itself. Thinking back on some of the games that people missed at the time, it’s easy to argue that Nintendo should add Wii to Switch Online sometime soon, if only so we have another chance to play classic games like the 12 on this list.
12 Excite Truck
Image: Monster Games/NintendoReleased: Nov. 19, 2006
You’ve heard of Excitebike, but have you heard of Excite Truck? It was the start of a short-lived offshoot series of arcade-style racers from Monster Games (NASCAR Heat 4), which was a frequent Nintendo collaborator around that time. Players controlled pickup trucks as they raced around beautiful environments around the world and beyond, using nitrous to launch from small hills and catch air. The island’s topography changed around them, keeping the action fast and furious for both players. A sequel, Excitebots: Trick Racing followed in 2009, and leaned more heavily into airborne stunts. Then the franchise disappeared. It would be nice to see it return in remastered form, possibly even with a new sequel. But if that can’t happen, an appearance on Switch Online would be just lovely.
11 Dawn of Discovery
Image: Keen Games/UbisoftReleased: May 22, 2009
Known as Anno: Create a New World outside North America, Dawn of Discovery for Wii was an accessible city builder published by Ubisoft. On the PC platform outside North America, it was released as Anno 1404, which is still regarded as a classic in the genre. The lesser known Wii version, ported by Keen Games, simplified numerous elements (including the interface and visuals) for a console audience. Despite the more manageable approach, the gameplay loop remained compelling enough that, as with previous titles like SimCity, a person didn’t want to quit playing once they started. There was also a DS version, which is similar, but the Wii version handled the necessary scale more effortlessly. Ubisoft didn’t follow it up with any sequels, which suggests it didn’t sell well enough to justify the effort, but it would still make a welcome addition to the Switch Online library.
10 Little King’s Story
Image: Cing/Xseed GamesReleased: Apr. 22, 2009
Cing, a developer known for its adventure titles, had one of its most acclaimed games with Little King’s Story. Co-developed with Town Factory, the real-time strategy game lets players assume the role of a cartoon king who explores his kingdom in a quest to gain wealth and territory. Along the way, he battles monsters and completes tasks for the populace, which allows him to gain additional resources while his kingdom grows. A port is available on Steam, once again from publisher Xseed Games, but the title remains underrepresented on consoles. It would make a compelling addition to Switch Online libraries.
9 The Dog Island
Image: Yuke's/UbisoftReleased: Apr. 26, 2007
The Dog Island is an astonishingly cute game from developer Yuke’s, which has mostly built a reputation as a developer of fine wrestling and fighting games. The canine-focused title was the third in the series, but the first published outside Japan. It features big-eyed puppies of various breeds. You choose your breed of pooch at the start and follow their adventures through cozy environments populated by minor threats, which they scare away with their pipsqueak barks. The art style is very soothing, and the challenges are the sort that might appeal to players of all ages (though younger players are the ones most likely to respond favorably). The adventure itself is also surprisingly robust, with mild peril and excitement to keep everyone engaged. Anyone looking for a game about pets that isn’t a basic sim would do well to look up this overlooked gem, which deserves a new leash on life.
8 Fortune Street
Image: Square Enix/NintendoReleased: Dec. 1, 2011
The Fortune Street franchise, known as Itadaki Street in Japan, has been around since the Famicom days. Fortune Street on Wii was the first chance many North American players got to experience the series in English. It combined Nintendo and Dragon Quest characters, placing them on boards where they competed to amass a fortune. The game resembles the classic Monopoly board game in some respects, since landing on a rival player’s space can really ruin your day. But the lively presentation, featuring so many familiar characters, made it something special. Unfortunately, it must have been difficult to market and western consumers didn’t respond with widespread enthusiasm. I remember seeing a stack of the game available for years on a local store shelf, suggesting its sales fell short of what Nintendo hoped. But that’s no reason the game shouldn’t return for a second round. A newer audience might be more receptive, especially if the game is one more entry in a software library they’re already paying for.
7 The Last Story
Image: Mistwalker/Xseed GamesReleased: Jan. 27, 2011
Before the fan campaign known as Operation Rainfall made so much noise on behalf of players, it looked like three exciting JRPGs might never reach North America. One of the titles at risk was The Last Story, which was developed by Mistwalker (Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon). An action-RPG, it finally arrived courtesy of Xseed Games, after Nintendo passed on the opportunity. The critical response was positive overall but far from unanimous. Even its biggest supporters found minor flaws that prevented it from living up to its full potential. However, innovative combat, stirring music, and a deep story kept players coming back for more. The title is still remembered fondly by many who experienced it at the time, and a new generation would likely find plenty to enjoy in one of the great works of director and co-writer Hironobu Sakaguchi, best known as the creator of the Final Fantasy series.
6 Muramasa: The Demon Blade
Image: Vanillaware/Ignition EntertainmentReleased: Apr. 9, 2009
Developed by Vanillaware (Unicorn Overlord), Muramasa: The Demon Blade was exclusive to the Wii at launch, although a remastered version arrived on the Vita a few years later as Muramasa Rebirth. The game is an action RPG set in a beautifully rendered fantasy world, with simple controls but challenging combat. Some players find it a bit shallow and repetitive after a while, but there’s no denying its artistry. Muramasa: Revenant Blades will retell the familiar story in February 2027. Perhaps someone will see the wisdom in making the original version more available for an eager audience of Nintendo fans, who might not be ready to buy the deluxe new one.
5 Punch-Out!!
Image: Next Level GamesReleased: May 18, 2009
Aside from letting Little Mac exchange blows with other mascots in games like 2018’s Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Nintendo hasn’t paid much attention to its scrappy little hero. The last time he got a proper game of his own was Punch-Out!! in 2009. As usual, it pitted him against an assortment of cartoon opponents, including Glass Joe, King Hippo, and Super Macho Man, among others. The action was fast, furious, and beautiful, a satisfying trip down memory lane for those of us who grew up playing Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! on the NES. Another run at the circuit would be most welcome.
4 Dokapon Kingdom
Image: Sting/AtlusReleased: July 31, 2008
I’ve lost track of how many hours I spent playing Dokapon Kingdom with my friends. We have never completed a longer run together, but conquered many shorter ones over the course of multiple game nights. The appeal comes from the interaction, which unfolds in a lighthearted fantasy world that feels like it was ripped directly from Dragon Quest. Players move around a sprawling board, battling monsters to build levels and capture cities from monsters. Sometimes, they run into each other and have a duel. The loser might wind up with a new hairstyle, or worse. It’s zany multiplayer fun with a healthy dose of humor that publisher Atlus warned might ruin a few friendships. Dokapon Kingdom: Connect brought a remastered version of the experience back on PC and Switch in 2023, but Switch Online is where it really might thrive.
3 Elebits
Image: KonamiReleased: Dec. 2, 2006
Released very early in the Wii’s life cycle, Elebits (known as Eledees in Australia and Europe) was one of the most interesting games of its generation. It had players search a house and other intimate environments for miniature creatures known as elebits, which resemble the mischievous critters in Pikmin. The first-person perspective resembled a shooter, but the game wasn’t particularly violent. Most of the fun came from rearranging furniture to find the pesky little critters. The more energy they absorb on their hunt, the more options they have for manipulating the environment and reaching the end of a stage. Players could get so absorbed by the process that they might forget to blink, until suddenly their eyes were watering and stinging (ask me how I know). The game was quietly awesome, and it might easily find a second life on Switch Online.
