Let‘s talk Wii U party games! Before we dive in, let‘s get familiar with Nintendo‘s 8th generation console. The Wii U launched in 2012 with the groundbreaking Wii U GamePad. This tablet-sized controller gave players a secondary screen filled with maps, inventory, touch controls, and asymmetrical gameplay compared to users with Wii remotes. While Wii U sales paled compared to the Nintendo Switch, 13.56 million consoles sold still gave it a sizable player base primed for party games.
So when you‘ve got 4, 5 or even 8 friends crammed into the living room, what Wii U games will catalyze the most fun? I‘ve played them all, analyzed reviews across gaming sites like IGN and GameSpot, and compiled usage data to determine what I consider the absolute cream of the multiplayer crop. Time to start the party!
Nintendo Land
I have to kick things off with the game that showcases the zany asymmetric potential of the Wii U GamePad better than any other – Nintendo Land! Bundled with deluxe console sets, this theme park of 12 rapid-fire mini games starring classic franchise characters still stands as one of the Wii U‘s best titles.
My favorite is Luigi‘s Ghost Mansion. One player wielding the GamePad plays ghost, trying to sneakily stalk four players controlling Miis wielding flashlights. The tension ramps up exponentially as the ghost leaps out to grab victims, whittling down the group until none remain or time expires. I‘ve witnessed full grown adults reduced to terrified fits of giggles enjoying this sublime party experience!
Other standouts like Animal Crossing: Sweet Day and high-speed Captain Falcon‘s Twister Race emphasize the asymmetric gameplay, but the title screen also lets you sort mini-games by single player, competitive, or co-op preferences. Outlined below I‘ve categorized recommendations:
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Competitive Multiplayer
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Cooperative Multiplayer
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With intuitive design (simply look for floating question marks when confused!), an inviting world brimming with Nintendo love, and standout party minigames for all skill levels, you absolutely need to invite friends over for Nintendo Land as soon as possible!
Mario Party 10
What‘s a console party without the party game trendsetter – Mario Party! Like previous entries, Mario Party 10 features 4 players rolling dice to traverse colorful board game maps filled with chaotic chance encounters. Series mainstays like randomly swapping coins or stars between players persist, but MP10‘s real innovation comes from Bowser Party mode!
Here, four players take conventional Mario roles while a 5th player controls Bowser on the Wii U Gamepad! The concept? Bowser chases the Mario crew down branching paths in self contained mini-games until time expires or all Marios perish to flaming breath attacks! It works wonderfully, utilizing the GamePad for a unique Godzilla-esque experience. Two standout mini-games include Fruit Scoot Scurry where Marios furiously gather fruit Bowser tries squashing from above, and Platform Peril having Bowser trigger platform collapses with touch screen presses.
Add in 80+ diverse mini-games accessed in all modes, online play for when couch competition grows stale, and NINE themed game maps starring Bowser, classic Mushroom Kingdom locals, and more – it‘s clear why Mario Party 10 still shines as a hallmark party game six years later!
Just Dance Series
Now let‘s boogie! Ubisoft‘s Just Dance series has been getting gamers jiving for over a decade, and the current library of Wii U releases still offer fabulous party dance options. While gameplay remains consistent (mimic on-screen dancer choreography), recent iterations integrate smartphone scoring apps to allow six-player dancing simultaneously!
I‘ll focus on Just Dance 2018 since it boasts the most inclusive recent pop song playlist. Check out these bangers:
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– "24K Magic" by Bruno Mars – "Side to Side" by Ariana Grande Ft. Nicki Minaj – "Chantaje" by Shakira Ft. Maluma |
– "DADDY" by PSY – "Chantaje" by Shakira Ft. Maluma – "Naughty Girl" by Beyonce |
Beyonce, Bruno Mars, PSY – what else could you ask for? Let Just Dance 2018 turn your living room into a pulsating disco! Make sure to budget room for flailing arms and shimmying hips!
Sing Party
For more solo-oriented musical hijinks, Sing Party uses the Wii U GamePad for an engaging karaoke experience! Lyrics scroll across the small screen meaning vocalists can take center stage for awesome American Idol reenactments. NSMB multiplayer classics like Donkey Kong Crash Course and Pikmin Adventure help round out Nintendo Land‘s selections.
Backing bands have options too: tap along rhythmically on Wii Remotes to provide instruments or wacky sounds like cows, chickens, and airhorns! Why airhorns? Why NOT? The song variety spans decades meaning everyone from teenagers to grandparents will find pleasing melodies. And standard Team and Versus modes let you directly challenge friends to vocal showdowns!
I‘d recommend at least 2 microphones so multiple singers can belt out duets. And if certain guests cough prove tone deaf or lyric-forgetful, that just amplifies the entertainment!
Game & Wario
Closing things out, Game & Wario personifies the bizarre, anything-goes spirit of unforgettable parties. A wackier spin-off from the WarioWare series, Game & Wario offers 16 rapid-fire microgames testing the strangest control inputs. Rotate the GamePad, use the touch screen to fling characters about, even use cameras to literally peek through the controller – standard conventions get tossed out the window!
Early games like Taxi (drive passengers by rotating the GamePad) or Pirates (track pirate loot from different perspectives) ease you in before outlandish standouts like Sketch – where you literally draw on-screen guide lines to bounce balls at spaceship targets! Or Patchwork, sewing patchwork patterns by dragging pieces into place before time expires.
The microgames won‘t occupy guests for full game nights like other options, but provide memorable touch points perfect for jumpstarting or temporarily re-energizing parties when attention spans waiver. If your get-togethers crave regular outbursts of bewilderment and chaos congrats – Game & Wario offers exactly what you need!
So there you have it friends – five stellar games primed to anchor outstanding Wii U parties based on endless hours of personal testing and curation. I focused on the core social experience over deep solo ventures – though classics like Super Mario 3D World certainly deliver there. Hopefully you discovered some new favorites perhaps in collections just gathering dust. Why not ring up friends RIGHT now and put these party picks to use? Your next legendary Wii U memories eagerly await!
