As a longtime Nintendo fan, I’ve spent countless hours exploring the extensive Virtual Console library on the Wii U. This digital platform brings back cherished classics from multiple retro gaming systems including NES, SNES, Game Boy Advance, and even Nintendo DS titles. I’ll help you navigate through the complete collection of Wii U Virtual Console games that were released in North America. Whether you’re craving nostalgic favorites like Super Mario World or discovering hidden gems you might have missed, the Wii U’s Virtual Console service offers an impressive selection of retro gaming experiences. It’s worth noting that while the Wii U eShop has closed, this comprehensive list serves as a valuable reference for those who’ve already downloaded these timeless classics.
- The Wii U Virtual Console offered 285 retro games in North America across six gaming platforms, including NES, SNES, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 64, and TurboGrafx-16.
- Games featured modern enhancements like save states, customizable controls, display settings, and digital manuals while maintaining their original gameplay experience.
- Pricing varied by platform, ranging from $4.99 for NES games to $9.99 for N64 and DS titles, with regional variations in game availability across territories.
- While the Wii U eShop closed on March 27, 2023, previously downloaded Virtual Console games remain playable and can be stored on the system’s 32GB internal storage or external USB drives up to 2TB.
- The service played a crucial role in game preservation, providing access to rare titles and establishing standards for legal retro game distribution and emulation.
List of Wii U Virtual Console Games
The Wii U Virtual Console functions as a digital gaming marketplace on Nintendo’s eShop platform. Through this service, I’ve accessed numerous classic games from Nintendo’s extensive gaming history, spanning multiple retro consoles.
Key Features of the Virtual Console
- Save States: Each game includes multiple save slots for instant game preservation
- Controller Options: Games support the Wii U GamePad, Wii U Pro Controller or Classic Controller
- Display Settings: Custom screen filters adjust brightness, sharpness or add scanlines
- Digital Manuals: Original game instruction booklets in digital format
- Cross-Platform Play: Games support Off-TV play on the Wii U GamePad
Supported Gaming Systems
| Console System | Release Years | Number of Games |
|---|---|---|
| NES | 1983-1995 | 94 |
| SNES | 1990-1999 | 51 |
| Game Boy Advance | 2001-2008 | 31 |
| Nintendo DS | 2004-2013 | 31 |
| Nintendo 64 | 1996-2002 | 21 |
| TurboGrafx-16 | 1987-1994 | 57 |
Pricing Structure
- NES titles: $4.99-$5.99
- SNES titles: $7.99-$8.99
- N64 titles: $9.99-$11.99
- GBA titles: $6.99-$7.99
- DS titles: $7.99-$9.99
- TurboGrafx-16 titles: $5.99-$6.99
- North America: 285 titles available
- Europe: 267 titles available
- Japan: 437 titles available
- Different release schedules between regions
- Region-specific games based on licensing agreements
Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) Games
The Wii U Virtual Console features 94 NES titles from Nintendo’s groundbreaking 8-bit console. These games represent some of the most influential titles in gaming history, available in their original form with enhanced features like save states.
Popular NES Titles
- Super Mario Bros. Series – Including the original, Super Mario Bros. 2 USA and Super Mario Bros. 3
- The Legend of Zelda – Both the original adventure and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
- Mega Man Series – Featuring Mega Man 1-6 with their iconic action platforming
- Metroid – The debut of Samus Aran’s sci-fi exploration series
- Kirby’s Adventure – The pink hero’s first console adventure with copy abilities
- Castlevania Trilogy – Including the original, Simon’s Quest and Dracula’s Curse
- Final Fantasy – The game that launched Square’s legendary RPG franchise
- Donkey Kong – The arcade classic that introduced Mario to the world
- StarTropics – A Nintendo-exclusive action-adventure with unique American theming
- River City Ransom – An open-world beat ’em up with RPG elements
- Kid Icarus – A challenging platformer featuring Pit’s original adventure
- Adventures of Lolo – A puzzle series with clever block-pushing mechanics
- Battle Kid: Fortress of Peril – An independently developed challenging platformer
- Gargoyle’s Quest II – A spin-off featuring Ghosts ‘n Goblins’ Firebrand
- Blaster Master – A hybrid side-scrolling action game with vehicle segments
- Mighty Bomb Jack – A unique platformer with power-up management mechanics
Super Nintendo (SNES) Catalog
The Wii U Virtual Console features 51 SNES titles in North America, offering enhanced 16-bit classics with save state functionality and customizable controls. These games maintain their original resolution while supporting HD displays through the Wii U GamePad and TV output.
Must-Play SNES Classics
The SNES library includes these essential titles:
- Super Mario World introduces Yoshi alongside Mario with 96 vibrant levels
- The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past features dual-world exploration mechanics
- Super Metroid delivers atmospheric sci-fi action through interconnected areas
- Donkey Kong Country showcases revolutionary pre-rendered graphics with 40 challenging stages
- Super Mario Kart establishes the foundations of the racing series with 20 tracks
- Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting includes 12 playable fighters with enhanced speed
- Mega Man X reimagines the classic formula with wall-jumping mechanics across 8 stages
- Final Fantasy III (VI) presents 14 playable characters in a steampunk fantasy setting
- EarthBound delivers quirky modern-day RPG action across 8 unique locations
- Breath of Fire combines traditional RPG elements with dragon transformation abilities
- Secret of Mana enables 3-player cooperative gameplay through a real-time battle system
- Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars merges platforming with turn-based combat
- Chrono Trigger features 13 unique endings based on player choices throughout the story
| Game Type | Number of Titles |
|---|---|
| Action/Platformer | 18 |
| RPG | 12 |
| Sports/Racing | 8 |
| Fighting | 7 |
| Adventure | 6 |
Game Boy Advance Library
I’ve identified 54 Game Boy Advance titles in the North American Wii U Virtual Console library. These 32-bit portable games display in their native resolution with enhanced features like save states customizable controls.
Adventure and Action Titles
The GBA’s adventure action lineup includes iconic franchises retaining their original pixel-perfect graphics:
- Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
- Metroid Fusion
- The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
- Mega Man Zero series (4 titles)
- Golden Sun
- Fire Emblem
- Advance Wars
- Kirby & The Amazing Mirror
- Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
Portable Classics
These beloved portable titles showcase the GBA’s diverse gaming library:
- Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team
- Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town
- WarioWare Inc.: Mega Microgame$
- F-Zero: Maximum Velocity
- Klonoa: Empire of Dreams
- DK: King of Swing
- Breath of Fire
- Mario Tennis: Power Tour
- Mario Kart: Super Circuit
| Year | Number of GBA Games Released |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 15 titles |
| 2014 | 22 titles |
| 2015 | 17 titles |
Nintendo 64 Selection
The Nintendo 64 catalog on Wii U Virtual Console features 21 classic titles, offering enhanced features like save states, customizable controls and compatibility with multiple controller options. These N64 games display in their original resolution while supporting HD displays through HDMI output.
Iconic N64 Games
The N64 Virtual Console library includes these influential titles:
- Super Mario 64 with its groundbreaking 3D platforming mechanics
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time featuring dynamic combat systems
- Paper Mario introducing innovative RPG elements
- Mario Kart 64 with 16 racing tracks across 4 cups
- Star Fox 64 presenting rail-shooter gameplay with branching paths
- Super Smash Bros. featuring 12 playable Nintendo characters
- Donkey Kong 64 containing 201 collectibles across 5 worlds
- Sin and Punishment with English localization (previously Japan-only)
- Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber featuring 15 different endings
- Bomberman 64 containing 6 multiplayer battle arenas
- Mario Party 2 with 65 minigames across 6 boards
- Pokémon Snap including 63 photo opportunities
| Game Category | Number of Titles |
|---|---|
| Platformers | 6 |
| Action/Adventure | 5 |
| Racing | 3 |
| RPG | 3 |
| Fighting/Party | 4 |
Nintendo DS Collection
The Wii U Virtual Console features 31 Nintendo DS games with dual-screen functionality perfectly suited for the Wii U GamePad. Each title retains its original resolution while offering enhanced features like customizable controls.
Top-Rated DS Games
The DS Virtual Console library includes these critically acclaimed titles:
- Brain Age trains cognitive skills through math puzzles, word problems, and memory exercises
- Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time blends RPG elements with real-time combat mechanics
- Kirby Mass Attack utilizes stylus controls to guide up to 10 Kirbys simultaneously
- Mario vs. Donkey Kong: March of the Minis features puzzle-solving with miniature Mario toys
- Rayman DS delivers precise platforming across 20 vibrant levels
- Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon introduces strategic turn-based battles with permadeath mechanics
- Elite Beat Agents synchronizes rhythm-based gameplay with popular music tracks
- WarioWare: Touched! presents 180 microgames using stylus-based interactions
- The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass enables direct character control through stylus movements
- Pokemon Ranger lets players capture Pokemon by drawing circles with the stylus
- Yoshi’s Island DS combines traditional platforming with touch screen puzzle elements
- Kirby Canvas Curse transforms the pink hero into a ball guided by drawn rainbow lines
| Game Type | Number of Titles |
|---|---|
| Action/Adventure | 12 |
| Puzzle | 8 |
| RPG | 5 |
| Strategy | 4 |
| Platformer | 2 |
Pricing and Availability
The Wii U Virtual Console games follow a consistent pricing structure based on their original console platform:
| Console | Standard Price | Sale Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| NES | $4.99 | $2.49-$3.99 |
| SNES | $7.99 | $3.99-$5.99 |
| N64 | $9.99 | $4.99-$7.99 |
| GBA | $7.99 | $3.99-$5.99 |
| DS | $9.99 | $4.99-$7.99 |
Special release titles command premium prices:
- Limited edition games: $12.99
- Import titles: $9.99-$14.99
- Enhanced versions: $11.99
The Wii U eShop closed on March 27, 2023, affecting Virtual Console availability:
- Downloaded games remain playable
- System storage limits apply: 32GB internal
- External USB storage expands capacity up to 2TB
- Game data transfers between Wii U consoles
- No new purchases or redownloads available
Regional variations exist across territories:
- North America: 285 titles
- Europe: 273 titles
- Japan: 392 titles
- Australia: 266 titles
- Wii U upgrade pricing: $1-$2.50 off
- Nintendo 3DS ownership benefits
- Club Nintendo digital rewards
- Limited-time promotional offers
Legacy and Preservation
The Wii U Virtual Console represents a significant milestone in gaming preservation, offering 285 classic titles across multiple platforms in North America. These digital re-releases maintain the original gameplay experience while adding modern conveniences like save states rapid loading.
Nintendo’s approach to game preservation through the Virtual Console demonstrates several key aspects:
- Historical Documentation: Digital manuals preserve original gaming instructions game lore content
- Technical Authenticity: Games run at native resolutions maintain original aspect ratios display settings
- Cultural Impact: Rare titles like EarthBound Fire Emblem games reached new audiences
- Cross-Generation Access: Players experience influential games that shaped gaming history development
The Virtual Console service impacted game preservation in measurable ways:
| Preservation Aspect | Impact Data |
|---|---|
| Total Games Preserved | 285 titles |
| Oldest Game Available | 1983 (Mario Bros.) |
| Newest Game Available | 2007 (Apollo Justice) |
| Systems Represented | 5 platforms |
| Storage Options | 32GB internal 2TB external |
Despite the Wii U eShop closure, downloaded Virtual Console games remain fully playable accessible to owners. The service established important precedents for digital game preservation distribution:
- Emulation Standards: High-quality official emulation across multiple gaming platforms
- Digital Rights Management: Purchase verification system for classic game ownership
- Interface Design: Unified menu system for accessing retro games modern features
- Technical Documentation: Detailed game manuals system specifications control schemes
The Virtual Console created a legal commercial framework for preserving distributing classic games, influencing future retro gaming services platforms.
I’ve explored every corner of the Wii U Virtual Console’s impressive library of 285 classic games from Nintendo’s rich gaming history. From beloved NES titles to groundbreaking N64 adventures this digital collection stands as a testament to Nintendo’s commitment to game preservation.
While the Wii U eShop has closed its doors my comprehensive list serves as a valuable resource for those who’ve already downloaded these timeless classics. The Virtual Console’s blend of authentic gameplay with modern features like save states makes it an essential platform for experiencing gaming’s greatest hits.
For retro gaming enthusiasts and Nintendo fans alike these digital re-releases represent more than just games – they’re a vital piece of gaming history preserved for future generations to enjoy.
