Best First-Party Wii Games

30. Wii Music (Wii)

Wii Music is clearly well made, well produced and certainly innovates. The game took a massive emphasis on creativity, you can't win or beat this game, only play music as fast or slow as you like and there is no doubt that this game expands the genre (albeit one that remains really rather small). It's worthy of praise for what it is and what it tried to achieve, but be warned, it's not for everyone.

29. Wii Chess (Wii)

Wii Chess does exactly what it says on the tin: it's chess, on the Wii. Released only in Japan and Europe, the game's bland visuals, lack of Mii characters and inability to move pieces with motion controls make this one of the drier Nintendo titles on the console. However, if it's a tough game of chess against a convincing CPU component (or online via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection) that you're after, then you can't go wrong here. Just don't expect anything particularly mind-blowing.

28. Link's Crossbow Training (Wii)

An introduction to the little-used plastic Wii Zapper peripheral, Link's Crossbow Training is a little nine-level high-score shooting game which uses various assets and areas from Twilight Princess as Link attempts to improve his crossbow skills using the Wii Remote's pointer functionality.

It's not unenjoyable, and you can pick the disc up for next to nothing these days. While there are sections where you can control Link in a first/third-person perspective, it should not be confused with a fully-fledged Zelda game in any way, shape or form. It is, however, a fun little aside in the Legend of Zelda-verse.

27. Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree (Wii)

Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree took everything that its predecessor did on DS and updated it for Nintendo's family console. The Wii's motion controls might not be put to the test quite as much as some other 'party' games, but the 15 different mini-games provide a good level of challenge and are fun to play with friends. It's not quite the brainwave of the DS original, but at least it showed that this idea had legs.

26. Wii Play (Wii)

If Wii Party feels a little like a lesson in how to use the Wiimote, that's because it is. This came as a pack-in with the purchase of a Wii Remote and each of the nine mini-games are specifically designed to teach you the various ways that you can aim, move and twist the controller. The games themselves hardly push the boat out in any meaningful way, but their simplicity means that there is a good amount of replay value to be found here.

25. Metroid: Other M (Wii)

For some fans, the less said about Metroid: Other M, the better. In some quarters Team Ninja's take on a Metroid game is regarded as a mess of 2D and 3D ideas; a game that introduced a load of flashy fluff to disguise a very linear experience which feels against the 'spirit' of Metroid. The blend of 2D platforming and 3D combat didn't click with many players, and neither did the single Wiimote-on-its-side control scheme.

We'd be lying if we said we didn't enjoy it, though, and even though it's a long way from the classic entries in the series (which is most of them, to be fair), we don't think Other M deserves the amount of vitriol it often gets. It tried some things, many of which didn't work, but it certainly wasn't just 'more of the same' — we respect it for that.

24. Wii Play: Motion (Wii)

The 12 titles on offer in Wii Play: Motion surpass their predecessor in creativity but are just as mediocre in their simplicity and limitedness. Each activity feels like it could be so much more, either as a smaller part of a larger mini-game compilation or as the foundation of a full, unique title. There's enough fun to make for a decent experience and Prope's unique contribution of Trigger Twist is not to be missed, but all in all, this is just as mediocre as its predecessor.

23. New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis (Wii)

If you loved Wii Sports Tennis and still can’t get enough of it, New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis is a great investment. There are a lot of modes to get through, the controls work fairly well, and it’s a bash with the mates around. The only trouble is that it doesn’t feel like the mechanics have been properly refined — precision is somewhat lacking and we can't help but wonder why Nintendo didn’t wait until the Motion Plus attachment was out first. Still, it’s good value for money and will help pass the time. Worthwhile, not essential.

22. Wii Fit (Wii)

For a peripheral pack-in title Wii Fit was quite an extensive offering, with a large array of fun activities that challenged you and helped you get fitter. The major shortcomings were a lack of flexibility in measurement units, the inability to create your routine, and some failures in registering certain movements here and there (particularly in boxing and hula hooping). Overall though, this was a worthwhile purchase for anyone wanting to try something different with their little white box.

21. Super Mario All-Stars 25th Anniversary Edition (Wii)

Super Mario All-Stars 25th Anniversary Edition is a prime example of what happens when a highly-esteemed developer decides to push out a product with the minimal amount of effort. Aside from protecting its own profits, we can see little reason for Nintendo to leave Super Mario World and Super Mario 64 (both of which were available on the Virtual Console at the time) off this disc, and if the firm were truly serious about creating the definitive history of its most famous mascot, why didn’t it go the additional mile and put on Super Mario Land 2, Super Mario Sunshine, Super Mario RPG and a whole host of other notable titles?

To cap it all off, the bonus items were entirely pointless. Even dedicated followers of the portly plumber will have difficulty getting excited over a flimsy art book and a CD that is good for one listen and no more. If you really feel the need to discover Mario’s origins then our advice is simple: play the first and third games and leave this sorry excuse for a ‘celebration’ on the shelf.