12 Classic Wii Games Sadly Missing From Nintendo Switch Online

GameCube titles have found a home on Nintendo Switch Online through the Expansion Pack, raising an appealing question: Which console should be next? The Wii is an obvious candidate, with a diverse library full of memorable games that deserve another chance to shine.

Its best releases weren’t limited to Nintendo’s own creations. From overlooked adventures to inventive multiplayer favorites, these Wii games would make welcome additions to the Switch Online catalog.

12. Excite Truck

Released: November 19, 2006

While Excitebike is the better-known name, Excite Truck launched a brief but entertaining branch of the series. Developed by Nintendo collaborator Monster Games, the arcade racer sends pickup trucks speeding through striking locations, using nitrous boosts and hills to launch spectacular jumps.

Terrain shifts during races, adding another layer of unpredictability to the action. Its 2009 follow-up, Excitebots: Trick Racing, placed even more emphasis on airborne tricks. A remaster or new sequel would be exciting, but bringing the original to Switch Online would also give players a welcome opportunity to revisit it.

11. Dawn of Discovery

Released: May 22, 2009

Released outside North America as Anno: Create a New World, the Wii version of Dawn of Discovery offered an approachable take on Ubisoft’s city-building series. Its PC counterpart, known internationally as Anno 1404, remains a respected genre favorite.

Keen Games streamlined the Wii game’s interface and presentation for console players without losing the appeal of building and managing a settlement. Like SimCity, it could easily turn a short session into a much longer one. A similar DS edition also appeared, but the Wii version gave its settlements more room to breathe. Another chance to play it on Switch would be welcome.

10. Little King’s Story

Released: April 22, 2009

Co-developed by Cing and Town Factory, Little King’s Story combines real-time strategy with the whimsical tale of a young ruler expanding his kingdom. Players explore new territory, confront monsters, help their subjects, and gather the resources needed to develop their realm.

The game is available on Steam through Xseed Games, but it remains less accessible on consoles. Its charming world and unusual blend of kingdom management and adventure would fit nicely in a Switch Online collection.

9. The Dog Island

Released: April 26, 2007

Better known for wrestling and fighting games, developer Yuke’s also created this endearing adventure starring wide-eyed puppies. The Dog Island was the third game in its series and the first to receive a release outside Japan.

After choosing a breed, players guide their dog through gentle environments, barking at minor threats along the way. Its comforting art style and accessible challenges are especially inviting for younger players, while its surprisingly substantial adventure offers enough variety to interest the whole family. It’s a pet game with more to offer than a traditional simulation.

8. Fortune Street

Released: December 1, 2011

Known in Japan as Itadaki Street, the Fortune Street series dates back to the Famicom. Its Wii installment introduced many North American players to the franchise in English, bringing together characters from Nintendo and Dragon Quest for a competitive board game about building wealth.

There are shades of Monopoly in the way a bad landing can damage your finances, but the colorful cast gives the game an identity of its own. It may not have found a broad audience in the West at the time, yet a place in a subscription library could introduce its strategic rivalry to a new generation.

7. The Last Story

Released: January 27, 2011

Before the Operation Rainfall fan campaign drew attention to several unreleased Wii role-playing games, it was unclear whether The Last Story would reach North America. Xseed Games eventually brought over the action RPG from Mistwalker, the studio behind Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon.

Reviews were generally favorable, though not without reservations. Its inventive combat, moving soundtrack, and involving story nevertheless earned it a devoted following. Directed and co-written by Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, it remains a compelling candidate for rediscovery.

6. Muramasa: The Demon Blade

Released: April 9, 2009

Vanillaware’s Muramasa: The Demon Blade debuted exclusively on Wii before receiving a Vita remaster titled Muramasa Rebirth. Set in a richly illustrated fantasy world, the action RPG pairs accessible controls with demanding battles.

Its combat can feel repetitive over time, but its visual artistry remains remarkable. With Muramasa: Revenant Blades set to revisit the story in February 2027, making the original more accessible would give Nintendo players another way to experience it.

5. Punch-Out!!

Released: May 18, 2009

Little Mac has appeared alongside Nintendo’s other stars in games such as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, but his last dedicated outing was the Wii’s Punch-Out!!. The 2009 revival sent him back into the ring against a colorful lineup that included Glass Joe, King Hippo, and Super Macho Man.

Fast-paced and visually expressive, it delivered a satisfying return to the series for longtime fans, including those who grew up with Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! on the NES. Another chance to climb the circuit would be easy to welcome.

4. Dokapon Kingdom

Released: July 31, 2008

Dokapon Kingdom turns game night into a chaotic mix of board-game competition and fantasy role-playing. Players travel across a sprawling map, fight monsters, gain levels, and liberate towns in a world with a playful Dragon Quest-like atmosphere.

Encounters between players can lead to duels, and losing may result in an embarrassing new hairstyle or an even harsher setback. Its mischievous humor gives friends plenty to laugh—and argue—about. The remastered Dokapon Kingdom: Connect arrived on Switch and PC in 2023, but the original would still be a lively addition to Switch Online.

Which Nintendo Franchise Matches Your Play Style?

Choose an answer for each question to discover whether your gaming habits align most closely with Mario, Zelda, Metroid, Animal Crossing, or Kirby.

1. What would you like from a free evening?

A game that feels wonderful to control.
An unfamiliar world to explore.
A quiet, atmospheric solo experience.
Time to relax, tidy up, and chat.
Something cheerful and easygoing.

2. What is your ideal gaming setup?

Leaning forward on the couch.
A big screen and an uninterrupted evening.
Headphones, dim lights, and a closed door.
A handheld session before bed.
Playing anywhere with a friend.

3. How do you feel when a game stops giving directions?

Fine, provided moving around is enjoyable.
Delighted—I want to find my own way.
Curious to chart the map myself.
Unbothered; I’m happy without a goal.
I would prefer a helpful pointer.

4. Who would you like in the room while you play?

Someone cheering me on and teasing my mistakes.
A friend who promises not to spoil anything.
No one; I prefer the solitude.
Someone relaxing quietly nearby.
A newcomer ready to join in.

5. What should the soundtrack do?

Give me a tune I’ll remember for years.
Make the world feel real.
Build atmosphere and occasionally unsettle me.
Change gently with the time and season.
Stay bright and relentlessly cheerful.

6. What feels most like progress?

Finally mastering a difficult move.
Discovering something unexpected beyond the next hill.
Opening a door I couldn’t access before.
Making a place feel a little more like home.
Finishing a delightful adventure in an afternoon.

7. What do you do when you get stuck?

Keep practicing until I succeed.
Explore elsewhere and return later.
Retrace my steps and search for clues.
Put the game down and come back another day.
Look up the answer and carry on.

8. How would you recommend your favorite kind of game?

“Try it—you’ll understand when you feel how it plays.”
“Go in blind and enjoy the discoveries.”
“Play alone at night with headphones.”
“There’s no pressure to do anything in particular.”
“It’s short, charming, and guaranteed to make you smile.”

Show my result Start again

3. Elebits

Released: December 2, 2006

Known as Eledees in Europe and Australia, this early Wii release turned a search for tiny creatures into an imaginative first-person adventure. Players hunt for elebits in houses and other intimate environments, shifting furniture and rummaging through rooms to uncover the elusive little beings.

Although its perspective resembles a shooter, the appeal lies in exploration rather than violence. Gathering energy expands the ways players can manipulate their surroundings and complete each stage. It’s an absorbing, inventive game that could find an appreciative new audience on Switch Online.

 

Source: Polygon