The Nintendo Wii was a game-changer for platformers, offering a fresh take on the genre with its innovative motion controls and unique gameplay mechanics. As a console that embraced accessibility while still catering to dedicated players, the Wii became home to some of the most creative and immersive platforming experiences of its era.
From gravity-defying cosmic odysseys to hand-drawn, animation-rich adventures, the Wii’s platforming catalog delivered a stunning variety of experiences. Some games embraced tradition with a fresh coat of paint, while others took daring leaps into unexplored territory. Whether you were spinning through galaxies, shaking the Wii Remote to unleash Wario’s greed-fueled antics, or painting a dull world back to life, these platformers proved that the Wii wasn’t just about gimmicks—it was about wonder.
Without further ado, here are 15 of the best Wii-exclusive platformers that define an era.
Super Mario Galaxy
- Developer: Nintendo EAD
- Release Date: November 1, 2007
Few games have redefined an entire genre the way Super Mario Galaxy did when it launched in 2007. Taking Mario’s classic 3D platforming into space, the game introduced an innovative gravity-based gameplay system that allowed players to run around small planets, leap between celestial bodies, and experience platforming in a way that had never been done before. The result was a breathtaking adventure that felt both exhilarating and fresh while retaining the tight controls and charm that made the Mario series legendary.
Why It’s Worth Playing: The vibrant, imaginative level design made every galaxy feel unique, from lush green planetoids to eerie ghostly voids. Combined with the game’s near-flawless gameplay execution, these elements cemented Super Mario Galaxy as one of the greatest platformers of all time.
Super Mario Galaxy 2
If Super Mario Galaxy was a revolution, Super Mario Galaxy 2 was its evolution—refining and expanding upon the original’s groundbreaking mechanics. Released in 2010, this sequel took everything that made its predecessor a masterpiece and pushed the challenge and creativity even further. While the core gravity-defying platforming remained intact, new mechanics, tougher levels, and added variety made for an even more refined experience.
Why It’s Worth Playing: While the story was even lighter than its predecessor, the game’s relentless creativity, near-perfect controls, and satisfying difficulty curve ensured that Super Mario Galaxy 2 stood as one of the Wii’s finest platformers—and arguably one of the greatest sequels ever made.
Donkey Kong Country Returns
- Developer: Retro Studios
- Release Date: November 21, 2010
When Retro Studios revived the Donkey Kong Country series in 2010, expectations were high—and they delivered a game that honored Rare’s SNES classics while bringing fresh ideas to the table. Donkey Kong Country Returns retained the challenging, fast-paced 2D platforming the series was known for, but with a modern twist thanks to the Wii’s motion controls and high-energy presentation.
Why It’s Worth Playing: By blending nostalgia with innovation, Retro Studios successfully brought Donkey Kong Country into the modern era, making it one of the best platformers on the Wii—and a must-play for fans of the genre.
Kirby’s Epic Yarn
- Developer: Good-Feel
- Release Date: October 14, 2010
If there’s one word to describe Kirby’s Epic Yarn, it’s charming. Released in 2010, this visually stunning platformer took the familiar Kirby formula and wrapped it—literally—in a fabric-based world. Everything in the game, from characters to environments, was designed to resemble yarn, buttons, and fabric swatches, creating one of the most visually distinctive platformers on the Wii. Instead of inhaling enemies like in traditional Kirby games, Kirby used a whip-like yarn ability to grab, unravel, and interact with the environment.
Why It’s Worth Playing: Its creative level design, whimsical aesthetic, and inventive gameplay mechanics made it a standout Wii exclusive that remains one of the most memorable and heartwarming platformers of its generation.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
- Developer: Nintendo EAD
- Release Date: November 12, 2009
Nintendo took classic 2D Mario platforming and cranked up the chaos in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, one of the best-selling games on the console. Released in 2009, this game revived the traditional side-scrolling Mario experience but added four-player simultaneous co-op, bringing both cooperative and competitive elements to the gameplay.
Why It’s Worth Playing: For completionists, New Super Mario Bros. Wii provided plenty of extra challenge with hidden Star Coins scattered throughout levels. The tight controls, cleverly designed levels, and high replayability made this game a must-play for both casual and hardcore Mario fans alike.
Wario Land: Shake It!
- Developer: Good-Feel
- Release Date: September 22, 2008
Wario Land: Shake It! brought Wario’s signature greed and chaotic energy to the Wii with a gorgeous hand-drawn art style and unique motion-controlled mechanics. Unlike the WarioWare series, which focused on microgames, Shake It! returned to classic 2D platforming with an emphasis on exploration, treasure hunting, and physics-based interactions.
Why It’s Worth Playing: Each level featured multiple hidden paths, secret treasures, and optional missions, rewarding players for replaying levels to uncover every last coin. This treasure-hunting aspect, combined with the game’s unique controls and stunning visuals, made Wario Land: Shake It! a standout platformer in the Wii’s library.
Kirby’s Return to Dream Land
- Developer: HAL Laboratory
- Release Date: October 24, 2011
After experimenting with different art styles and mechanics in Kirby’s Epic Yarn, Nintendo returned to classic Kirby platforming with Kirby’s Return to Dream Land. This game brought back traditional copy abilities, fast-paced action, and multiplayer functionality, making it one of the most content-rich Kirby titles on the Wii.
Why It’s Worth Playing: With its tight controls, beautiful visuals, and cooperative multiplayer, Kirby’s Return to Dream Land successfully brought the classic Kirby experience into the modern era while maintaining everything fans loved about the series.
Super Paper Mario
- Developer: Intelligent Systems
- Release Date: April 9, 2007
Blending platforming and RPG elements, Super Paper Mario took the beloved Paper Mario series in a bold new direction. Instead of the traditional turn-based battles seen in previous entries, this installment introduced real-time platforming combat, allowing Mario and his companions to jump on enemies, use items, and solve puzzles in a 2D world with RPG depth.
Why It’s Worth Playing: With its clever mechanics, charming writing, and RPG-inspired depth, Super Paper Mario remains one of the most distinctive and beloved platformers on the Wii.
The Munchables
- Developer: Now Production
- Release Date: April 9, 2007
If pure, unfiltered weirdness was a genre, The Munchables would be its mascot. This criminally overlooked Wii-exclusive feels like someone threw Katamari Damacy and Pac-Man into a blender, added a pinch of Chibi-Robo!, and hit “puree.” The result? A delightfully absurd, snack-fueled platformer where the goal isn’t just to traverse levels—it’s to devour everything in sight.
Why It’s Worth Playing: With cutesy monsters and a world that looks like something ripped straight from an early-2000s Nickelodeon cartoon, this is game is highly recommended for fans of unconventional platformers who love a bit of wackiness with their gameplay.
Klonoa
- Developer: Paon
- Release Date: December 4, 2008
Klonoa brought the classic PlayStation platformer into the modern era with enhanced visuals and refined gameplay, while staying true to its whimsical charm. This remake of Klonoa: Door to Phantomile preserved the 2.5D platforming style, where characters and objects exist in 3D, but the movement is restricted to a side-scrolling path.
Why It’s Worth Playing: With its lighthearted story, colorful environments, and optional motion controls, Klonoa delivered a nostalgic yet fresh platforming experience that appealed to both fans of the original and newcomers alike.
Pitfall: The Big Adventure
- Developer: Edge of Reality
- Release Date: October 7, 2008
Bringing back the classic action-platforming of the Pitfall series, Pitfall: The Big Adventure (2008) reimagined the franchise with motion controls and modernized mechanics. Players took control of Pitfall Harry, swinging across vines, dodging enemies, and solving puzzles in jungle ruins and dangerous caverns.
Why It’s Worth Playing: With its blend of classic platforming elements, puzzle-solving challenges, and nostalgic appeal, Pitfall: The Big Adventure offered a modernized take on an old-school adventure, making it an exciting addition to the Wii’s library of platforming games.
Lost in Shadow
- Developer: Hudson Soft
- Release Date: July 22, 2010
Lost in Shadow delivered a unique and atmospheric platforming experience by shifting the focus from physical traversal to shadow-based movement. Players controlled the shadow of a boy, navigating a mysterious tower where light and darkness dictated the environment.
Why It’s Worth Playing: With its haunting soundtrack, melancholic visuals, and intriguing narrative, Lost in Shadow created an immersive and introspective journey, making it one of the most artistic and memorable platformers on the Wii.
Elebits
- Developer: Konami
- Release Date: December 2, 2006
At first glance, Elebits looks like a quirky first-person adventure, but beneath its charming exterior lies one of the most inventive platforming experiences on the Wii. It’s a game that turns the simple act of exploration into a physics-driven puzzle box, where your ability to move, manipulate, and upend the world around you serves as the foundation of its platforming core.
Why It’s Worth Playing: Elebits was a rare example of a game that blended platforming with physics-based interaction so seamlessly that it felt like a genre all its own. For gamers willing to give it a chance, it is an unforgettable experience.
Ivy the Kiwi?
- Developer: Prope
- Release Date: April 22, 2010
In a sea of platformers where tight jumps and precise movement are king, Ivy the Kiwi? flips the script. You don’t control Ivy directly. Instead, you guide her—an adorable, wide-eyed little bird—by drawing vines to propel, protect, and redirect her on her journey. It’s a deceptively simple concept that quickly unfolds into something far more intricate than it first appears.
Why It’s Worth Playing: Ivy the Kiwi? proved platforming doesn’t have to be about running and jumping. Sometimes, it’s about guiding, nurturing, and letting the journey unfold in its own gentle way.
Mushroom Men: The Spore Wars
- Developer: SouthPeak Games
- Release Date: December 2, 2008
Mushroom Men: The Spore Wars immersed players in a miniature world where fungi waged war. Players controlled a small but powerful Mushroom Man navigating oversized environments like backyards and attics, giving a surreal perspective to exploration and platforming.
Why It’s Worth Playing: With imaginative level design, engaging combat mechanics, and a unique setting, Mushroom Men: The Spore Wars delivered a memorable and underrated platforming experience exclusive to the Wii.
Conclusion
The Nintendo Wii was home to some of the most creative and memorable platformers of its generation, thanks to its unique motion controls, diverse game library, and exclusive titles that couldn’t be found anywhere else. From the gravity-defying brilliance of Super Mario Galaxy to the hand-drawn charm of Wario Land: Shake It! and the innovative mechanics of Lost in Shadow, these games showcased the Wii’s ability to push platforming gameplay in bold new directions.
Even years after the Wii’s era ended, these 15 platforming gems remain iconic and well worth revisiting. Whether you’re rediscovering these classics or experiencing them for the first time, they continue to deliver timeless fun, challenge, and creativity that define the very best of what the Wii has to offer.
