With the lack of third-party support, Nintendo has to be heavily reliant on first-party efforts to keep existing and prospective Wii U owners happy. Fortunately, the company was able to released a stellar lineup of games this year that can’t be played on any other system. Take a look at our top five list of the best 2014 Wii U exclusive games to buy during Black Friday and the rest of this holiday season.
5. Hyrule Warriors
Announced at E3 2014, the next mainline Legend of Zelda videogame won’t be ready until next year. In its place, Nintendo decided to team up with the creators of the Dynasty Warriors series to develop a Musou game based on Zelda. Despite the weird combination, Hyrule Warriors ended up being a solid entry. One of the main selling points is that gamers can play as other characters aside from Link with the ability to control Zelda, Ganondorf and more. Not to mentioned that a lot of the charms from the franchise were also retained in the spin-off.
To make the wait for the next Legend of Zelda game easier, fans should definitely pick up Hyrule Warriors with this link.
4. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
A lot of Nintendo fans were initially disappointed that Retro Studios ended up working on Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze instead of a new Metroid game. Despite the angst, the talented members of the team was able to craft a stellar 2D platformer for the Wii U. The game not only looks great, but also provide a challenging and rewarding gameplay experience. Since it came out earlier in the year, it had not been getting the recognition it truly deserved.
So, if you haven’t already, make sure you don’t overlook Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. You can find the current price for the Wii U exclusive platformer with this page.
3. Mario Kart 8
Mario Kart has been one of the most consistent franchises from Nintendo over the years. The eighth installment is easily the best as it brings the frantic arcade racing action to HD for the first time. The track designs really stole the show, however, as there are a lot of creative shortcuts and unique elements too be found in both new courses as well as returning ones.
Nintendo is also supporting the game with DLC characters and race tracks. Thus, you should have plenty to play during the holidays and beyond. Buy the exclusive arcade racing game with this link.
2. Bayonetta 2
Although the first Bayonetta was considered one of the best games of last generation, it did not sell enough to satisfy Sega. Luckily, Nintendo was able to pick up the bill, allowing Platinum to create the next installment exclusively for the Wii U. The sequel improves upon the first game in numerous ways such as better pacing and more added depth to the combat. Add in to the crazy scenarios and you have one of the best action games in recent memory.
Nintendo is also including the first game for free when you buy Bayonetta 3. So you will essentially be getting two critically-acclaimed games for the price of one. Purchase the game now on Amazon.
1. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
The Super Smash Bros. series is the ultimate crossover franchise in all of gaming. The most popular characters from Nintendo (and a few from third-party) get to duke it out in an unique way as the objective is to knock you opponent completely off of the stage. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is the first time the series is appearing in HD and also has the biggest roster yet. Not to mentioned that it comes with some exciting new features like a game board mode, support for Amiibo figurines and even an eight-player battle mode.
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is a game that all Wii U owners should have in their collection. So don’t miss out on it when shopping this holiday season. Check out the current price for the Wii U exclusive fighter with this link.
With the above-mentioned games, you should have plenty of 2014 games to buy for the Wii U during Black Friday and other periods during the holidays.