14 Best Nintendo Wii Co-Op Games

Nintendo Wii’s huge success paved the way for developers to take a multiplayer approach considering that the console was hugely marketed as a family-friendly system. Co-op play plays a huge role in enforcing a family-friendly console, given that you can simply hand over the controller to a second or third player and have a blast while also progressing in the story of the game.

The huge Nintendo Wii library was not short on co-op games offering a huge array of games that cover multiple genres.  Today we are here to offer a list of the best Co-Op games on the Nintendo Wii, including Puzzle games, Rail Shooters, Platformers, and much more, so without further ado let’s dive in!

New Super Mario Bros. Wii 2009 New スーパーマリオブラザーズ Wii (Nyū Sūpā Mario Burazāzu Wii)

About
	Release Date November 12, 2009
	Developer Nintendo
	Publisher Nintendo
	Franchise Mario
	Genre 3D Platformer
	Concept Fantasy
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

Wii Releases
2009-11-12
2009-11-15
2009-11-20
2009-12-03

New Super Mario Bros. Wii took inspiration from classic 2D Mario games while transitioning to the glorious 2.5D era during that time. The amazing direction and music made this a living classic among fans to this day. As anticipated the player control Mario who is out on a new adventure to save Princess Peach from the evil Koopa Bowser. Mario can run, jump, and stomp on his enemies as well as collect various power-ups that can help him on his journey.

New power-ups have been introduced in this game including The Penguin Suit, The Propeller Suit, and many more. While the game is a masterpiece when played just in single-player mode, the makers made care to sprinkle a cherry on top for co-op lovers. up to four players can join the fan, allowing the player to complete the story solo or with some friends. Overall, this game is a must-play for any platformer fan, let alone anyone looking for a well-crafted co-op experience.

Donkey Kong Country Returns 2010 ドンキーコング リターンズ (Donkīkongu Ritānzu)

About
	Release Date November 21, 2010
	Developer Retro Studios
	Publisher Nintendo
	Franchise Donkey Kong
	Genre 2D Platformer
	Concept Fantasy
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

Wii Releases
2010-11-21
2010-12-03
2010-12-09

As its name indicate Donkey Kong Country Returns act as a love letter to Donkey Kong Country fans, although the game is a sequel it strongly feels like a full remake of the classic Snes game. The player takes control of our beloved gorilla Donkey Kong and his little companion Diddy Kong as they venture into a colorful world full of animals, and challenges.

The main campaign can be played in co-op mode with up to two players at once. The graphics take a great leap forward with a well-crafted 2.5D look, while the gameplay remains true to its roots. The challenge also appears to be stuck in time, as the game is quite difficult even with a second player. While the game has been ported to other Nintendo devices (3DS), the original version is definitely worth your time, especially if you’re looking for the finest games on the console.

Kirby's Epic Yarn 2010 毛糸のカービィ (Keito No Kābyi)

About
	Release Date October 14, 2010
	Developer HAL Laboratory
	Publisher Nintendo
	Franchise Kirby
	Genre 2D Platformer
	Concept Fantasy
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

Wii Releases
2010-10-14
2010-10-17
2011-02-24
2011-10-17

As a long-time Kirby fan, Kirby’s Epic Yarn was very different from Kirby’s previous titles. Game developers took a different approach with the graphic design but that’s not all of it, even the gameplay was hugely tweaked. Now that Kirby has been sucked into a whole new dimension made out of yarn, our little pink friend cannot use his old powers.

Instead, he relays on a whip to attack his enemies, and his new ability to take different shapes such as parachutes, cars, or even a flying aircraft. In addition, we have a new playable character in co-op mode, the young prince who encourages Kirby to help him take on the evil Yin Yarn from taking over the peaceful kingdom of Patch Land. The main campaign is fully cooperative, with up to two players sharing the same screen.

Resident Evil The Darkside Chronicles / Resident Evil The Umbrella Chronicles 2009 / 2007

About
	Full Name Resident Evil The Darkside Chronicles
	Release Date November 17, 2009
	Developer Capcom
	Publisher Capcom
	Franchise Resident Evil
	Genre Rail Shooter
	Concept Zombie
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

Wii Releases
2009-11
2009-11-17
2009-11-27
2010-01-14

About
	Full Name Resident Evil The Umbrella Chronicles
	Release Date November 13, 2007
	Developer Capcom
	Publisher Capcom
	Franchise Resident Evil
	Genre Rail Shooter
	Concepts Modern, Zombie
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

Wii Releases
2007-11
2007-11-13
2007-11-15
2007-11-30

Resident Evil The Darkside Chronicles and Resident Evil The Umbrella Chronicles are two incredible rail shooters for the Nintendo Wii. Both games fill the void for Resident Evil fans with exclusive story content while providing a fantastic arcade-like experience for rail shooters fanatics.

Both games feature missions in which you point your Wii mote toward the screen while shooting zombie-like enemies. Fallen foes can yield ammunition, upgrades, or even health kits to help you regain HP. Ideally, another person can join in on the fun in co-op, making the game easier; the second player can enter and exit the game at any moment during the story mode. Overall, these games provide one of the best conversions of horror games into rail shooters. While the games have been ported to other systems, I strongly recommend playing both on the Wii because they were designed specifically for this device.

Batman: The Brave and the Bold – The Videogame 2010

About
	Release Date September 07, 2010
	Developer WayForward
	Publisher Warner Bros Games
	Franchise Batman
	Genre Beat 'Em Up
	Graphics 2D
	Perspective Side Scroller
	Interaction Real-Time
	Concept Superhero
	Players Couch Co-Op, Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

Wii Releases
2010-09-07
2010-09-09
2010-09-24

Batman: The Brave and the Bold – The Videogame is an adaptation of a long-running 2d animate series under the same name. Developers made sure to translate the beautiful art direction of the series into the game, offering a well-crafted 2d Beat ’em Up with the same animation art style. Each level offers a standalone episode with a bunch of enemies to conquer and eventually a boss battle at the end of each episode.

Ideally the player control Batman who can be joined by many of his allies including Robin, Green Lantern, Plastic Man, and many more. A second player can join the fun as Batman side-kick Robin where two players can play the full campaign together. While the game falls off on the short side with up to four hours to complete it it still falls on the short but sweet side in my opinion. You can complete the full game with a friend in one sits or two making it ideal for a long night during the weekend or even at parties.

Metal Slug™ Anthology 2006

About
	Release Date December 14, 2006
	Developer Terminal Reality
	Publisher SNK
	Franchise Metal Slug™
	Genre Run & Gun
	Players Couch Co-Op, Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

Wii Releases
2006-12-14
2007-03-26
2007-03-30
2007-12-27

Out of all classic 2d run and gun Metal Slug is the best of the best by all means, the Wii anthology offers seven classic Metal Slug titles in one package which makes it a hell of a deal. All games share the same gameplay mechanics with a few tweaks here and there, the player controls one of several playable characters where the goal is to blast your way through hordes of soldiers, mercenaries, and even aliens. While all games can be approached solo, co-op play is the most polished out of all games on this list.

You can take on the challenge with a friend where you start off with a basic weapon and a few grenades, saving captured prisoners will reward you with several gun upgrades like a rocket launcher, a machine gun, a laser gun and so much more. The stages are largely linear, with soldiers, machinery, and mini-bosses leading up to a main boss fight at the end of each stage. All games were ported perfectly in comparison with the original hardware. While the anthology has been ported to other systems such as the PS2 and PSP, the Nintendo Wii version is by far the finest in terms of framerate stability and performance.

Rayman Origins 2011

About
	Release Date November 15, 2011
	Developer Ubisoft
	Publisher Ubisoft
	Franchise Rayman
	Genre 2D Platformer
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin France

Wii Releases
2011-11-15
2011-11-24
2011-11-25

Rayman Origins was a love letter to 2D platformers fans, the game offered a beautiful hand-drawn art style while sticking to the original Rayman formula. You play as Rayman, a limbless hero who embarks on new adventures to liberate his imprisoned comrade from the clutches of the villainous Darktoons. The purpose of the stage is to platform your way across obstacles, gaps, and treacherous terrains while saving imprisoned Electoons. Up to four players can join in on the fun as Rayman companions.

Other players can help each other against enemies or even when trying to collect hidden collectibles, the player can also collect hearts that act as hp when touched by other enemies, once all hearts are drained  Rayman will die unless saved by his buddies. The Wii version, as usual, placed a heavy emphasis on motion controls, yet it remains one of the finest examples of how motion controls can be exploited. On the other side, the Wii version is identical to other ports in terms of visual and auditory direction.

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2006

About
	Release Date October 24, 2006
	Developer Raven Software
	Publisher Activision
	Genre Action Adventure
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

Wii Releases
2006-11-19
2006-12-01

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance blends the joy of hack-and-slash action RPGs with the beautiful world of Marvel. The player joins a team of four superheroes who take on a mission to bring down the most dangerous villains in the Marvel universe. Superheroes like Wolverine, Spider-Man, Captain America, Thor, and many more are fully playable with their respective skills and leveling system.

Up to four players can join in at the same time in couch co-op where each one can level up and customize their character to their liking. Missions are mostly linear where the team moves from one place to the other while defeating the villain’s underlings, and eventually a big boss battle at the end. Whether you’re a long-time Marvel fan or looking for an excellent co-op action RPG, this title has everything you need.

Destroy All Humans!® Big Willy Unleashed 2008

About
	Release Date February 25, 2008
	Developer Locomotive Games
	Publisher THQ
	Franchise Destroy All Humans!
	Genre Action Adventure
	Graphics 3D
	Perspective Third-Person
	Interaction Real-Time
	Concept Sci-Fi
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

Wii Releases
2008-02-25
2008-03-06
2008-03-07

Destroy All Humans! Big Willy Unleashed continues the legacy of its hilarious predecessor with its witty humor and decent implementation of the new Wii motion controls. The plot revolves around Crypto, a large alien who travels back in time to discover a means to seize control of the planet Earth. Similar to its predecessor the gameplay is an open world where you take on specific missions to destroy targets such as buildings, vehicles, or even humans.

Mainly the game offers a run-and-gun experience where you blast your way using a combination of the analog stick and the motion controls to aim and shoot. The game adds more to the player’s plate with a split-screen co-op mode where you can play four exclusive missions made for co-op play. While the game is not as great as the amazing previous prequels, it still offers a fun story mode to explore and an amazing co-op mode if you’re willing to give the motion controls a chance to get used to it.

G.I. Joe The Rise of Cobra 2009

About
	Release Date August 04, 2009
	Developer Double Helix Games
	Publisher Electronic Arts
	Genre Top-Down Shooter
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

Wii Releases
2009-08-04

G.I. Joe The Rise of Cobra adapts the well-known comic book into a solid shooter that draws inspiration from classic shooters such as Contra. Simple enough the player can move around the level while pressing the shooting button to destroy the enemies in front of him. Unique to the game is the ability to dodge or even take cover using obstacles.

Aside from the traditional shooter gameplay, the player can also control tanks and other vehicles while using their guns to destroy approaching foes. The user can choose from 16 different characters from the G.I. Joe universe. In addition, in couch co-op mode, up to two players can join in on the fun. Overall, this game isn’t likely to win any awards, but it’s a fun run-and-gun game to play with a friend on a quiet evening.

Sin & Punishment Star Successor 2009 罪と罰 〜宇宙の後継者〜 (Tsumi to Batsu: Sora no Kōkeisha)

About
	Release Date October 29, 2009
	Developer Treasure
	Publisher Nintendo
	Genre Rail Shooter
	Concepts Fantasy, Fantasy Creatures
	Players Co-Op, Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

Wii Releases
2009-10-29
2010-05-07
2010-06-27

Sin & Punishment Star Successor acts as a direct sequel to the critically acclaimed prequel on the N64. The plot revolves around Isa, the son of the previous game’s protagonists, Saki and Airan. Isa takes on the responsibility of defending Kachi, a young strange girl endowed with supernatural abilities.

Just like the previous games, the gameplay is fully on-rail, you can move your character across the screen to avoid incoming attacks but the bigger movements like going inside tunnels or turning are fully automatic. Shooting is quite fun since you can just aim your Wii Mote at the screen and blast your way through hordes of enemies. Kachi can also join as a second player in co-op mode, where you can fully finish the whole campaign with a friend. While the plot isn’t the game’s finest suit, the gameplay is where this game shines brightly, especially with a friend.

Boom Blox / Boom Blox Bash Party 2008 / 2009

About
	Full Name Boom Blox
	Release Date May 06, 2008
	Developer EA Los Angeles
	Publisher Electronic Arts
	Genre Party
	Players Single Player, Split-Screen PvP
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

Wii Releases
2008-05-06
2008-05-08
2008-05-09
2008-07-17

About
	Full Name Boom Blox Bash Party
	Release Date May 19, 2009
	Developer EA Los Angeles
	Publisher Electronic Arts
	Genre Puzzle
	Graphics 3D
	Perspective Third-Person
	Interaction Real-Time
	Players Couch Co-Op, Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

Wii Releases
2009-05-19
2009-05-29
2009-06-18

Boom Blox is an amazing hidden gem on the Nintendo Wii, the game offers one of the funniest concepts among puzzle games, with mechanics simple enough to be enjoyed even by non-gamers. Similar to Jenga games, the player’s goal is to destroy Lego-like buildings by shooting them with balls, water hoses, or even laser guns. The game adds more excitement to the mix with unique blocks that have special abilities, such as explosive blocks, vanishing blocks, and many more.

In addition, Boom Blox supports couch co-op with up to four players at the same time, allowing the player to collaborate with his friends to knock down the structures utilizing various ammunitions and techniques. The sequel improves on its predecessor’s formula while adding additional locations such as outer space and underwater levels, as well as numerous different block types not seen in the original game. Overall, Boom Blox is a lot of fun to play, especially when you’re with your family or throwing a party; both gamers and non-gamers will like it.

Rampage: Total Destruction 2006

About
	Release Date April 24, 2006
	Developer Pipeworks Studios
	Publisher Midway Games
	Genre Action Adventure
	Graphics 2D
	Perspective Side Scroller
	Players Couch Co-Op, Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

Wii Releases
2006-11-14
2007-02-09

Rampage: Total Destruction follows in the footsteps of its popular predecessor, which was published many years ago during the golden age of arcade games. The player takes control of George, a young man who has been transformed into a monster after drinking a mysterious drink. George, now blinded by anger, rampaged around the city, damaging buildings and proprieties. Joined by other people who have been mutated the goal of each stage is to destroy as many buildings as you can.

The game increases the difficulty by adding more challenges that you can complete as well as various foes who will try to stop you. Police cars, helicopters, and turrets will shoot at you, but with one swing of your giant’s hands, you can just throw them to the other side. Ideally, a second player can accompany you on the rampage so that you can work together to demolish the city in the allocated time. Overall, Rampage: Total Destruction is a relatively simple game given its features, but simplicity isn’t always a bad thing; in fact, simplicity makes this game so much fun, especially if you’re looking for a pick-up-and-play game.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Republic Heroes 2009

About
	Release Date October 06, 2009
	Developer Krome Studios
	Publisher Lucasfilm Games
	Genre Action Adventure
	Graphics 3D
	Perspective Third-Person
	Interaction Real-Time
	Concept Space
	Players Couch Co-Op, Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Australia

Wii Releases
2009-10-06

Fans of Star Wars The Clone Wars series will find themselves right at home with this title, taking place between the first and second seasons. Developers made sure to capture the heart of the series making this series feel like a well-crafted lost episode. The player control several characters from the series universe while they battle their way through the legendary Clone War. Seen from a third-person perspective the game throws you in a series of levels mostly alongside another character, where the goal is to blast your way through hordes of enemies using lightsabers or even blasters.

A second player may always join in on the fun at any time, providing a decent co-op experience, especially for Star Wars fans. As always, the Wii version includes extra motion controls when shooting, which can be good or terrible depending on your preferences, but the controls aren’t that difficult if you give it enough time. Overall, Star Wars: The Clone Wars Republic Heroes is a highly enjoyable game that combines multiple genres into a solid title that everybody can enjoy.