15 Best Nintendo Wii Platformer Games

Nintendo has been dominating the platforming genre since its first home console, the NES. Bringing to the world best-sellers like Mario, Donkey Kong, and Kirby. The Nintendo Wii was not an exception, having a huge platformer library, ranging from first-party Nintendo games to many hidden gems remaining dormant still, longing for a revival of any sort.

Varying from slow-paced precise controls to fast-paced platforming, there is a lot to enjoy on the Wii library. Taking advantage of the new Wii gimmicky controls, a number of developers attempted new ways to introduce the genre to both new and veteran players.

If you enjoy platformers and especially collecting coins for a living, it’s time to blow the dust off your Wii console because the night you’re in for a treat of a list.

Super Mario Galaxy 1 / Super Mario Galaxy 2 2007 / 2010

About
	Full Name Super Mario Galaxy
	Release Date November 01, 2007
	Developer Nintendo
	Publisher Nintendo
	Franchise Mario
	Genre 3D Platformer
	Concept Fantasy
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

Wii Releases
2007-11-01
2007-11-12
2007-11-16

About
	Full Name Super Mario Galaxy 2
	Release Date May 23, 2010
	Developer Nintendo
	Publisher Nintendo
	Franchise Mario
	Genre 3D Platformer
	Concept Fantasy
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

Wii Releases
2010-05-23
2010-05-27
2010-06-11

Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 represent the pinnacle of platforming games on the Nintendo Wii and act as the third and fourth 3D installments in the Mario franchise. Both games received huge praise from gamers and critics all over the globe, as they introduce a new perspective, jumping to space where every level takes a spherical shape resembling mini planets.

Just like in the previous games, you collect coins and stars on every single stage, after a certain number of stages you fight a boss to move on to the next area. Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 are some of the greatest examples of Nintendo perfection on the Wii combining classic gameplay with a new idea giving it a whole new feel.

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 is a 2d platformer sidescroller game and the fourth major installment in the Rayman series, the game acts as a sequel to previous games, but also serves as a good introduction to the series for newcomers.

The gameplay is similar to the previous games on the series, you aim to find cages across the levels in order to save these little creatures known as the Electoons, you can play the story as several characters from the series, also a co-op mode is also there if you’re into couch multiplayer, the game is very basic, graphic wise its beautiful 2d hand drawn style is stunning. If you’re into old-school gameplay with updated graphics you need to give Rayman Origins a try.

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

Donkey Kong Country Returns is a 2d platformer game and the fourth game in the Donkey Kong Country series. Despite this being a sequel to the previous games, it feels like a new fresh reboot allowing newcomers to enjoy the classic series on a new console.

You play as Donkey Kong alongside Diddy riding his back (diddy appears physically riding the back of donkey kong for the first time in this game), if donkey kong loses diddy takes his place which gives the player an additional life, similar to the previous games you collect bananas, puzzle pieces, and K O N G letters, you can fight a boss after the end of each area to move on to the next one. If you enjoy the game with a friend there is room for co-op mode to keep things fun and enjoyable.

De Blob 2008

About
	Release Date September 22, 2008
	Developer Blue Tongue Entertainment
	Publisher THQ Nordic
	Genre 3D Platformer
	Concepts Fantasy, Modern
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Australia

Wii Releases
2008-09-22
2008-09-25
2008-09-26
2008-11-13
2008-11-25

De Blob is a puzzle platform game, you play as blob a creature who is trying to bring the colors back to his alien city and beat the evil INKT corporation, that took over the city and prohibited all use of colors and fun.

You save the city by absorbing and mixing several paints onto your body to paint buildings all over the city, the citizens are also drained of their colors and you need to save them. De Blob is very unique and creative in its own way, despite all the positive aspects, unfortunately, the game was and still underappreciated even after being ported to the next-gen consoles.

A Boy and His Blob 2009

About
	Release Date October 13, 2009
	Developer WayForward
	Publisher Majesco Entertainment
	Genre 2D Platformer
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

Wii Releases
2009-10-13
2009-11-06

A boy and his blob is a 2d puzzle platformer and a re-imagining of an old NES game. Bobolonia is invaded by an evil emperor, Blob a little blobby creature just like his name flew to earth seeking help, after crashing on land he meets his new friend Boy.

You play as Boy and blob as you cooperate to overcome certain obstacles and beat enemies along your way. You feed Blob different jelly beans, which give him the power to transform into various shapes that can be used to solve puzzles and defeat enemies. This is a very creative game, various puzzles can make you scratch your head while trying to solve them, in addition, there is some good platforming session to enjoy.

Wario Land: Shake It! 2008 ワリオランドシェイク (Wario Rando Sheiku)

About
	Release Date July 24, 2008
	Developer Good-Feel
	Publisher Nintendo
	Franchise Mario
	Genre 2D Platformer
	Concept Fantasy
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

Wii Releases
2008-07-24
2008-09-26

Wario Land: Shake It! is a 2d platformer game and the sixth installment of the well-known Wario Land series. Wario finds a globe that can make him jump to a new dimension called The Shake Dimension, as he got interested in a bottomless coin sack owned by the evil Shake King, Wario jumps to the new dimension longing for the coin sack.

You play as Wario moving in a side-scrolling 2d environment, your main goal on each level is to free creatures known as Merfles imprisoned in a cage located at the end of each level, once you break the cage a countdown appears on your screen, forcing you to go back to the start of the level before the time runs out. After completing a certain number of levels you get a boss confrontation the classic way. This is a very beautiful game with stunning hand-drawn visuals, cutscenes were done by the famous anime studio Production I.G adding more to the storytelling.

Sonic™ Colors 2010 ソニック カラーズ (Sonikku Karāzu)

About
	Release Date November 11, 2010
	Developer Sonic Team
	Publisher SEGA
	Franchise Sonic™
	Genre 3D Platformer
	Concept Fantasy
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

Wii Releases
2010-11-11
2010-11-16
2010-11-18

Sonic Colors is a fast-paced platform game, and a part of the well know Sonic series. In this new adventure, Sonic is trying to free an alien race from the hands of the evil Doctor Eggman.

The game is very similar to the previous Sonic games you run across the levels in a high speed collecting rings and defeating enemies, your goal now is to save aliens known as the wisps. The whole game takes place in the Dr.Eggman amusement park located in space, it shifts between 2D side-scrolling view and 3rd person perspective giving the player a cinematic and mesmerizing experience.

Nights: Journey of Dreams 2007 ナイツ 〜星降る夜の物語〜 (Naitsu 〜 Hoshifuruyoru no Monogatari 〜)

About
	Release Date December 13, 2007
	Developer Sonic Team
	Publisher SEGA
	Genre 3D Platformer
	Concept Fantasy
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

Wii Releases
2007-12-13
2007-12-18
2007-12-25

Nights: Journey Of Dreams is a 3D action platformer game and the sequel to the well known Sega Saturn Nights Into Dreams. The story is about two children Will and Helen, each one of them has its own storyline but the stories interfere later in the game, you jump into their dream world where they reach a place called Nightopia, upon arriving they meet Nights a mysterious purple jester who has the ability to fly!

You play as Nights merged with one of the children’s minds, the goal on each stage is to fly through these giant rings scattered across the levels, the more you get through the better score you can get. The game consists of multiple worlds, each world contains five levels and one boss encounter, after every boss encounter a new world will be unlocked. Journey Of Dreams is a fun and different game, introducing a hybrid between flying and platformers there is a lot to enjoy here for newcomers and even the veterans who played the original game.

Kirby's Return to Dream Land 2011 星のカービィ Wii (Hoshi No Kābyi Wii)

About
	Release Date October 24, 2011
	Developer HAL Laboratory
	Publisher Nintendo
	Franchise Kirby
	Genre 2D Platformer
	Concept Fantasy
	Players Co-Op, Couch Co-Op, Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

Wii Releases
2011-10-24
2011-10-27
2011-11-25

Kirby’s Return To Dream Land is 2.5D platform game and the twelfth installment in the well-known Kirby series. A mysterious alien ship crashes on Kirby’s homeland, as Kirby and his friend investigate the wrecks they meet an alien called Magolor, Magolor offers them a trip to his homeland in favor of finding his wrecked spaceship parts scattered across the planet Popstar.

The gameplay is very traditional, just like the previous titles you play as Kirby who have the ability to inhale objects and enemies, inhaling certain enemies can give you a wide range of abilities, new to the previous games Return To Dream land introduces a more powerful ability called Super Ability you turn into a giant Kirby with various abilities differing from a Sword, flames, and more. The game is very fun and colorful but leans more toward the easy side, a co-op mode is also there where other players can play as Meta Knight, King Dedee, and Bandana Waddle Dee.

Lost in Shadow 2010 影の塔 (Kage no Tō)

About
	Release Date July 22, 2010
	Developer Hudson Soft
	Publisher Hudson Soft
	Genre 2D Platformer
	Concept Fantasy
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

Wii Releases
2010-07-22
2010-10-15
2011-01-04

Lost in shadow is a unique 2D puzzle platformer game. The game scene begin when a mysterious hooded individual cut off the shadow of a boy and toss it over the edge of a tower.

You play as the shadow climbing your way up to the tower in order to claim back your body. All the game elements depend on shadows and lights, as you think your way through the levels by manipulating them to solve various puzzles and show hidden paths, there is also some light combat elements here and there but the main focus of the game focus on platforming and solving puzzles. this is a total hidden gem that unfortunately didn’t get the attention that it deserves upon its release.

Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter 2009

About
	Release Date October 08, 2009
	Developer Planet Moon Studios
	Publisher THQ Nordic
	Genre 2D Platformer
	Concept Fantasy
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

Wii Releases
2009-10-08
2009-10-16
2009-10-27

Drawn To Life: The Next Chapter is a 2.5D platforming game, despite the game being a bit rough around the edges there is a lot to enjoy here. Raposa is a small peaceful village but not for so long, items from the village start disappearing mysteriously, as the mayor knows of the incident he asks you the player to draw a new hero to save the village.

The whole premise of the game is to draw, you get to solve puzzles and fill gaps using your Wii Mote as a pen, you start by drawing your character (literally you can draw him), if you suck at drawing just like me, the game gives you the choice to choose from a variety of different premade template. Drawn To Life reminds me a lot of the well-known Little Big Planet series as they share a lot of similar aspects, the game is very fun and engaging, especially for the younger audiences.

Ivy the Kiwi? 2010 アイビィ ザ キウィ? (Aibyi za kiu~i?)

About
	Release Date April 22, 2010
	Developer Prope
	Publisher Bandai Namco
	Genre 2D Platformer
	Concept Fantasy
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

Wii Releases
2010-04-22
2010-08-24
2010-10-29

Ivy The Kiwi? is a 2d platform game with interesting mechanics, the game was made by Yuji Naka who was one of the co-creators of the original Sonic The Hedgehog. Ivy is a newly born little bird who is looking for her mother, the story is just simple as it looks but the gameplay is where things get serious.

The whole premise of the level is to get Ivy from point A to point B simple right? but that’s not it, you have no control over Ivy as she run constantly all over the place, the way you get to control her movements is by drawing lines. To guide her you aim at the screen with your Wii Mote and draw the lines precisely on where the pointer shows off, the game starts off simple and friendly but gets very challenging as you progress. There is over 100 level to beat as the game progress it can get very addictive and satisfying for challenge seekers.

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 is a 2.5D side scrolling platformer game and the first 2D Mario to hit the home consoles market after Super Mario World. The game was a huge success on the Wii as it sold over 30 million units, certainly, everything that was good about Super Mario Bros is here and more.

The gameplay is solely based on its Nintendo DS predecessor, the story mode can be played on both single-player or co-op, there is no magic here the game is just like the classic Mario titles adding new graphics and some new abilities here and there if anything was changed it must be the difficulty, the game is very forgiving giving the new players a room for trial and error.

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

Kirby’s Epic Yarn is a 2.5D platform game and the tenth installment on the Kirby series. Our friend Kirby is thrown into a fabric world called Patch Land, he must help the prince to recover seven pieces of magic yarn in order to stitch back Patch Land and stop the evil Yin Yarn.

So let me be clear there is no inhaling or flying ability, the game is very different from its predecessors but in a good way. While Kirby is stripped out of his old abilities you have a whole new set to explore, you can turn into a weighted object to smash down enemies, a parachute when you’re in mid-air, and more. Your main attack method is your whip as you use it to grab enemies and objects, the whip can also be used to activate a mechanism or swing around to reach a higher area. I can’t recommend this enough as the new ideas give the game a breath of fresh air.