Wii series
- This article is about the various video game series, and should not be confused with the console of the same name.
The Wii series[1] is a video game series that began with the Nintendo console bearing the same name that includes multiple subseries like the Wii Sports, Wii Play, and Wii Fit series. However, these subseries still share various elements and a single universe. Some subseries continued to receive games as part of their respective series despite sometimes not bearing the "Wii" title, such as Pilotwings Resort and Nintendo Switch Sports in the Wii Sports series, the "Wii" not being a part of the consoles' name not stopping a game from being counted as a part of a Wii series.
Some Wii series games have also been used as a way to market Wii accessories, such as extra Wii Remotes, the Wii Motion Plus, and Wii Balance Boards.
Series description
Despite the fact that not every Wii series game is technically in the same series, most of the games of can linked together via multiples factors besides the title. The primary connection is Miis being used as the playable characters and most NPCs as well as and the artstyle of all games in the series being somewhat simplistic and similar.
In addition to those factors, some of the Wii series were developed during the same time and make references to one another, such as the location Wuhu Island being in both the Wii Sports series and Wii Fit series or Sebastian Tute and Party Phil from the Wii Music game and Wii Party series respectively having similar designs.
Genre(s)
Due to every Wii subseries being made of a different genres: sports simulation for the Wii Sports series, fitness for the Wii Fit series, rhythm for the game Wii Music, party for the Wii Play and Wii Party series, etc. As such, it is impossible to point a precise genre in which the general concept of a Wii series could be placed, instead being a mix of genres.
Gameplay
There is no set gameplay shared by all of the games, as each series is set in vastly different genres.
The main similarities between the games is that the player plays as a Mii, the game mainly consist of other games inside of it, and the game is usually made with the intent to showcase something new.
Artstyle
The artstyle is somewhat simplistic, being made of vivid color and rough bold shapes, being chosen to fit well with the fact that almost every character is a Mii.
Cast
In almost every game in a Wii series, an almost entirely Mii-based cast is used, with both the player's avatar and most NPCs being one, from a list of player created and premade ones.
List of games
As of February 2024, there exist four subseries to the Wii series and three one-off games.
The first and last installments in the Wii series are games from the Wii Sports series, with Wii Sports released in 2006 and Nintendo Switch Sports released in 2022. Partially due to it being first, Wii Sports is often considered to be the "main" series amongst the Wii series, being the largest series as well.
The 3 other subseries, those being the Wii Party series, the Wii Fit series and the Wii Play series (the latter one not being marketed as a series in Japan despite the two games being part of a series), could however easily stand on their own with 2, 3, and 2 entries respectively.
Along with these series, three one-off game used the "Wii" name in their title, Wii Music, that still has various elements shared by the other Wii series, Wii Karaoke U by JOYSOUND, that utilized Miis yet is not considered to be a Wii series due to its first game not being released as such, and Wii Chess, being exclusive to Europe and only using the name due to the console it released on, without any sort of link to the other game that have "Wii" in their title.
Due to the popularity of the various Wii series, as well as simply being the name of their respective console, applications such as Wii no Ma, Wii Panorama U and Wii Street U powered by Google used the Wii title while having very few links to the rest of the game having "Wii" in their name, some not having Miis, some not having the typical artstyle of the Wii series and some not having both, leaving them in a gray area concerning them being "Wii" games.
List of Wii subseries
Wii Sports
(2006)
Wii Play
(2006)
Wii Fit
(2007)
Wii Party
(2010)
List of one-off Wii series games
Wii Chess*
(2008; Did not feature Miis)
Wii Music
(2008)
*Wii Chess is a chess game developed by Nintendo released exclusively in Europe on January 18, 2008 for the Wii. While this game was exclusive to Europe, Japan later got it as a WiiWare title under the name "通信対局 ワールドチェス", Tsūshin Taikyoku: World Chess", roughly translating to "Communication Game: World Chess" and was not a part of the Wii series in that region. This game is rather odd as it does not feature Miis anywhere, not even as the save file or player's icon.
Debatable inclusion
Wii no Ma
(2009)
Wii Panorama U
(2013; Did not feature Miis)Wii Street U powered by Google
(2013; Did not feature Miis)
These series are not part of the Wii series, but do incorporate elements from it beyond simple references.
Super Smash Bros. series
The Super Smash Bros. series, being a crossover between various Nintendo franchises, have represented various Wii series in the series.
Pilotwings series
A crossover with the Wii Sports series and the Pilotwings series called Pilotwings Resort was released in 2011
Mario Kart series
Wuhu Island from the Wii Sports and the Wii Fit series is used as two race tracks and as a battle course throughout the seriesKaraoke JOYSOUND series
The Karaoke JOYSOUND series is the original series that Wii Karaoke U by JOYSOUND was a part of. Note that Karaoke Joysound Switch also utilize Miis.
Personal Trainer: Walking
Personal Trainer: Walking is closely linked to the Wii Fit series, in various ways. Note that this game also utilize Miis.
Ring Fit Adventure
Ring Fit Adventure could be considered a spiritual successor of the Wii Fit series and has a rhythm mini-game that plays a medley of Wii Fit music.
Reception
Most of the "Wii" games achieved a remarkable commercial success, with almost every single well known game selling millions of copies. Notably, as of 2024, Wii Sports is currently the fourth best-selling video game in history and holds the distinction of being the top-selling video game exclusive to a single gaming console, helped by being a pack-in game at the launch of the Wii.
With the exception of a few lesser known titles, all titles that are part of a Wii series have been released worldwide, Wii Sports and Wii Play were the first two games of the seventh console generation to surpass 10 million units sold, Wii Sports having sold other 82 million sales, a significant portion of those coming from bundling.
Trivia
- Nintendo Switch Sports is the first main game in the series to:
- Not have Miis as the only playable characters.
- Not have "Wii" in the title.
