see deal The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword - Nintendo Wii $34.99 on Gamestop

A year ago, we thought the Wii

Well, we're still waiting now – but, thankfully, these past 12 months for Wii haven't been quite as terrible as we feared, with that one major adventure joined by a couple of high profile, epic role-playing games that we honestly didn't expect to see actually released in America. Because of the high quality of that handful of titles, and because there's still plenty of time to go back and experience the best Wii has to offer in these final months before Wii U's arrival, we've updated our Top 25 list of the best of the best from Nintendo's current console. Read, enjoy, and rejoice that while this past year certainly hasn't been Wii's biggest in quantity of releases, the quality of what we did receive was stunning.

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NintendoNintendoJuly 26, 2009The original Wii Sports will probably be remembered as the quintessential Wii experience since it was initially included with the Wii system, but that would be a disservice to the awesome follow-up (and the Trojan horse for the Wii MotionPlus), Wii Sports Resort. Simple, wrist-flicking Wii Sports essentials like bowling and tennis are included in Resort, but new games like table tennis and Frisbee golf actually require finesse, even skill, thanks to the Wii MotionPlus add-on for the Wii Remote. Additionally, the use of Wuhu Island as a cohesive setting for all the events is a great idea – so great it was used again in Pilotwings Resort for 3DS!

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NintendoNintendo EAD / Intelligent SystemsJanuary 17, 2007With Wii Sports in the box and games like Wario Ware: Smooth Moves arriving shortly after launch, the Wii became known as the "party game" system early on. As party games go, the Wario Ware series is hard to top. Wario Ware: Smooth Moves presents collection of "micro games," doled out in quick succession. It's four-player, Wii Remote-waggling madness: you have only seconds to figure out what to do in each game before you're on to the next one. Additionally, Wario Ware: Smooth Moves features a healthy dose of Japanese wackiness. Some microgames are downright unintelligible, adding to the general sense of pandemonium.

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NintendoTreasureJune 27, 2010Sin & Punishment: Star Successor is one of the most intense, exciting games available on Wii. Two kids fly through fantastic environments on other planets, shooting everything in their way and taking down giant boss monsters. It barrels along at a breakneck pace, barely giving you a chance to wipe the sweat off your Wii Remote. Developer Treasure is basically teaching a master class on how to make an on-rails shooter. While the Wii has most often been regarded as the family-friendly or kid-friendly console of this generation, Sin & Punishment: Star Successor is exactly what is meant by the term "hardcore."

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NintendoIntelligent SystemsNovember 5, 2007As far as classic strategy games go, Fire Emblem pretty much harks back to the beginning of time. It's been one of those series that Nintendo held back for a long time from American audiences, but now that we've got it, we can recommend it to any and all strategy fans. Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn for Nintendo Wii did very little to change a formula that's been around for nearly two decades. The involving story is still there, the classic turn-based strategy originating on Famicom Wars (the 8-bit inspiration for the Advance Wars series) is at large once again, and players of a whole new generation got a chance to experience exactly what Fire Emblem is all about.

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Ignition EntertainmentVanillawareMarvelous EntertainmentSeptember 8, 2009According to the very few who have actually played this sleeper game, Muramasa: The Demon Blade is as much a piece of art as it is a video game. This Marvelous Entertainment-developed experience is one part role-playing game and one part old-school brawler, but most importantly it's one of the most visually creative games to be released in Wii's lifetime. There always seems to be something new around the next corner, giving this original action title an enormous sense of discovery. The seamless blending of visuals, audio, and fun makes Muramasa is a true 2D classic.