Despite Nintendo already bringing the heft of their first-party titles from Wii U to Nintendo Switch, I still believe there are a number of experiences worth porting to their Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 platforms.
This isn’t every remaining Wii U exclusive, but here are five I believe Nintendo should bring to modern audiences.
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD
Let’s face it, I can’t be the only one who expected to see Wind Waker HD during the Nintendo Switch’s early years.
This version of Nintendo’s once-divisive 2002 GameCube title sees overhauled visuals, a wide aspect ratio, and a range of gameplay differences designed to streamline the player’s experience.
Even with the original title now available to play via Nintendo Classics on the Nintendo Switch 2, I still believe the gameplay differences make Wind Waker HD a strong contender for porting to new systems.
Ideally, this title could see release on both the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch 2, with the latter receiving a higher resolution.
With the Zelda series turning 40 next year, will this be the time we see Wind Waker HD’s triumphant return?
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD
Of course, if we’re bringing Wind Waker HD, we’re also bringing Twilight Princess HD.
Developed by Tantalus Media, Twilight Princess HD is a decidedly less ambitious remake of Nintendo’s GameCube swan song/Wii launch title, with polished visuals and minor quality-of-life improvements.
While I fully anticipate Nintendo to release The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess on Nintendo Classics, they could still re-release their HD efforts onto Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 for the upcoming anniversary year.
Let’s hope they don’t pull a Super Mario 3D All-Stars and make it a limited time release.
As with Wind Waker HD, the latter system would offer increased resolution over the 2017 platform.
Yoshi’s Woolly World
While Good Feel’s 2015 Yoshi adventure did see an enhanced port to the Nintendo 3DS, I still prefer the original version.
The higher resolution really makes the art style pop.
Widely considered to be the best Yoshi title since the Super Mario World sequel on the Super NES, Woolly World remains a daunting omission from Nintendo’s plethora of Wii U to Nintendo Switch ports.
If we could get a version that incorporates the new content from the Nintendo 3DS version (Poochy & Yoshi’s Woolly World) – without losing the 3D world map – that would be ideal.
This is another title Nintendo could release across both platforms.
While Nintendo is understandably trying to grow the Nintendo Switch 2 audience, I believe all three of these titles are both technologically achievable on the older hardware, and have a higher chance of generating profit by following the release practice of the recent Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 release.
Kirby and the Rainbow Paintbrush
Known in North America as Rainbow Curse, this sequel to the Nintendo DS’s Kirby: Power Paintbrush (known in North America as Canvas Curse) makes heavy use of the Wii U GamePad’s touch screen.
While this would work in handheld mode on the original Nintendo Switch, the title would be challenging to play in TV mode. Porting this to the Nintendo Switch 2, using the mouse function of Joy-Con 2, would enable players to draw paths for the pink puffball on the TV.
While the visuals of this game impress, having to look at them on the Wii U GamePad’s 480p screen left a lot to be desired. Unfortunately, I find the game itself quickly outstays its welcome.
If this title remains trapped to the Wii U, I wouldn’t be too remorseful, but I do believe it has value being released as a budget title to showcase the new features of the Joy-Con 2.
Paper Mario: Color Splash
Look, I know this game isn’t popular.
When players desperately wanted a true successor to The Thousand-Year Door and were instead given a successor to Sticker Star, the fandom went into meltdown.
There is a philosophical argument to be had over what the Paper Mario series should be. This isn’t that. Instead, taking the game on its own merits, I believe it deserves a second chance.
Despite making heavy use of the Wii U GamePad, I don’t believe this would be too challenging to bring to modern systems. The inclusion of Off-TV Play in the original release gives a clear template for how a single-screen experience could work.
With “Basic + Buttons” selected in the game’s combat settings, the only time I explicitly need to touch the screen is to confirm the card is ready by tapping “Done Painting” and then flick the card to play it. Clearly, buttons can take these roles.
I’m pretty early in to Color Splash, so there may be elements I’m not yet aware of which need further adaptation, but to preserve the game for modern audiences, it’s worth it.
While I’d always rather receive new titles, there is value to keeping older experiences available, and ports are typically cheaper and quicker to develop, so publishers can use them to pad out the release slate. And if you don’t want to buy them, that’s totally fine!
I first played Yoshi’s Island on the Game Boy Advance. I didn’t care it was a port, and I’m sure glad I was able to play it.
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