12 Best RPG Games for the Nintendo Wii

The Nintendo Wii was a console that broke paradigms, especially because of its motion controls, and embraced an audience far beyond the traditional gamer — something that was directly reflected in its more than 100 million copies sold. This does not mean, however, that the console has left more complex genres aside, such as RPGs themselves.

The Nintendo Wii catalog brings some gems that must be experienced by RPG enthusiasts, ranging from more renowned franchises like Final Fantasy to hybrid and somewhat unusual bets, like Super Paper Mario. That said, the voxel brings, in the following lines, a list of the 12 best RPG games for the Nintendo Wii. Check out:

Xenoblade Chronicles

Originally released in 2010 and produced by Monolith Soft, Xenoblade Chronicles is one of the games that manage to extract the maximum potential of the Nintendo Wii. It is considered a game beyond its time, offering a vast open world to explore with real-time combat. It also draws attention to the cast of charismatic characters and especially the soundtrack, which is able to leave the player in ecstasy.

It is noteworthy that Shulk, the game’s protagonist, got a spot in Super Smash Bros. For Wii U & 3DS in 2014 and continues in the franchise to this day. In case you want to know the game, there is also a Definitive Edition for Nintendo Switch that brings several improvements.

Sakura Wars: So Long My Love

Part of SEGA’s popular franchise, Sakura Wars: So Long My Love is a tactical RPG that mixes elements of romance simulators. This means that the performance of the characters in combat and the decisions made by the player have a direct influence on the relationship with the protagonist and on how the story develops. The game also draws attention to its anime aesthetics and the fact that combat takes place with giant robots.

super paper mario

Super Paper Mario was released in 2007 exclusively for the Nintendo Wii and is the third game in Nintendo’s mascot RPG series. Unlike its predecessors, the game dispenses with turn-based combat and brings elements from traditional plumber games, in which it is possible to jump directly on enemies.

The highlight of the game is the possibility to move between the 2D and 3D worlds at any time, revealing secrets through the scenarios. In addition, the player finds several allies throughout the story, capable of using unique skills to solve puzzles and cause even more damage to enemies.

Rune Factory Frontier

Rune Factory Frontier is part of the Harvest Moon spin-off series, a Natsume franchise that especially marked the PlayStation in the 90s. Originally released in 2008, the game brings everything you expect from a farm simulator, but goes beyond with mechanics combat, dungeons and a fantasy world that draws attention to the story with a more dramatic tone. This mix gives the series its own appeal and continues to be well received even today with new releases.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers

There’s no doubt that Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers was a great experiment for Square Enix, but it still has its value. The game, originally released in 2009, makes great use of the Nintendo Wii’s motion sensor to utilize the power of telekinesis, allowing you to shoot objects at enemies or simply throw them away.

Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World

Sequel to Tales of Symphonia for the GameCube, Dawn of the New World features a charming cast and mechanics that go beyond its predecessor, most notably a monster capture system that can be trained to participate in real-time combat. The game was originally released in 2008, but received a high-definition version for the PlayStation 3 in 2013 in Japan.

Muramasa: The Demon Blade

Muramasa: The Demon Blade was a game that had a lot to talk about at the time of its launch, in 2009. Developed by Vanillaware and published by Marvelous in Japan, the game is an action RPG with a combat system that drinks from the source of beat ’em ups — all from a 2D perspective and with beautiful hand-drawn graphics.

Its theme, inspired by Japan’s Edo Period, also draws attention, as does the appearance of typical Japanese creatures. It was also released on PlayStation Vita and unfortunately is due for a re-release on current platforms — a constant topic among fan requests.

Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn

Nintendo’s famous tactical RPG franchise was not left out of the Wii. Released in 2007, Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn is considered one of the best RPGs on the console. Just like its predecessor on the GameCube, the game features three-dimensional graphics that give greater dynamism to combat and an addictive gameplay. One of its highlights is the fact that the player can lose an army character forever if he ends up dying in combat, which makes this a very challenging title.

The Last Story

Directed by Hironobu Sakaguchi, creator of Final Fantasy, The Last Story is an RPG of the highest quality that seeks to extract the maximum potential of the Nintendo Wii. Combat takes place in real time and even has a cover system, typical in stealth action games. Enthusiasts of great soundtracks will also be pleased with the participation of Nobuo Uematsu, responsible for many of Final Fantasy’s most iconic songs.

Dragon Quest Swords

Dragon Quest Swords is an unusual bet on Square Enix’s RPG franchise. Originally released in 2007 in Japan, the game features a first-person combat system centered on the use of the Wii Remote, allowing players to move in various directions and apply sword strikes or defend themselves with a shield.

It is interesting to note that the player does not have full control over the character: he moves alone through the scenario, with periodic stops to defeat enemies that appear on the screen — a formula that other Wii games have also adopted.

Okami

A relaunch of the PlayStation 2 classic, Okami arrived on the Nintendo Wii in 2008 with a new way of delivering spells from the protagonist Amaterasu. The great attraction of this version is the possibility of using the Wii Remote as if it were a celestial brush, allowing you to draw shapes that trigger different types of spells. The game also draws attention to its visual style, which refers to a painting in constant motion.

It is worth remembering that Okami was re-released for modern platforms in 2017, including PS4, Xbox One and even PC, through Steam.

What did you think of this list? Did you already know all the games mentioned? Do you have a favorite RPG that ended up being left out? Let us know via the comments section!