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The Nintendo Wii was one of the most popular consoles back when it was released in November 2012. The original Wii had many features that have now become cherished among those who still own or are looking to own one of these elusive consoles, including motion controls, the Mii Maker, and compatibility with games once exclusively for the GameCube.
Despite the popularity of the Nintendo Wii, there was never a mainstream Pokemon game released for the console. Various Pokemon games were released for the Wii, but none ever took off the way that any of the mainstream games did. That said, over the years the Pokemon Wii games have garnered a cult following, with many players who played these games as kids retaining a strong nostalgia for them.
Updated by Janine Engelbrecht on 12 October 2023: Although the Nintendo Wii console seems outdated by 2023, more than ten years after its initial release, it had some great games and features that made a major impact on video gaming today. While the Nintendo Wii was not a favorite for Pokemon games, some of the ones that were released on the Wii are entries in the Pokemon franchise worth revisiting.
8 My Pokemon Ranch
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My Pokemon Ranch was a WiiWare title that could be purchased digitally on the Wii. Much like Pokemon Box, it was essentially a glorified Pokemon storage system, giving players the ability to deposit up to 1,000 different Pokemon from Pokemon Diamond & Pearl into My Pokemon Ranch. Once there, players could watch their Miis and Pokemon interact and take pictures of their beloved creatures as they roam around the ranch.
Given the description, there isn't much there for players to actually do. My Pokemon Ranch isn't a game with an objective or end goal, it's simply a place to store extra creatures from Pokemon Diamond & Pearl with the added cosmetic layer of interactions between the player's Miis and Pokemon. Many critics argued that the purpose of this virtual title didn't contain enough extra content to be worth any money at all, as well as My Pokemon Ranch being virtually useless for players that didn't own a Nintendo DS or Pokemon Diamond & Pearl.
7 Pokemon Battle Revolution
Pokemon Battle Revolution is rather similar to Pokemon Stadium in concept. The game involves players battling their way through various cups and tournaments, earning new trainers that come with their own team of Pokemon with each increasingly difficult milestone. Similar to Pokemon Stadium, Pokemon Battle Revolution included a feature that allowed players to use the Pokemon they'd caught in Pokemon Diamond & Pearl in Pokemon Battle Revolution.
Although the game's graphics, lighting, and battle animations are stellar given the console and technology at the time, both critics and fans alike found a mutual dislike for the game's lack of plot and difficulty. Unlike cult classic titles like Pokemon Colosseum and Pokemon XD: Gale Of Darkness, Pokemon Battle Revolution had no plot or characters whatsoever, playing similarly to the online battle simulator, Pokemon Showdown.
6 Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Keep Going! Blazing Adventure Squad
The Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games are a trio of Pokemon games released for WiiWare on the Nintendo Wii console in 2009. This trio of games is unique, as they were released exclusively in Japan, and so many players over the world might not be familiar with them. Unlike other Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games, this trio is not heavy on plot, but rather focuses on 15 dungeons that the player has to complete.
In Keep Going! Blazing Adventure Squad (also called Wildfire Adventure Squad), the focus is on Fire-type Pokemon, and the player's home is Pokemon Village. The player can choose two Pokemon to be part of their squad to enter a dungeon; in the Blazing version of the game, these include fire-types like Charmander, Chimchar and Cyndaquil.
5 Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Let's Go! Stormy Adventure Squad!
The Water-type version of the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon trio for Nintendo Wii is called Let's Go! Stormy (or Tempest) Adventure Squad. Unsurprisingly, the player's home is Pokemon Beach, where they can choose from Water-type Pokemon from various generations like Squirtle, Piplup, Mudkip and Wooper to take with them into the dungeons.
Interestingly, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon for Wii are the only Mystery Dungeon games in the franchise where the player remains a human and does not turn into a Pokemon in the beginning of the game. Although never leaving Japan, this trio of Pokemon games are listed as some of the best Pokemon games ever released for Wii.
4 Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Go For It! Light Adventure Squad
The final game in the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon trio for Nintendo Wii features predominantly Electric-type Pokemon, such as Pikachu, Pichu, Shinx and Mareep. The player returns to their home in Pokemon Garden in this version of the game, which is set in a forest.
In total, the player battles in 15 unique mystery dungeons per Mystery Dungeon game. Unique to other Pokemon games on the Nintendo Wii, the Mystery Dungeon games allows four save slots, and so more than one player can play on one copy of the game. With its various unique features, this trio of games are a great entry for the Wii console, albeit only for those playing in Japan.
3 Pokemon Rumble
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Pokemon Rumble was a WiiWare title that had such a positive fan response that it become the first in a series of five Pokemon Rumble games. The concept and plot are cute and unique, turning fearsome and tough Pokemon into wind-up toys that battle others. Along the way, players can befriend certain Pokemon to add to their arsenal of wind-up toys to help them beat each level of the game.
The graphics are adorable and the gameplay is engaging, albeit repetitive after a while, but most critics knocked the fact that the game didn't have enough depth to it to have been worth 1,500 Wii Points on the WiiWare. That said, many critics viewed this through the lens of an adult player finding the mechanics of the game repetitive and shallow, neglecting the fun that a younger player could get out of Pokemon Rumble.
2 PokePark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure
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PokePark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure is a cute, immersive tale that follows the beloved yellow, electric mouse after he loses his friends entering the PokePark. He's visited in a vision by Mew, who tells him to collect all the prism pieces around the PokePark in order to restore peace. So, Pikachu goes on a quest to reunite himself with his lost friends and together save the PokePark.
Many critics found it boring that the game only allows players to play as Pikachu. Unlike in PokePark 2: Wonders Beyond where players can play as Pikachu, Oshawott, Snivy, or Tepig, the original only allows for players to play as other Pokemon they've befriended when they're participating in different attractions within the PokePark. The graphics are stunning, and the plot is strong, however, the game is definitely a quick play for an experienced player looking to blast through the main objectives. For those looking for a relaxing experience playing as Pikachu and solving problems, playing mini-games, and battling throughout the PokePark, this game is perfect.
1 PokePark 2: Wonders Beyond
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PokePark 2: Wonders Beyond was the sequel to the original 2010 spin-off, PokePark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure. Trailers and gameplay footage alone can attest to how visually engaging the game looks, with vivid colors and strong 3D graphics that are able to create many immersive environments for players to roam through. Much like the first game, PokePark 2: Wonders Beyond has an incredibly strong story that follows Pikachu as he befriends other creatures throughout the park, helping to defeat the evil force that threatens the peace and tranquility of the PokePark.
All that said, many critics found the gameplay repetitive for older players. Most of the game is spent playing various mini-games with other Pokemon, such as chase, hide 'n seek, and battling. While some of these challenges can be difficult for younger players, some older players may find it easy to befriend these Pokemon and breeze through the story.