Oh, the Wii U…you poor unhappy factor. Nintendo’s first foray into HD gaming, the Wii U was set to deliver all of the informal enjoyable of its predecessor, the Wii, whereas additionally offering highly effective {hardware} and capabilities for extra hardcore avid gamers. It was set to be Nintendo’s greatest system but…till it wasn’t. It turned Nintendo’s lowest-selling residence console and was a black sheep for the corporate at a time limit.
On the plus aspect, the Nintendo Switch introduced Nintendo again weapons blazing, and the writer managed to study from the errors of the Wii U to craft a significantly better system. Many Wii U exclusives additionally noticed a second life with re-releases on the Switch. That mentioned, there are nonetheless greater than a few video games that fetch a fairly respectable worth on-line, as you’d anticipate from a console that was discontinued six years in the past. Here are 10 of the rarest and costliest Wii U video games.
As per ordinary, all costs are courtesy of PriceCharting. Used costs are based mostly on the “Loose Price” itemizing, whereas new costs are based mostly on the “New Price” itemizing. Games are ranked from lowest to highest by their respective “new” worth.
10. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD
$135 New | $96 Used
Let’s “ease” into issues a bit right here, and talk about some video games which might be little doubt priced excessive, however not asininely so. Many of Nintendo’s main first-party Wii U video games have been ported to the Switch, so they could not essentially skyrocket in worth. There are nonetheless a few stragglers that haven’t been ported, nonetheless, and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD is one among them. A remaster of the 2006 Wii and GameDice Zelda title, Twilight Princess HD additionally had the displeasure of releasing in 2016, the ultimate 12 months of the console’s life when it had been just about lifeless and buried. This resulted in a restricted print run and, naturally, excessive resale costs.
A used copy of the sport will go for round $96, whereas a new copy will run for about $135. This worth enhance shouldn’t be horrible, however it’s positively noticeable that a new copy will likely be double the value of the unique launch. Ironically, that is a decrease disparity than the costs of the unique Wii model, which runs for simply $14 used and $41 new. Rest assured that you simply’re getting a nice Zelda recreation regardless of your selection, however the model you purchase will likely be one other story altogether.
9. Axiom Verge Multiverse Edition
$175 New | $163 Used
Here’s one which may elicit a little bit of a “huh?” response out of some. Axiom Verge is a very well-liked recreation, and provided that the Wii U was such a haven for indie titles, a few of you most likely may’ve performed it on the Wii U regardless of its 2016 launch. What you may not know, although, is that when the sport acquired a bodily launch within the type of Axiom Verge Multiverse Edition, it additionally got here to the Wii U…in 2019…two years after the system was discontinued…yeah.
Naturally, Limited Run Games produced a small variety of copies, which made this belated launch even tougher to seek out…and dearer. A used copy is available in at $163, and a new copy goes for roughly $175. This model does include a lot of bells and whistles, however it’s naturally not a necessity. The recreation is out there throughout loads of consoles in loads of variations — a lot of that are far cheaper — and also you’ll nonetheless be capable of take pleasure in all of it the identical.
8. Game & Wario
$200 New | $100 Used
Another Wii U straggler that by no means made the transfer to the Switch, Game & Wario exists in that uncommon class of video games that appear near inconceivable to port over. Being that a lot of the gameplay was centered across the Wii U GamePad (which was its solely appropriate controller), it’s a recreation that feels prefer it wouldn’t actually translate too properly to a Switch re-release. As a outcome, it’s a bit tougher to seek out, and thus a bit dearer.
A used copy will drop you down $100, whereas a new copy will put you at $200. That’s a fairly steep complete for what could also be one of many weaker entries within the WarioWare sequence. Still, given its experimental nature, it might be one thing that may very well be fascinating to look into. Just know that there are nice WarioWare titles on the Switch for significantly better costs.
7. Cabela’s Big Game Hunter: Pro Hunts
$215 New | $72 Used
The Cabela’s Big Game Hunter sequence loved a robust little cult following for a very long time, and 2014’s Cabela’s Big Game Hunter: Pro Hunts even landed on the Wii U. With that mentioned, the Wii U was not likely a place the place third-party video games offered like hotcakes, so it was at all times gonna be behind the eight ball. Furthermore, this was the ultimate entry within the franchise earlier than it was quietly canceled, so there’s a superb likelihood it already wasn’t a large vendor to start with.
All of this mixed to jack the value up a contact; whereas a used copy goes for $72, a new copy will land you at $215. It’s most definitely much less deadly than doing precise large recreation searching, however it’s nonetheless a lot costly looking for one among these. With that mentioned, the sport is out there at a far more reasonably priced worth on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, so if you happen to’re actually enthusiastic about it, you may wish to look over there.
6. The Book of Unwritten Tales 2
$300 New | $215 Used
The Book of Unwritten Tales 2 is a comedic point-and-click recreation from a German developer generally known as King Art Games. A profitable Kickstarter helped fund its full launch on a number of consoles, however sadly, it was one other title that didn’t come to the Wii U till 2016. A small recreation similar to this on a console that was mainly knocking on loss of life’s door? Yeah, not a nice combo, is it?
As a outcome, costs skyrocketed and the sport would attain $215 for a used copy and $300 for a new copy. The recreation did become fairly good, however until you’re an absolute stickler for enjoying your video games on the Wii U, it’s most likely less expensive to seize it on every other platform. Hell, if you happen to’re a Nintendo participant, it’s accessible on the Switch now; if you happen to’re so inclined, simply seize it over there.
5. Devil’s Third
$376 New | $270 Used
Ah, sure, one among Nintendo’s extra notorious Wii U titles. A hack-and-slash from Dead or Alive creator Tomonobu Itagaki, Devil’s Third gave the impression to be in bother when rumors swirled that Nintendo had dropped the publishing rights to the sport. While The Big N reconsidered and did find yourself publishing the sport, it was not distributed in massive batches, that means it turned exhausting to seek out nearly as quickly because it was launched.
Even now, merely grabbing a used copy of the sport will set gamers down $270. New copies, then again, will value a fairly enormous $376. All this for a recreation that was roundabout disliked even earlier than North American avid gamers lastly acquired it in December 2015, roughly 4 months after its launch in different areas. Unless you have got an affinity for dangerous video games, you may wish to suppose twice earlier than dumping your whole cash out on this one.
4. Turbo: Super Stunt Squad
$391 New | $86 Used
Compared to the whole lot else right here, this one actually feels a bit weird. A licensed recreation based mostly on a DreamWorks animated movie that turned out to be a field workplace bomb, Turbo: Super Stunt Squad certainly would’ve been at its least expensive on a family-leaning system just like the Wii U, proper? Well, mistaken, it’s not. Perhaps the mix of being on a low-selling system and being based mostly on a field workplace bomb at a time when avid gamers have been rejecting licensed video games all labored in opposition to it.
As a outcome, costs began to go approach up on this one. While a used copy isn’t insanely excessive at $86, a new copy jumps all the best way as much as $391. A hefty payment for a recreation that doesn’t appear to be all that good. It may actually be a higher concept to distract the youngsters by having them watch the movie itself…or simply purchase it on one other platform. It’s already cheaper throughout the board all over the place else.
3. Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag [Walmart Edition]
$500 New | $20 Used
No such checklist is full with out some “Special Editions” of video games, and on this case, we now have a store-exclusive model. Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag is a well-liked recreation, and naturally, some shops supplied bonuses for buying it via them. Walmart, for instance, supplied an unique mission and weapon for many who purchased the sport at their shops. Prices will naturally rise for video games like this, however particularly for a Wii U-specific model of Assassin’s Creed IV.
While a used copy goes for a completely affordable $20, a new copy units you down $500…that new mission and weapon should be insane. The costs throughout different platforms are far more affordable, so it appears this model’s worth is jacked up largely due to its launch on the Wii U. After all, Ubisoft did admit that the sport offered worst on the Wii U, so there are most likely fewer copies of it out within the wild. If you’re trying to find this, although, we hope the added mission and weapon will likely be price the additional $400+.
2. Mario Kart 8 [Limited Edition]
$1,631 New | $958 Used
Ah, Nintendo releasing “Limited Editions” of its first-party titles. Not one thing you essentially see every single day, however the Wii U period was an fascinating time. Mario Kart 8, the console’s highest vendor, acquired a Limited Edition that includes a statue of the dreaded blue Spiny Shell. This was unique to the Nintendo World retailer, and just some 350 copies have been ever manufactured, which can naturally make this a powerful seize.
Simply discovering a used model of it will land you at $958, whereas a new copy will sink $1,631 out of your pockets. That’s a fairly hefty worth to pay simply to have a Spiny Shell statue. If you’re taking care of your pockets, it’s greatest to only see if you could find the Spiny Shell show by itself, and simply buy Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Switch as an alternative…if, for no matter purpose, you don’t have already got it.
1. Hyrule Warriors [Limited Edition]
$3,850 New | $1,203 Used
Oh, however that wasn’t all. Later in 2014, Nintendo launched a Limited Edition of its subsequent main first-party title after Mario Kart 8, Hyrule Warriors. This model appeared to function nothing greater than the sport and a scarf…however it’s Zelda-themed! The variety of copies was most likely just like that of the Mario Kart 8 Limited Edition, and apparently, it was a fairly large deal. The line for the sport on the Nintendo World Store wrapped around three blocks, and never everybody was even capable of get a copy.
Those who did, past being extremely fortunate, discovered it to be a fairly worthwhile resell. A used copy runs for roughly $1,203, whereas a new copy goes for an astonishing $3,850. All this for a Zelda spinoff/crossover with Dynasty Warriors whose Limited Edition merely contains a scarf…sure, I do know, it’s Zelda-themed. You can most likely discover loads of good Zelda scarves out within the wild, and also you’d most likely save extra time and cash if you happen to simply seize Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition on the Switch.
What are another uncommon and costly Wii U video games? Sound off within the feedback beneath!
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