Of course, this hasn’t been nearly enough to tide over the company’s huge fanbase, and there have been many rumors about what the NX will bring to the gaming scene upon release. What is truly important, however, is the collection of games that players will be able to experience when the console launches.
When new systems hits stores, they often suffer from a lack of titles made available on day one, which leads to less sales than the consoles deserve. The Wii U has some strong games now, but when the console was released it had a frustratingly small amount of first-party titles out for fans to enjoy.
With that in mind, it would be a good move on Nintendo’s part to ready up some of the Wii U’s better titles for a much-needed port to the NX. Here are the ones we think deserve the special treatment.
7 Super Smash Bros.
Starting off the list strong, Super Smash Bros. is a perfect example of a game that should make an appearance on the NX. Since its initial release in 2014, Smash Bros. has received all sorts of DLC content including new fighters and stages. Like many other fighting games that have a regular DLC stream after launch, Super Smash Bros. could benefit from an Ultimate Edition-style port, providing access to all content developed by Nintendo at one $60 price point.
Rumors of a new Smash Bros. title being under development for the NX surfaced near the start of this year, but because of the series’ life-cycle being so long, it’s more likely to be the port that we are longing for rather than a whole new game.
6 Super Mario Maker
Super Mario Maker is one of the most entertaining titles that Nintendo has put out in years. With infinite amounts of user-generated content and an incredibly active fan base, the title looks like it’s set for the foreseeable future. What will really make the game shine is if the rumors about the NX having a portable version hold any merit. Having access to downloaded levels in your pocket would make for a great addition to Mario Maker’s list of features and a Streetpass-like system of sharing your levels with other nearby gamers seems extremely possible.
Although Mario Maker is still receiving plenty of extra content, an NX port would hopefully also lead to more development on the title, with more single-player gameplay and a greater range of customization options being a priority.
5 Hyrule Warriors
This Zelda-themed hack-and-slash is a great example of a game that deserves a port to the NX. While our reviews of Hyrule Warriors, and the subsequent 3DS port Hyrule Warriors Legends, might suggest that the game has its flaws, the title could see itself done justice on the new console. Featuring all DLC characters, as well as some additional content, the NX version of the game could also benefit from a HD overhaul.
Another thing that Hyrule Warriors for NX could use is a true split-screen feature, allowing both players to use the TV screen rather than forcing the gamepad to be used as a second monitor. Furthermore, the added power of the new console is sure to allow for more enemies on screen at once, allowing gamers to experience some truly epic battles from the game that saved the Dynasty Warriors franchise.
4 Splatoon
Quite possibly the best Nintendo IP in years, Splatoon couldn’t be more deserving of an extended lifespan courtesy of the NX. While the company claims that it won’t give up on the struggling Wii U after the NX launch, there is certainly likely to be a shift in attention that Splatoon needs to be on the good side of. The third-person shooter could benefit from a new array of weapons, since its lack of development is likely leading to the game stagnating.
Some more local multiplayer options would also be something that fans of the game are likely to appreciate. The ability to play split-screen online is one that should never be underestimated and would make the game a lot more fun for gamers seeking the ever-diminishing couch multiplayer experience.
3 Xenoblade Chronicles X
A game that made our list of the best role-playing games of 2015, Xenoblade Chronicles X is a real masterpiece for those gamers who love JRPGs. While the game received excellent reviews as it is, there’s always room for a little polish, especially when porting the game to a console that is rumored to be more powerful than the PS4.
Although Xenoblade had no shortage of DLC, it might also be a good move on Nintendo’s part to add a little extra content to the title if it arrives on the NX, inspiring fans to return to the title and replay through the game’s story.
2 Bayonetta 2
When Bayonetta 2 was announced at E3 in 2014, fans couldn’t have been more surprised to learn that the mature title would be a Wii U exclusive. To this day, the only place Bayonetta fans can access the title is on the Wii U, but luckily Nintendo was generous enough to package the game together with the first in the series as an added bonus. Despite this, it would be a shame to see such a great game limited to just one console.
Although Bayonetta 2 is not a recent title by any means, it scored incredibly well in reviews and its titular character was even voted in to Super Smash Bros. through the recent Smash ballot, suggesting that the game is popular enough to deserve a graphically-enhanced port on the NX.
1 Pokken Tournament
Pokken Tournament is a game that was originally ported from Japanese arcades, meaning that it wouldn’t be unheard of for the title to make the switch to a new console. Despite the excitement of finally receiving the Pokemon fighting game on our home systems, there are some changes that we’d like to see to the game, in order to improve the experience.
First of all, the current lack of DLC plans for the title mean that its lifespan is significantly shorter than we’d like to see. What’s more, Pokken Tournament suffers from performance issues, due to its choice to make the gamepad a necessity for local multiplayer. Allowing the use of 2 of the specially designed controllers, rather than just one, and raising the frame rate up from the current 3o FPS are just a couple of the changes that would sell Pokefans on the NX port.
That’s it for our list, but it’s important to note that several games, such as Mario Kart 8 and Super Mario 3D World,were left off because there’s little doubt that the NX will have its own versions upon or near release. It’s easily been long enough for new additions to the Mario franchise, and we wouldn’t want Nintendo to waste time porting those older games instead of working on the new ones.
What’s more, titles such as the upcoming Zelda and Star Fox may deserve their own place on the list of ports we’d like to see, but at this point it’s too early to tell. Never fear though: rumors suggest that the mysterious new game may be available at launch for the NX.
What did you think of our choices? Are there any other Wii U games that you feel deserve an NX port? Leave us a comment and let us know.
