NINTENDO FORMAT INDEX
SWITCH WII U WII GAMECUBE NINTENDO 64 SUPER NINTENDO NES
3DS DS GAME BOY ADVANCE GAME BOY

REVIEWS | WII U

Eighth generation | 2012-2017 | Wii U Optical Disc, digital
Games: 791 | Units sold: 13.56m
The Wii U shifted Nintendo’s focus away from motion controls, with its Gamepad consisting of a screen and stylus, not dissimilar to the setup of their portable DS. The absence of a mainline Mario title likely hurt the system, as did shifting priority towards the Switch in the run-up to release of the highly-anticipated Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Caught between generations and with Nintendo failing to embrace online sales that helped galvanise the competing PS4 and Xbox One, it proved a commercial disaster, selling almost 90 million fewer units than the Wii and marking Nintendo’s lowest selling home console. Despite this, the Wii U possessed a number of noteworthy exclusives, including Mario Kart 8, FAST Racing NEO and Bayonetta 2.