The Wii U has been one of those systems where some people look at it, see the games available and planned, and then probably walk away thinking, “Maybe next year.” It used to be that you could think of a single game that would make a purchase worth it, but never anything more. In 2015, that changed in a big way, and everyone should own a Wii U.
It started slow, as these things tend to do. Kirby and the Rainbow Curse paved the way this year. It was a bright, colorful adventure set in a world that appeared to be made of clay. A spiritual successor to Kirby’s Canvas Curse , it was an adorable hook to tide people over until May.
That’s when what will probably be remembered as one of the Wii U’s best games was released, Splatoon . The colorful, third person shooter did something people hadn’t really seen on the system until now. Splatoon helped build an online community. Yes, people enjoy those online matches in Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Bros , but Splatoon turned out to be a game you keep playing. Ranked matches, monthly Splatfests for the community, and regular updates adding equipment and maps kept people invested in a way few other Wii U games did.
In September, another constantly growing game appeared. Nintendo released Super Mario Maker , another game that will be considered a legend. For the first time, people could make their own Super Mario stages, share them, and do things you would never have thought possible with Nintendo’s toolkit. We’re seeing Mario Metroidvanias, side-scrolling shooters, puzzles, philosophical statements, and even musical compositions. It’s an incredibly creative experience that never stops impressing.
And now, Nintendo’s ending the year on a high note. Xenoblade Chronicles X is doing something you wouldn’t expect from the Wii U. This game has given people a monumental, massive, open world RPG. People get a gigantic planet, named Mira, to explore, a huge party of characters to recruit, tons of story and side quests to accept, regions to chart, and even a community to bond with over huge boss fights and other squad missions. This is a game where you can spend four hours playing and exploring, never touching the main story. You expect that from something made by Bethesda or CD Projekt Red, not a Nintendo game from Monolith Soft.
So go forth! It’s okay to get a Wii U now. You aren’t going to get burned. If you act fast, you might even still be able to get one of those Smash Splat bundles that include copies of Super Smash Bros and Splatoon with the system. Let Nintendo’s console be your guilty pleasure. Even indulge yourself with something super cute, such as Yoshi’s Woolly World , or frivolous, like Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival . You won’t regret it.