let's talk about nintendo's best console
"i'm writing an essay about the wii" "weed?" "not this time, this is about the wii!" - a conversation that happened at least three times
hello readers! i hope you’re enjoying your summer. i’m looking forward to sharing some musings about my summer, so i’ll occasionally drop an essay here or there that’s been sitting in my notes app.
i read this essay at this week’s herbal supplements — hosted by my dear friend jules — who also happens to run an advice column on their substack :)
i could endlessly talk about the wii and its incredible run, but you’ll have to catch me at a game night or wait until a *fingers crossed* forthcoming longform essay about its cultural significance during its 20th anniversary in november 2026.
today, i unpackaged a copy of poképark: pikachu’s adventure, a special spin-off game for nintendo’s best console, the wii. i ordered the game shortly after i watched a lengthy video essay on youtube about forgotten pokémon games.
in this game, you play as pikachu, alongside a group of adorable pokémon, as you navigate a series of minigames, puzzles, and battles in a world without humans. as a longtime fan of the pokémon ranger and mystery dungeon universes in the franchise that prioritize gameplay as a pokémon as opposed to a trainer-centric pov, this video game is just one of my recent purchases that has reminded me about the genius device that is the wii.
created in 2006, the wii is arguably nintendo’s most sleek and sexiest console with gamecube-compatibility that connected generations long before pokémon go. seriously, the wii was quite popular in retirement homes, and studies show that the console encouraged physical activity, cognitive function, and socialization. so yes, your memaws and grandparents were also getting demolished by the infamous bald, black mii matt when they played wii sports boxing.
and i couldn’t talk about the wii without mentioning its unique accessories. there was the oddly-shaped nunchuk, which was required for wii music, raving rabbids, and wii sports resort among other titles. speaking of wii sports resort, the motionplus attachment adds a couple of extra inches to the already-long remote and extends the range of motion for specific games. mario kart is essentially boring and less fun without the wii wheel, and there’s absolutely no point in playing any hunting game without the crossbow-shaped zapper. (also who is satisfied with playing any hunting game on the wii?) not to mention, there are multiple commercials and promotional safety videos to emphasize the importance of the strap of the remote, since everyone had a problem with destroying their televisions with a wiimote.
of course, the balance board is my favorite accessory to the wii, regardless of its complicated relationship with players. god forbid you fluctuate in weight as a child and play wii fit. prior to playing any of its hula hooping or jogging games, the instructions will ask you to step onto the digital scale within the board, and it will slightly groan in a disappointing tone if you don’t meet the suggested bmi.
in the game’s sound effects, there are literal mp3 files titled, bmi too thin, bmi too fat, and bmi very fat…as if the other first one wasn’t enough, right before it says, “that’s obese,” in a cartoonish voice.
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in combination with my mom telling me that i appeared to be losing weight thanks to just dance’s calorie-tracking sweat mode, the wii’s lowkey-problematic fitness game era is still iconic in my eyes. but if the body shaming is a complete turnoff from wii fit, you can also play dance or snowboarding games, or something really wacky like the garfield show: threat of the space lasagna that won’t shame you.
the garfield game is one of many forgotten games based on a fictional character, tv show, or movie, but my favorite games for the wii include some notable bangers: super mario galaxy, wii sports resort, super paper mario, kirby’s epic yarn, just dance 2 & 3, and animal crossing: city folk.
on monday morning, i asked my twitter followers about their favorite games and was educated about the iconic legend of zelda: twilight princess, the lego batman and star wars series, the michael jackson experience, mario party 8, and disney’s epic mickey (among other cool titles!).
regardless of the answer, most of these titles are held highly in the gaming community — and r/wii — for their thorough plots, memorable soundtracks, and the rush of camping outside gamestop for a midnight release.
my memories associated with the wii have mainly occurred near family and friends, such as a visit to my brother’s house, where i played his illegal selection of pirated games. i created detailed miis for my loved ones as if my life depended on it and lined them up in the mii plaza for fun. i barely played the sims throughout my life, but i can imagine it’s comparable to detailing every facial feature, body shape, and seemingly stylish fit for a character. listening to the harmonic ring of the wii’s menu and wii shop channel sent me spiraling into the world of nintendo’s nostalgic frutiger aero aesthetic. and as I place wii sports into my console, i begin sweating in fear of the humbling moment when the audience of miis embarrassingly jumps when the bowling ball slips out of my hand.
lately, i’ve appreciated my wii for its timeless addition to my gaming household, and my roommates and i have hosted at least two game nights this summer that revolved around wii sports resort and mario vs. sonic at the 2012 london olympics. as much as i love my nintendo switch, it wouldn’t exist today without the wii. as this year’s nintendo museum is unveiled in japan, i truly hope that they memorialize the wii as a console that simultaneously body shames its players, encourages multigenerational happiness, and reigns as the best console nearly twenty years later.