Best games
Best Wii U games of 2012
The 19 best Wii U games released in 2012, ranked from 11,035 critic and player ratings.
The best Wii U game of 2012 is Mass Effect 3, with a critic score of 91/100 — updated September 2026.
How this ranking is built
- Games are ranked on the aggregated critic score out of 100 imported from IGDB and Metacritic, never on Tier's own grades.
- A game only enters the ranking with at least 80 external ratings, so a single enthusiastic review never outranks a proven classic.
- Community grades from F to S are shown next to every game, and only stated as a fact above 5 Tier ratings.
- Release window covered: 2012.
- 19 games are listed on this page, carrying 11,035 ratings between them.
- Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 28 September 2026.
Top 19
01
B
Mass Effect 3
Earth is burning. The Reapers have taken over and other civilizations are falling like dominoes. Lead the final fight to save humanity and take back Earth from these terrifying machines, Commander Shepard. You'll need backup for these battles. Fortunately, the galaxy has a habit of sending unexpected species your way. Recruit team members and forge new alliances, but be prepared to say goodbye at any time as partners make the ultimate sacrifice. It's time for Commander Shepard to fight for the fate of the human race and save the galaxy. No pressure, Commander. Fight smarter. Take advantage of new powers and combat moves. Shepard can now blind fire at enemies and build tougher melee attacks. Plus, when you fight as a team you can combine new biotic and tech powers to unleash devastating Power Combos. Build the final force. Build a team from a variety of races and classes and combine their skills to overcome impossible odds. You'll be joined by newcomers like James Vega, a tough-as-nails soldier, as well as EDI, a trusted AI in a newly acquired physical form. Keep an eye out for beloved characters from your past, but beware. Some may not survive the final battle... Face off against friends. Enjoy an integrated co-op multiplayer mode and team up with friends online to liberate key conflict zones from increasingly tough opponents. Customize your warrior and earn new weapons, armor, and abilities to build war preparedness stats in your single player campaign.
91
/100
02
Darksiders II
Become Death - The most feared of the legendary Four Horseman. Epic Universe – Unlike anything the player has seen before, delivered in the unique style of Joe Mad. Player Choice & Customization – Customize your experience with varied armor sets, weapons, and skill trees allowing players to create their own Death. Explore a vast open world, complete dozens of side quests and customize your Death with a full leveling system, skill trees and endless equipment combinations. Death is a nimble and agile character capable of incredible acrobatic feats allowing the player to explore the world like never before.
86
/100
03
New Super Mario Bros. U
New Super Mario Bros. U is a side-scrolling 2.5D platform game, and the fourth and latest installment in the New Super Mario Bros. series. As the sequel to New Super Mario Bros. Wii, the game is a follow-up game of New Super Mario Bros. 2. It uses new, more detailed background styles and models and introduces the Flying Squirrel power-up, acquired by Mario and his friends from an item called the Super Acorn, as well as utilizing the Wii U GamePad in Boost Mode. In addition to the core campaign, there are also challenge modes.
84
/100
B
Mass Effect 3
Earth is burning. The Reapers have taken over and other civilizations are falling like dominoes. Lead the final fight to save humanity and take back Earth from these terrifying machines, Commander Shepard. You'll need backup for these battles. Fortunately, the galaxy has a habit of sending unexpected species your way. Recruit team members and forge new alliances, but be prepared to say goodbye at any time as partners make the ultimate sacrifice. It's time for Commander Shepard to fight for the fate of the human race and save the galaxy. No pressure, Commander. Fight smarter. Take advantage of new powers and combat moves. Shepard can now blind fire at enemies and build tougher melee attacks. Plus, when you fight as a team you can combine new biotic and tech powers to unleash devastating Power Combos. Build the final force. Build a team from a variety of races and classes and combine their skills to overcome impossible odds. You'll be joined by newcomers like James Vega, a tough-as-nails soldier, as well as EDI, a trusted AI in a newly acquired physical form. Keep an eye out for beloved characters from your past, but beware. Some may not survive the final battle... Face off against friends. Enjoy an integrated co-op multiplayer mode and team up with friends online to liberate key conflict zones from increasingly tough opponents. Customize your warrior and earn new weapons, armor, and abilities to build war preparedness stats in your single player campaign.
91
/100
02
Darksiders II
Become Death - The most feared of the legendary Four Horseman. Epic Universe – Unlike anything the player has seen before, delivered in the unique style of Joe Mad. Player Choice & Customization – Customize your experience with varied armor sets, weapons, and skill trees allowing players to create their own Death. Explore a vast open world, complete dozens of side quests and customize your Death with a full leveling system, skill trees and endless equipment combinations. Death is a nimble and agile character capable of incredible acrobatic feats allowing the player to explore the world like never before.
86
/100
03
New Super Mario Bros. U
New Super Mario Bros. U is a side-scrolling 2.5D platform game, and the fourth and latest installment in the New Super Mario Bros. series. As the sequel to New Super Mario Bros. Wii, the game is a follow-up game of New Super Mario Bros. 2. It uses new, more detailed background styles and models and introduces the Flying Squirrel power-up, acquired by Mario and his friends from an item called the Super Acorn, as well as utilizing the Wii U GamePad in Boost Mode. In addition to the core campaign, there are also challenge modes.
84
/100
04
Tekken Tag Tournament 2
The console release added new characters and stages.
83
/100
05
Need for Speed: Most Wanted - A Criterion Game
82
/100
06
A
Assassin's Creed III
The American Colonies, 1775. A brave young warrior fights to save his homeland. But what begins as a struggle over territory turns into an extraordinary journey that will transform him into a Master Assassin—and will forever change the destiny of a nation. You are Connor, warrior son of a Native American mother and British father. As the colonies draw closer to revolution, you will dedicate your life to the freedom of your clan –becoming the spark that ignites the revolution into full blaze. Your crusade will take you through blood-soaked battlefields to crowded city streets, to perilous wilderness and beyond. You will not only witness history—you will make it. Welcome to an entirely new chapter in the Assassin’s Creed saga.
81
/100
07
Assassin’s Creed III
80
/100
08
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
Race as Sonic and a host of legendary All-Stars and prepare to transform! Speed across land, sea and air in a high velocity battle to the finish line, as your amazing transformable vehicle changes from car to boat to plane mid-race. Racing on mobile will never be the same again!
79
/100
09
FIFA 13
78
/100
10
Thomas Was Alone
Thomas Was Alone is an indie minimalist 2D platformer about friendship and jumping and floating and anti-gravity. Guide a group of rectangles through a series of obstacles, using their different skills together to get to the end of each environment.
77
/100
11
Scribblenauts Unlimited
75
/100
12
LEGO Batman 2 DC Super Heroes
75
/100
13
Nihilumbra
75
/100
14
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
74
/100
15
S
Sniper Elite V2
67
/100
16
Little Inferno
65
/100
17
The Amazing Spider-Man
64
/100
18
Angry Birds Star Wars
59
/100
19
Medal of Honor: Warfighter
54
/100
Tekken Tag Tournament 2
The console release added new characters and stages.
83
/100
05
Need for Speed: Most Wanted - A Criterion Game
82
/100
06
A
Assassin's Creed III
The American Colonies, 1775. A brave young warrior fights to save his homeland. But what begins as a struggle over territory turns into an extraordinary journey that will transform him into a Master Assassin—and will forever change the destiny of a nation. You are Connor, warrior son of a Native American mother and British father. As the colonies draw closer to revolution, you will dedicate your life to the freedom of your clan –becoming the spark that ignites the revolution into full blaze. Your crusade will take you through blood-soaked battlefields to crowded city streets, to perilous wilderness and beyond. You will not only witness history—you will make it. Welcome to an entirely new chapter in the Assassin’s Creed saga.
81
/100
07
Assassin’s Creed III
80
/100
08
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
Race as Sonic and a host of legendary All-Stars and prepare to transform! Speed across land, sea and air in a high velocity battle to the finish line, as your amazing transformable vehicle changes from car to boat to plane mid-race. Racing on mobile will never be the same again!
79
/100
09
FIFA 13
78
/100
10
Thomas Was Alone
Thomas Was Alone is an indie minimalist 2D platformer about friendship and jumping and floating and anti-gravity. Guide a group of rectangles through a series of obstacles, using their different skills together to get to the end of each environment.
77
/100
11
Scribblenauts Unlimited
75
/100
12
LEGO Batman 2 DC Super Heroes
75
/100
13
Nihilumbra
75
/100
14
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
74
/100
15
S
Sniper Elite V2
67
/100
16
Little Inferno
65
/100
17
The Amazing Spider-Man
64
/100
18
Angry Birds Star Wars
59
/100
19
Medal of Honor: Warfighter
54
/100
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Wii U game of 2012?
Mass Effect 3 currently tops the ranking with a score of 91/100 across 1,823 ratings. Ranking updated September 2026.
How is this ranking built?
Games are ranked on their aggregated critic score out of 100, with a minimum vote threshold so a single glowing review never outranks a proven classic; the Tier community's own F-to-S grades are shown alongside each game.