Best games
Best Platformer games on Wii U
The 75 best Platformer games on Wii U, ranked from 25,919 critic and player ratings.
The best Platformer game on Wii U right now is Super Mario World, with a critic score of 100/100 — updated August 2026.
01
Super Mario World
A 2D platformer and first entry on the SNES in the Super Mario franchise, Super Mario World follows Mario as he attempts to defeat Bowser's underlings and rescue Princess Peach from his clutches. The game features a save system, a less linear world map, an expanded movement arsenal and numerous new items for Mario, alongside new approaches to level design and art direction.
100
/100
02
Super Metroid
The Space Pirates, merciless agents of the evil Mother Brain, have stolen the last Metroid from a research station, and once again Mother Brain threatens the safety of the galaxy! Samus Aran must don her awesome array of high-tech weaponry to retrieve the deadly Metroid hidden deep within the cave-riddled planet Zebes. Super Metroid features excellent graphics, with a huge variety of enemies and worlds to explore. The side-view action will be familiar to many players, only now there are new weapons and items, including the Grappling Beam, which allows Samus to swing across large chasms, and the X-Ray Scope, which reveals secret passages.
100
/100
03
Super Mario Galaxy
A 3D platformer and first Wii entry in the Super Mario franchise, Super Mario Galaxy sees Mario jump across planets and galaxies with varying items, enemies, geographies and gravity mechanics in order to reach his enemy Bowser, who has attacked the Mushroom Kingdom and hijacked Princess Peach's castle with her inside.
99
/100
Super Mario World
A 2D platformer and first entry on the SNES in the Super Mario franchise, Super Mario World follows Mario as he attempts to defeat Bowser's underlings and rescue Princess Peach from his clutches. The game features a save system, a less linear world map, an expanded movement arsenal and numerous new items for Mario, alongside new approaches to level design and art direction.
100
/100
02
Super Metroid
The Space Pirates, merciless agents of the evil Mother Brain, have stolen the last Metroid from a research station, and once again Mother Brain threatens the safety of the galaxy! Samus Aran must don her awesome array of high-tech weaponry to retrieve the deadly Metroid hidden deep within the cave-riddled planet Zebes. Super Metroid features excellent graphics, with a huge variety of enemies and worlds to explore. The side-view action will be familiar to many players, only now there are new weapons and items, including the Grappling Beam, which allows Samus to swing across large chasms, and the X-Ray Scope, which reveals secret passages.
100
/100
03
Super Mario Galaxy
A 3D platformer and first Wii entry in the Super Mario franchise, Super Mario Galaxy sees Mario jump across planets and galaxies with varying items, enemies, geographies and gravity mechanics in order to reach his enemy Bowser, who has attacked the Mushroom Kingdom and hijacked Princess Peach's castle with her inside.
99
/100
04
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Super Mario Galaxy 2 is the sequel to Super Mario Galaxy and the fourth 3D platformer entry in the Mario franchise. The sequel retains many elements from its predecessor, such as the adventure being in outer space, the element of gravity, and recurring objects such as Launch Stars and Sling Stars. Returning items include the Bee Mushroom and the Fire Flower. However, the game introduces new elements as well, such as the utilization of Yoshi, new power-ups like the Cloud Flower, and the use of a guide within the game for beginner players.
96
/100
05
New Super Mario Bros.
New Super Mario Bros. is a side-scrolling 2.5D action-adventure platformer game for the Nintendo DS, starring Mario and Luigi. The game features a solo story mode with Mario or Luigi, a two-player wireless game Mario Vs. Luigi, as well as a minigame mode for up to four players. The gameplay of New Super Mario Bros. is very much like that of the classic 2D platformers, mostly Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. 3, and substantially builds upon them to create gameplay both classic and contemporary. As the game is on DS, the touch screen allows players to store an additional power-up and view the distance still to go in a level.
95
/100
06
Metroid: Zero Mission
The full story of Samus Aran's first mission finally unfolds... The first Metroid game just scratched the surface of the cataclysmic events on planet Zebes, and at long last the rest of the tale has come to light. Experience the first of Samus's legendary adventures through all-new cut-scenes and action sequences as the bounty hunter races through the deeps toward her showdown with the leader of the Space Pirates. But will the end of Mother Brain really mean the end of the story...? Completion of the game unlocks an emulated version of the original Metroid game. Zero Mission also allow players to unlock the Metroid Fusion picture gallery by linking between Zero Mission and Fusion cartridges via the Game Boy Advance Game Link Cable.
95
/100
07
Super Mario 3D World
Super Mario 3D World is a 3D platformer action game for the Wii U, and a follow-up of the Nintendo 3DS installment Super Mario 3D Land. The game builds upon the previous installment, following a similar 3D level-design convention inspired from the 2D platformer titles where players must navigate through a linear-designed level within a time limit to reach a level's Goal Pole. One key aspect introduced in this title is the simultaneous multiplayer: while not the first game in the series to do so, it is the first 3D title in the Mario series to incorporate up to four players cooperating with each other to reach the goal. Players can select their character from a pool of playable characters prior to starting the game, and each of these characters have their own unique playstyle that gives them advantages and disadvantages over other characters. The game makes use of several Wii U exclusive features, such as tapping blocks with the touch screen on the GamePad and blowing into the mic to reveal hidden items and blow away enemies. Various new power-ups are introduced in this title, with the trademark suit being the Cat power-up, which enables characters to perform a melee attack, climb up walls, and leap while midair, as well as the game generally having a cat-based theme.
93
/100
08
Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove
91
/100
09
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
91
/100
10
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Dr. Eggman (aka Dr. Robotnik) has returned, turning helpless animals into robots and forcing them to build his ultimate weapon, the Death Egg! But this time, Sonic has a friend that can help him: Tails! Find the 7 Chaos Emeralds and stop Dr. Robotnik’s evil scheme!
90
/100
11
Castlevania: Dracula X
90
/100
12
Super Mario Bros. 3
89
/100
13
Super Mario 64
89
/100
14
Rayman Legends
89
/100
15
Shovel Knight
89
/100
16
A
Hollow Knight
88
/100
17
SteamWorld Heist
88
/100
18
Child of Light
88
/100
19
The Swapper
87
/100
20
Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty
87
/100
21
Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance
87
/100
22
Sonic Advance 2
86
/100
23
Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition
86
/100
24
Super Meat Boy
85
/100
25
Mega Man 2
85
/100
26
Super Smash Bros.
85
/100
27
BIT.TRIP Presents... Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien
85
/100
28
Donkey Kong Country Returns
85
/100
29
Sonic Advance
85
/100
30
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
84
/100
31
New Super Mario Bros. U
84
/100
32
Axiom Verge
84
/100
33
Super Mario Bros.
84
/100
34
Stick it to The Man!
83
/100
35
Mega Man Zero
81
/100
36
Mega Man Zero 2
81
/100
37
SteamWorld Dig
81
/100
38
Terraria
81
/100
39
Freedom Planet
81
/100
40
Demon's Crest
80
/100
41
Super Mario Maker
80
/100
42
140
80
/100
43
Volgarr the Viking
80
/100
44
Donkey Kong Country
80
/100
45
Teslagrad
79
/100
46
ActRaiser
79
/100
47
Mega Man Zero 4
79
/100
48
Skylanders Spyro's Adventure
79
/100
49
Castlevania
79
/100
50
Mega Man X3
78
/100
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Super Mario Galaxy 2 is the sequel to Super Mario Galaxy and the fourth 3D platformer entry in the Mario franchise. The sequel retains many elements from its predecessor, such as the adventure being in outer space, the element of gravity, and recurring objects such as Launch Stars and Sling Stars. Returning items include the Bee Mushroom and the Fire Flower. However, the game introduces new elements as well, such as the utilization of Yoshi, new power-ups like the Cloud Flower, and the use of a guide within the game for beginner players.
96
/100
05
New Super Mario Bros.
New Super Mario Bros. is a side-scrolling 2.5D action-adventure platformer game for the Nintendo DS, starring Mario and Luigi. The game features a solo story mode with Mario or Luigi, a two-player wireless game Mario Vs. Luigi, as well as a minigame mode for up to four players. The gameplay of New Super Mario Bros. is very much like that of the classic 2D platformers, mostly Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. 3, and substantially builds upon them to create gameplay both classic and contemporary. As the game is on DS, the touch screen allows players to store an additional power-up and view the distance still to go in a level.
95
/100
06
Metroid: Zero Mission
The full story of Samus Aran's first mission finally unfolds... The first Metroid game just scratched the surface of the cataclysmic events on planet Zebes, and at long last the rest of the tale has come to light. Experience the first of Samus's legendary adventures through all-new cut-scenes and action sequences as the bounty hunter races through the deeps toward her showdown with the leader of the Space Pirates. But will the end of Mother Brain really mean the end of the story...? Completion of the game unlocks an emulated version of the original Metroid game. Zero Mission also allow players to unlock the Metroid Fusion picture gallery by linking between Zero Mission and Fusion cartridges via the Game Boy Advance Game Link Cable.
95
/100
07
Super Mario 3D World
Super Mario 3D World is a 3D platformer action game for the Wii U, and a follow-up of the Nintendo 3DS installment Super Mario 3D Land. The game builds upon the previous installment, following a similar 3D level-design convention inspired from the 2D platformer titles where players must navigate through a linear-designed level within a time limit to reach a level's Goal Pole. One key aspect introduced in this title is the simultaneous multiplayer: while not the first game in the series to do so, it is the first 3D title in the Mario series to incorporate up to four players cooperating with each other to reach the goal. Players can select their character from a pool of playable characters prior to starting the game, and each of these characters have their own unique playstyle that gives them advantages and disadvantages over other characters. The game makes use of several Wii U exclusive features, such as tapping blocks with the touch screen on the GamePad and blowing into the mic to reveal hidden items and blow away enemies. Various new power-ups are introduced in this title, with the trademark suit being the Cat power-up, which enables characters to perform a melee attack, climb up walls, and leap while midair, as well as the game generally having a cat-based theme.
93
/100
08
Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove
91
/100
09
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
91
/100
10
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Dr. Eggman (aka Dr. Robotnik) has returned, turning helpless animals into robots and forcing them to build his ultimate weapon, the Death Egg! But this time, Sonic has a friend that can help him: Tails! Find the 7 Chaos Emeralds and stop Dr. Robotnik’s evil scheme!
90
/100
11
Castlevania: Dracula X
90
/100
12
Super Mario Bros. 3
89
/100
13
Super Mario 64
89
/100
14
Rayman Legends
89
/100
15
Shovel Knight
89
/100
16
A
Hollow Knight
88
/100
17
SteamWorld Heist
88
/100
18
Child of Light
88
/100
19
The Swapper
87
/100
20
Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty
87
/100
21
Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance
87
/100
22
Sonic Advance 2
86
/100
23
Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition
86
/100
24
Super Meat Boy
85
/100
25
Mega Man 2
85
/100
26
Super Smash Bros.
85
/100
27
BIT.TRIP Presents... Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien
85
/100
28
Donkey Kong Country Returns
85
/100
29
Sonic Advance
85
/100
30
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
84
/100
31
New Super Mario Bros. U
84
/100
32
Axiom Verge
84
/100
33
Super Mario Bros.
84
/100
34
Stick it to The Man!
83
/100
35
Mega Man Zero
81
/100
36
Mega Man Zero 2
81
/100
37
SteamWorld Dig
81
/100
38
Terraria
81
/100
39
Freedom Planet
81
/100
40
Demon's Crest
80
/100
41
Super Mario Maker
80
/100
42
140
80
/100
43
Volgarr the Viking
80
/100
44
Donkey Kong Country
80
/100
45
Teslagrad
79
/100
46
ActRaiser
79
/100
47
Mega Man Zero 4
79
/100
48
Skylanders Spyro's Adventure
79
/100
49
Castlevania
79
/100
50
Mega Man X3
78
/100
FAQ
What is the best Platformer game on Wii U?
Super Mario World currently tops the ranking with a score of 100/100 across 1,964 ratings. Ranking updated August 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.