Since the Nintendo Switch was first released in 2017, it has become Nintendo’s best-selling home video game console of all time. It was the follow-up console to the Wii U, the successor to the Nintendo Wii which was seen as a disappointment both commercially and critically, thanks to its lack of a library upon launch and the design of its main tablet device.
The Nintendo Switch, for all intents and purposes, is a complete refinement of what Nintendo tried with the Wii U. As a result, the video game developer has ported some of the biggest titles from the previous console to the latest one, sometimes with new content and incentives. These games may have been released years ago but found a second life on the Switch.
Updated July 11, 2025, by Blaise Santi:In the years since the Nintendo Switch’s release, Nintendo has more or less ceased development on porting Wii U games to the newest generation’s console. It’s a shame, considering there are some highlights on the Wii successor that absolutely deserve re-releases for a new audience. Such gems range from the underratedXenoblade Chronicles Xto the HD remakes ofThe Legend of ZeldatitlesWind WakerandTwilight Princess. For now, this might be the definitive list of games Nintendo published themselves that were brought over from the Wii U to the Nintendo Switch. Only time will tell if these Wii U classics ever see a life outside the unpopular gaming system.
Fatal Framehasn’t always been a Nintendo-exclusive franchise, and wasn’t available on the company’s systems until the Wii-exclusiveFatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipsein 2008. Nintendo kept the franchise’s exclusivity for the follow-up,Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water, a Wii U exclusive that released in 2014 in Japan and 2015 in western territories.
It wasn’t until 2021 that fans of theFatal Frameseries who didn’t buy a Wii U got to playMaiden of Black Waterwhen it was ported to Switch, as well as PlayStation and Xbox consoles. AlthoughMaiden of Black Waterwas designed with the Wii U GamePad in mind, the current gen version of the game boasts better performance and graphics.
Lego City Undercoverwas a joint effort from Nintendo and TT Fusion, the company behind many iconicLegogames. Based on theLego Citytoy line, it’s a more original story for a Lego-inspired game, rather than adapting the events of a movie franchise. It released on the Wii U in 2013, making it an early installment for the console when its gaming library was quite limited.
It wasn’t far into the Nintendo Switch’s lifetime either thatLego City Undercovermade its debut on the new console, as Warner Bros. ported the title to other consoles. With this re-release, the game included local cooperative multiplayer, which wasn’t available in its Wii U version. However, some critics noted that the Nintendo Switch version of the game had worse performance.
WhenBreath of the Wildwas initially unveiled to Nintendo fans at E3 2014, fans were excited about the prospect ofgetting to explore Hyrule with no limits. Unfortunately, by the time the game was eventually released on Wii U in 2017, it was also making its debut as a launch title for the Nintendo Switch, which certainly proved to be the superior model of the game.
While some fans got to experienceBreath of the Wildfor the first time on the Wii U, this was only due to the lack of availability for the Nintendo Switch upon launch thanks to high demand. By now,Breath of the Wildis seen as a quintessential title for the Switch and has since been followed up by a sequel,Tears of the Kingdom, in 2023.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxewas another launch title for the Nintendo Switch, porting the 2014 Wii U game to Nintendo’s newest console with all the DLC content from the original game. This was a smart move from Nintendo, as the company has now seen continued results from aMario Kartgame without having to design one for almost ten years.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxehas still thrived in terms of content, with Nintendo unveiling the Booster Course Pass in 2022,adding in new courses and playable racers. The game also contains compatibility with the Nintendo Switch-exclusive toys known as Nintendo Labo, allowing players to create unique controllers for the game using cardboard.
Released in 2016,Pokken Tournamentis a spin-off of thePokemonseries that was first released in arcades a year earlier. In the vein of one-on-one fighting games likeTekken, it contained many playable Pokemon as fighters, including Blaziken, Lucario, Mewtwo, and Pikachu. It was later ported onto the Nintendo Switch in 2017 asPokken Tournament DX.
In the Nintendo Switch version, many playable characters from the arcade version were made available for console players, including Darkrai, Scizor, and Empoleon. The game also contains several brand-new Pokemon to fight with, including Aegislash, Decidueye, and Blastoise, which has filled the void of Nintendo making an all-newPokkengame.
Bayonetta 2was originally released for the Wii U in 2014 and was notable for including a port of the firstBayonettatitle as a separate disc sold together. Of course,the popularity of the game’s titular characterspiked after her inclusion inSuper Smash Bros. for Wii U & 3DS, eventually giving Nintendo the incentive to port the game over to the Switch in 2018.
Like with the Wii U, the re-release ofBayonetta 2on the Switch also came with the porting of the originalBayonetta, which was released on the same day. The Switch has now seenBayonetta 3released as a console exclusive in 2022, which has by now sold as many copies asBayonetta 2on the console, showcasing the character’s continued growth.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freezewas first released in 2014 for the Wii U, continuing on the platforming established in the Nintendo Wii titleDonkey Kong Country Returns. This time around, Dixie Kong and Cranky Kong were made playable characters, joining DK and Diddy as they adventure to save DK Island from villainous Snowmad invaders.
In 2018, Nintendo portedTropical Freezeto the Nintendo Switch, with a few differences, including an easier difficulty option than what was available in the Wii U version. This version, called “Funky Mode,” allows players to control Funky Kong, who has all the abilities of the other four Kongs, more health, and can safely stand on spikes with his surfboard.
Captain Toad was first made playable via mini-levels in the Wii U titleSuper Mario 3D World, which was later adapted into a standalone Wii U spin-off,Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker. This puzzle game finds players controlling Toad or Toadette as they collect Power Stars, with players rotating the stage to reveal more from the environment since Toad cannot jump.
Nintendo later portedCaptain Toad: Treasure Trackertoboth the Nintendo 3DS and the Nintendo Switchin 2018. The Switch version of the game also included co-op multiplayer between two players, allowing for a joint experience solving puzzles. Nintendo also added several new levels based onSuper Mario Odyssey, which was released in 2017.
The originalHyrule Warriorswas one of the best-selling games on the Wii U after it was released in 2014, even after Nintendo ported it to the 3DS in 2016, which included previously released DLC as well as playable chapters and characters based onThe Wind WakerandMajora’s Mask. The game saw its second re-release on the Nintendo Switch in 2018.
The Nintendo Switch version, known asHyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition, contains all the content from both previous versions of the game, and new costumes for Link and Zelda based on their appearances inBreath of the Wild. It was followed up less than two years later with the 2020 gameHyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, a spin-off prequel toBreath of the Wild.
New Super Mario Bros. Uwas one of the few launch titles for the Wii U, as a new 2DMarioadventure following upNew Super Mario Bros. Wii. The Wii U version also included a DLC expansion known asNew Super Luigi U, which was released as part of Nintendo’s “Year of Luigi,” featuring releases inspired by Mario’s often-forgotten brother.
Both versions of the game were made available for the Nintendo Switch inNew Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe. The port also includes brand-new playable characters in Toadette and Nabbit. These two are also playable in the most recent 2DMariogame for Nintendo Switch,Super Mario Bros. Wonder, which released in October 2023.
