RPGs on the Wii were one of the casualties of Nintendo’s switch to a more casual audience, and a lot of players gravitated towards the PS3 and even 360 for their role-playing fix in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Nevertheless, every system has its gems, and the Wii ultimately got just enough great RPGs to justify the system to enthusiasts. It’s not a stretch to say that some of the entries on our list today, though niche, still went on to form important parts of the genre’s history.
10. Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World
Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World is set two years after its predecessor ended with two worlds merging together. Is it a “new” world if it’s two worlds becoming one world? Surely that’s a net loss on worlds.
Regardless, here, new characters Emil and Marta take center stage as the former seeks answers and revenge for the deaths of his parents, seemingly at the hands of Symphonia’s hero Lloyd Irving. Marta, meanwhile, seeks to safeguard the Centurion Core of Ratatosk from the Vanguard, a militant group that seeks to rally the people of Sylvarant against Tethe’alla.
Like Tales of the Abyss’s Luke before him, Emil starts off as an insufferable protagonist — albeit due to an extreme lack of confidence, rather than an overabundance of it. While his development doesn’t quite reach the same heights as Luke’s, Emil still manages to see some interesting character growth by the end of his journey, helped along by Johnny Yong Bosch’s performance for his two split personalities.
Dawn of the New World retains the action RPG combat that defines Tales, with its own quirks befitting its nature as a spinoff. For instance, the world map is a menu now instead of a fully explorable world, and Emil and Marta spend most of the game fighting alongside recruitable monsters instead of human allies. Modern mechanics, like Free Run, make combat smoother and more accessible, and characters’ abilities are more conducive to flashy combos than in the original Symphonia.
Despite its divisive reception, Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World is still a great, streamlined follow-up with an engaging plot, one that meaningfully explores the consequences of its predecessor’s ending, and featuring stronger character development than most give it credit for.
9. Final Fantasy IV: The After Years
By 2009, Final Fantasy had already dabbled a bit in the idea of direct sequels to some of its mainline entries, with the likes of Final Fantasy X-2, Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings, and the burgeoning Compilation of Final Fantasy VII. Square Enix, of course, continued to experiment with this approach, and beginning in the summer of 2009, Wii owners were treated to a direct sequel to Final Fantasy IV.
Final Fantasy IV: The After Years is set 17 years after its predecessor, and sees its cast coming back together, along with some fresh faces, to tackle a new threat to the world after the planet’s second moon reappears. The story, while relatively predictable and rote in how it uses typical Final Fantasy tropes, still manages to be a fun time, especially if you were a fan of the original Final Fantasy IV.
The ATB turn-based battle system returns from the original IV, with the addition of Bands, combo attacks which are essentially this game’s take on Chrono Trigger’s Double and Triple Techs. More games taking inspiration from Chrono Trigger can’t be too bad a thing.
What made The After Years stand out from some of Square’s other direct sequels was in how it was handled, as it was originally a digital-only episodic release for the Wii Shop Channel. That storefront, sadly, is long gone, as is that specific version of IV’s follow-up. It thankfully remains playable on PSP as part of Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection, and on Steam, where it received a full 3D remake in the same style as Final Fantasy IV’s DS version.
8. Pandora’s Tower
This niche Wii-exclusive once had the spotlight thanks to Operation Rainfall, a massive fan campaign that attempted (and ultimately succeeded) to drum up attention and support for English localizations of this game, as well as The Last Story and Xenoblade Chronicles. Unlike the other two Rainfall games, Pandora’s Tower is an action RPG with a bigger emphasis on puzzle-solving and dungeon-crawling, while blending a variety of other elements to create something wholly unique.
The game’s premise is simple: Elena, the lover of protagonist Aeron, is afflicted with a curse that will slowly transform her into a monster. To stave off and eventually permanently destroy this curse, Aeron must traverse the Thirteen Towers and feed Elena the flesh of the beasts he slays within.
This gives Pandora’s Tower a blend of several elements, from dungeon-crawling and puzzle solving, to relationship building tied with time management. Elena’s transformation progresses over time as Aeron explores the towers; feeding her beast flesh, as well as having conversations and giving her gifts, will help her maintain her humanity. Each of the dungeons are also punctuated by boss fights that require really creative use of Aeron’s Oraclos Chain to bring down.
Pandora’s Tower has mostly been forgotten in this day and age, but its mechanics make it a worthwhile excursion for Zelda fans — as well as those who are simply interested in experiencing a noteworthy part of Nintendo and RPG history.
7. Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
The final mainline Fire Emblem title until 2019’s Three Houses is a follow-up to the fan favorite Path of Radiance, which starred beloved protagonist Ike. Though it’s a direct sequel set three years after the GameCube classic, Radiant Dawn opts to take a radically different approach to its storytelling structure.
While past entries have experimented with multiple different campaigns, Radiant Dawn instead features one massive story split into four parts, each shown from the perspective of different groups. This means your group of playable characters rotates regularly throughout the game. Though Radiant Dawn does make some additions to the Fire Emblem formula — like statistical advantages from elevation — it’s known mainly for its uncompromising difficulty.
As with Path of Radiance before it, Radiant Dawn presents a rich world with a morally complex plot that stands out compared to prior and later entries, further elevated here by the constantly shifting perspectives, and culminating in an absolutely grand finale.
Despite the relatively positive reception from fans and critics alike for both Path of Radiance and Radiant Dawn, this entry in particular sold poorly, and Fire Emblem as a series would reach the brink of death until Awakening came around. Given the high prices the game goes for now online, a remaster of the Tellius duology would mean more fans could experience the high notes of Fire Emblem.
6. Rune Factory Frontier
Beginning in 2006, those who wanted a bit more fantasy action in their farming sims were introduced to Rune Factory, a series that was a spin-off of Marvelous Entertainment’s Story of Seasons (when it was still named Harvest Moon). Rune Factory maintains the core that defined Story of Seasons, being centered around growing crops and nurturing relationships with your fellow townsfolk.
The other half of the equation is a fantastical setting involving things like monsters, dragons, empires, and even deities. Far from being simple farmers, the amnesiac leads of each entry often end up playing a pivotal role in the events of their world through dungeon crawling and action RPG combat.
Rune Factory usually introduces new settings and characters with each entry. The series’ debut on the Wii, however, is a direct follow-up to the very first Rune Factory title on DS. Sometime after thwarting the Sechs Empire’s invasion of Kardia Village, protagonist Raguna moves to a new town, following after friend (and potential love interest) Mist as she senses someone calling to her in her dreams.
Being one of the only two titles released for the system, Rune Factory Frontier makes an impression as a solid and incredibly deep fantasy farming sim with a well-written story and vibrant art style. Beyond the usual time management mechanics, players will have to watch out for things like proper ecosystem management, lest their crops’ rate of growth suffer.
Though written as a direct sequel to the original Rune Factory, new players can jump into Frontier without too much friction.
5. The Last Story
The second Operation Rainfall RPG on this list has quite the credentials behind it, being directed by none other than Hironobu Sakaguchi, the father of Final Fantasy and later founder of Mistwalker Corporation. Long-time Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu is also along for the ride, after having also worked on Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey.
Set on Lazulis Island, The Last Story tells a tale of mercenaries trying to survive amidst a crisis of environmental decay and ongoing war. Amidst this, protagonist Zael discovers a mysterious power known as The Outsider, and nurtures a budding romance with Calista, daughter of Lazulis Island’s ruler Count Arganan. Despite the overt fantasy elements, The Last Story is one of the Wii’s more grounded JRPGs, relying more heavily on character drama over mind-blowing plot twists.
Unlike Sakaguchi’s past work on Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey, The Last Story is an action RPG with a decidedly tactical twist. Zael can issue orders to allies, commanding them to do things like use and position AoE spells in specific spots, to even beginning fights with sneak attacks that disrupt or destroy parts of the environment. Zael, beyond a standard set of attacks, can do things like take cover, diffuse allied spells for extra effects, and use the power of the Outsider to draw aggro and keep enemies’ attention.
Thanks to its action-packed yet highly tactical combat, a character driven story and lively English voice acting, and emotional soundtrack by Uematsu, The Last Story earned the attention and acclaim it got in its heyday. It’s a Wii classic that honestly deserves a remaster on newer systems — especially to revive its surprisingly robust multiplayer mode that had a cult following in its time.
4. Muramasa: The Demon Blade
Vanillaware is a name that’s been popping up more and more over the past few years. We’ve covered their work on Odin Sphere already, but before they made a splash on the PS3 with Dragon’s Crown and released the acclaimed 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim for PS4 and Switch, they gave Wii owners the gorgeous Muramasa: The Demon Blade.
In contrast to their output before and since, The Demon Blade is set in Edo period Japan, and revolves around the titular cursed weapons that crave blood and have summoned demons due to the chaos across the land. The game features two main protagonists, each with their own story campaign and set of endings.
As with Vanillaware’s other works, Muramasa is absolutely stunning to behold, with a colorful 2D art style influenced by Japanese woodblock prints. It’s easily one of the Wii’s best looking games and still holds up well today. Pair it with a fast and frenetic combat system that iterates on Odin Sphere, and you already have a recipe for success.
The story suffers a bit due to a bland localization, but it’s otherwise a solid experience with great replay value thanks to its multiple endings. A Vita remaster updated the localization and featured new DLC episodes, but the Wii version can be found for lower prices online nowadays — something to consider for those looking for more Vanillaware goodness.
3. Monster Hunter Tri
Originally conceived as a PS3 title, Monster Hunter Tri marked the series’ debut on Nintendo consoles. As with the rest of the series, Monster Hunter Tri is all about its cyclical gameplay design — you hunt monsters, use their body parts to craft better gear, and then use that gear to hunt even stronger monsters.
And just like prior and later titles, combat in Monster Hunter Tri is a test of patience and observation; monsters’ attacks have tells that must be learned to properly dodge, and rather than use conventional health bars, monsters on the verge of death show it in their body language, sometimes even fleeing to other areas to recuperate when pushed to their limit.
Monster Hunter Tri, in its ambition, also took things to another level by introducing underwater exploration and combat, something that the series has yet to reattempt due to the development time and effort it would require. More crucially, this entry streamlined mechanics to make the game more accessible to newcomers and paved the way to eventually allow the series to virtually explode in popularity with Monster Hunter World.
Online co-op was a major component of this game as well, though that has sadly been shut down. As with Capcom’s other games, Monster Hunter Tri did eventually receive re-releases on the 3DS and Wii U in the form of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, which added new monsters and quests, among other things. But it’s hard to ignore the legacy that the original Monster Hunter Tri left behind, making it one of the Wii’s best titles, regardless of genre.
2. Super Paper Mario
Super Paper Mario begins with an ancient prophecy: if Bowser and Princess Peach were ever to wed, a powerful artifact known as the Chaos Heart would appear. In a bid to remake the world, new antagonist Count Bleck kidnaps the pair and compels their marriage. With the Chaos Heart in hand, he opens the Void, a rift that will eventually swallow all dimensions. To counteract this, Mario must seek out the eight Pure Hearts to stop the Chaos Heart.
It’s a goofy premise, but Super Paper Mario is a surprisingly dark game, weaving a tale of tragic love and loss — and among its well-written cast are some of the vilest and most dangerous villains in the series, if not Mario history. Super Paper Mario’s story still holds up well, and is arguably tied with The Thousand Year Door for one of the best stories in a Mario RPG.
Where this game really shakes things up is in its gameplay, which can best be described as a blend between platformer and RPG, with the elements you’d expect from both. Unique to this entry is the ability for Mario to flip into 3D, revealing secrets in the environment you wouldn’t be able to see or interact with otherwise.
With the vibrant visuals you’d expect from the series and a new art style that relies heavily on shapes and angularity, Super Paper Mario stands out on the Wii for its presentation. When combined with its darker story and action RPG gameplay, this entry stands out as the most unorthodox Paper Mario game — and one well worth your time.
1. Xenoblade Chronicles
Of the three games championed by Operation Rainfall, Xenoblade Chronicles is undoubtedly the biggest and most pivotal to the genre, having arrived in an era where JRPGs were stagnating due to repetitive plots and linear world design. It brought with it an innovative battle system and an utterly engrossing plot that turned the concept of destiny on its head.
Where this game excels is in melding together story and gameplay. Its setting of two massive titans makes for unusual and incredible vistas few other games have achieved, and its semi-open world makes exploration more of a joy here than it is in any other JRPG released in the early 2010s.
The battle system is real-time and akin to MMOs, where characters use basic attacks automatically, and can use various arts that recharge over time. Shulk’s ability to see glimpses of the future in the story is brilliantly integrated, manifesting as occasional visions of incoming powerful attacks. Not only does Shulk’s Monado come with a huge variety of tools to change the future, but party members can also warn each other of the impending attack, letting the player strategically use one of their arts to counter it.
Xenoblade Chronicles as a package is an incredible experience, and in some ways was ahead of its time, with numerous quality-of-life inclusions like fast travel and regenerating health that many other games in the genre were still slow and clunky at implementing. Combined with the stellar dub and incredible music, it makes for not only the best Wii RPG, but one of the greatest RPGs of all time.
If you’re going to play any RPG on the Wii, let it be this one.
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