20 Best Wii Games for Handheld Emulation

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The Wii library is huge and full of gems, and a powerful handheld can now play a big chunk of it through Dolphin. The tricky part is motion controls. Some Wii games lean hard on waggle and pointer aiming, and those do not always map cleanly to a gamepad. The games below were picked because they either work great with standard controls or map to a stick and buttons without much fuss.

We frame all of this around games you already own and want to preserve.

Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and Anbernic affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

What You Need to Run Wii Games

Wii emulation through Dolphin is demanding. You want a strong Snapdragon Android handheld or a PC handheld for a smooth experience. Motion controls are emulated by mapping the Wii Remote pointer and gestures to sticks and buttons, which works well for some games and awkwardly for others. Our GameCube and Wii emulation guide and Dolphin Android setup guide cover the details.

Plays Great With a Gamepad

Super Mario Galaxy — One of the finest platformers ever made. The pointer is used for collecting star bits, which maps fine to a stick. Inventive level design and a stunning soundtrack. A must-play.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 — More of the same brilliance with Yoshi added and even sharper level design. If you love the first, this is essential.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess — A big, moody adventure. Plays well mapped to standard controls. Our Twilight Princess on handheld guide covers a smoother way to play it.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword — This one leans heavily on motion for sword combat. It is included because the experience is special, but it is best on a handheld that maps gyro well.

Metroid Prime Trilogy — Three top-tier games in one package. Aiming uses the pointer, which maps to a stick or gyro. Atmospheric and deep, and a showcase for a powerful handheld.

Donkey Kong Country Returns — A tough, beautiful platformer. The shake-to-roll motion can be remapped to a button, which makes it far more comfortable.

Xenoblade Chronicles — A massive open-world RPG with standard controls and dozens of hours of content. Frequent save points make it handheld-friendly despite its size.

Kirby's Return to Dream Land — Relaxed co-op platforming that plays perfectly on a pad. A great low-stress pick.

Punch-Out!! — A sharp, readable boxing game. Works well with buttons. Short matches make it ideal for quick sessions.

Sin and Punishment: Star Successor — A frantic rail shooter. Aiming maps to a stick or gyro. Intense and replayable.

RPGs and Adventure

The Last Story — A unique action RPG from the creator of Final Fantasy. Standard controls, strong story, great pacing for handheld play.

Pandora's Tower — An overlooked action RPG with a tense rescue loop. Maps to a pad fine and rewards patient players.

Fragile Dreams — A quiet, melancholy adventure unlike anything else on the system. Slow and atmospheric, perfect for headphones.

Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World — A full JRPG with real-time combat. Plays cleanly on a gamepad.

Family and Pick-Up-and-Play

Mario Kart Wii — Easy to play in short bursts. Maps to a pad with no motion needed. Races run a few minutes each.

Kirby's Epic Yarn — A gentle, gorgeous platformer with a yarn art style. Low stakes and very relaxing.

A Boy and His Blob — A charming puzzle platformer with a hand-drawn look. Buttons only, no motion. Cozy handheld play.

Wii Sports Resort style fun via simpler ports — If you want quick minigame sessions, several Wii party titles play in short chunks, though motion-heavy ones are best skipped on a pad.

Little King's Story — A clever real-time strategy game with a lot of charm. Plays well with a stick and buttons.

MadWorld — A stylish, over-the-top brawler in black and white. Maps to a pad and runs in short, satisfying bursts.