Highlights

  • The Nintendo Wii had some great visual novels, despite not being known for that genre. Another Code: R and Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars - The Director's Cut are standout examples.
  • Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love is a visual novel with dating sim and RPG elements that offers interesting plots and well-written romances, despite being somewhat exaggerated and sexist.
  • Zack & Wiki: Quest For Barbaros' Treasure is a fantastic adventure-puzzle game that takes full advantage of the Wii Remote's capabilities, but unfortunately, a sequel is unlikely.

The Nintendo Wii is one of the most popular gaming systems of all time. The console appealed both to hardcore and casual gamers thanks to its intriguing peripherals and to an expansive selection of available games. Among other games, there were also some very good visual novels on the Wii, some of which took advantage of the comfortable pointing feature of the Wii Remote.

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While visual novels aren't the genre of games the Wii is most known for, there are still a few gems that players can find on the system. But which are the best visual novels on the Nintendo Wii?

5 Another Code: R - A Journey Into Lost Memories

Metascore: 66

Gameplay screenshot from Another Code R
  • Release date: N/A
  • Developer: Cing
  • Platforms: Wii

Another Code: R - A Journey Into Lost Memories is a direct sequel to Another Code, which was released some years prior on the Nintendo DS. This game never came out in the US, leaving American fans without a proper conclusion for the series - even if the game still ends up hinting at some more stories to come for Ashley. Luckily though, things will soon change thanks to a re-release for the Nintendo Switch, which will include both games in a single package, titled Another Code: Recollection.

The game is a very basic point-and-click adventure game in structure, with the plot delving into the mysteries that surround the protagonist's past. While this is still very much a coming-of-age story, Ashley has grown up since the first game, and this allows the plot to be deeper when compared to what happened during the first adventure.

4 Broken Sword: Shadow Of The Templars - The Director's Cut

Metascore: 74

Gameplay screenshot from Broken sword shadow of the templar
  • Release date: March 24, 2009
  • Developer: Revolution Software
  • Platforms: Wii

Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars - The Director's Cut really needs no introduction. This is a remake of the very first game in the popular Broken Sword franchise, taking advantage of the Wii's abilities to offer a more immediate and intuitive control system. Not only that, but the game also adds a ton of new features, including new story bits that weren't present in the original release - hence the "Director's Cut" subtitle.

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There's really not very much else to say. The game is a timeless masterpiece in the adventure genre, and this version is probably one of the best ways to experience it - even years after its release. There were talks at some point about subsequent games coming to the Wii as well, which unfortunately never came to fruition, leaving only this game available on the system.

3 Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love

Metascore: 75

Gameplay screenshot from Sakura wars V
  • Release date: March 30, 2010
  • Developer: Sega
  • Platforms: Wii, PlayStation 2

Sakura Wars: So Long, My Loveis a visual novel with dating sim and RPG elements, where love gets to play a central role in the plot. Players will take the role of Shinjiro Taiga, who has just moved to New York City at the request of his uncle. While Shinjiro is coming to New York to fight, he will find himself inserted into a team composed of girls, all of whom will strive to get Shinjiro's attention.

It's a bit exaggerated and even somewhat sexist, but given the game's age, it's easier to turn a blind eye on these faults. Beyond that, the game offers an interesting plot, and all the romances are quite well-written, making all the characters memorable. Besides, this is one of the few titles in the Sakura Wars franchise to have been officially released in the West, something that makes it much more valuable for collectors and fans of the genre.

2 Zack & Wiki: Quest For Barbaros' Treasure

Metascore: 87

Gameplay screenshot from Zack and wiki
  • Release date: October 23, 2007
  • Developer: Capcom
  • Platforms: Wii

Zack & Wiki: Quest For Barbaros' Treasure is a great adventure-puzzle game, where players need to complete one stage after the other by retrieving treasures and avoiding obstacles. While the game is very simple on paper, it makes smart use of the Wii Remote's capabilities, and even if the game came out quite early in the Wii's life, this is still one of the best examples of games that took full advantage of its potential.

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The game is very light on plot, which makes it a very different beast when compared to other visual novels, but solving puzzles and riddles is incredibly satisfying. It's a real shame that Capcom never greenlit a sequel on the Wii, and it's now very unlikely that players will ever see more of Zack and Wiki. Hopefully, though, with the ever-growing attention to game preservation, Capcom could at least try and port the game to newer platforms at some point.

1 Secret Files: Tunguska

Metascore: 66

Gameplay screenshot from secret files tunguska
  • Release date: June 22, 2010
  • Developer: Fusionsphere Systems
  • Platforms: Wii, DS, PC, iOS, Android, Wii U, Switch

Secret Files: Tunguska is another example of a very classic point-and-click adventure in structure, this time revolving around the mysteries surrounding the Tunguska accident. It has some interesting puzzles, and the plot is intriguing enough to keep players engaged from start to finish. It's far from being a masterpiece of the visual novel genre, but this is still a very solid game.

The series has produced other installments, and the second chapter is also available on the Wii, but its plot is much weaker than what can be found in the first game. In any case, players won't go wrong with either game, as both are among the best visual novels the Wii has to offer.

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