Recently, Nintendo confirmed that the critically-acclaimed Wii U exclusive Pikmin 3 would be coming to the Nintendo Switch on October 30 as Pikmin 3 Deluxe. Pikmin 3 Deluxe will have local co-op support for the entire campaign, all of the DLC, and even some new levels for players to complete. However, Pikmin 3 is far from the first Wii U game that has been ported to the Nintendo Switch over the years.
Nintendo has worked to pad the Switch's library by re-releasing Wii U games for the console. This has been happening since launch with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and has continued with games like New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. But while Nintendo has made an effort to bring many Wii U exclusive games to the Switch, there are still some notable titles that have yet to make the leap.
Here are the biggest Wii U games that still need Nintendo Switch ports.
Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water
The Wii U wasn't exactly known for its horror games, but that didn't stop the console from receiving some notable horror titles over the course of its lifespan. The Wii U launched with the underrated ZombiU game, which has since been ported to other platforms, and a few years later, it received Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water. Compared to other Fatal Frame games, Maiden of Black Water didn't earn the highest review scores, but it would still be a shame for it to be trapped on the Wii U. Perhaps Nintendo could bring Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water to the Switch as a way to test the waters to see if there is interest in a brand new Fatal Frame for its handheld/home console hybrid.
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse
In 2005, Nintendo released Kirby: Canvas Curse for the Nintendo DS, which earned critical acclaim at the time of its release for taking advantage of the handheld's unique features. A decade later, Nintendo launched Kirby and the Rainbow Curse for the Wii U, with a similar gameplay style as the beloved DS classic. Kirby and the Rainbow Curse didn't reach the same heights as Canvas Curse did with critics, but it still had its fans, and like Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water, it would just be a shame for the game to be trapped on the Wii U forever.
Star Fox Zero
Star Fox fans had to wait over a decade to get a new home console entry in the series, and it finally arrived in the form of Star Fox Zero on the Wii U. Developed as a collaboration between Platinum Games and Nintendo, Star Fox Zero leaned heavily into the Wii U's unique features, which may make a port to the Switch a little tricky. Platinum Games has gone on record to say that it has not been approached by Nintendo to help port Star Fox Zero to the Switch, but it's possible that Nintendo is handling such a port internally or has outsourced it to another company. Even so, fans shouldn't get their hopes up until an official announcement is made.
Super Mario 3D World
Perhaps the biggest Wii U game that still needs to come to the Nintendo Switch is Super Mario 3D World. Earning widespread critical acclaim at the time of its release, Super Mario 3D World features classic 3D Super Mario gameplay and the 4-player co-op found in the New Super Mario Bros. series. This combined with fun new power-ups and excellent level design makes Super Mario 3D World arguably the best game on the Wii U, and so it's no wonder that fans want to see it get a new lease on life on the Switch.
Out of all the games on this list, Super Mario 3D World may actually stand the best chance of actually getting a Switch port. Rumors have been swirling that Nintendo plans on releasing a 3D Super Mario collection for the Switch later this year in celebration of the Super Mario franchise's 35th anniversary, along with a standalone release for Super Mario 3D World. So while fans will likely have to fork over another $60 to get their hands on the game, there may be a ton of 3D Super Mario content to look forward to this year.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD
As far as Zelda games go, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess has been one of the most readily available on Nintendo consoles. It launched at the end of the GameCube's lifespan, but was also released as a launch title for the Wii. Nintendo later brought Twilight Princess to the Wii U with remastered graphics and some new content, including amiibo support. Bringing Twilight Princess HD to the Nintendo Switch seems like a no-brainer when one considers how popular the game is and how it could go a long way in filling the gap while fans wait for more information on Breath of the Wild 2.
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD
Besides Twilight Princess, there was another Zelda HD remaster on the Wii U that Nintendo could potentially bring to the Switch to tide fans over while they wait for Breath of the Wild 2. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD is arguably an even more significant remaster than Twilight Princess HD, as it features an even more extreme graphical upgrade, plus major changes to the gameplay that make certain sections far less tedious than they were in the GameCube original. Between Twilight Princess HD and Wind Waker HD, there is a lot of Zelda content that Nintendo could potentially bring to the Switch.
Xenoblade Chronicles X
Nintendo has already released both Xenoblade Chronicles and Xenoblade Chronicles 2 on the Switch, so it would be only fitting for Xenoblade Chronicles X to come to the new console as well. An open world action-RPG that features giant mechs, Xenoblade Chronicles X isn't quite the same flavor as the original Xenoblade, but it was still highly praised by critics all the same.
