A dedicated Nintendo fan has finally completed their physical Wii U collection, more than a decade after the console's release. Despite its commercial failure, the Wii U provided valuable feedback and ideas that ultimately contributed to the success of its successor, the Nintendo Switch.
As Nintendo's eighth generation console, the Wii U followed the hugely popular Wii, which sold over 100 million units worldwide. However, the Wii U failed to replicate this success and experienced a rapid decline in sales after its late 2012 launch. Ultimately, only 13.56 million Wii U units were sold. In 2016, Nintendo had already begun to shift its focus towards the development of the Nintendo Switch, diverting attention away from the struggling Wii U.
The Switch was launched in March 2017, with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild serving as its flagship title and also marking the last first-party release for the Wii U. Additionally, a number of other popular Wii U games, such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe, were re-released for the Switch, expanding its library of titles.
TikTok user and avid video game collector Paul Weber recently achieved a major milestone in his quest to complete his physical Wii U game collection. After an arduous journey, Paul finally managed to obtain the elusive 189th title required to wrap up his collection – The Book of Unwritten Tales 2. This particular game's physical edition is exceptionally rare, prompting Paul to travel all the way to Retro Jakes store in Richmond, Indiana, where he was able to snag a copy while it was still available. While the game set him back $320, Paul happily paid the price to finally fulfill his Wii U collection.
Interestingly, Paul initially started his TikTok series with the intention of shining a light on local retro gaming stores. Little did he know that his foray into showcasing these stores on TikTok would further ignite his passion for video game collecting, ultimately leading to the attainment of the final Wii U game. In the TikTok video, viewers catch a glimpse of Paul's impressive collection of physical Nintendo Switch games, leaving them eagerly anticipating the promised future installment of his series.
Despite the Wii U's lack of commercial success, there are still devoted Nintendo fans who hold the console and its game library in high regard. Paul's collection of Wii U games is truly impressive, but acquiring physical copies of these titles is becoming increasingly difficult and expensive. For Nintendo fans interested in purchasing a Wii U game, it may be advisable to consider the Switch version if it is available.
During the June 21 Nintendo Direct, it was announced that several Mario games would be released in the near future, including a follow-up to the beloved Super Mario Bros. series from the Wii and Wii U. Titled Super Mario Bros. Wonder, this new 2D Super Mario game for the Switch offers new power-ups and playable characters, such as Princess Daisy. Additionally, Nintendo fans can anticipate the highly anticipated remake of Super Mario RPG later this year.
