Ranking Wario’s Greatest Games
The yin to Mario’s yang, Wario is an established member of Nintendo’s zany cast of characters. From side-scrolling adventures to micro-game madness, the treasure-hungry antagonist has taken the reins on an array of strange and wonderful games. With the mustachioed maniac’s new release just around the corner, I’ve decided to rank the top 10 Wario games.
10. Wario Land: Shake It!
The Wiimote was divisive. While it did allow anyone to engage, it also led to a number of games dumbing down their controls with motion mechanics. Wario Land: Shake It! managed to nail its implementation. Keeping the platform premise at the forefront, you shake your Wiimote to perform certain actions which helps to create a fun, unique adventure.
9. Wario World
Although painfully short, Wario World is a blast from start to finish. Sure, it’s conventional but the game has buckets of character and looks great on the GameCube. Often forgotten, this dusty gem is definitely worth seeking out.
8. Wario Land 4
Leaning more into the Metroidvania style of gameplay Wario Land 4 strays away from its predecessors to form its own identity. Its stand-out visuals and music are a highlight of the game and help to make this a memorable experience.
7. WarioWare: D.I.Y.
WarioWare is all about strange micro-games. How can you crank the insanity up? Well, give players the tool to create their own. While a game like this would have exploded on the Switch, it still did extremely well and is widely considered one of the best games in the series.
6. WarioWare: Get it Together!
Get it Together! moves away from the formula by combining traditional platform mechanics with the bonkers scenarios. Each character moves in a specific way and you must complete the micro-game using their method of traversal. It’s still crazy and manages to capture that great couch co-op feeling that Nintendo is famous for.
5. Wario Land 3
While Wario Land 4 went on to develop the structure further, I believe that the third entry was superior. The level design is fantastic and is full of innovative elements that make the moment-to-moment gameplay feel great.
4. WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Party Game$!
A remake of the GBA classic, Mega Party Game$! is an absolute blast! The originality in this game is second-to-none and was a party centerpiece at many households. Although the format has evolved into more motion-based micro-games, there’s still a place for a game like this.
3. Super Mario Land 3: Wario Land
The first title with Wario as a playable character is one of the best. While held back by the power of the GameBoy, each level is still full of clever ideas that make each step in the world an absolute joy. Don’t be deterred by the dated visuals, go back and check out this classic.
2. WarioWare: Touched
Touched transcended the fanbase and became a hit with casual gamers too. Due to the DS touchpad, this was easy for anyone to pick up and play. The ridiculous scenarios that require quick reactions were insanely addictive and made this one of the best games in the franchise.
1. WarioWare: Smooth Moves
Arguably the best use of Wiimotes can be found in Smooth Moves. Nintendo took what worked on Touched and developed this for the Wii. The absurd microgames were well-designed but also hilarious to watch others play. Performing comical actions to complete a task helps to make this the perfect party game. As a result, Smooth Moves takes first place for the best game featuring the crazed character.
Well, there you have it. Do you agree with the list? What would you change? Do you think the next game in the franchise will be better than the titles above? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook or Twitter, and don’t forget to subscribe to us on YouTube for more great video game content.
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