Looking back: The best Wii U and 3DS games of 2014

After purchasing a Wii U at launch, I was feeling a little down on the console. As everyone knows, there just weren’t enough games worth owning. That has changed. Looking back, 2014 may go down as the year of Nintendo, as multiple amazing games released this year on both the Wii U and 3DS.

Here are the best Nintendo releases from 2014 for the Wii U and 3DS!

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call

A stellar follow-up to Theatrhythm, Curtain Call earned a 9 when we reviewed it for the 3DS. It has a huge, fun selection of music, a large list of unlockables, and a fun selection of modes. Curtain Call is well worth the encore it’s getting on the 3DS.

Bravely Default

Like some other games on our list, Bravely Default earned a 9 when we reviewed it on the 3DS. It’s an RPG fan’s dream that harks back to the golden years of RPGs, all while introducing bold new mechanics that flips the genre on its head. The 3D visuals and art are amazing, and it’s a no brainer if you have a 3DS and even have a slight interest in RPGs.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS

While it might be viewed as an appetizer to the Wii U version, Super Smash Bros. for the 3DS is an extremely well-designed and fully featured version of the game. Even with a smaller screen, this is Super Smash Bros. intense gameplay that you’ll love, and that’s why it earned an 8 in our review.

Tomadachi Life

Only in Tomadachi Life could Whoopie Goldberg be best friends with the staff of GameZone, while our News Editor Matt Liebl is in a relationship with Taylor Swift. Tomadachi Life shakes off normality and goes for the weird, but it’s totally addicting and entertaining enough to earn an 8 in our review.

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

While the stages might be hit or miss, Nintendo proves once again that pitting its various mascots and characters against each other is still the best way to spend your time around a crowded TV. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is a comfortable mid-ground between Brawl and Melee, the roster is huge, and it’s still one of Nintendo’s most innovative and fun party games to date. It’s not perfect, but it comes close enough to earn a 9.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker was unexpectedly a great time. It’s a wonderful puzzle game that’s accessible to all ages and skill levels. It’s vibrant, cute and features great puzzle mechanics that ramp up nicely in difficulty and variety, and for that it earns an 8.5.

Bayonetta 2

Earning a 10 in our review, Bayonetta 2 might be the Game of the Year. It very well deserves to be. It’s a system seller, with its vibrant colors and flourish of extravagant attacks that light up the screen and make you want more. It’s THE reason to buy a Wii U.

Hyrule Warriors

Scored a 9 in our review, Hyrule Warriors is a perfect blend of the Warriors and Zelda franchises. It even surpasses past Warriors titles in many ways. The soundtrack is amazing with its remixed and re-orchestrated Zelda songs, the combat is amazing and features enough variety despite the skimpy roster size, and both franchises are well-represented, resulting in a game that’s easy to recommend.

Mario Kart 8

Is anyone really surprised that Mario Kart 8 is phenomenal? We weren’t, and we scored it a 9 accordingly. It adds some awesome anti-gravity segments and has enough skill-based gameplay to make even seasoned kart racing veterans stay on their toes. Mario Kart is still king of kart racing, and we have it to thank for those awesome Angry Luigi death stare videos and memes.