With the Wii U approaching I thought it was time to make this list. While the Wii may be the laughingstock of the industry at least to the hardcore gamers there do exist good games on it. Its a shame since they are really good and should be experienced at least once. And believe it or not some of my favourite games this console generation came out on Wii. I actually own more games for the Wii than the other two consoles. Of course, I only try and pick the best the Wii has to offer and so heres my list of top 10 Wii games. Im going to stick to Wii-only games so the ports of Okami and Resident Evil 4 as well as The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess will be off the list. I would love to put those three on here but I like to stick to exclusive games.

From now on, to give the developers the attention they deserve, I'm going to list off the developer and publisher to let you know who made what.

· Developer/Publisher

10. Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo EAD/Nintendo)

While Mario Kart Wii is not my all-time favourite Mario Kart (Mario Kart 64 is) it was still a good addition to the series. Bikes added another element to the game which got you thinking: Constant speed boost on bikes or strong speed boost on karts? The tracks were fairly memorable and quite a few made appearances in Mario Kart 7. The online was also solid and is the one of the few Wii games that has tolerable online play.

9. Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn (Intelligent Systems/Nintendo)

The sequel to Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance does not disappoint. Even though I needed constant guidance to make it through this hard game it still feels rewarding when you finally succeed. The story was great and it threw a few twists in there as well. The story is split between two armies so in a couple of cases, youre fighting the same people you were controlling a couple of missions ago! Ike and Micaiah, the two main characters, have become fairly popular since the games release. Ike made it into Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Micaiah is available as DLC for the upcoming Fire Emblem: Awakening on 3DS.

8. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (Retro Studios/Nintendo)

While I preferred the original Metroid Prime this was still a welcome game on Wii. Controlling Samus felt as good as ever even with the gimmicky controls. First-person shooter games were supposed to play best on Wii. While this never really happened Metroid Prime 3 proved they could still work and work well. Of course the gameplay and story were solid cementing Metroids place as one of Nintendos more hardcore franchises. If Metroid makes it to Wii U its the one Nintendo franchise I expect to turn shooter in order to appeal to other gamers. I hope it doesnt happen but it is something Im expecting.

7. Xenoblade Chronicles (Monolith Soft/Nintendo)

Xenoblade Chronicles is something the Wii desperately needed: a good RPG. The SNES and DS are the top systems when it comes to RPGs. The story of Xenoblade Chronicles is excellent and while it feels familiar there are a few twists to throw off what you thought was a predictable story. I wasnt a huge fan of the gameplay but it is something different that a standard JRPG. The game is epic and it will probably take true RPG fans easily over 100 hours to complete. The graphics also bear mentioning. While the textures arent that great, the draw distance is crazy good and often times you just take the time to stare at the landscape. The musical score bears mentioning as well. It fits whatever the situation is and the boss battle music is especially good. Definitely a worthy addition to the Wii library.

6. Super Mario Galaxy (Nintendo EAD/Nintendo)

While I think the game is just slightly overrated I cannot ignore how great this game is. It again shows Nintendos innovation, using gravity and physics as only before seen in Half-Life 2 and Portal. The musical score is fantastic and the scope of the game is epic. It keeps Mario fresh and exciting. The game makes you wonder about space and how gravity affects everything.

5. The Last Story (Mistwalker/Nintendo, XSeed(North America))

While this is a fairly recent addition I think its safe to say this game is incredible. I expected nothing less from the creator of Final Fantasy. It takes a little bit of time to get used to the gameplay since its something youre not used to seeing in a JRPG. Indeed, it feels more like a Western RPG than a JRPG. There are multiple routes to combat, strategies to plan out, and quick decisions to make based on positions. Unlike most RPGs, terrain is factored into the combat which helps the game feel fresh. The love story is typical fair but it is something I can appreciate. You find yourself attached to the characters in your party since they each have their own distinct personality. The graphics are pretty bad but the game makes up for it in detail. Theres great water reflection, flower petals float through the air, particles of magic appear etc. The musical score done by the original composer of the Final Fantasy games is excellent. The songs feel familiar to Final Fantasy fans and again he proves what a great composer he is. The Last Story is a great swan song for the Wii.

4. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Nintendo EAD/Nintendo)

Not only is this game amazing but it finally proves what Nintendo was trying to accomplish with the Wii. Fully realized motion controls were the backbone of the game. Links sword and shield were yours to control. Never has a game felt more natural to play. Of course there is still the game itself. Guarding enemies adds whole new strategies to each fight as you have to swing your sword in the direction theyre not blocking in order to deal damage. The dungeons were clever and inventive and no one dungeon was like another. They were not overly complicated or too easy. This game was the total package: great story, gameplay and graphics blended together to create one heck of a great game.

3. Super Smash Bros Brawl (Nintendo studio collaboration/Nintendo)

My favourite game series aside from Pokemon is Super Smash Bros. The original is a big reason why Im a Nintendo fan today. Brawl is another great entry in the series but its not quite up to Melees standards. The online play was also disappointing. Its almost like a slide show. Aside from these complaints the game is amazing. Its the perfect party game and my friends and I always play this whenever we meet up. This is the way my friends and I settle our scores. If I played this game by myself it would rank a lot lower but since my friends and I are such huge fans and we play a lot together, it ranks high for me. The gameplay is as frantic as ever. Im really excited for the next SSB games on Wii U and 3DS. Just the inevitable roster reveal has me excited.

2. No More Heroes (Grasshopper Manufacture/Ubisoft)

HELL! YEAH! This game is by far the most satisfying way to use the Wii Remote. When this game, along with MadWorld, came out it showed the Wii was NOT just for kids. This game is beyond bloody and gory. To kill guys you actually HAVE to decapitate them or cut them in half. I find it surprising how the blood was actually censored in Japan. The boss battles are amazing and original. One has you fighting a stage magician who can flip the screen upside-down and another has you avoiding pitfalls and rockets while trying to attack. The musical score is also great and they fit each boss fight. This game along with the sequel cemented my love for Grasshopper Manufacture.

1. Monster Hunter Tri (Capcom/Capcom)

How can number 1 not be from Nintendo? Because Capcom nailed the perfect Monster Hunter experience here. I personally have a deep love for RPGs. While Monster Hunter isnt a RPG per se, there are lots of elements in here that make it one addicting series. If youre a person who loves to collect everything then this series is probably for you. I cant say how many hours or days were spent trying to get one weapon or that next armour set. Or the next upgrade to your weapon. Then the weapon tree splits so you have to get another of that weapon and so you go back into missions to get what you want. Oh but now you need more money so its back to the jungle or the volcano to get what you need. This may sound boring, until you face off against creatures more than three times your size or in one case, a monster so big you need a ship to face it. Taking these beasts down is what makes Monster Hunter so rewarding to play. Theres nothing like spending a good half hour wearing the monster down and finally killing or capturing it. This is all great but it gets better. The online play for Monster Hunter is amazing and its surprising that a third-party can nail great online play but Nintendo cant even with games made by Nintendo themselves. Teaming up with other hunters and going into missions together ends the sense of isolation you get from the single-player. Being on a team to take down these beasts is what defines Monster Hunter. Now I really can go on and on about Monster Hunter Tri but I think Ive covered quite enough. Simply put this game is incredible and I think it should be owned by anybody with a Wii. I hope after this, someone goes out and buys it since the community is dying slowly so fresh blood will be great to have. Monster Hunter 4 on 3DS as well as the rumoured Monster Hunter Tri G for 3DS has me pumped and I cannot wait for them to release here in North America. I hope North America gets MH Tri G but as long as Monster Hunter 4 comes out here, Im good.

So theres my list of top 10 Wii games. The Wii has changed Nintendos image to video game fans. While there are now more people who play video games, the core gamers were alienated by the Wii and moved on to the other consoles. Nintendo, to core gamers, is the company to stay away from since the image in their mind now is that Nintendo just makes casual games. Wii U hopes to bring them back. Whether Nintendo can nail both the casual and hardcore market has yet to be seen but if they do accomplish this goal, it will be one of the greatest gaming accomplishments. There has never been a video game system to bring in both the casual and hardcore together. We will see if Nintendo and Wii U has what it takes.

I wanted to put out one more countdown before I started university. I had a nice 7 month break from school and it feels good to be going back. While I never was bored during my time off, it helps to have something productive to do for most of the day. We'll see how much time university will take out of my gaming and Internet time but I'll try and stay active.

Until next time, keep gaming!

Honourable Mentions:

MadWorld (PLATINUMGAMES/Sega)

Donkey Kong Country Returns (Retro Studios/Nintendo)

Little King's Story (Cing/XSeed)

Kirbys Return to Dreamland (HAL Laboratory/Nintendo)

Muramasa: The Demon Blade (Vanillaware/Ignition Entertainment)