Gaming online with a friend can make a bad day, great. The fact of the matter is, you aren’t always going to be able to get out of the house or be visited by friends or relatives. When this is the case, one of the most enjoyable alternatives is racking up some online game hours with them. Be it competitive or cooperative, the experience is always fun.
With a library of over a hundred Wi-Fi enabled games, the Wii is no slouch in the online play department. With fun, free online play hindered only by the minor nuisance of entering a one-time friend code with other players, one can’t help but sink the occasional weekend into it. For gamers looking to get their co-op fix with the Wii’s online service, look no further than below for the best cooperative Wi-Fi games.
1. Monster Hunter Tri
# of Players Online: 2-4
Price Range: $25-$35
Rating: 10 Spirit Combos out of 10.
Is there any surprise that Monster Hunter Tri starts off this list? Put simply, it’s a fantastic title that makes impressive use of the Wii’s capabilities. The visuals are breath-taking, the online play is addictive, and the cooperative play is some of the best on the market. Capcom hit one of out of the park with this monster-slaying RPG/Adventure game. Up to four friends can hop online and tackle beasts in all sorts of locales.
There’s no thrill greater than trekking quietly through an icy cave, drawing your weapon of choice, and waiting for the inevitable arrival of a giant parasitic, leech-bat. As a gamer, you haven’t lived until you’ve faced off against the Gigginox with three reliable friends.
2. Samurai Warriors 3
# of Players Online: 2
Price Range: $35-$45
Rating: 9 Tanuki Statues out of 10.
A perfect blend of strategy and hack & slash gameplay- Samurai Warriors 3 is the first entry in its series to outclass its Dynasty Warriors contemporary. The character roster is huge and varied with all manner of faces from the Warring States period of Japan. The voice acting is pretty admirable for once- especially compared to some of the trash in the original. The gameplay is highly polished and as satisfying as ever. In terms of co-op, the local play is absolutely amazing. Online co-op is a lot of fun, but limited to the Murasame Castle mode. This special game mode is huge, challenging, and provides a ton of content- but it’s a shame the rest of the game isn’t support in online play. Despite this, it’s easily one of the most addictive exclusives on the Wii.
3. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time
# of Players Online: 2-4
Price Range: $20-$30
Rating: 8 Apple Heads out of 10.
Before Square Enix was releasing the dreadful Final Fantasy XIII, it was giving us this underrated co-op title. You don’t really get multiplayer gameplay as diverse as this. The star of the show is the platform-crossing gameplay- Wii and DS players can join up together in any combination. The jump-in, jump-out gameplay allows gamers to play through the story together, train, treasure hunt, or follow side quests. The online play is responsive and plenty of fun- as are the controls. The combat system is fast-paced and rewards technique over button-mashing. For those interested, there are also PVP quests mixed in with the co-op.
4. Animal Crossing: City Folk
# of Players Online: 2-4
Price Range: $20-$35
Rating: 8 Golden Tools out of 10.
The Animal Crossing series rose to the top of the simulation game mountain- challenging or outdoing the likes of Harvest Moon and The Sims. Get ready to move into your own little house and gradually turn it into something you can be proud of. Hop online, make friends, fish together, catch bugs, socialize, play games, and just have a good time. Like previous titles the game utilizes the Wii’s clock and calendar to feature holidays, real-time events, and seasonal gameplay. If you haven’t yet, give it a chance with a few friends. Just remember, it’s playing when you’re not!
5. Valhalla Knights: Eldar Saga
# of Players Online: 2
Price Range: $20-$30
Rating: 5
While not the most critically acclaimed Wii exclusive, Valhalla Knights did manage to carve something of a niche. Many gamers anticipating Monster Hunter Tri were drawn to Valhalla Knights’ similar style and used it to hold them over until its release. On its own merits, Valhalla Knights is a huge game with lots of side quests, all manner of weapons, and an incredibly deep RPG system. While a lot of its depth is wasted on most gamers, it is an underrated game with a very fun 2-player online mode. On the negative side, the graphics are very drab, the story is nothing special, and there could be more co-op quests- there are around twenty or so. Two things it does do better than Monster Hunter- you can carry multiple weapons on your character in the field and the environments are much larger.
6. Endless Ocean: Blue World
# of Players Online: 2
Price Range: $25-$35
Rating: 6 Relaxing Swims out of 10.
While an improvement over the original, many still have a hard time getting into The Endless Ocean series. The game looks beautiful and is highly relaxing- but there isn’t a whole lot in the way of gameplay. You can explore the ocean, learn about nautical wildlife, and search for treasure- but its otherwise light on content. Swimming with a friend in the included co-op mode does make the game much more enjoyable though. The addition of RPG elements and a more focused story were great choices for the sequel. For those fascinated by life under the sea, feel free to enjoy the iMax level presentation in Endless Ocean: Blue World or the original Endless Ocean.
Honorable Mention:
Endless Ocean
Band Hero
Guitar Hero series
Rock Band series
NBA series
FIFA series
NHL series
PES series
