With 47 years in the video game industry, it’s no wonder that Nintendo has had its fair share of ups and downs. While the playing card and toy manufacturer made it big in the 1980s with itsNintendo Entertainment System, widely considered to be the first truly successful home console, it hasn’t been all smooth sailing for the company. Over the years, Nintendo has had a few less-than-successful inventions, but the Wii certainly isn’t one of them, and a great deal of its early success can be attributed to an unassuming little pack-in title,Wii Sports.
Included with every purchase of a Wii console upon its release in 2006,Wii Sportshas been played by millions across the globe. While it may not be the first game people think of when they hear the name Nintendo,Wii Sportsis remembered very fondly today, and its legacy can be seen in a variety of Nintendo’s modern day offerings. To many,Wii Sportsis a modern day classic.
RELATED:The Future is Uncertain for Nintendo Switch Sports' Sportsmate Avatars
The Best-Selling Nintendo Game of all Time
A fact some people may find a little surprising,Wii Sportsis Nintendo’s best-selling game of all time. Selling 82.9 million copies over its 16-year lifespan,Wii Sportsbeats out Nintendo icons such asthe originalPokemontrilogycombined,Super Mario Bros.and all of its ports, andMario Kart 8on both Wii U and Switch.
In one of the smartest decisions Nintendo has ever made,Wii Sportswas packaged in with the Wii console at launch. This would prove to be an excellent move on Nintendo’s part, as in the early days of the Wii,Wii Sportsbecame a phenomenon.
Appearing on late night talk shows likeConanandtheColbert Report, along with being featured repeatedly on national news broadcasts like ABC and NBC,Wii Sportsquickly shot into the public conscious and became the face of the Wii. With even older news anchors being able to pick up a Wii Mote and play, the Wii cemented itself as an extremely accessible console. While its competition was focused on producing the best graphics and most realistic experiences, the Wii marketed itself as the true family console, a selling point that would land the console in homes around the globe.
Wii Sportsacted as a gateway, enticing families to buy the standard Wii bundle, some with no intention of ever buying another game for the system. But once they were through the door, many were enraptured by the console and its incredibly intuitive motion controls.Wii Sportsacted as the perfect demo for the console, introducing the main motion control gimmick that would remain throughout the system’s life.
The sheer accessibility of the game, combined with controls that could be learned instantly even by those who have never held a controller before, lent itself to family gatherings. No matter the occasion, the Wii andWii Sportswould be a staple of just about any 2006/2007 family gathering. It’s not often that a game can be enjoyed by multiple generations at once, butWii Sportsmanaged it, and is undoubtedly a large factor in the Wii’s early success.
Another contributing factor to the early success of the Wii and the process ofWii Sportsbecoming a global phenomenon, wasthe introduction of Miis. A mascot for the Wii and Wii U era, Miis helped to makeWii Sportsa more personal and family-based experience. The act of creating a Mii of a family member or friend became an entertaining process in itself, using the minimalist sliders to create a stylized avatar that resembled them just enough while still looking suitably cartoon-y.
InWii Sportsitself, Miis were implemented perfectly, acting as the player-characters. Though it wasn’t groundbreaking, the novelty of seeing these stylized avatars dash across a pitch and smirk playfully to the camera never stopped being entertaining, especially in a party setting.
RELATED:Nintendo Comments on Wii and DSi Shop Shut Downs
An Enduring Legacy
Wii Sports' presence as a pack-in title has meant that the vast majority of Wii owners have played the game at least once. When almost 83 million people play a game, it’s bound to be remembered fondly. Over the years,Wii Sportshas only grown in popularity, becoming a symbol of many gamers' childhood, and the success of the Wii era as a whole.
Wii Sportsreceived a few sequels following its unprecedented success.Wii Sports Resortlaunched in 2009 and filled a similar role to its predecessor, being used to market and sell the new Wii MotionPlus controller.Wii Sports Resortincluded twice as many sports as the original, and had a wider variation of games, ranging from sword-based activities to wakeboarding. As of 2022,Wii Sports Resorthas sold over 33 million units, which isn’t quite as successful as its predecessor, but is still Nintendo’s 9th highest-selling game of all time.
In 2013,Wii Sports Clubwas released on theWii U eShop. Acting as a remaster of the original game,Wii Sports Clubconsisted of the same five sports, with identical gameplay, but implemented some new social features, including Miiverse integration.
Over the last few years,Wii Sportshas had a resurgence in popularity, especially with younger audiences. Scrolling through TikTok nowadays, it only takes a few swipes before the iconicWii Sportsmusic can be heard.Wii Sports-based memes have persisted for a few years now, acting as a constant reminder of the game’s extraordinary cultural influence, whether it’s pictures of theboxing legend Mattor reminders of the bizarre Mii jumping animation when the ball rolls backwards in bowling.
In just a few weeks' time,Nintendo Switch Sportsis releasing. A sequel that fans have been asking for for years now,Switch Sportsis bringing six sportsto the table, including classics like bowling and tennis along with new additions like badminton and soccer. From the trailers released so far, it seems as thoughSwitch Sportswill be a solid game, but whether it can carry the same legacy asWii Sportsis yet to be seen.
