Nintendo products like the Wii U give you access to more kid-friendly games. With so many options, the biggest struggle is deciding which games to purchase that are suitable and fun for your little one. Below, you’ll find our top recommendations for the best Wii U games for toddlers based on colorful graphics and how engaging they are.
Best Wii U Games For Toddlers
Jumpstart Pet Rescue is the only game that is rated for Early Childhood compared to the other games that are rated for Everyone.
Yoshi’s Woolly World
Yoshi’s Woolly World Bundleis a fun 2D game that your toddler will fall in love with. They play as different colors and transformations of Yoshi as they move through levels and fight enemies, with lots of surprises along the way.
This can be played by 1 or 2 players, as long as you have additional Wii U accessories. There are a lot of levels to play through and the bright colors are especially attractive to younger players.
Unlike some traditional Mario Brothers games, there are no time limits to these levels. This makes them a good choice for toddlers because they might take a little longer to get through the levels, especially when they are first learning the controls.
Yoshi’s Wooly World is also a good choice for toddlers because of the problem solving they’ll be using to battle enemies and navigate through the different levels. There are also walls that can be pushed or unraveled to discover hidden treats and secret playing areas, as well as puzzles for your child to complete.
While the gameplay is great for younger players, there are some harder areas. You’ll definitely want to be ready to help your child with this, especially if they are younger or new to video games. Multi-player mode is also a must because it unlocks a lot of levels.
Your toddler will also love transforming Yoshi into different shapes. They can battle enemies as giant Yoshi, mole, motorcycle, and more. This can be bought as just the software or alongside a green yarn Yoshi amiibo character that your child can play with outside of game time.
Pros
- Single-player or two-player mode
- Lots of levels
- Bright, visually engaging colors
- Encourages problem-solving
- No time limits to the levels
- Exciting to play
Cons
- Some areas are hard for even adult players
- Need to use in 2-player mode to get the most out of the game
Wii Sports Resort
This Wii Sports Resort set comes with the game and a Wii MotionPlus accessory. Even though this is designed for the original Wii, it can also be played using Wii remotes on the Wii U console because of backward compatibility. You can also choose to buy the software disc without the accessory, which is nice if you already have one.
Wii Sports Resort has several fun games your toddler can play including basketball, bowling, sword fighting, and more. There are also several modes on the 12 different games, so there are many ways to play so your toddler doesn’t get bored. Additionally, the games are set up to be played by 1 to 4 players, so your child can play alone or the whole family can play along. One thing to note is that you need a Wii MotionPlus accessory for most of the games so you’ll want to be sure you have one for each player.
While one of the benefits of the Wii is being able to get exercise, the downside of this game is that it doesn’t require the same level of physical activity as the original Wii Sports game did. This may not bother a toddler as much as an adult who is trying to get exercise.
Pros
- 12 games, each with different ways to play
- 1-4 players
- Easy for a toddler to understand how to play
- Gets harder as your skill level increases
- Encourages physical activity
- Can be purchased with or without the accessory
- Great game for family and friends
Cons
- Doesn’t require as much physical activity as the original Wii Sports game
- Need a MotionPlus accessory for each remote for several of the games
Jumpstart Pet Rescue
The Jumpstart Pet Rescue game is perfect for younger players. It features five stories told across five different worlds that your child can discover as they search for lost pets.
Even though this features stories, your child doesn’t need to read to play this game. Additionally, they can interact with the different pets and feed them, dress up their character, and more. There are plenty of different ways to play and around 12-15 types of activities total. As your child plays, they are also learning about numbers, music, letters, shapes, and more.
There are a few issues your child may need help with as they walk around the game. For example, the characters may get stuck in corners and your child may need to point the remote to a different area to get out. The reason this may happen is that this game was originally a PC game but it has since been converted to a Wii game.
It can also be difficult to pick up letters/numbers in big open areas if your child isn’t comfortable with moving around using the Wii remote yet. On the plus side, this toddler game is a good choice for the handheld Wii U since it uses a D-pad instead of a traditional Wii remote. The ability to navigate better will also come with practice.
Pros
- Great for learning numbers, letters, and more
- Cute animal characters
- Great stories for kids to follow along
- Can dress up character and interact with pets
- Enough activities to keep a toddler entertained
- Don’t need to be able to read to play
Cons
- Can get stuck in corners
- Harder to navigate with Wii remote until your child gets used to it
Snoopy’s Grand Adventure
The Snoopy’s Grand Adventure is a great game if you’re looking for a challenge for your toddler. He or she will use problem-solving skills to navigate the different levels and find Charlie Brown and his friends.
There are items for your child to collect as they move through the levels, resulting in gaining rewards and extra abilities. Another fun aspect is that Peanuts comic strips are unlocked between levels which provide a little comic relief.
This game is designed for 1-2 players. Your child can play alone or in co-op multiplayer mode, acting as Snoopy, Woodstock, or both characters. Since gameplay is relatively simple, your toddler is more likely to enjoy it when they are younger. An older child (around 9 or 10) might not be as entertained by this game.
Pros
- Can be played alone or in co-op mode
- Levels require some problem solving but aren’t too complicated
- Items for your child to collect throughout the level
- Option to play as one or both characters
- Works well on the TV or on the handheld Wii U
Cons
- Won’t be as entertaining for an older child
- Not a lot to do once the game is played all the way through
Go, Diego, Go!: Great Dinosaur Rescue
Go, Diego, Go!: Great Dinosaur Rescue is a great choice for younger toddlers and kids who aren’t reading yet. Since the instructions are given visually and audibly, it’s easy for children to play along.
In this game, your toddler will travel back in time with the main characters from the Go, Diego, Go! show (Diego, Alecia, and Baby Jaguar). Your child will work through different missions and use 12 different motions on the Wii remote to fly on a Pteradon, stomp like a dinosaur, move across monkey bars, and bounce on a pogo stick.
When your child hits a rough patch, you can play alongside them with a second controller. There is also a Dinosaur Guide Helper feature, which makes it easier for your little one to learn the controls.
Even though this is Wii U game is great for toddlers, you should note that there are only five levels. This may not hold the attention span of an older child.
Pros
- Twelve different motions with the Wii remote
- Easy for young kids to understand
- Instructions on audio and visual
- Two-player mode
- Great for learning while your child plays
- Dinosaur Guide Helper
Cons
- Might not hold the attention of an older child
- Only has five levels
Best Wii Educational Game for Toddlers
Sesame Street: Cookie’s Counting Carnival
The Sesame Street: Cookie’s Counting Carnival is another great learning game for your little one. This game focuses on numbers as your child plays various engaging mini-games. As an added benefit, the instructions are both audio and visual so it’s easy for kids to play on their own.
Another nice feature of this game is that it adjusts to your child’s level and becomes more challenging as they play. This makes it easier to keep your little one engaged as the game reinforces lessons and teaches new lessons. If your toddler does need help, you can also drop in using a second Wii remote and provide assistance as needed.
One thing that some kids may not enjoy is how long the characters speak. There are several parts during the game where the characters talk and the remote cannot be used during this time. This may not be an issue for kids who like the Sesame Street characters. If your child has little patience, however, it can discourage them from playing the game after they have played it through a few times.
Something else to keep in mind is that this game is more suited for toddlers with basic number knowledge. Children need to be able to count to at least ten and recognize some of the numbers to do the basics of most carnival games.
Pros
- Lots of fun carnival games to play
- Educational game for practicing numbers
- Children will enjoy Sesame Street characters
- Easy for younger kids to figure
- Using audio and visual instructions
- Parent can drop-in and help with a second Wii remote
- Games get harder as your child’s skills advance
Cons
- Characters can be too talkative
- Can’t use remote while characters are talking
- Need to know number basics before playing
Best Wii U Games for Toddlers Compared
The table below compares only the recommended products on this page. A low or high Price means it is low or high compared to the other products listed.
The Popularity Score reflects how often readers click on and buy the product. The Quality Score is our assessment of the overall performance and satisfaction with
the product compared to others in the table.Wii Sports Resort 9.9 8.8 69.99 Yoshi's Woolly World 3.9 9.4 59.94 Go, Diego, Go!: Great Dinosaur Rescue 6.6 8.2 33.83 Jumpstart Pet Rescue 7.8 7.6 28.99 Sesame Street: Cookie's Counting Carnival 7.4 8.2 25.49 Snoopy's Grand Adventure 8.8 8.8 19.95
How We Selected Wii U Games For Toddlers
Age-Appropriateness
There are two things that determine how to choose an age-appropriate game for your child. First, you’ll want to consider your child’s skill level. While kids today are fairly good at figuring out technology, you still don’t want to choose something too complicated because it can frustrate your child. Too much frustration may lead to them not wanting to play at all.
Once you’ve determined the video game is something your child does have the skills to play, you’ll want to decide if you want them playing it. For a toddler, you’ll want to avoid games with excessive violence, gore, swearing, nudity, and other features designed for teenage and adult gamers.
One of the challenges of finding something age-appropriate is that you usually cannot play the game before buying it. One useful resource for parents is Common Sense Media. This website ranks media and recommends it for a certain age group based on the contents of the game (they also rank books, television shows, movies, and other media). You can use this resource to find out if there is anything you’d like your child to avoid in each game. While most Wii U games we’ve recommended are for the 7-10 age group, they are still appropriate and most toddlers will be able to figure out how to play them with practice.
Engagement Level
New games for the Wii U can cost anywhere from $10-15 to $50 or more. Before you spend that much on a video game, you’ll want to be sure your child is going to play it. Usually, toddlers are engaged by interactive gameplay, fun characters, and bright colors. There are also several games that can be played in multiplayer mode, so friends, siblings, and other family members can play too.
Content Quality
Not all video games are created equally. For example, while parents might be okay with kids logging 2-3 hours on a game of Mario Party with friends, kids won’t benefit as much from playing a shooting game for 2-3 hours. With toddlers, the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommends no more than an hour per day of screen time during the week and no more than three hours of screen time on weekends. With limited time, you’ll want to be sure your toddler is using their screen time for better content.
Overall Gameplay
Finally, we considered how well each game was designed and how easy it is to play. Games like Mario Party, for example, are best for older kids or alongside parents because it requires reading. We also considered if there were any issues with playing the game (like bugs or other problems) based on reviews.
FAQs – Wii U Games For Toddlers
Is Wii U a good game system for toddlers?
One of the nice things about Wii U is that the controls are easy for toddlers to understand. With a little guidance, they will be playing their favorite games in no time. There are a lot more games designed for younger kids available for the Wii U than consoles like PlayStation and Xbox. Wii U also has the benefit of getting your child moving while they are playing games instead of sitting still. Being more active during screen time has many benefits, especially since physical activity is essential for a toddler’s healthy development.
Additionally, you can improve the benefits of the Wii U by choosing the right games for your toddler. As they play, children are using critical thinking and problem-solving skills to complete missions or overcome challenges. Some games require your child to read instructions. Even if they aren’t reading yet, this can be a useful learning tool when you play with them. Finally, the Wii U and other video games require your child to use their fingers in a way that improves fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Can you play old Wii games on Wii U?
Like the PlayStation consoles, the Wii U has backward compatibility with games and accessories from the original Wii system. This means you can play old Wii games on the Wii U, however, you cannot play Wii U games on the original Wii system. One of the benefits of this is that the traditional Wii console has a variety of games suited for kids toddler-aged and older. This is one of the reasons some of the recommendations above are games designed for the Wii console.
How long should a toddler be allowed to play video games?
Time spent playing video games is considered screen time just like when your child watches television. Even when your child is consuming educational content, it’s best not to overdo it. You’ll want to be sure your child spends plenty of time playing imaginatively with toys and being physically active throughout the day. Finding time to balance these types of activities is important for your child’s healthy development. This is especially true when they are toddler-aged and younger because their brain is learning and developing.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, you should limit activities like watching television and playing video games to just one hour each day. It is okay for more screen time on weekends, though the AAP recommends you do not exceed three hours. Want a screen-free game option for your toddler? Check out our list of educational board games for kids.
