Can You Play Wii Games On The Switch [Answered]

If you’re a video game lover, you probably know how delightful Wii games are. They’ve been around for ages, and everyone loves them. Mario Kart, The Legend of Zelda, and Bayonetta 2 are just some examples of the many awesome games Wii U has to offer. However, is it possible to play Wii games on the Switch? Read on and find out if the Nintendo Switch can play Wii games.

To say it simply, No: You cannot play Wii games on the Switch. Gamers around the world see this as a big downside to the Switch. The simplest reason the Switch doesn’t allow for Wii apps is this: The Switch is a cartridge-based, while both Wii and Wii U work with discs. Will the Switch be able to play Wii games anytime soon? We’ll have to wait for Nintendo to make some good decisions.

The Nintendo Switch cannot play Wii games because of its technical difference. The Switch uses completely different hardware (more on that inside the article.) That being said, the bigger picture looks a little different. Keep on reading to find out why you can play Wii U games on laptop but not on Switch:

Why can you not play Wii games on the Nintendo Switch
See if you can transfer older systems onto the Switch
Do we have a future for the Wii games? Find out what we think.
Discover Wii games that have been ported to the Switch (yes, you can play these!)

Contents

1 Why Can’t I Play Wii Games On The Switch?
- 1.1 Cartridges Vs. Disc
2 Can I Transfer My Games From Older Systems To The Nintendo Switch?
3 Will The Nintendo Switch Play Wii U Games Anytime Soon?
4 Can I Play Wii Games On Switch Lite?
5 Are There Any Wii U Games On The Switch Right Now?
6 Games That Can’t Be Played/ Are Unavailable On The Switch?
7 Conclusion

Why Can’t I Play Wii Games On The Switch?

Before learning why there has been no PS game is released for the Nintendo Switch, you should dig deeper to understand what the difference is between the systems.

Cartridges Vs. Disc

Nintendo home consoles returned to using cartridges for the first time after the N64, just after the launch of the GameCube in 2001. The Switch is solely cartridge-based. A cartridge closely resembles an SD card and contains the gaming software system. It is being inserted inside the Switch. It makes the gaming experience faster and smoother compared to disc-based systems. Using a cartridge doesn’t require a ROM reader (which a disc would require) to function.

On the other hand, both Wii and Wii U are disc-based systems. The current switch version does not possess any slots for Wii games discs. Therefore, since the Switch cannot accommodate the disc, any disc-based Wii games are impossible to play.

This major technical difference is why playing Wii games on the Switch is impossible, at least for now.

The Nintendo Switch’s game cards (cartridges) put forth the best qualities of both sides. Their storage is primarily a flash-based. As a result, a disc drive does not need to search for the data it needs to function. Consequently, video games load faster and more seamlessly.

Visit: Amazon

Can I Transfer My Games From Older Systems To The Nintendo Switch?

Unfortunately, that’s going to be a no. As of now, it is impossible to transfer any Wii U games or 3DS to the Nintendo Switch.

Transferring most Nintendo games from one console to the other is easy. It is possible to play games you used to play on the original Switch on the newer one. You will find multiple tutorials and guides on how to do so. However, these only include digital games originally purchased from your Nintendo account. Wii games do not fall under this category. Thus, we cannot download or transfer Wii U games on Nintendo Switch, making it even more improbable to play Wii games on the Switch. Check out how to download Wii U USB helper.

Will The Nintendo Switch Play Wii U Games Anytime Soon?

Will the Nintendo switch become compatible in the backward fashion again? Nobody knows anything at the moment. However, there have been a few rumors about it being very unlikely. The company’s website has also made a statement about this in-demand query. However, the Nintendo Switch is indeed a significantly newer way to do gaming. The Nintendo Switch doesn’t seem very eager to include backward compatibility. Therefore, we do not have a definitive word on whether we could play Wii games on Switch.

We can say that it could be possible in the future. As we mentioned earlier, you can’t play Wii video games on the Switch since the Switch doesn’t have a disc drive. But it also doesn’t suggest there won’t be another way to play- for example; video games could be possible someday soon.

Can I Play Wii Games On Switch Lite?

For the most part, the Switch can only play Switch games. And the Switch Lite is not an exception to this. Though it is a little more limited than the Switch, the switch lite only plays Switch games that mainly support handheld mode. Other elements like the compatibility of the software on the device and the playing experience for the user may or may not differ on the Nintendo Switch Lite. Check out these PS3 controller on Switch.

If you’re hoping to get the best experience of Nintendo Switch Sports, the standard Switch will prove to be a better option. But in either case, nothing changes the facts- It is still impossible to play Wii U games on the Switch. So, you still cannot get your hands on any Wii U inside the Nintendo Switch games.

Are There Any Wii U Games On The Switch Right Now?

However, don’t worry- we wrote our list of the wii games that are available on switch here.

Here is the list of the few Wii games accessible for play on the Nintendo switch. They have been ported to the Switch and are known to have not only revised and improved graphics but also better gaming control.

Xenoblade Chronicles X
Star fox zero
NES Remix pack
Paper Mario: Color Splash
Yoshi’s Wooly World
The legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD
The legend of Zelda: The wind waker
Animal Crossing: Amiibo festival
ZombiU
Sonic Lost World

A few selected Wii U games were cut, as Nintendo used the Wii U game library to begin the Switch . Still, the number of Wii U games you can play on the Switch is being held down.

Games That Can’t Be Played/ Are Unavailable On The Switch?

Take a look at this list of Wii U games that still haven’t been brought to the Switch.

Splatoon 2
Bayonetta 2
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Pokken Tournament DX
Super Mario Maker 2
Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Captain Toad’s Treasure Tracker
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

Conclusion

The Nintendo Switch uses cartridges (compact-sized game cards that are very much like SD cards) inside its console. This gives the gamer a substantial advantage regarding speed, durability, and storage. Importantly, it offers a powerfully seamless gaming experience.

But since Wii U games are all disc-based, it was impossible to include them in the Switch. Due to this, the Wii U games are a sacrifice the Switch has had to make. As of now, being a disc-based, playing Wii U games on the Switch is not yet possible.

The future demands of gamers worldwide may be able to change the trajectory of the Nintendo company. It would be a blast if they ever decide to bring Wii games to the Switch! But until then, you will have to make do with the limited Wii U games that are available alongside other switch games. Guess we’ll have to wait and see! Did you find this article about Wii games and the Nintendo Switch insightful? Please tell us what your favorite Wii U game is in the comments.

Sourabh Kulesh

Sourabh Kulesh is a Chief Sub Editor at TechiePlus. He has worked in a national daily newspaper, a news agency, a magazine and now writing technology news online. He has knowledge on a wide gamut of topics related to cybersecurity, enterprise and consumer technology.