Why Are Wii Games So Expensive? (Top 10 Reasons)

Once, the Wii console was one of the top-selling items all around the world.

Then came Sony with its PlayStation series, which disrupted the gaming console market.

After PlayStation gained popularity Wii and other gaming consoles saw a decline.

Why Are Wii Games So Expensive? (Top 10 Reasons)

Wii original games are now difficult to find, which is why people are selling them on auctions that boost the prices.

Now Wii is barely used by gamers, and the sales are very low.

Scarcity and increasing demand have contributed to the rising prices of Wii games.

The games are also quite durable and long-lasting which makes them costly.

Below, we will cover some of the reasons Wii games are so expensive.

1. Rare

Wii original games in mint condition are difficult to find.

Undoubtedly, the gaming industry also has a type of antique or collectors market.

Pokémon cards, Nintendo Gameboy games, and Wii games are now collector’s items selling at open auctions.

With copy games circulating in the market, finding original games is a challenge for many retro gamers.

However, Nintendo has always been a leading gaming manufacturer, and there is no doubt about the quality.

2. Durability

Nintendo is always known for its quality and durability.

Original games always run smoothly no matter how long you insert them into Wii.

If both Wii and the games are kept in pristine condition, you will never face a problem when playing them.

Wii games may be old school now, but those who have been using Wii know what all the fun is about.

One of the reasons gamers are now coming back to Wii is the feeling of nostalgia.

Experienced gamers who have been playing for more than a decade have now started gaming by Wii.

It holds a special place in everyone’s life, and no matter what happens, Wii will always be a special gaming console.

3. Rising Demand

With gaming becoming more of a household thing, everyone is now addicted to it.

Be it a PC or a gaming console, people are going crazy for gaming.

From kids to adults, gaming is now a passion for many.

Due to the rising demand for gaming, demand for every gaming console is going up.

For some years, Wii saw a decline, but now, due to the increasing demand for gaming, many people are also shifting to Wii for its unique gaming experience.

Therefore, due to the scarcity of original games, everyone is trying to get their hands on them.

Unfortunately, those who have the games are now asking for prices out of this world.

In addition, you can customize the gaming experience in many ways.

Therefore, gamers are now trying new ways to keep them busy.

4. Versatility

From controllers to motion gaming, Wii lets you play games in any way you want.

Moreover, all the games are compatible with the mode you want to play in, be it a standard Wii or an upgraded version of it.

You can use the games on every console, so it is a one-time investment that you have to make on the games, and they can be played for many years.

5. Nostalgia

Wii and the games have a special place in the lives of many gamers.

However, those playing on PC or PS4 are now getting tired of it.

To experience something new gamers are shifting back to Wii.

The nostalgia of owning a Wii game and holding the controller is unexplainable.

The gamers were once fed of Wii, and their time off from Wii was enough to distract them.

The old games of Wii are special to many gamers, and playing them after a long break gives them a great nostalgic feeling.

Be it Mario Kart or Pokémon, everyone has played these games at least once in their lifetime.

Getting their hands back on such games is itself an accomplishment.

Therefore, people are now trying to find a different feeling by playing various Wii games.

Other than playing those, people are trying to get their hands on Wii games to collect and display them as their private collection.

6. Streamers

Nowadays, many streamers are shifting to Wii for a change in the rising streaming industry.

In addition, due to the increasing retro gaming culture, many gamers are shifting to Wii games.

Many streamers love the experience of streaming through Wii games, and most have positive reviews regarding it.

In addition, due to the versatility of Wii games, streamers can connect it to their PC and enjoy the same HD quality streaming.

Most of the streamers are now going live on platforms playing Wii games.

This has contributed to the rising demand for Wii games as viewers are also fascinated by the fun they can have through Wii.

Increasing demand by streamers and viewers and scarcity play an important factor in the rising prices of Wii games.

However, it is amazing to see how people are attracted to Wii and its games.

7. Perfect Collectable Item

Due to the scarcity of Wii games and their increased prices, other than playing them, people are getting their hands on them to add to their collection.

With time, the games will be rarer, which will spike the prices even more.

Therefore, collectors are paying any price to get their hands on mint condition Wii games.

These games are more than a treasure in the gaming industry and will always hold a special price.

A person with a long-term vision knows the value they will hold in the coming five to 10 years.

That is why, rather than playing, those collectors are adding them to their collection.

If you are a collector of unique and old-school games, this is something you will quickly understand.

In addition, the circulation of copies of these has disrupted the market and created a hype that original games don’t exist anymore.

No doubt, finding an original game is difficult, but the rumors have also contributed to the increasing price of Wii games.

When a person buys a Wii copy game, they feel dissonance and then agree to pay any price for an original.

8. Circulation Of Pirated Or Copy Games

Be it in the entertainment or gaming industry, pirated copies have always in a way disrupted the market.

Pirated copies of exclusive games are cheaply available but are not reliable or durable.

Wii game prices rarely go down, and when people mistakenly get pirated copies of the games, they agree to pay the price without negotiating.

The first-party games are then sold for a higher price.

Many people try to sell pirated games in original games packaging, but the performance and quality easily tell if it is an original or a pirated game.

The circulation of pirated copies of Wii games is of such low quality that it has increased the importance and demand for original copies of the games.

That is why now Wii users only want original games for their use.

People are dealing in pirated games as the original ones were discontinued a long time ago.

The pirated games seller found this an opportunity to earn profit and make their position.

No doubt, piracy is illegal and shouldn’t be supported at any cost.

9. Exclusive Games

Wii is a gaming console by Nintendo launched in 2006.

The feature that distinguishes Wii from other gaming consoles is the motion-controlled gaming experience.

In 2006, the motion gaming technology fascinated everyone, and that boosted the sales right away.

Not only now, but the exclusive Wii games were also expensive back then.

They were produced in very small numbers and sold out quite quickly.

Since then, many people who had the games in their possession kept them with themselves instead of selling them out.

Many still have the Wii games even today and are not planning to let them go.

The exclusive games have limited features and are not only available in those games.

Some of the features that are available only in Wii exclusive games are:

Special Features
Improved Speed and Quality
Various Modes
Extreme Durability

The exclusive Wii games are very scarce and rarely up for sale.

Therefore, it is very rare that you will find such games.

For example, if you find a standard Wii game for $50, you will get the exclusive games for around $150 to $200.

Yes, you read it right.

This is why exclusive games are a special collectible item.

If you ever find an exclusive game up for sale, get it verified before buying it.

Scams are high in this industry, and we don’t want you to be one of the victims.

10. Obsolete

Nintendo discontinued the production of the Wii console in late 2013, and the games were also later discontinued.

The latest game and the only game Wii was in 2020.

After that, no games were introduced as the console became obsolete.

The nature of economics is that once a thing is no longer produced, the prices go up or fall around 0.

In the case of Wii games, the price remained consistent for a while but then saw a spike as they entered the retro gaming collection.

No doubt the games are remarkable, but the production discontinuation is limited in numbers.

The first-hand copies of original games are now associated as a treasure in the industry.

Many people are now frustrated with the high prices of Wii games.

Average Prices Of Wii Games

The average price of a Wii ranges from $30 to $150, considering the condition and rarity of the game.

If the game was produced in high numbers and was not popular, you can find it for a lower price than the range.

The Wii games of premium games are sold at higher than the average price.

Due to the discontinuation of Wii games, there is no regulation on the prices.

Therefore, everyone can get their ask for the games they are selling.

The prices of Wii games are so expensive that they now anger people.

You can easily get a Wii console for around $50, but just a game is way higher than it.

Once Wii was the only gaming console in every household, people worldwide were in love with it.

It offered every type of game that kept users interacting and entertained.

Types Of Wii Games

Wii was one of the top consoles with features ahead of its time.

The motion-controlled gaming was once the hype, and everyone was amazed by it.

Taking advantage of that, Wii introduced every type of game to keep the gamers hooked.

The best sellers were unique and premium games such as Mario Kart, Rhythm Heavy Fever, and Mensa Academy.

Now, these games are being sold for over $100.

Wii introduced and produced more than 1,600 games in every genre.

From arcade games to action, Wii excelled in every genre.

What happened that made Wii lose its popularity?

Why Did Wii Fail?

Wii and its games were once a golden egg for Nintendo.

The Gameboy and other items were good, too, but Wii had a higher market share.

For many years Wii was on top, but what made it fail?

There are a couple of reasons Wii saw a decline.

Described below are the top reasons.

1. Poor Battery Life

Equipped with unique technology and hardware, Wii offered a special gaming experience.

People were having fun playing a Wii in many ways, through the controller and the motion control.

What didn’t work for Wii was its battery life.

The Wii was connected through power, but the battery was used to heat up or required a replacement in very less time.

This increased the maintenance cost of users and made them feel dissonant.

2. Failed To Keep Up With Competition

The main competitor of Wii during the earliest time was mainly PS2.

While Sony was working on its new variants and games, Nintendo didn’t focus much on introducing an upgraded variant of the Wii.

No doubt Nintendo had plenty of time and opportunity to scale their Wii console and games, but Sony came up with new gaming consoles due to neglect.

Due to neglect and shovelware, Wii lost its momentum and failed to attract consumers.

After PS3 was introduced, many people shifted to it for a new experience.

The new games and features in PS3 attracted the gamers after they were fed up with enjoying the motion control of the Wii.

Unfortunately, the failure of Wii to keep introducing new modes and controls in time led to such a disappointing failure.

3. Over-Marketing

One mistake that Nintendo made was overmarketing.

The overconfidence of Wii creators was in the motion control technology they introduced.

They thought nothing could overcome it and just spent funds on marketing.

When users experienced it, they felt disappointed as it was not up to the mark.

It wasn’t delivered like it was marketed, thus failing.

4. Walked Away

After Wii creators saw that Sony consoles and games overtook them, they didn’t upgrade and introduced something new.

Instead, the Wii creators just saw what happening and walked away.

The failure to face such a challenge and risk led to the decline of Wii and its games in the gaming industry.

Many believed that Nintendo shouldn’t have left its gaming console cold turkey.

Their response is what Sony was waiting for, but a walk away just showed them that the competitors had succeeded.

5. Confusing Controls

The technology introduced in Wii was unique, and no one had ever experienced such in a gaming console.

The controls and methods of using such technology were not known to many.

The manual guide may have been available in the box, but that is not the only thing people want.

Nintendo spent money on marketing, but they should’ve made an ad that guided people on how to use Wii and play games.

Unfortunately, not everyone is a fast learner, and frustration made many people leave playing Wii games.

6. Low-Quality Graphics

As we mentioned, Wii creators worked on the technology and nothing else.

Undoubtedly, technology fascinates many people, but that is not the only thing everyone wants.

No matter how good a game you produce, if the graphics are low quality, you won’t enjoy it much.

It was also too gimmicky rather than fun.

Nobody wants to play games with low-quality graphics.

People are now using Wii again as they have found a way to improve graphics quality by connecting their Wii console to a PC as gaming PCs are equipped with top-of-the-market hardware.

Other than the graphics, the speed was improved by connecting Wii to a PC.

What is the use now when the console is discontinued, and the games are so expensive?