Why You Should Buy A Nintendo Wii In 2019

All-time classics for no money at all.

By Joost van den Heuvel /

The gaming world collectively sighed when Nintendo released the Wii to unsuspecting retirement homes around the world in 2006.

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While the GameCube showcased various groundbreaking titles and remains beloved among fans, its sales figures never lived up to the almighty duo that was the PS2 and original Xbox.

So when the Wii turned out to be a literal money-printing machine, you could imagine the sake-soaked parties Reggie and his friends must've had at Nintendo HQ.

Now 13 years and 100 million sold units later, we have gathered some of that sweet 50/50 hindsight. And while we know all the golden eggs the Wii laid for Nintendo, we also know how things went a bit sideways with the confusingly marketed and abysmally-selling Wii U.

Plus, now the company have recovered with the successful release of the Switch, it pays to look back on the machine that has become known as the shallow system for your granny and her friends.

Since the dust has cleared, what remains is a technical curiosity that holds some true gems, alongside more reasons to by now than ever before.

7. It's Dirt Cheap

For 50 notes you're the owner of a ready-to-go Wii. Probably less if you're willing to do some searching at flea markets or on online. Hell, there's a decent chance there's one sitting in your aunt and uncle's attic they don't mind parting with.

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Prices generally range from 20 bucks for the console only, to about 80 for one with all the needed hardware and two sets of controllers. Controllers, cables and other plastic gizmos are quite affordable too, so if you want to use your Wii as a party game machine, it will set you back only 15 pounds to get a good extra controller.

For the price of one full priced game you could be the owner of an entire extra console. Imagine if you'd have bought a new console instead of Fallout 76 or Battlefront 2.

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