Wii Party U
By Mark Raby,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Lots of group fun encapsulated in 80+ mini-games.
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Wii Party U
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What’s It About?
WII PARTY U is a collection of more than 80 mini-games. The wildly varied mini-games include everything from a no-holds-barred animal-racing game to short sequences where the outcome is pure luck of the draw. There are several game modes that utilize these mini-games in differing ways. In addition to interactive board games in which players compete to determine their order, there are also modes wherein players try to see how well they know one another. There's also an option for players to ditch the TV entirely and play games with the Wii U's GamePad controller.
Is It Any Good?
Wii Party U is one of the increasingly rare examples of a video game that works perfectly if you have four people together in the same room. It's just good old-fashioned fun. The game also is tailored to work with two or three players. Although it can be fun to play with the single-player options between multiplayer game sessions, that's not where the meat of the game is. The various game modes help keep the game fresh for a long time.
There are also some very unique uses for the Wii U GamePad controller, including mini-games wherein one player looks at the GamePad screen while everyone else sees a different perspective on the TV, as well as mini-games that use the GamePad exclusively. The bottom line: When it comes to choosing a video game that a group of people can play at the same time, Wii Party U is an easy recommendation. It's not quite as good if you don't have four, as it will add a virtual player to many of the games. Regardless, it's a must-add to any Wii U library.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Parents can talk about the use of video games in social settings. Do you prefer games like this or games you play by yourself?
When is competition a good thing? When can it be a bad thing? Is there a fine line between the two?
What is an example of a time when you had to work with a team to accomplish a common goal?
Game Details
- Platform: Nintendo Wii U
- Subjects: Hobbies: board games, building, sports
- Skills: Collaboration: cooperation, group projects, meeting challenges together, teamwork, Communication: conveying messages effectively, friendship building, Thinking & Reasoning: memorization, problem solving, solving puzzles
- Available online?: Not available online
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release date: October 25, 2013
- Genre: Mini-games
- Topics: Friendship
- ESRB rating: E for Mild Cartoon Violence
- Last updated: August 25, 2016
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