2014 Holiday Gift Guide – Gifts every Wii U owner must have

Happy holidays Wii U owners and gift buyers! Nintendo has been busy this year with updating the Wii U's library of games with some huge titles. Fans have been waiting for games like Super Smash Bros., and they've finally arrived. Some of the biggest must-haves of the holiday season are available on Wii U, and here's the ones you should consider. If you have any gift buying questions, don't hesitate to comment, email me atLliebl@GameZone.com or tweet us at @Lance_GZ or @GameZoneOnline.

Make sure to check out our entire 2014 Holiday Gift Guide.

Consoles:

I highly doubt you'll be able to find the Super Smash Bros. bundle (game and GameCube controller), and I'm surprised that Nintendo didn't make a Wii U console bundle that includes the game. The best values I can find for new Wii U console bundles are $299.99 that comes with Super Mario 3D World, or $329.99 for a bundle that comes with Mario Kart 8, a Red Mario Wii Remote Plus, and a Red Mario Wii Wheel.

Games:

Super Smash Bros. Wii U

Perhaps the most eagerly awaited game for the Wii U is here. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U proves once again that pitting its various mascots and characters against each other is still the best way to spend your time around a crowded TV. Gorgeous visuals and a robust character roster (and the addition of Amiibo figures sold separately) makes this one of the hottest holiday purchases. [Review]

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

From the landscapes and music to the enemies and design, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is made with love. It’s an exceptional platformer that tough but never unfair. And did I mention it’s gorgeous?

Bayonetta 2

If you own a Wii U, buy Bayonetta 2. If you don’t own a Wii U, this is the reason to buy one. It’s an amazing ride from beginning to end, with vibrant colors and stylish action. And it comes bundled with the first game. Simply put: Bayonetta 2 is a system seller. [Review]

Mario Kart 8

Mario Kart 8 is phenomenal — cart racing at its finest. New anti-gravity segments add enough skill-based gameplay to make even seasoned veterans rethink their kart racing strategies. Among kart racing games, Mario Kart is still king. [Review]

Hyrule Warriors

A surprisingly perfect plend of the Zelda and the Warriors games. Hyrule Warriors manages to surpass past Warriors titles in many ways. There’s enough variety in each character and their alternate weapons to make the modest character roster seem minor. Recommended for fans of Zelda and Warriors. Both are represented well here. [Review]

Amiibo

With the release of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U also comes the release of Nintendo's Amiibo figures. These figurines are modeled after famed Nintendo characters — like Mario, Donkey Kong and Samus. They're used differently in each game, like giving a special outfit to the figure's character in Mario Kart 8. In Super Smash Bros., the Amiibo let's you fight with or against it (not play as the figure) as you level it up, customize its fighting style and give it equipment. They go for $12.99 each and look awesome! [Amazon]

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