2006 · Nintendo · Japan · console
Nintendo Wii
Led by Satoru Iwata and Shigeru Miyamoto, the Wii discarded the graphics horsepower race and expanded gaming to non-gamers through intuitive motion controls.
Essential Trivial to run ▶ Watch on YouTube ↗
Led by Satoru Iwata and Shigeru Miyamoto, the Wii discarded the graphics horsepower race and expanded gaming to non-gamers through intuitive motion controls. Packaged with Wii Sports, it became a runaway cultural sensation that sold over 101 million consoles.
Beyond motion party games, core titles like Super Mario Galaxy utilized spherical gravity physics to produce what many critics consider the greatest 3D platformers ever created.
Under the hood
- CPU
- IBM PowerPC Broadway @ 729 MHz with 88 MB RAM (24 MB 1T-SRAM + 64 MB GDDR3)
- Sound chip
- Built-in Macronics DSP with Dolby Pro Logic II + speaker built into Wii Remote
- Graphics
- ATI Hollywood GPU @ 243 MHz with 3 MB embedded eDRAM, 480p progressive scan
- Media
- Wii Optical Discs (12 cm, 4.7 GB / 8.5 GB dual-layer) & Wii Remote Bluetooth pointer
Hardware revisions
| Model | Years | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| RVL-001Wii (original) | Nov 2006 (NA) / Dec 2006 (other regions) | GameCube controller ports and memory-card slots included; full GameCube backward compatibility; Known issue: Disc-drive laser wear over years is a common failure mode |
| RVL-101Wii Family Edition | Oct 2011 (NA) / Nov 2011 (EU) | GameCube controller ports and memory-card slots removed; Known issue: No GameCube compatibility; retains Wi-Fi/online and SD-card support |
| RVL-201Wii Mini | Dec 2012 (Canada) / 2013 (EU/NA) | Top-loading disc drive; no GameCube support (inherited from RVL-101); Known issue: Online/Wi-Fi functionality removed entirely |
What it cost
only about 5% of a month’s pay in 2011 · about $209 today
| US launch list price ($249.99 with Wii Sports & Wiimote) |
$249.99 (2006)
only about 8% of a month’s pay · about $389 in today's money |
|---|---|
| Wii with Mario Kart Wii bundle ($149.99) | $149.99 (2011) |
| Units sold | 101,630,000 101.63 million units worldwide. |
What it's worth now
Accessible $30–60 working, with Wiimote, Nunchuk and cables
Ubiquitous and cheap; the original RVL-001 with GameCube ports carries a modest premium over later revisions.
A guide to collectibility, not a valuation — real prices depend on condition, completeness and demand.
Why it mattered
Beyond motion party games, core titles like Super Mario Galaxy utilized spherical gravity physics to produce what many critics consider the greatest 3D platformers ever created.
Emulating it today
| Emulators | Dolphin |
|---|---|
| Setup effort | Trivial to run (1 on this site's scale) |
| Controls | The original controller does not map perfectly to a standard modern pad; expect to customize controls. |
| Runs on a handheld | Yes |
Handled with perfection in Dolphin. Motion controls map to mouse, right analog stick, or real Wiimotes via Bluetooth. The emulator names above are starting points, not a promise that every title or accessory behaves identically. Computer platforms usually add model selection, disk handling and keyboard setup even when CPU emulation itself is mature.
Firmware
This system needs no firmware file. Install an emulator, open a game, and it runs.
How many files you need: none to go and find. No separate firmware file is needed for an ordinary setup.
Firmware details checked 2026-08. Emulator requirements change — see Libretro documentation for the current list.
Where the software is
Preservation catalogues describe verified dumps; they do not grant permission to download commercial software. A curated, correctly matched set is easier to use than an undifferentiated archive.
Copyright: Commercial software remains copyrighted unless its owner explicitly released or relicensed it. Homebrew, public-domain programs and current reissues should be treated separately from abandoned commercial titles.
This site names preservation projects and explains what they are. It does not link to ROM downloads.
Where to start
- Super Mario Galaxy 1 & 2 3D Platformer
Spherical planetoids, gravitational physics, and a sweeping live orchestral score.
- Xenoblade Chronicles Open World JRPG
Monolith Soft’s gigantic sci-fi fantasy epic set atop two frozen battling titan gods.
- Metroid Prime 3: Corruption & Trilogy First-Person Action Adventure
Pinpoint precision Wiimote pointer aiming across diverse alien planets.
- The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Action Adventure
MotionPlus 1:1 sword combat and the origin story of the Master Sword.
- Super Smash Bros. Brawl Platform Fighter
Subspace Emissary adventure campaign and the debut of Sonic and Solid Snake.
- Donkey Kong Country Returns Platformer
Retro Studios revitalized the platforming series with challenging minecart runs.
- Wii Sports / Wii Sports Resort Sports Simulation
The defining social party game that had families bowling and playing tennis worldwide.
- The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Action Adventure
Dark gothic Hyrule with Wolf Link transformations and massive dungeon temples.
- Sin & Punishment: Star Successor Rail Shooter Action
Treasure’s high-intensity supersonic aerial bullet-dodging combat.
- Rhythm Heaven Fever Rhythm Action
Hilarious, infectious musical micro-challenges with razor-sharp timing.
- Mario Kart Wii 2008 Kart racing game
- Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn 2007 Tactical role-playing game
- Dokapon Kingdom 2007 Role-playing
The verdict
The motion-control revolution that conquered the world (101M units). Super Mario Galaxy 1 & 2 are platforming masterpieces, alongside Xenoblade Chronicles, Skyward Sword, and Metroid Prime 3.
The strongest software can be rewarding, but original controls and setup assumptions may matter more than screenshots suggest.
- Worth it if
- Players curious about nintendo, modern and oddball and willing to learn how the original machine worked.
- Not for
- Anyone who wants a large, instantly accessible library and no model, firmware or control decisions.
Scored 5/5 for fun today and 5/5 for historical importance. Those two scores decide the label at the top — a machine can matter enormously and still be no fun.
Read more & watch
This page is 75% complete against the facts we try to record for every system. Gaps are shown as gaps.