Released in late 2012, the Wii U was Nintendo's jump into HD gaming as well as a follow-up to its faddish Wii console. The most distinguishing feature of which was the GamePad which, despite its Fisher-Price appearance, opened the door for asymmetrical multiplayer, dual-screen gaming, & gyro aiming. This also complimented the system's lightly expanded media & social offerings well.

 

Hindered by a lack of popularity from players and developers alike, the Wii U has seen a reevaluation from zoomers who peaked in 2014. It also saw the company's finest first-party lineup in years, with the console's biggest hits (& the world dominating power of Mario Kart 8) bringing momentum into the Switch-era.