Updated August 2010

It's so hard to buy Wii games. It's just as Forrest Gump's mother said, "you never know what you're gonna get". So many distractions, so many almost-made-it titles out there, and a few looking to rip you off. Well, never fear, because it doesn't matter what kind of gamer you are, no matter if you're brand new or old school, you won't go wrong buying from this list. ESRB rating shown after publisher underlined. Hyperlinks connect to MotionGaming's reviews.

BEST OF THE BEST

If you can only buy a few games, these are the ones to get. All of these got a score of A or better in FamilyWii reviews.

Best Newcomer (or "casual") Games

I hate the term "casual gamer" or "casual gaming". I prefer to think that gamers are gamers and really only differ by their experience levels, or the amount of time they have to spare, and still want to be entertained with good gameplay and graphics. These are most likely to appeal to new gamers, such as parents who weren't gamers in their youth, or people who are really busy and don't have time to play for hours.

Best Adventure Games

Epic games that will occupy you for weeks or months.

Best Fighting Games

Fighting games are getting better on Wii as time goes on. Still, aside from the perennial favorite Super Smash Bros., try before you buy.

Best First/Third Person Shooters

The Wii is a natural for shooters. (The only difference between first-person and third-person shooters is that in a first-person shooter, the screen is your field of vision, and in a third-person shooter, you see yourself on-screen, typically from behind or over the shoulder.)

Best Fitness Games

Nintendo started a new fitness craze with Wii Fit, but it took awhile for other publishers to catch on. Some have been dreadful, but because there aren't many, they sell anyway. Here's hoping that all changes soon.

Best Mature Games

Who says there are no core games on Wii? It's just that many of them aren't very good. Indulge yourself after the kids have gone to bed.

Best Mini Game/Party Game Collections

Early in the Wii's lifetime, party game and mini-game collections reigned supreme, and many of them were horrible. These, though, are the best of the bunch and worth a look.

Best Music Games

Both games are tremendous. Guitar Hero's instruments are compatible with Rock Band 2, so you might buy the former for the instruments, and buy just the game disk of the latter. For the most part, band-specific games based on one of these should be just as good but with different tunes.  Oh, and check out the DS integration Guitar Hero 5 has!

Best On-Line Multiplayer Games

In spite of the Wii's weak reputation as an on-line gaming console, things have improved greatly in the last couple years. Mario Kart Wii is still the best of the bunch at the moment.

Best Open-World Games

The best known open world games are the Grand Theft Auto series. While Take Two has snubbed the Wii in this regard, here are some good experiences within the genre available to you.

Best Platformers

Nintendo is still the master of the platformer, as these two legendary games demonstrate, but things are getting better.

Best Puzzle Games

If you prefer a slower pace of gaming, these will stretch your mind nicely. Zack and Wiki in particular is a living legend already.

Best Racing Games

Arcade racers have a few strong titles on Wii, simulations less so.

Best Role Playing Games

So far most Wii RPG's have been weak games. Hope springs eternal, so check in often.

Best Sports Games

EA Sports finally hits it solid. Tiger Woods is the best golf video game ever, period. It also marks the beginning of the MotionPlus era. Konami's game will make you a soccer fan. For other sports, be sure to check reviews closely and try before you buy, especially baseball games.

Best Young Kids' Games

Games for the youngsters should be as entertaining and have as high a production value as games for older folks. These games are the few that don't insult their audience and are fun to boot. These games are appropriate for kids up to age 7 or so.

Best WiiWare Downloadable Games

The WiiWare downloadable game service hasn't been here too long, but long enough to produce some gems. Games range from $6 to $15.

Best Difficult-to-Categorize Games

Some games defy description. The Trauma Center games, with their "arcade surgery" gameplay, are really entertaining, truly unique, and fit the Wii like a surgical glove. The other two are the result of Nintendo stretching the gaming market as well as the definition of "game", but still come highly recommended.

Best PS3 Sixaxis Games

For owners of the Sony PS3, a selection of motion control games of note.

Must Buy Extras

The right add-ons will greatly enhance your Wii experience, and the Balance Board is just loaded with quality and potential. MotionPlus is a must-buy. It is the next generation of motion control. Fortunately, it's available both alone and bundled with several games, such as Wii Sports Resort, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10, and Red Steel 2. Wii Play isn't a great game, but the extra controller is a bargain, and accounts for most of its robust sales. Nyko's wireless nunchuk drew a lawsuit from Nintendo, and has been redesigned to look less like Nintendo's controller. It's definitely worth the money, though it's unclear if it will be compatible with the MotionPlus module.

This article is revised regularly to reflect the best games for purchase in our opinion.