Whether you had, played, or only heard of it, the Wii remains one of the most iconic and nostalgic consoles. Having come out in 2006 and being sold initially for $250. Its revolutionary motion control capabilities and fun games have drawn in millions of buyers over the years, over 100 million to be precise. The console remained a beloved staple in the gaming community to this day.
At the end of this year, the Nintendo Wii turns 16, but despite its age, it still holds its place as an iconic gaming console, with many people still on the lookout to grab one.
So you’re thinking of buying a Wii. That sounds simple, right? Actually, it is a bit more complicated than it seems. Also, it is a little more complex than going to your local Walmart to grab one from a shelf. You ask yourself many questions; how much should a Wii cost? Is buying it worth it? Where should you buy one? Here is where we come in to help you make the best decision when buying yourself a Wii.
What Influences The Price Of a Wii?
The prices of a Wii fluctuate heavily depending on many factors that we will expand on in just a second. If you go online to do a bit of research, you will find Wii consoles on sites such as GameStop, Amazon, or eBay.And that too for between $50 for a used Wii and $300 for one in pristine condition. A precise estimate for a Wii console is almost impossible.
This is because when for sale, you usually do not see individual consoles but bundles that also include games, controllers, or other accessories that people sell for a price that they see fit.
However, let’s try and answer a question that might have popped up in your head if you ever wanted to buy a Wii: ”What is the right price of a Wii, and why?”
Availability
First of all, given its age, the Wii is no longer present in every home. Newer and more modern consoles have taken their place as time passed. Officially, production for the console stopped at the end of 2013, meaning that for more than eight years, there have not been any new consoles for sale on the market.
Considering that the Wii market relies almost exclusively on second-hand buys, being incredibly hard or even close to impossible to find a new and unused Wii console for sale 15 years after its first launch.
Age
It is safe to say that the older the console, the lower the price, at least in the case of the Nintendo Wii. Even though we do not know how many consoles are still working and in use today, initially, there was a significant amount on the market, diminishing the exclusivity and the cost, at least for now.
Assuming that we are talking about a console in the same condition, the only differentiating factor is its age. A console first bought in 2006, when first launched, will cost less than a console bought in 2013, the last year they were produced. It is very likely that in another 15 or 30 years, the price of a Wii may double as more old consoles stop working and fewer working ones remain on the market.
Although electronics are known to degrade as time progresses, newer models may have more performant hardware and slight changes and improvements. These will make them better than the first-generation models.
Condition
One of the most significant factors that influence the price of a Wii is the console’s condition. While also keeping in mind the availability and age, just mentioned before. However, the overall condition is sometimes more important than, for instance, age. This is because you can have an unused Wii from 2006 that will undoubtedly perform better than a heavily used Wii bought in 2013.
Hardware
Depending on its launch year, you might find a few different Wii console variants, so it is better to be cautious. The most significant difference in Wii variants that you might want to look out for is the 2011 redesigned model. This factor sometimes influences the price. This later version removed the GameCube functionality, including the GameCube controller ports and memory card slots found on the original model. Additionally, it did not include a stand, as this model was to be positioned horizontally.
Cosmetics
Even though the condition of the physical console is not essential, it is important to many buyers. The better-looking ones sell for more than the less aesthetically pleasing ones.
People usually look for a few scratches as possible and no cracks or signs of rough handling or falls. Sometimes, given that many Wii consoles are white, there may be some discoloration due to use and time, as the color white is certainly not a forgiving one, and prolonged UV exposure will give it a yellowy tint.
Color
Although Nintendo showed the console and the Wii Remote in white, black, silver, lime-green, and red before it launched. It was only available in white for its first two-and-a-half years of sales.
This made the white a staple for Wii, the majority of the consoles you see online for sale being white. If you were to look for the black version, for example, you would have a more challenging time finding one. This is because most of the consoles sold were white. However, you might also find yourself being charged extra solely for this cosmetic difference.
Exclusivity
Of course, if you are looking for a limited edition console, you will need some patience and more money. This is because these models are not as easy to come by and go above the usual price.
For example, a red Wii system bundle launched in 2010, commemorating the 25th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. Depending on the condition, this version can sell for about $250.
Reliability
Finally, maybe one of the most overlooked factors when judging the price of a Wii is where you buy it from. Of course, you can find a Wii console for $50 or lower, but as we all know, if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
When buying online, you may have a variety of offers, but how much blind trust can you put into a seller looking for profit? If you do not know their integrity or previous experience with a certain seller, you may have some unpleasant surprises once you open the package you ordered. This might include missing accessories, broken parts, or overall not what was written in the description.
In this case, we recommend you to go to a more secure route when investing in retro consoles. The website of a seller specializing in games and consoles might be the best option for you.
You have plenty of customer reviews that portray the real buyer experience. Besides, shops like ours will even give you free shipping and a 90-day warranty. All this will assure that you are 100% satisfied with what you bought.
Also read: 10 best Wii family games you should definitely play.
Conclusion — How Much Should a Wii Cost?
There are no clear guidelines on how much should a Wii cost. It is up to the seller to demand the price they see fit and up to the consumer to decide whether it is worth it. However, we hope that our guide has shed some light on what you should consider when judging the price of a Wii.
Now, you will be able to make a more informed decision. If you are looking for Wii consoles, why not check out our store? We have a great variety of bundles, accessories, and games. So it is very likely to find something you would enjoy!
Must read: how to set up your Wii?
