How to play Wii U games online with the Pretendo Network in 2024

Nintendo

The Wii U’s online service has officially been terminated. If you go online with a Wii U today, you won’t be able to buy digital games, or play any of your existing games online. Miiverse? Heck, that was killed years ago, and it’s not coming back – at least not in any official capacity.

That’s where the Pretendo Network comes in. A dedicated group of fans have managed to reverse-engineer many of the Wii U’s online functions, and they’re now hosting their own online servers that anyone can use. If you are itching to play some classic Super Mario Maker stages, or want to go back online in the original Splatoon, then Pretendo is now the only way to do it – and we have all the information you need to get online below.

Every Wii U game supported by Pretendo

The list of Wii U games currently supported by Pretendo isn’t very long, but that does mean that they’re well populated, since all Pretendo users are using a select few games. Pretendo also supports services like Friends lists and statuses, Miiverse, and even Wii U Chat. For a full list of supported titles, check the Pretendo progress page.

• Miiverse
• Friends
• Wii U Chat
• Pokkén Tournament
• Pikmin 3
• Splatoon
• Super Mario Maker
• Mario Kart 8

You need a modded Wii U to connect to Pretendo

It’s infamously pretty easy to softmod your Wii U console to use homebrew applications, and it’s also necessary in order to connect to the Pretendo Network. Softmodding your Wii U is relatively safe and simple, but keep in mind that it is not officially supported by Nintendo, and modifying your console always comes with a degree of risk. 

For everything you need to install Aroma and EnvironmentLoader on your Wii U, you can find information on the Aroma website, and there are loads of relevant guides on YouTube and beyond. 

How to connect your Wii U to the Pretendo Network

Now that you have a Wii U console with Aroma and EnvironmentLoader, it’s time to connect to the Pretendo Network. You can find more details on the Pretendo Network website.

Now that your Wii U is appropriately modded you will already be using an SD Card to host files, and we’ll be adding the Inkay plugin so you can use Pretendo. 

• From Inkay’s Github page download the file “Inkay-pretendo.wps”.
• Transfer the file to your SD card in the following folder: SD>wiiu>environments>armora>plugins.
• Insert the SD card into the Wii U console, and upon boot, a notification should confirm the connection.

That’s pretty easy, but it’s not over yet, as you’ll need a PNID. This is a Pretendo Network ID, which mimics the Nintendo Network ID.

How to make a PNID (Pretendo Network account)

While on your Wii U console, press the profile icon in the top left, Switch User, and then Add New User.

You can either create a PNID while on your Wii U by pressing “No” when the console asks you if you have an account, and following the steps, or by registering for a PNID on the Pretendo website, and then linking it on your Wii U by selecting “Yes” when the Wii U asks if you have an existing account, and logging in with the same details.

Once you’re logged in the Pretendo Network will be available to you, returning Miiverse and far more to your console for the first time in many years. Enjoy!