FIELD NOTES · Nov 3, 2026

How to play Wii and DS games online after Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection

Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection ended in May 2014. Three community services now cover different Wii and DS games: here is which does what.

What closed, and when

Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, the online service for Wii and Nintendo DS games, was discontinued on 20 May 2014. Online races, battles and trades stopped working for every game that used it. The games themselves still run offline; only the servers are gone.

Wiimmfi: the largest replacement

Wiimmfi went live on 10 May 2014, ten days before the shutdown, according to Wikipedia. It is maintained by Wiimm and Leseratte, is closed-source, and supports hundreds of games, with Mario Kart Wii as its main title. Games must be patched to connect, for example with a Wiimmfi patcher or a recent USB loader. Follow a current guide such as wii.hacks.guide, because older patches can stop working.

WiiLink WFC: open source, still in testing

WiiLink WFC is an open-source alternative run by the WiiLink project. It works on Wii, Wii U in Wii mode, Nintendo DS and the Dolphin emulator. The WiiLink wiki describes it as public but still officially in testing, which is why it is listed here as Beta. Its website features these games, among others:

Wiimmfi and WiiLink WFC are separate networks with their own patches: players on one do not meet players on the other.

Pokémon: GTS and battle videos

For Generation IV and V Pokémon games, Poké Classic Network restores the Global Trade System and battle videos. Other online features are not covered, so it is listed as Partial Support. It works through a DNS change on the DS and lists a weekly maintenance window. Covered games in this directory:

Which one to choose

For Mario Kart Wii, the WiiLink wiki itself notes that Wiimmfi has the larger player base. If you prefer open-source software, or your game is featured by WiiLink WFC, try that instead. For Pokémon trading, use Poké Classic Network. In every case, use your own copy of the game and the project's own setup guide.

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