I like this thread. It is how I think. I haven't played console gaming in fifteen years so when I had been stuck on 8-bit and 16-bit games all that.
It is also why I won't buy a Xbox 360 due to the eventual hardware problems and Live's subscription cost. I mean, a console should last at least twenty years with none of this paid online garbage.
Some of this list varies among the tastes of the user. But below are the absolute value games I've found for the Wii :
High ValueWii Sports- Godly value. The perfect party game. You will even play it single player time to time.
Wii Play- A chip off Wii Sports block. Very minor game but still has that high value that you will always come back. Tanks is good value.
Mario Kart- This includes all Mario Karts and will undoubtedly include the Wii version. The only Mario Kart I don't play is the handheld one and that is because when friends are over, we play console and not handhelds. Mario Kart is really worth $50 with all the multiplayer mayhem it has (now if only they could add in the single player nirvana that was in Super Mario Kart).
Smash Brothers- At first, I hated this game. Single player, it sucks. But it becomes that game you keep playing when people are around. The game will record how long you play it over time. You can really see how many hours you rack up in it.
Mario Strikers- Again, this is a title I disliked at first. Single player, it sucks. But once you get the fast arcade action of the multiplayer, you play it constantly. The sequel has been getting glowing reviews despite reviewers hating strikers. It is a high value game.
F-Zero GX- Critic was wrong about this game (since Critic only plays games casually since he plays through so many). It is a high value game since it takes so long to get good and beat it. It is truly difficult but very rewarding. Once you unlock everything (if you can), you will still put it in to race around on Meteor Storm track or other tracks for fun. Game looks gorgeous and is very fast.
Bomberman- You can't go wrong with a bomberman! Multiplayer classic that never ages.
Ikaruga- Worth hunting down. The challenge isn't beating the game but getting a high score. You keep putting in the game constantly. It is also fun to play with a friend.
Medium ValueMetroid Primes- Of course, if you hate Metroid, you won't think these have good value. But once you beat it, you will probably want to play through it again later on. I do.
RPGs- Depending on the RPG, when you beat one, you may pull it out again later.
Resident Evil 4- Can be fun to play through again.
3d Zeldas- You will likely play through it again.
Compilations- These are iffy. The games on them can be gold but how often do you go back to them? Nostalgia fills the well routinely which allows another play through.
Low Value
Games Dependent on Graphics- Some games have nothing but graphics for their 'fun' factor. The problem is that these games age the fastest. Ditto with women
Cinematic Games- After you play through it, will you play through it again?
You get the picture.
One of the big values for the Wii is the Virtual Console that has many old, but high value, games. These are...
HIGH VALUE: 2d Marios, Shmups, Contras, Gunstar Heroes, Lode Runner, Devil's Crush
MEDIUM VALUE: Donkey Kong Countries, Kirby games, RPGs, Zeldas
LOW VALUE: Games that are either horrible, unplayable today, or depended on graphics like Legend of Kage.
The Virtual Console has an advantage over today's recent games in that you can tell better which VC games have a high value compared to recent games. After all, the VC games can be almost twenty years old so, by now, everyone knows whether they are a high value or not.
Layed the crap out of it when first had, still play occasionally