Nintendo Land takes place in an
amusement park setting, which serves as a hub for the twelve minigames, which are depicted as the park's attractions. A robotic character named Monita guides the player through the game's features and attractions. The first twelve
minigames of
Nintendo Land are based on popular Nintendo franchises; two of the attractions (Metroid Blast and Mario Chase) are based on Wii U tech demos shown at
E3 2011, but are modified to feature Nintendo characters. These minigames are designed to incorporate elements which utilize the features of the
Wii U GamePad, often in conjunction with other players using
Wii Remotes and Nunchucks (with some games supporting up to five players in this configuration). The combination of Wii Remotes and Wii U GamePads allows for asymmetric gameplay, where players have different experiences depending on which controller scheme they use. Completing minigames and completing certain objectives earns coins, which can be used to play a single-player
pachinko minigame. Winning pachinko stages will earn new items (of which there are 200) for decorating the Nintendo Land hub area.
Team attractions Number of players: 1–5 (1-4 in
The Legend of Zelda: Battle Quest) ;
The Legend of Zelda: Battle Quest Based on
The Legend of Zelda series. Up to three players (respectively dressed in red, blue, and yellow) use their Wii Remotes as swords to fight AI enemies. One more player (in green) uses the Wii U GamePad to control a character in the rear of the pack using a
bow and arrow. The player with the GamePad can also lift their controller to spy for sniping AI. ;
Pikmin Adventure Based on the
Pikmin series. One player controls
Captain Olimar who can command tiny Pikmin using the Wii U GamePad, whilst four additional players (as red, blue, yellow and white Pikmin) can control larger Pikmin using the Wii Remotes. Players must work together to help navigate levels and defeat enemies, including a boss at the end of the stage. When the boss is defeated, the players board the Hocotate ship from Pikmin 2. There is also a Versus Mode where the players compete for candy.
Competitive attractions Number of players: 2–5 If starting the game with only two players, the format changes to the stash rules, where one animal must collect candies and put fifteen into the stashes on the map while avoiding the other player.
Solo attractions Number of players: 1 ;''Donkey Kong's Crash Course'' The player uses the GamePad's
gyroscope abilities to guide a trolley through a platform-based obstacle course inspired by the
original Donkey Kong arcade game. In addition to the tilt input to move the trolley, the player controls the GamePad's two analog sticks, L and R shoulder buttons, and microphone to activate various levers, elevators, and pathways to advance themselves throughout the course. ;''Captain Falcon's Twister Race'' A single-player game based on Nintendo's futuristic racing series
F-Zero, where the player must race down a track while avoiding obstacles in 12 different areas. The GamePad is held vertically and its internal gyroscope is used to steer the vehicle when the player rotates the GamePad. The GamePad provides an aerial view (a more strategical view) of the track while the TV provides a third-person view on the track. ;
Balloon Trip Breeze In this single-player game, based on Nintendo's
Balloon Fight, the player controls their Mii on a playfield similar to the Balloon Trip mode. The player swipes the stylus on the GamePad's touch screen to create gusts of wind that move the Mii around. The GamePad offers a zoomed-in view for more precise input, whereas the TV offers a zoomed-out view to see more of the level. The levels are divided into morning, afternoon, evening and night, which are all ended by landing on an island. Occasionally, there are packages on islands that the player can pick up to protect and deliver to the next island. ;''Yoshi's Fruit Cart'' This attraction is based on the
Yoshi series. The player uses the stylus on the GamePad touchscreen to draw a trail that guides Yoshi to the goal of each level while collecting all the fruit in the area. The fruit is only visible on the TV screen, so the player must use reference points in the level's background to draw the path on the GamePad. As the player advances in level, obstacles will appear that take away a life from Yoshi if he is led into one. ;
Octopus Dance This attraction is based on
Game & Watch Octopus.
Octopus Dance is a rhythm game which is played with the GamePad's control sticks and gyroscope. Players must memorize the moves and replicate the actions performed by the instructor on screen. ==Development==