Dr. Luigi

Mario series, the game was created as a part of the Year of Luigi celebration; which commemorated the thirtieth anniversary of the character Luigi. Like its predecessors, Dr. Luigi's gameplay revolves around tile-matching pill capsules with their associated virus to clear them from the playing field. The primary goal of the game is to eliminate every virus on the field to score points and avoid overflow of pills. The game offers four modes: "Operation L", which utilizes L-shaped pills; "Virus Buster", using the Wii U GamePad and touchscreen; "Retro Remedy" with standard Dr. Mario gameplay; and local and online multiplayer options, online utilizing the defunct Nintendo Network Service. Luigi's release marked the Year of Luigi celebration's continuation into the next calendar year of 2014; from its original start in 2013. It was announced via a Nintendo Direct in December, and released on December 31, 2013, in North America and January 15, 2014, worldwide. Critical reception was average, with mixed opinions regarding its various modes and criticism for its lack of innovation. The game was followed by Dr. Miracle Cure in 2015, which includes some of Dr. Luigi's gameplay elements. On March 27, 2023, The Wii U eShop was shut down, making it impossible to purchase and download the game.

Dr. Luigi is a tile-matching puzzle video game. In each round of the game, the player controls Luigi to eliminate the randomly placed viruses. Randomly colored pills are dropped onto the top of the field, distinguished by a bottle, and can be rotated by the player in four directions. When four or more capsule halves or viruses of matching color are aligned in vertical or horizontal configurations, they disappear. Any remaining floating capsules fall. The main objective is to complete levels, by eliminating all viruses from the playing field. A game over occurs if capsules reach the top of the playing field. Adjustable gameplay settings include the capsule falling speed, or highlighting where the capsule will land on the field. The game includes four game modes: "Operation L", where the capsules used are conjoined into an L-shape and move at a slower pace; "Virus Buster", a mode first introduced in Dr. Mario Online Rx, which is played by holding the Wii U GamePad vertically and using the touchscreen to drag and drop the capsules; "Retro Remedy", which uses traditional Dr. Mario series rules and lacks the gimmicks of Operation L; and local and online multiplayer. In multiplayer, each player clears their own playing field of viruses before the opponent does. Eliminating multiple viruses or initiating chain reactions can cause additional capsules to fall onto the opponent's playing field. A player wins a single game upon eliminating all the viruses or if the opponent's playing field fills up. The first player to win three games wins overall.

Dr. Luigi was developed by Arika, the developers of Dr. Mario Online Rx and Dr. Mario Express in 2008, and Nintendo SPD. Most of the contents are reused gameplay from old games, such as Virus Buster, which retains a similar concept from Online Rx, with the addition of updated graphics and sound. The main theme is a remix of the original track from Dr. Mario in 1990, composed by Hirokazu Tanaka. The game was developed for the Year of Luigi celebration, which celebrated the 30th anniversary of Luigi's debut in 1983. The anticipated ending of the celebration was the end of 2013, but Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé said that "there will be some Luigi products to carry the Luigi banner into the next calendar year." Dr. Luigi was announced via a December Nintendo Direct, and was released on December 31, 2013, in North America and January 15, 2014, internationally. Various elements from Dr. Luigi, such as Operation L, are in the game's successor, Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure.