Nintendo's Wii U was a flop, but here's why you should consider buying one on Black Friday

Pity the poor Wii U.

When the game console was introduced in 2012 as Nintendo's successor to the smash-hit Wii, expectations were high that the Japanese game company would once again create a monster hit.

Instead, the Wii U has proved to be a huge flop, selling just over 13 million units in the past four years. The original Wii sold 84 million consoles in the same period.

Nintendo posted losses for the past three years, but is now regrouping to work on its next big bet, the ambitious Nintendo Switch.

Last week, Nintendo reportedly halted production of the Wii U to pave the way for the Switch's arrival in March 2017. Meanwhile, the Sony PlayStation 4 and a revitalized Microsoft Xbox One are vying for leadership the console market.

The Wii U's unique tablet design never really caught on with the mainstream. But don't listen to the haters. This Black Friday, you will be able to get some seriously great deals on the Wii U console and some top-shelf games, and it's more than worth your consideration.

Here's why the Wii U is actually a work of misunderstood genius.