The technical term for a game that is announced but never released is "vaporware." 2007 saw more than a few potentially major Nintendo titles fall through the cracks.

Last seen in an unreleased GameCube title late in the system's life, many anticipated that Kirby would make his return to consoles on Wii, just as Super Paper Mario and Donkey Kong Barrel Blast made the jump last year. Early indications suggested as much, with "Hoshi no Kirby" appearing as TBA on Japanese Wii release schedules as far back as September 2006. But in 2007 there was nothing. No hands-on impressions, no new media, not even further confirmation that the game was still in development for Wii. Fans of HAL's power-absorbing hero can only hope that 2008 will bring better news.

Runner-up: Animal Crossing

Animal Crossing was expected for Wii early on, the rationale being that it would be an example of how to use the console's WiiConnect24 features. Someone could write you a letter, send a gift, or perhaps even visit your town while you were away, and the Wii would greet you with a flashing light to inform you that something had happened while you were gone. So far the standby light has only been used to inform Wii owners of new messages or channel updates. An announcement for Animal Crossing's Wii incarnation has yet to appear, but with the currently sparse 2008 release schedule it might make it this time around.