Before I get into detail about my issue, I'd like to say that my Wii U console is up-to-date and that I have tried deleting both my connections and the update data for the games I am unable to play. I have also tried unplugging the console entirely for a few minutes, but that has done nothing to solve the problem. I have had this same issue before, but was able to resolve it by plugging in a Disney Infinity base (I'm not sure why, but up until now doing this has resolved the issue of my games freezing). I have contacted Nintendo Customer support, and they recommended sending it in for repair. However, I am trying to avoid doing this. I'd like to know if anyone else has experienced a similar issue and was able to fix it.
Yesterday, I was trying to play Super Mario Maker and I received the error code 160-3204. I looked it up and contacted a specialist, who informed me that my console most likely needs repair since the game is fairly new and should be working fine. I tried starting up the game a few more times after that, but continued to receive the same error code. I tried deleting all of my connections, cleaning the disc, and unplugging it for a while. However, this did nothing to help.
This morning, I decided to try starting up the game again. This time, I did not receive an error code. Instead, I encountered an issue I had about a year ago with Mario Kart 8: the loading screen appeared on the screen, the start-up music came to an abrupt stop, and none of the buttons on the console did anything. I turned the console off, and on the gamepad screen (this part is hard to explain, so bear with me XD) the regular start-up screen was filled with pixels of black and dark green. (NOTE: at this point, the power button was red while before it was blue, which makes sense since I turned the console off). A few seconds later, the image on the gamepad disappeared. While last year simply plugging in a Disney Infinity base seemed to do the trick (I had contacted customer support prior to plugging in the base, and they told me to send it in for repair. I plugged it in to play Disney Infinity, and forgot to unplug it before trying to play Mario Kart 8 again and somehow it worked), doing that did absolutely nothing this time. I have tried using some of my other games and have had the same problem. Out of the ones I have tested so far, Super Mario Maker, Super Mario 3D World, and Mario Kart 8 are experiencing this problem. The only games I have been able to play are Splatoon and Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival.
I honestly just want to be able to play my games. I am willing to just buy a new Wii U at this point, if that's what it comes to. I'd just like to know if anyone else has been able to solve this rather annoying problem.