Pikmin may not be as universally beloved as The Legend of Zelda or Fire Emblem, but since the first game launched on the GameCube in 2001, the series has continued to improve in quality and scale with each new entry. It's easy to be intimidated by the real-time strategy elements and time restrictions, but each game is more accessible than the one before and provides a unique experience unlike anything else in Nintendo's vast catalog.
Over a decade since Pikmin 3 first launched on the Wii U, the next game in the series — Pikmin 4 — has finally become available as a Nintendo Switch exclusive. It features a plethora of new features while maintaining the fundamental elements that have helped make Pikmin feel so special over the years. Whether you've played every game in the series or have wanted to hop into one for the first time, this guide should help you decide if Pikmin 4 is worth it or not.
Review
After spending so much time away from the Pikmin series, it seems like Nintendo discovered a way to refine its mechanics to become more approachable to new audiences. The story might be less ambitious than previous entries, but it's an excellent trade-off for the sheer scope of Pikmin 4 and the many surprises it has for you.
In Jade King's piece, "Pikmin 4 Review - Olimar Is Back On The Corpse Carrying Grind," she praises the game's charm, scale, and one of the newest features — an adorable alien rescue pup named Oatchi. "He’s adorable. Within minutes, he becomes an indispensable part of Pikmin 4’s repertoire. I couldn’t imagine a game in this series without him now, even if his presence does wipe away almost all challenge in favour of approachability."
Pikmin 4 isn’t quite the best game in the series, but it’s certainly the most confident. With this new entry, Nintendo has decided to wipe away much of the past tedium in favour of ensuring moment-to-moment gameplay is more enjoyable than ever.
Aside from being cute, Oatchi is one of the many additions in Pikmin 4 that make it feel much easier and more accessible than its predecessors. King concludes her review by stating "Commanding its multicoloured armies and pilfering this planet of its treasures while gathering a motley crew of comrades kept me enraptured for hours, just don’t come into this expecting the harsh journey back home to be little more than a leisurely stroll."
Pikmin 4 also introduces a rewind mechanic, so if you feel like you lost too many Pikmin or could have strategized better, you can go back a few minutes or even the entire day to improve your abilities. It's another nice feature for new players, but one that likely won't be used very often. "I never used it, either due to the game being too easy or the morbid part of my personality deciding that my comrades knew what they signed up for, and were dispensable cannon fodder I could easily replace."
Despite the lack of difficulty, Pikmin 4 is overflowing with a variety of modes and minigames to keep things interesting. Dandori Battles and Dandori Challenges test how effective you are at multitasking and managing your team of Pikmin, while night expeditions require you to protect one or two Lumiknolls from being destroyed by enemies.
King wasn't as enthusiastic about the night expeditions and felt like they didn't reach their full potential. "I would have preferred to explore nighttime variants of existing levels to soak in the foreboding atmosphere and how the environment becomes more hostile during the evening hours. Pikmin 4 could have introduced new strategies and enemy types, but instead gives them glowing red eyes and stops us from having a sense of true freedom."
While night expeditions didn't pique her interest, the numerous cave systems scattered throughout each stage were immediately intriguing. "...subterranean tunnels which lead to multi-layered dungeons, most of which come with their own aesthetic and cool gameplay strategies that soon factor into the overworld. I quickly became obsessed with gathering every single piece of treasure and diving into each tunnel I walked upon."
Ultimately, there is something for everyone in Pikmin 4, and if you don't like a certain minigame or aspect, they're mostly optional unless you're aiming to complete everything the game has to offer. It might not be as challenging as other Pikmin games, but Pikmin 4 is a great first entry for anyone whose been curious about diving into the series and a fantastic love letter to those who've been around since the very beginning.
Time Expenditure
When you first begin Pikmin 4, your main mission will be to find the missing Rescue Corps members and Olimar so you can return to your home planet. Depending on how efficient you are at collecting the necessary treasures, this can take you roughly 16 hours. Surprisingly, you can cut this time to about nine hours if your Dandori skills are through the roof.
After completing your mission, credits will roll and you'll begin to take off for home, but an unpredictable situation brings you back to the planet for more treasure-seeking and castaway-saving. There is a massive post-game to Pikmin 4 that introduces new stages, difficult challenges, and a whole new mode that brings back the time restrictions from previous entries.
This second adventure includes roughly ten hours of additional content, so if you want to see everything Pikmin 4 has to offer, expect to spend between 25 and 30 hours total before completely finishing it. You can also engage in local Dandori Battles against a friend, though it's unlikely that you'll spend more than a couple of hours with it before moving on to something more engaging.
Cost
Like many first-party Nintendo Switch games, you can pick up Pikmin 4 for $59.99, either physically or as a digital purchase.
The almost 30-hour adventure is certainly worth it, but if you're skeptical, there is a free demo on the Nintendo eShop that lets you play through the opening hours of the game. If you decide to pick up Pikmin 4 after playing the demo, your progress will transfer over, so you don't have to restart from the beginning.
If you want to save some money and subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online, it might be a good idea to take advantage of the Nintendo Switch Game Vouchers program.
This will allow you to grab a digital copy of Pikmin 4 and another game of your choosing for less than $100.
What People Are Saying
It's The Best Pikmin - Branden Lizardi
Pikmin 4 takes the best thing about every Pikmin game before it, and blends them together perfectly. Not only that, but it also introduces new concepts and characters that play equally well. The pacing is spread out just right, encouraging a constant feeling of motivation and progress. The environment provides that beautiful sense of scale only possible in a Pikmin game in some of the most stunning graphics the series has seen yet. If you only ever play one Pikmin, have it be this one.
100% Worth It - Hunter Mass
Pikmin 4 has been my very first foray into the Pikmin series (well, aside from briefly trying Pikmin Bloom), but now I’m hooked and I want to go try the rest. I’ve now spent a sizeable chunk of time with Pikmin 4, and still have so much more I can do in the game. Absolutely obsessed with the addition of Glow Pikmin.
Pikmin 4 Is An Excellent Game For Fans - Garrett Garcia
Pikmin 4 is a blast to play with plenty of content to make the price worth it. Fans will appreciate the gameplay changes and well-designed areas while newcomers won't be lost by the story. If you're not sure whether you should play it, try the demo or buy the first game!