Pikmin 4

 Switch
User Score
8.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 613 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 526 out of 613
  2. Mixed: 48 out of 613
  3. Negative: 39 out of 613
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  1. bl1rt
    Aug 4, 2023
    7
    Nothing is ever going to beat playing with Wiimote input, but apart from that, the main game is as fun as Pikmin ever was (a lot).
    I wish the parts between exploration were more streamlined, particularly the dialogs and the speed in which you can go through them. Even visiting the shop takes three dialog boxes, each of them you have to watch a few seconds before the game allows you to go    Nothing is ever going to beat playing with Wiimote input, but apart from that, the main game is as fun as Pikmin ever was (a lot).
    I wish the parts between exploration were more streamlined, particularly the dialogs and the speed in which you can go through them. Even visiting the shop takes three dialog boxes, each of them you have to watch a few seconds before the game allows you to go on. While you wait, you pummel the button to no effect, which is so frustrating, I quickly switched from the next button to the skip button. And while you fortunately can skip pretty much the whole story this way, you still have to sit through so much meaningless, elongated chit-chat, it makes the game feel sluggish and annoying.    … Expand
  2. littlejoe
    Aug 7, 2023
    7
    + Core gameplay is phenomenal and shines in post game and side modes
    + Masterful graphics and attention to detail
    + Music is minimal, but still great - The campaign has poor difficulty curve and is way too repetitive - You will feel babied as a player, even by Nintendo standards - No backtracking, you plow one area after another and have no incentive to go back - Not many original    + Core gameplay is phenomenal and shines in post game and side modes
    + Masterful graphics and attention to detail
    + Music is minimal, but still great
    - The campaign has poor difficulty curve and is way too repetitive
    - You will feel babied as a player, even by Nintendo standards
    - No backtracking, you plow one area after another and have no incentive to go back
    - Not many original bosses or fresh feeling designs in general    … Expand
  3. Tortor
    Jul 27, 2023
    6
    100% completed in about 30 hours.

    Very collectable driven game with its gameplay loop of checking off boxes of things your pikmin can carry to base. That's really it, that's all you do, carry treasure and characters to base. Once you unlock radar, which is very early in the game, the game tells you where all the treasures are too so nothing is ever really hidden or challenging on locating    100% completed in about 30 hours.

    Very collectable driven game with its gameplay loop of checking off boxes of things your pikmin can carry to base. That's really it, that's all you do, carry treasure and characters to base. Once you unlock radar, which is very early in the game, the game tells you where all the treasures are too so nothing is ever really hidden or challenging on locating everything. It was ok, I think hype around the game is a little overblown as it's not necessarily very fun, more so just something cozy, light hearted and with a good loop behind it to mindlessly go about tasks.

    It really was repetitive, the differences in pikmin didn't make a huge change to gameplay as they ultimately all did the same thing except color coordinating what pikmin is used to destroy what wall, not very clever and just felt a little cheap. This is my first pikmin game too, so i really didn't have any nostalgia for this type of gameplay to overhype my expectation.

    The puzzles were not challenging either, Its hardly a puzzle when you the same solution is used for nearly every puzzle.

    Boss fights also were meh, you have so many pikmin you can just kill most bosses with sent your entire swarm and they'll go down in a few seconds.

    I think a small child would enjoy this game because of its simplicity. If I was a child though I'd probably get a little bored of it too once reach the 4th area and really just doing the same thing over and over again. It felt like work or doing chores.

    The things I did like was the camp writing conversation, treatures were fun to see their description and the night time tower defense was fun.

    Overall it was an ok time for someone looking for a mindless time sink, it's however nothing very memorable as it doesn't leave a lasting impression.    … Expand
  4. Crimson9
    Jul 24, 2023
    5
    Nintendo's current game design philosophy seems to not include the word CHALLENGE. A balanced challenge is not present in any game they make these days including this one. Many players are able to have fun in a game that poses no challenge whatsoever (like the new Paper Mario, the new 3D mario, etc. etc.) but I can't.
  5. ObjectivelySubj
    Jul 22, 2023
    5
    I’d say read Natedoinglife’s review for the main points, but this will probably go down as the most underwhelming entry in the Pikmin franchise for me. Basically, they forgot most of the improvements they made in Pikmin 3 (and 3 Deluxe) and made the game very simple. Night mode was a letdown. I liked the music. Bosses were easy. Game’s story isn’t really engaging compared to the other 3I’d say read Natedoinglife’s review for the main points, but this will probably go down as the most underwhelming entry in the Pikmin franchise for me. Basically, they forgot most of the improvements they made in Pikmin 3 (and 3 Deluxe) and made the game very simple. Night mode was a letdown. I liked the music. Bosses were easy. Game’s story isn’t really engaging compared to the other 3 Pikmin titles. I’ll stick with Pikmin 3 Deluxe if I need to recommend a Pikmin game to someone. I’m just glad the franchise isn’t dead. 5/10.… Expand
  6. Natedoinglife
    Jul 24, 2023
    6
    When compared to past Pikmin games:

    Pros: - Improved Visuals - Length of playtime - Number of treasures to collect - A character inventory is something that has really been missing up until now - Above-world level design is expansive and fun to explore - Moveable bases - There is a night mode Cons: - A step backwards in terms of boss design from Pikmin 3 - Pikmin limits on    When compared to past Pikmin games:

    Pros:
    - Improved Visuals
    - Length of playtime
    - Number of treasures to collect
    - A character inventory is something that has really been missing up until now
    - Above-world level design is expansive and fun to explore
    - Moveable bases
    - There is a night mode

    Cons:
    - A step backwards in terms of boss design from Pikmin 3
    - Pikmin limits on the field
    - Oatchi oversimplifies the game and feels unnecesary as he completes tasks that could have easily been done by different pikmin types. It almost feels as though the 3 type limit was introduced just so that Oatchi would have an artificially justified use.
    - Fewer captains means less multitasking capabilities. This effectively leads to less "dandori" in Nintendo's "dandori" game.
    - Classically difficult bosses have been oversimplified to the point where they are mind-numbingly easy to defeat.
    - Lack of creativity in boss designs following Pikmin 3 led to the development team simply reusing bosses from Pikmin 2.
    - When caves were announced to be returning, something along the lines of Pikmin 1's Forest Navel or Pikmin 3's caves was expected. Instead, Nintendo fell back on the archaic Pikmin 2 design philosophy, and while these caves follow their own unique designs, they fail to keep up with the above-world enhanced level design.
    - A lack of real two-player functionality as was seen in Pikmin 3 Deluxe. This feels like a harsh step backwards for a feature that was perfect for the series.
    - Lack of general captain and individual Pikmin animations
    - Way too much dialogue for a Pikmin game
    - Lack of control options and toggles, forcing players to use the autolock feature and limiting overall variability in gameplay
    - First game since Pikmin 1 to not have an expansive Challenge Mode outside of the main story
    - Game is simply too easy and lacks any real challenge for players of the past Pikmin games. It was a common criticism that Pikmin 3 was too easy, but it seems as though there aren't ever any real consequences in Pikmin 4.
    - The night mode feels very "thrown together" and definitely does not live up to its potential
    - No online multiplayer

    Conclusion:
    It feels as though Pikmin fans have been so starved for content ever since the famous interview about Pikmin 4 being near completion that they are willing to praise Pikmin 4 for anything good and simply ignore the good aspect of past games that have been removed or glossed over. As a fan, I am very happy that Pikmin 4 has been released and will likely sell well compared to other entries in the series, as it is the first new Pikmin game to be released on a well-selling console. However, it would be ignorant to pretend as though this is a perfect game. As a whole, Pikmin 4 is a good entry, but it sacrifices many of the things that make the other three games great. Hopefully Nintendo can take a little more time in fully fleshing out Pikmin 5 once they gain the confidence in the series that the higher Switch release sales numbers will undoubtedly provide.    … Expand
  7. Tacoswithcheese
    Jul 26, 2023
    5
    Mid game uhh noting to say so potatos are green and lettuce are yellow and why
  8. Benckertz
    Jul 24, 2023
    5
    Fantastic game! Great additions to the series! I love Oatchi! The new night events are fun!
  9. ClaraDolphin
    Jul 24, 2023
    5
    I’ve waited 10 years for pikmin 4, and it is perfect, it’s beautiful , fun, and deserves all the success !! Pikmin has been my favorite game since I played it long long ago
  10. Steyraus
    Jul 22, 2023
    7
    Very fun game but my least favourite Pikmin game..The beach level sux. If you don't move the bag right away you get confused AF on how to get back to the top West of the map..I wasted so my time on that crap..There is not rnough different areas and the areas the are are over used.I hated being forced to do the Dandori battles. The game is over to messy with to many pikmin and modes..TheVery fun game but my least favourite Pikmin game..The beach level sux. If you don't move the bag right away you get confused AF on how to get back to the top West of the map..I wasted so my time on that crap..There is not rnough different areas and the areas the are are over used.I hated being forced to do the Dandori battles. The game is over to messy with to many pikmin and modes..The Pikmin charm is still there but it's only fun because of what the old games introduced.… Expand
  11. ferrri430430
    Jul 28, 2023
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Not as good as the third instalment, still pretty fun to play, but you will get bored immediately.… Expand
  12. Dagshola
    Jul 31, 2023
    7
    Nice game, but unfortunatly they decided to drop the great coop from Pikmin 3 and decided to go for a "assist" mode. Playing together in couch-coop isn't fun at all.

Awards & Rankings

12
#12 Best Switch Game of 2023
4
#4 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2023

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 119 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 113 out of 119
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 119
  3. Negative: 0 out of 119
  1. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jan 22, 2024
    100
    It's a thrilling ride. You go for one short game and wake up after five hours, only to return to playing immediately because you've figured out how to beat your opponent. The graphics may be simple, but they make up for it with the colour and thoughtfulness of the environments, and one genuinely enjoys exploring every nook and cranny. This is really worth it. [Issue#329]
  2. Starbit
    Nov 10, 2023
    90
    Pikmin 4 marks the return of one of Nintendo's most beloved series, and this return could not have happened in a better way. Thanks to its exquisite audiovisual world, slick gameplay mechanics, an enveloping strategic component, and the adorable relationship between the player and the little alien creatures, Pikmin 4 is nothing short of a jewel on the crown of the Nintendo Switch.
    Read full review
  3. Gamereactor Finland
    Nov 9, 2023
    70
    Too childish, and too little new compared to previous games.
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