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. pokomon_muster1
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    A gift from the GODS. Gem of a game. Greatest series of all time. Extremely happy with how fun the game was. Truly hope this game does well and continue on the series.
  2. Donkey1988
    Jul 25, 2023
    10
    Is my first time with Pikmin and the experience was simply great.

    The game is simply wonderful in all aspects.
  3. Max2222
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    Its the correct evolution of the previous games. Really polished and a lot of content!
  4. emomoromos
    Jul 25, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Mesmerizing, exciting and a warm hug for the fans of the series.

    - loved the way they managed to include so many pikmin types, with it being balanced enough for the player to try different combinations and strategies
    - the glow pikmin are so well implemented in the gameplay, and despite them being so powerful, the way to use them and obtain them during the day balance them really well
    - I really liked the design of all the new maps and how they sinergyze with the perspective, making the maps feel sooo huge
    - Olimar's shipwreck tale was AWESOME, so nostalgic and super fun. Big shutout to this mode's music and the remix between old and new songs
    - The white and purple onion feel very exclusive thanks to the way to obtain them, important detail since these two pikmin types have much utility
    - The final cave was very fun to play, I really liked how it was full of boss battles
    - The exploration of the overworld was awesome, it feelt really organic and enjoyable
    - The minimalistic music fits really well the aesthetics of the game
    - The difficulty in both puzzles and fighting enemies was just right, not too easy to feel lazy, not too hard to be frustrating

    It, of course, has its minor flaws

    - I wish the enemies in the overworld would respawn days after
    - I find the purple pikmin a bit too strong, although the variety of enemies that can only be beaten with a certain type of pikmin balance it up a bit
    - I liked the final battle, but don't feel like it was as memorable as the Titan Dweevil and the Plasm Wraith
    - The rock and winged pikmin were missing a bit of utility. The bamboo gates would have been such a good adition specifically now that we can only have three types of pikmin on the field. They were not a lot of enemies that needed rock pikmin to be defeated, and very few crystal walls during the game
    - I missed the gigantic and complex boss battles from pikmin 3, it would have been so cool to have them alongside with the minor boss battles
    - Having an entire final area dedicated to the final boss was a really cool feature that I would have love to have back on pikmin 4

    It's just an entirely beautiful experience, can't wait for pikmin 5    … Expand
  5. Arcaena
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    The Pikmin 4 demo was my introduction to the Pikmin Franchise.
    After finishing the demo, and still having time before 4 released, I played 2 & 3 (I didn't get to beat 2 before 4 came out, so I watched the ending)
    This game has several nods to both 2 & 3 and seems to have combined the best of all the other games! You'll find caves with familiar layouts and enemies, and even in the    The Pikmin 4 demo was my introduction to the Pikmin Franchise.
    After finishing the demo, and still having time before 4 released, I played 2 & 3 (I didn't get to beat 2 before 4 came out, so I watched the ending)

    This game has several nods to both 2 & 3 and seems to have combined the best of all the other games! You'll find caves with familiar layouts and enemies, and even in the overworld you'll see old and new enemies alike.

    My disappointments lie in the targeting system, as the lock-on function can be frustrating at times. As well as the character customization. I feel as though if they wanted to let us create our own character, they could have given us more options to truly make our character represent us. There is one area in particular I wish we had access to explore more of, but I won't go into detail as to avoid having to mark spoilers. I will say, you'll know when you get there what I mean. (We only got to see half, maybe a quarter of a potentially huge area)
    The biggest flaw of this game that we all can agree on is the co-op. It was truly a downgrade from 3's co-op and I'm hoping that, like 3, it will be redone to give us a much better experience. Pebble pitching just isn't a true co-op experience vs being able to control another character like in 3. They could easily have P2 play as Oatchi! We'll see if we get better co-op later on but until then, that is definitely the biggest problem with the game.

    Other than that, the game is phenomenal. There's SO much content. I'm 30 hours in and still have some more content left to do, as I'm doing a completionist route.
    The visuals are amazing, each area we go to is beautifully made with stunning colors and unique layouts.

    If Miyamoto decides to make a 5th installment of the main storyline after this, I would be ecstatic. (And hopefully it wouldn't take 10 years? Haha) There's plenty of room for improvement still, if they did make another game. Pikmin 4 truly gives us everything we could have wanted from the past games.    … Expand
  6. Onion2001
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    With no spoilers whatsoever, this is literally the perfect Pikmin experience possible. They combined every great element in all three games to make the best rounded game in the series. This is a must play for switch owners.
  7. Spectrillium
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    Made an account and came here to briefly talk about how this is probally Nintendo's best game in a long time.

    They make great games ofc. But this game is just HUGE (and not artificially big like BOTW/TOTK with filler). This games just long. It's massive. So much to do and it all feels so unique. Also this games hard! The rewind feature is shoved in your face too much, but without it your    Made an account and came here to briefly talk about how this is probally Nintendo's best game in a long time.

    They make great games ofc. But this game is just HUGE (and not artificially big like BOTW/TOTK with filler). This games just long. It's massive. So much to do and it all feels so unique. Also this games hard! The rewind feature is shoved in your face too much, but without it your Pikmin can and will get wiped on some bosses, just like in the original Pikmin games.

    Go play Pikmin 4. It's long, charming, addicting, and difficult.    … Expand
  8. Pikmin4
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Pikmin 4 is the Peak of this series with little Mins. As a first timer to the Pikmin series, it's a pleasant experience. The visuals are stunning, for one. The rewind time feature lets you try your hardest to save everyone, but is only optional. Mastering the art of Dandori through the Challenges, Battles and the Trials of the Sage Leaf is a genuinely fun experience trying to maximise efficiency (if only I could do so irl too) and the Night expeditions provide a decent challenge through the combat. With a whole host of treasures to collect, caves to explore and castaways to rescue, this game keeps you well occupied during Day expeditions, and the risk of whether or not to rush in last minute tasks as the sun goes down is incredulous.
    Olimar's Shipwreck Tale is a nice reward for saving Olimar, a fast paced Pikmin 1 style rush to collect 30 Ship parts in 15 days, and the reward of the Trials of the Sage Leaf is worth the while.
    The one complaint I have about the Trials of the Sage Leaf is that a day passes when you exit. The challenges are very difficult and truly put your Dandori to the test, not to mention the White and Purple Onions you get as rewards for the Trials (Trial 5 for White, Trial 10 for Purple).
    Each and every Pikmin has it's time to shine, the Piklopedia entries are a joy (especially Louie's cooking guide), the treasures are varied and charming it's a blast all around to complete.

    (also, Louie is a psychopath and needs to be killed asap)    … Expand
  9. Quiverheart
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    Pikmin 4 takes so much of what was good about the prior entries in the series and does something spectacular and new with the formula. Every moment I played I was blown away by how much fun I was having. This game was absolutely worth the wait. My only issues are that the auto lock-on can be annoying at times and should be toggleable, and the game starts a bit too easy. However thesePikmin 4 takes so much of what was good about the prior entries in the series and does something spectacular and new with the formula. Every moment I played I was blown away by how much fun I was having. This game was absolutely worth the wait. My only issues are that the auto lock-on can be annoying at times and should be toggleable, and the game starts a bit too easy. However these problems are very minor and do not detract from the overall experience. This is the best pikmin game for newcomers and fans alike.… Expand
  10. Valerio93x
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    Beautiful, the best of the series, suitable for all ages, lots to do, detailed and intuitive, colorful and detailed maps, in short… Buy it!
  11. Slaymen0508
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    After such a long wait, pikmin 4 delivers on the hype. There's so much more content than every other game in this series, and none of it is randomly Generated. My only real problem with the game is some items make it easy, but it isn't hard to simply not use them, and they help younger or slower players enjoy the game, so it balances out in the end
  12. PottedPlantMan
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    Pikmin 4 is a refreshing take on the Pikmin formula while still calling back to the previous titles. Pikmin 4 is too good to pass up, I love this game.
  13. veeisbonkers
    Jul 25, 2023
    10
    Adorable game! Im so glad pikmin is back. there is many customizability options and you even get to upgrade oachi. Loved it
  14. potatoaaaa
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    an entertaining game worth 60$ and has some hard late game content that can take a few trys
  15. klipe
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    One of the best pikmin games release so far. Everything seems to be well taught (including the puzzles and stages). Completely in love with this game.
  16. Louie2000
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    Whether you're a hardcore fanatic of Pikmin or a new player wanting to see what all the hype is about, Pikmin 4 will do more than just meet your expectations, it will surpass them. This is the perfect Pikmin game, and I say this as a massive Pikmin 2 fan. Play this game now.
  17. PIKMEN4
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    10 years and IT CAME OUT!1!1! No one out pikmins the hut!1!1 i love pikmen!1!1!1
  18. whispikrock
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    An absolutely beautiful game. It takes the aspects that made the previous three great, mushes then together, and builds upon, while ironing out a few minor annoyances from the previous titles. An absolute must play for any Switch owner or Nintendo fan (or anyone looking for a charming and whimsical time).
  19. Pikmin22
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    Amazing. Lived up to all expectations and was definitely worth the decade long wait.
  20. AgentDB
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    Just an absolute joy to play and one of the best Pikmin games released. It's a huge love letter to fans of the series packed with a ton of content. Couldn't be happier as a Pikmin fan.
  21. sethmlarson
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    If you enjoyed Pikmin 1 or 2, this game is a love letter to you. Easily the best Pikmin game for beginners too, has the perfect ramping of difficulty to keep veterans engaged and newcomers to learn things piece by piece. I laughed out loud and cried on my first playthrough. Thank you Nintendo, you've delivered something incredible.
  22. Hallow451
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    The Pikmin series was always a bright little gem like no other than Nintendo can do. But Pikmin 4 is Pikmin 1 + 2 + 3 and put that all to a whole new level ! One of the best game Nintendo have ever produced and an immediate must play ! LOVED IT !!!!!
  23. Enaphael
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    After a long wait, this game is just perfect. The QoL, the visuals, the music... everything is designed to be just what it needed to be.
  24. Liwee_Peekman64
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    An Absolutely gorgeous addition to the Pikmin franchise, with new and returning enemies, fun gameplay, and a charming asthetic anyone could love.
  25. Danmarie
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    It has been the best gaming experience i’ve had in a long time! I never loved a game so much, this is my first pikmin game (i played pikmin 1 recently but haven’t made it too far yet) so pretty much 4 has been a proper introduction for me to the series, and my god i’m in awe, this game really lived up to the hype for me! I can’t recommende it enough
  26. Probolance
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    As a longtime fan of the series (starting with Pikmin 1 on the GameCube), I must say Nintendo has absolutely knocked the ball out of the park with Pikmin 4. In just a few short days, Pikmin 4 has easily skyrocketed to the top of my personal Pikmin game tier list. By carefully extracting the best components of each past mainline Pikmin title and blending it all together, Nintendo hasAs a longtime fan of the series (starting with Pikmin 1 on the GameCube), I must say Nintendo has absolutely knocked the ball out of the park with Pikmin 4. In just a few short days, Pikmin 4 has easily skyrocketed to the top of my personal Pikmin game tier list. By carefully extracting the best components of each past mainline Pikmin title and blending it all together, Nintendo has created a masterpiece of an experience that has it all, both for first-time players and longtime fans of the series like myself.

    I’ll begin with what this game has to offer for newcomers to the series — namely, that it is the most accessible entry in the franchise. The addition of mechanics such as the time rewind feature (which lets you “rewind” the game a set amount of time in cases where you, for example, lose a lot of Pikmin in a fight, or want to retry to get a certain task done before sunset) is very helpful, and the careful focus to ensuring that all the game’s core mechanics are both adequately explained and demonstrated, with ample opportunity for practice, makes this game the easiest entry of the series for first-time players to jump into. The removal of a Day Limit — which was previously a point of contention that kept potential new players away from the series — shifts the focus of the game away from the central pillar of maximizing time management in 1 & 3 and more towards exploration and adventure. But though the focus is no longer squarely on time management, this does not mean it is entirely gone! Pikmin 4 does still encourage time management (presented in the game by the concept of “Dandori”, a Japanese word describing the art of time management); however, unlike in 1 & 3, one must no longer worry about running out of days and having to start the game from scratch. Rather, Pikmin 4 encourages time management primarily in “battles”, which are self-contained challenges presented to you throughout the game, where you fight against both time itself in some instances and CPU opponents in others. If you fail any of these challenges, the game simply immediately offers you the chance to try it again. And of course, as in past titles, time management is also encouraged by the personal challenge of improving upon your past records. For example, one of the ways I enjoy repeated playthroughs of games in the series is by challenging myself to see how many in-game days I can complete that title in. In Pikmin 1 for example, my current record is 9 Days — and each time I replay the game, I always strive to see if I can bring that number down to 8, or even lower! Pikmin 4 is no exception to this: I’m already looking forward to my next playthrough, to see how many less Days it will take me to 100% the game!

    While the game does focus on being as welcoming to newcomers to the series as possible, this does not detract from what this game has to offer for its veteran fans! In addition to the meta challenge of lowering your Days taken to beat the game, there is of course also challenging content to be found in the game itself. Certain enemies and some later caves will see you lose many precious members of your squad. Rewinding time is always an option; but if you don't believe in hitting that Reset button, you are never forced to use the feature: rather, the game may simply suggest it to you as an option at certain times. Getting Platinum medals in Dandori Battles is another challenge one can undertake if you find merely “passing” the challenges to be too easy. In addition, later optional post-game content sees the challenge and difficulty of the game reach — and possibly even exceed — previous series highs. Beyond the game’s difficulty, veteran fans will also be excited by the nods to prior titles. Of course, I won’t spoil what these nods are; but each time I encountered a new reference, I always found myself grinning like an idiot for at least the next few minutes. One last feature of the game I’ll talk about that’s sure to please those who’ve played past games is the return to prominence of all prior Pikmin types. Unlike in Pikmin 3 where the Pikmin types of Pikmin 2 (whites and purples) were relegated to side content, in Pikmin 4, all types are accessible in the main story mode!

    There’s so much more I could talk about, but due to the character limit, I’ll leave it there. This game is the culmination of a decade of work, and the sheer quality reflected in every aspect of the game clearly shows that this ample time was put to excellent use. As someone who was admittedly not the biggest fan of Pikmin 3 as compared to 1 & 2, Pikmin 4 is essentially the Pikmin sequel I’ve waited almost my whole life for (for reference, nearly 19 years have passed since I first played Pikmin 2 on the GameCube in 2004!) Pikmin 4, in my opinion, is the absolute peak of the franchise, and I’m unsure how Nintendo can possibly top it in the next game — but even so, I can’t wait to see them try!    … Expand
  27. MunchingBoo
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    Ties in everything the previous entries have done well and does it EVEN BETTER. Fantastic game
  28. Ochrehorns
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    A love letter to the entire series, perfect for fans old and new. It feels like Pikmin 1 bundled in with an entirely new game, and I couldn't be more grateful as a fan since 2001 of the series.

    Pikmin Four-ever
  29. MushKinPuff
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The level design and gameplay are the best the series has ever been. It takes everything the previous three games did well, and puts them all into one experience, while keeping out almost all those games’ mistakes. It does absolutely everything I wanted it to do and then some. One particularly noteworthy aspect is that every area can be 100% completed with just the Pikmin you either enter the area already having, or will find in that area. No backtracking is ever required, though some puzzles may become easier to solve if you choose to wait and come back with more resources. It’s very satisfying to go to a new area knowing you’ve done everything you possibly can in the previous one.

    The game gives us access to all nine primary types of Pikmin in the main campaign, which was great to have after Pikmin 3 chose to omit Purple and White Pikmin. To balance the diversity, and keep things from getting overwhelming, only three types of Pikmin can be chosen to be with you at once. (Though you can get more than that if you find other types while exploring a cave.) This helps to make no Pikmin feel unhelpful, as even if two Pikmin are both capable of completing a specific task, which one will be more useful in other ways will change from are to area, and from cave to cave. For example, both Rock and Purple Pikmin are great in combat. Purples are stronger and can damage multiple enemies at once, but Rocks are immune to being crushed or impaled, making them a safer choice in many cases. But Purples also have the carry strength of 10 Pikmin, but you may opt for them despite their relative vulnerability to help carry back those items after the fight is over.

    Oatchi the Space Pup adds a lot of intricacies to the game’s strategy and combat. He functions as a hybrid between Captain and Pikmin, mechanically, having all the same abilities as a captain, but also being able to be directed in battle, and to carry objects back to base. You can upgrade him, just as you can your captain, allowing him to have higher carry and combat strength, as well as increased defense and immunity to hazards, among other things. Not to mention you quickly gain the ability to ride Oatchi, letting you jump up ledges and keep the Pikmin all huddled together on his back. And soon he can swim those Pikmin across water as well. There’s always more than one way to tackle a puzzle or fight thanks to all the options he adds to the table. Deciding the most effective way to do things can be difficult, but satisfying to figure out, thanks to this adorable companion’s help.

    The new Glow Pikmin do not live in the onion, and instead a certain amount will enter your inventory after clearing one of the Night Mode levels they are obtained in. This allows you to have them anytime you want underground, without counting them towards your three other choices. They cannot be used above ground or taken out of caves, however. The night mode you get them in is a completely new and kind of terrifying way to play Pikmin, with it mixing Pikmin’s Real Time Strategy Gameplay with the Tower Defense genre. You need to very carefully manage your time to increase your number of Glow Pikmin, while simultaneously keeping enemies away from the objective you are protecting. Luckily, Glow Pikmin are special, and automatically return to the active character when idle, making it very easy to keep track of them as you switch between your captain and Oatchi to try your best to multitask.

    The game’s length is staggering, with it having over 1.5x more collectibles than the previous three games had combined. However, unlike Pikmin 2, the game never begins to feel as if it is dragging on. Every single sublevel of every single cave is unique, and human-made rather than randomly generated, so no at no point does the experience grow stale or feel unbalanced / unfair. The game does feature multiples of a lot of its treasures, with only 239 unique ones out of the 410 you can find. But this helps make it even more special when you find something completely new. The same can be said of the enemies, of which many return from previous games, including many fan favorites that haven’t been seen since Pikmin 2 or even as far back as Pikmin 1. And many of the old foes manage to feel just as fresh as the new ones, thanks to improvements in their AI and changes to the way they fight or the way you battle them. For example, the Baldy Long Legs now roams all around the maps it is found on, rather than being contained to a Boss arena.

    Nintendo really hit it out of the park with this game. They absolutely delivered to the fans who have waited a decade for this sequel, while also creating an experience that can certainly be enjoyed by new players just as much. It’s a game I will no doubt be returning to over and over again, just as I have with the first three games. Even though it is a significantly longer game than them, it’s still one I will almost definitely never get sick of.    … Expand
  30. Psiphen
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    This game is amazing. It’s funny, sad, emotional, everything. It is my favorite game of all time. The gameplay loop is phenomenal. Please go play this game
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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.
    Read full review
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