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. Tilili
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    Definitely the best of the whole franchise!! Pikmin 4 takes all the best points of its predecessors and make a giant love letter for old and new players!!
    Loving everything from this game!
  2. 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
  3. bryt12
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    I played pikmin 1, 2, and 3 leading up to this game. I thought that pikmin 2 would always be my favorite, but 4 has blown me away. The love I’ve had for this series since I was a child was realized by the team over at Nintendo on this one. It has the polish of 3 and the content of 2. I’m so happy pikmin got the love it deserved. This game will stand the test of time and create pikmin fansI played pikmin 1, 2, and 3 leading up to this game. I thought that pikmin 2 would always be my favorite, but 4 has blown me away. The love I’ve had for this series since I was a child was realized by the team over at Nintendo on this one. It has the polish of 3 and the content of 2. I’m so happy pikmin got the love it deserved. This game will stand the test of time and create pikmin fans for years to come.… Expand
  4. Weatherreport
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    This is quite possibly the best looking switch game ever made and still runs great with many amazing rts mechanics as well as optional features for newcomers, anyone who says otherwise was what is known as a "Dandori issue"
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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
  8. 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
  9. Muztard
    Jul 24, 2023
    0
    I played the demo and it made me fall asleep, this series is not for me and that makes me sad :(
  10. 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
  11. MunchingBoo
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    Ties in everything the previous entries have done well and does it EVEN BETTER. Fantastic game
  12. Benckertz
    Jul 24, 2023
    5
    Fantastic game! Great additions to the series! I love Oatchi! The new night events are fun!
  13. Lightwind51
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    Literally incredible through in through. A perfect game for first timers and for veterans. It has amazing quality of life changes all while still leaving plenty of room for expression with all the new and returning mechanics to the series.
  14. 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
  15. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. 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 !!!!!
  18. Garf-tastic
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    Very good game. The pikmin are all used well and oatchi also feels balanced. Enemies are even more fun and interesting as the past games; the combat is pretty good and deepens the strategy. Level design is very good. Graphics are really good, one of the best looking games due to good fidelity and art direction. The caves are all unique and are interesting. Top tier game in general andVery good game. The pikmin are all used well and oatchi also feels balanced. Enemies are even more fun and interesting as the past games; the combat is pretty good and deepens the strategy. Level design is very good. Graphics are really good, one of the best looking games due to good fidelity and art direction. The caves are all unique and are interesting. Top tier game in general and probably my goty… Expand
  19. 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.
  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. babeuscus
    Jul 24, 2023
    9
    This game has brought me nothing buy constant joy over my time playing it. Everything in this game from the new content to the callbacks like the picklopedia to the old makes it such a fun experience overall. This is a great game for old players and i could not recommend this enough to people who are new to the pikmin franchise. The only reason this isn't a 10 is the fact that i've foundThis game has brought me nothing buy constant joy over my time playing it. Everything in this game from the new content to the callbacks like the picklopedia to the old makes it such a fun experience overall. This is a great game for old players and i could not recommend this enough to people who are new to the pikmin franchise. The only reason this isn't a 10 is the fact that i've found it a bit on the easy side compared to the other games in the franchise but this is in no way something that should deter anyone from playing this game as it in no way takes away from the game. In my opinion this is the perfect pikmin game.… Expand
  22. Goenjy
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Un juego maravilloso para aquellos que decidan introducirse por primera vez en esta saga. No sólo es un un juego divertido y dinámico, sino que además es el Pikmin más extenso con diferencia. El juego opta por un juego quizá más fácil a lo que Pikmin nos tiene acostumbrados, pero eso no merma la experiencia de juego, ya que tendremos distintos desafíos que sorprenderán a más de un veterano. Tanto batallas como desafíos Dandori son uno de los elemtos que más me han gustado y lo que me animó a comprarme este juego. Conseguir la máxima puntuación en algunos desafíos pueden suponer un reto, pero nada que no se pueda ir puliendo tras unos cuantos intentos.
    En definitiva, un gran juego y una compra recomendada a todos aquellos que se quieran introducir en el universo Pikmin.    … Expand
  23. evlglswolf
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    The best pikmin game now, even better then 3. Tons of content and everything has been improved and figured out.
  24. Pikmin22
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    Amazing. Lived up to all expectations and was definitely worth the decade long wait.
  25. 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).
  26. 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.
  27. 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
  28. 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.
  29. potatoaaaa
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    an entertaining game worth 60$ and has some hard late game content that can take a few trys
  30. 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
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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.
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