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. FINOVIN
    Jul 26, 2023
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Haven't played the actual game yet but the demo was pretty fun kinda got me into pikmin and i think this is the best time to get into pikmin definitely recommend.… Expand
  2. Bighaid91
    Jul 25, 2023
    10
    W good but a bit much in the dialog but very good. The concept is good and I hope there is dlc
  3. Jordan22
    Jul 25, 2023
    10
    The most beautiful game on the Nintendo switch, this game makes me feel calm and at peace, I love to sit back and play after a long day of work, it may not be the most challenging game in the series but it's the best looking one
  4. Cornisreal2003
    Aug 10, 2023
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A fantastic return for the Pikmin series,. ) enjoy the new environments, the gameplay is as you expect (excellent) and the story is wildly fun. what I didn't expect was for the music to be so good, the final boss tack goes especially hard. My only real issues are the auto lock being a bit finnicky and getting some of the special onions a bit too late (purple and white especially being annoying) though i do see around them and hope in a future update an option to turn off auto lock is added. Overall an incredible experience and highly recommended for any fans of real time strategy games.… 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. 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
  7. 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
  8. 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
  9. potatoaaaa
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    an entertaining game worth 60$ and has some hard late game content that can take a few trys
  10. 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.
  11. 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
  12. 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
  13. 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
  14. 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
  15. 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
  16. Astal08
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    Before trying out the Pikmin 4 demo, I first learned of the series through Smash bros, and eventually played an hour of Pikmin 3 Deluxe before brushing off the gameplay as not for me. While I liked the series for its characters and and unique story, I never gave the actual games a chance. Here we are 3 years later, 24 hours spent on Pikmin 4 in just 3 days,100%ing every area and gettingBefore trying out the Pikmin 4 demo, I first learned of the series through Smash bros, and eventually played an hour of Pikmin 3 Deluxe before brushing off the gameplay as not for me. While I liked the series for its characters and and unique story, I never gave the actual games a chance. Here we are 3 years later, 24 hours spent on Pikmin 4 in just 3 days,100%ing every area and getting each collectible I can get my grubby mitts on. Very recently I been going through a gaming burnout of sorts, but this game has rekindled my passion for gaming once again. Never have I turned from “ I know this franchise, I like it” to “ I need everything relating to this game now” in such amount of time. In my short 15 years on this planet, many games have come and gone, but this game will sit among my favorite games of all time, joining the ranks of Mario 64 and Mario Odyssey, for the years to come.… Expand
  17. GamerTheHoopa
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    10/10, could not recommend more. It’s a gorgeous and fun game that’s been a decade in the making and it is SO worth it.
  18. evan_evine
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    It takes everything fun about the previous games and combines them in an amazingly beautiful package that fans and new players will be sure to love!
  19. Shibanu
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    This Game was well worth the wait. I love all the content and the sub-levels are very diverse and they throw all kind of surprises at you.

    Dandori Battles are fun and all the harder content isn't forced onto the player.
    I am very far in the game and i am on my way to 100% but every hour so far has been a blast.
  20. MajinMugi
    Jul 25, 2023
    10
    So far this game is awsome im not finoshed with it yet but if .y opinion changes when i do finish the game i will update my review
  21. Fixbiie
    Jul 25, 2023
    10
    Best Pikmin Game Ever! A refreshing new take on the Franchise I Loved it!!!
  22. GasoliNX
    Jul 25, 2023
    10
    Very immersive game-play, I got hooked up playing it as it offers so much for a very long time of game-play and I look forward to playing it every waking moment.

    Some features might need improvement, such as the auto-locking. I think there should be a way to toggle it off. other than that the game seems and feel polished
  23. Zorua028
    Jul 25, 2023
    10
    Pikmin 4 was a game I was expecting for a long time and honestly, even if I was very hyped, I expected pikmin 3 deluxe to still be the better pikmin game. But after playing 4 I realized that the 10 years of waiting really paid off. Pikmin 4 was a game I enjoyed all the way through, even if I thought the game was really over when the credits rolled the first time, but it surprised me with aPikmin 4 was a game I was expecting for a long time and honestly, even if I was very hyped, I expected pikmin 3 deluxe to still be the better pikmin game. But after playing 4 I realized that the 10 years of waiting really paid off. Pikmin 4 was a game I enjoyed all the way through, even if I thought the game was really over when the credits rolled the first time, but it surprised me with a lot more content. A very enjoyable game, I would recommend everyone to at least try the free demo as it's got a lot of content.… Expand
  24. Leaflee
    Jul 25, 2023
    10
    Pikimin 4, e meu primeiro contato com essa franquia que eu só tava acostumado a ver de longe como muita gente, eu fiquei de muiiiito surpreendido, realmente é um jogo como nenhum outro, a cada mapa feito 100% você vai ficando cada vez mais sedento, por fazer 100% nos próximos, e ele não fica parado ae porque ainda tem um pós-game que coloca a prova tudo o que tu aprendeu até então, o jogoPikimin 4, e meu primeiro contato com essa franquia que eu só tava acostumado a ver de longe como muita gente, eu fiquei de muiiiito surpreendido, realmente é um jogo como nenhum outro, a cada mapa feito 100% você vai ficando cada vez mais sedento, por fazer 100% nos próximos, e ele não fica parado ae porque ainda tem um pós-game que coloca a prova tudo o que tu aprendeu até então, o jogo é muito gostoso e para quem gosta de se desafiar é só completar tudo no 100% o que é outro ponto no jogo o 100% das coisas demanda tempo porém não é frustrante e tudo natural, para quem nunca jogou pikimin começe por esse pois pikimin 4 e realmente muito bom.… Expand
  25. Funky_Monke
    Jul 25, 2023
    10
    This is one of the best Nintendo games up to date. Great graphics, playability and music. This game is a must play.
  26. Cchh
    Jul 25, 2023
    10
    I haven’t found that much joy in a game for a long time. It just so much fun and it has so much things to do. It has several large worlds filled with so many things to do. It’s really one of, if not, Nintendo’s best game. (Yes, I do think that it’s a better game than Tears of the Kingdom)
  27. Bgreat23
    Jul 25, 2023
    10
    Pikmin 4 improves from its predecessors in almost all aspects. I never thought Pikmin 2 would be dethroned as my favorite in the franchise, yet here we are.
  28. rokuCritic
    Jul 25, 2023
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. One of the best games to date, friendly to newcomers game play is very smooth. Most content in a pikmin game aswell which is nice. I do have some issues with the game, there is essentially no replay value, the 30+ hours hurts what little replay value the game has with enemies not re spawning at all, once you beat it that's it since there is no ng+ or difficulty option. Auto lock is a common complaint ive seen, not having an option to turn it off is crazy in 2023. Redundant gear/oatchi abilities, timer meaning less than it ever has been. ease of the game in general. I love the game as a whole as a pikmin fan but there are alot of small issues that add up.… Expand
  29. NicoBelic7
    Jul 25, 2023
    10
    Way improved on all aspects I'm already halfway through and I'd be glad to see expanding it furthermore with more challenging side stories as DLC in the future.
  30. srestronci
    Jul 25, 2023
    10
    Pikmin 4 is exactly what the fans of the saga expected after all of the waiting since the third entry in the series. Pikmin 4 has the best of all the previous games combined giving the perfect Pikmin game we could expect. But, also, manages to work perfectly for all the newcomers. Definitely, this is the best Pikmin game in the series.
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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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