Pikuniku

Pikuniku is an absurd puzzle-exploration game that takes place in a strange but colorful place, where the characters are not as happy as they seem. Fun and enjoyable to play, but too short.

A very simple platform-puzzle game that only manages to scratch the surface.

Starting as a good joke, Pikuniku quietly evolves into a nice little game with a crazy story. Simple and rather good in everything it has to offer, it’s in some ways a good avenue to introduce kids to the metroidvania genre.

Pikuniku is a bizarre and often hilarious puzzle platformer that is too hamstrung by its brisk campaign to make it much more than a neat distraction.

Despite its childish look, Pikuniku tells us a revolutionary tale of a random guy joining a resistance group fighting against an evil corporation. Funny until the end, Devolver's new game may mostly count on its strange physics, even to the point of frustration when the game asks for strong platformer parts. The two-player mode might balance a very short length though.

Pikuniku is relentlessly charming throughout its short-but-sweet several hours of play. Many of the more enjoyable moments aren’t even mission-critical, so you’d do well to keep your eyes peeled for bonus nonsensical hijinks rather than just speed your wobbly red appendages towards the conclusion. While not the most sophisticated experience, Pikuniku is a bonkers trip worth leaving your cave for.

Pikuniku is a hilarious game that’s oozing with charm. Its single player campaign is full of moments that make you feel like a kid again, and its co-op mode is surprisingly relaxing. Unfortunately its charm is let down by a clumsy control scheme that doesn’t always mesh with some of the mechanics, and this can create an experience that ultimately feels unrewarding.

Pikuniku's got legs, even if it lacks the stamina to fully get over the finish line. [March 2019, p.122]

Even though the platforming doesn’t feel quite right and the puzzles are a little too simple, Pikuniku’s vibrant, whimsical aesthetic gives the game a charming sense of playfulness that almost completely mitigates these issues. When you’re running around with these colourful characters, watering flowers as a jaunty tune plays in the background, you don’t care that the jumping feels a little floaty or that the solution to the next puzzle is so obviously signposted. Pikuniku is the perfect remedy for a stressful day – check it out if you’re looking for something simple, colourful and genuinely funny.

Pikuniku's minimalistic visuals, wacky humour, overall happy vibe, light collect-athon mindset, and simple gameplay mechanics, make it a good pick for those who just want to kill an evening or two with something that's fun, but not that demanding. Sadly, there's a severe lack of content at hand, which is surprising given the length of it all.

This puzzle-platformer’s puzzles and platforming might be merely alright – and the music is a proper irritant – but Pikuniku is full of so much cheer and loveliness elsewhere. It’s bursting with character in a story that’s equal parts silly and uplifting.