Genre: Real-Time Strategy
Developers: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
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IGN
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Gamespot
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GamesRadar+
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GameInformer
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Destructoid
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TheSixthAxis
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Eurogamer
The Pikmin series may not be the highest-grosser in Nintendo’s impressive first-party lineup, but that hasn’t stopped it from amassing a huge fan following. The strategy game about adorable little creatures rummaging through an Earth-like planet is much beloved, and that’s evident in the series two decades-long runtime.
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With Pikmin 4, creator Shigeru Miyamoto brings the real strategy to Nintendo Switch. According to the reviews, it is not only as effective and enjoyable as the previous games in the series, but the quality of life improvements applied all over the core gameplay, plus the addition of a new creature, makes the new instalment in the long-running franchise an absolute delight.
Pikmin 4 Review Roundup
Here are some reviews and first-look articles for Pikmin 4 from around the web. At the time of publishing this article, the score for this game was 88 at Opencritic and 88 on Metacritic.
IGN
Like the three wonderfully weird mainline games before it, Pikmin 4 has once again captured my heart with its charming creatures that fearlessly follow commands regardless of their own well-being. The difficulty leans a bit too much toward the easy side, but all-new features like ability upgrades, a pair of new Pikmin, and our loyal sidekick Oatchi add some variety to the traditional gameplay by offering options other than the grab-and-throw Pikmin formula of the past.
IGN rating: 9/10
Gamespot
That story, like most of Pikmin 4, is gentle and unobtrusive. It’s all just very agreeable and sweet, and there’s a certain gratification that comes from directing your little army of plant-people to gather treasures like fruits and Game Boy Advance cartridges. The more Pikmin 4 leans into fashioning itself after a more traditional game, with competition and fail-states, the more prone it is to getting in its own way. Sometimes, it’s enough to simply have a relaxing activity.
Gamespot rating: 7/10
GamesRadar+
Pikmin 4 isn’t just another Pikmin game. Nintendo has taken the formula and twisted it by adding new challenges, ways to play, and a whole new character. It’s cute and packs a great RTS punch despite multiple ways to make it more approachable overall.
GamesRadar+ rating: 4.5/5
GameInformer
When it comes to iterating on the standard Pikmin gameplay established by the first release, Pikmin 4 is the smoothest, best-controlling, best-looking version, and all the additions are worthwhile and fun to play. Pikmin may never rise to the top of the Nintendo heap, and it’s probably unfair to expect it ever could, but the latest Pikmin is the best effort yet.
GameInformer rating: 9/10
Destructoid
As I was playing through Pikmin 4 and things really started to click, I thought to myself (with a smile on my face) – “I just want to play this forever.” It’s a strategically satisfying game if you want it to be, and it’s a chill rainy-day adventure if you’re going for that vibe.
Destructoid rating: 9.5/10
TheSixthAxis
There’s a pleasing mixture of the familiar and the new within Pikmin 4. The fresh camera view and tweaks to the gameplay make it feel more accessible, but for returning players, the focus on the Dandori ethos of planning, efficiency and adaptability provides new arenas to test your skills. Oh, and Oatchi’s a real cutie too.
TheSixthAxis rating: 8/10
Eurogamer
Pikmin 4 fills itself and your time with a rich array of things to do, things to find, goals to chase and places to explore. It may start slow, but when it all comes together, it really does sing. It preserves the series’ oddities – it doubles down on them in some regards – and yet opens the series up in a way Pikmin has never managed previously.
Eurogamer rating: 5/5
