Pikmin 4

Pikmin 4 is a 2023 real-time strategy video game co-developed by Nintendo EPD and Eighting, and published by Nintendo. It is the fourth main installment of the Pikmin series, following Pikmin 3 (2013), and the sixth installment overall. It was released on the Nintendo Switch on July 21, 2023. The game is the first in the series to feature a customizable playable character. It introduces two new species of Pikmin called Ice Pikmin and Glow Pikmin, as well as new features like the Night Expeditions, in which players defend against waves of nocturnal enemies.

In the story, the player assumes the role of a recently recruited member of the Rescue Corps, a group in need of rescuing following an unsuccessful attempt to save Captain Olimar. The events of Olimar’s crash serve as an alternate retelling of the events of Pikmin (2001). It is currently unknown where Pikmin 4 fits into the timeline of the other main series games. Seemingly diverging from the events of the prior installments, Captain Olimar travels to PNF-404, an Earth-like planet, aboard his ship the SS Dolphin. A freak accident causes his ship to crash land, and he is forced to recruit Pikmin to help him find the ship’s missing parts.

During his search, Olimar bonds with a dog-like creature that he names Moss. After finding his ship’s missing radio within the interior of the Hero’s Hideaway, Olimar transmits an SOS call along with his voyage logs, but mysteriously disappears after continuing his search for the missing parts. The Rescue Corps, an intergalactic rescue organization, receives his emergency call and sends a team to PNF-404 led by Captain Shepherd to find and rescue Olimar. However, the ship malfunctions upon reaching the planet, forcing the crew to eject before it crash lands on the surface.

The Rescue Corps assigns its newest recruit, the player character, to find the missing Rescue Corps members and complete the mission. Upon reaching the planet, the recruit encounters Shepherd’s rescue pup, a dog-like creature called Oatchi, who bonds with them. After rescuing Shepherd and the team’s communication officer Collin, the recruit finds that the Rescue Corps’ ship has run out of power. With help from Pikmin near the ship’s crash site, the recruit recovers several objects which contain a resource known as Sparklium, which can fuel the ship.

The player controls a minuscule character who takes command of squads of Pikmin to explore various areas, fight enemies, secure treasures, and solve puzzles. Pikmin can be directed to perform various tasks, such as carrying objects and fighting enemies, and have individual weaknesses and strengths. For example, Red Pikmin are invulnerable to fire, Blue Pikmin can walk underwater, and Winged Pikmin can lift up objects and float over hazards. The player can switch between different species of Pikmin to adapt to the situation and deal with enemies and hazards. The camera allows for a full view of the area around the player character, with the perspective being much closer to the ground than in previous games.

Pikmin 4 retains Pikmin types from previous games, and introduces two new species: Ice Pikmin, which are invulnerable to being frozen and can freeze enemies and bodies of water; and Glow Pikmin, which operate at night and are usable during the Night Expeditions. The player can also command a canine creature called Oatchi to help with exploration. Like the Pikmin, Oatchi can be directed to carry objects and attack enemies, but can also help bash breakable objects, sniff out objectives such as treasure, and transport both the player character and Pikmin around the map and over bodies of water; in some places, the player can directly control Oatchi to solve puzzles. The game’s single-player mode introduces new features to the series.

Players can customize their character with different facial features and uniform colors, and have access to a hub base that provides different activities – such as the ability to upgrade equipment, as well as Oatchi and his abilities after it gains experience during exploration. Treasures collected in different areas contribute to a resource known as Sparklium, which is needed to expand the number of maps the player can explore. The several main missions include finding Captain Olimar, and side missions come from castaways brought back to the hub base. Practice Mode trains the player to defeat enemies.