It took almost a decade, but the release date ofPikmin 4is finally in sight. After being stated to be late in production by Shigeru Miyamoto himself in 2015, nothing else about the game came out except that it was still being worked on by 2017. It took until the September 2022 Nintendo Direct to premiere an actualPikmin 4trailer, and now fans have learned that the game is only a few months away. It’s an incredible turnaround for a game once thought to have been canceled.
Even after two trailers, there’s a lot to take away aboutPikmin 4. A lower camera angle nowemphasizes how giganticPikmin’s world isin comparison to its characters, and suggests that the play space might be a lot bigger than in past games. Climbing, Ice Pikmin, and a multipurpose dog ally have all been shown so far, but some of the biggest gameplay revelations directly affect players’ exploration.Pikmin 2’s cave dungeons have returned, but alongside them is the first accessPikminplayers have to planet PNF-404 at night — and that could be several times more important.
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The Return of Pikmin 2’s Caves Is A Big Deal
Pikmin 2’s caves are a divisive topic. Their semi-random item and enemy placement, combined with their tendency to dot later levels with explosive traps, contribute toPikmin 2’s higher but less fair difficulty. However, the thrill of taking a dwindling Pikmin army into a large, hostile environment can’t be denied. Combined with the lack of a timer allowing players to plan their route through most floors,Pikmin 2’s caves form the coreof its unique identity. Love them or hate them, there’s no separating them from whatPikmin 2is, andPikmin 3proved to be a vastly different game by excluding them.
Now,Pikmin 4is bringingPikmin 2’s caves back. The specifics aren’t known yet, but in the name of complimenting the lower camera, they will be designed to be more sprawling than they once were. Bosses will still serve as the climaxes of these dungeons, and air vents will replace geysers as the player’s escape method. Players will still be on the lookout for treasure, but also for castaways separated from the main protagonist crew.Some Pikmin types could still be met undergroundif the trailer’s introduction for Ice Pikmin is anything to go by. IfPikmin 4can take the best parts ofPikmin 2’s caves and add more polish, they could massively enhance the new game.
Night Time Play Will Revolutionize Pikmin 4
The return ofPikmin 2’s caves is certainly nothing to scoff at, and has many fans buzzing with excitement. However, as the large clock inPikmin 4’s teaser hinted at,Pikmin’s rigid time limits are about to have a massive shake-up. A conceit that every numberedPikmingame has shared is that after sunset, the face of PNF-404 becomes inhospitable towards small prey animals.Enemies rush intoPikmin’s landing sitesimmediately after the spaceship and Onions take off, killing any straggler Pikmin. After three games and two real-life decades of fearingPikmin’s darkest hours, players will finally get to experience them personally.
It’s not a stretch to say that this is the biggest changePikmin 4could have made. The daily clock has been a sacred part ofPikmingames that onlyPikmin 2’s caves were allowed to subvert, and the image players have of the night is quite fearsome indeed. With regular Bulborbs and other foes now potentially homing in on the player or their base, the difficulty should be much higher than regularPikminplay. However, avid treasure hunters will need to brave that danger to carry home the best loot. This should bring backthe sense of challenge that veteranPikminfanshave been clamoring for, and appear to makePikmin 4a worthy new installment in the franchise.
Pikmin 4will be released June 23, 2025, for the Nintendo Switch.
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