I didn’t expect this to turn into a two-part review, yet here we are. As I mentioned in my previous post (which I recommend reading first), I only recently jumped into the Pikmin series after so many people suggested that Pikmin 3 Deluxe was the best place to start. While I enjoyed most of my time with it, the game didn’t fully sell me on what makes Pikmin special.
Pikmin 4, however, was a completely different story. This game finally clicked for me, the moment when I understood why people love this franchise… at least until the end. But we’ll get to that soon enough.
Pros:
- Pikmin 4 gave me more time to explore and enjoy myself.
- The addition of the dog-like companion made it fun to explore and less stressful.
- The graphics were so beautiful that it was just a pretty game to look at.
- There is so much to do in the game, but it never feels too stressful and is a lot of fun.
- The game also allows you to customize and upgrade your character as well as your dog companion. This makes it a more personal experience and makes you feel like you are right there as an intrepid explorer.
Cons:
I was honestly struggling to find anything negative to say… until the ending.
⚠️ Mild Spoilers Ahead, skip this section if you want to go in blind.
After rescuing Olimar, the game makes you think it’s over… but it isn’t. The story continues and leads to a massive cave, acting like a 20-floor boss rush. On floor 17, you face a boss normally designed for a big arena, except now it’s crammed into a tiny space. This results in losing most of your Pikmin.
From there:
- You immediately face another boss that requires a big army.
- Even if you survive, there’s no way to rebuild your numbers before…
- The final boss fight, which has 4–5 phases, becomes brutally frustrating when you’re underpowered.
I was having so much fun and even considering 100% completion — which I rarely attempt — but that final section burned me out. I finished it, but I was done. I like Pikmin, but this ending knocked my excitement down more than I expected.
Final word
When I researched where to start with Pikmin, many people recommended Pikmin 3 Deluxe, and while it’s fun, I think Pikmin 4 is the better place to start.
It’s:
- More forgiving
- More open to exploration
- More enjoyable… at least until the late-game difficulty spike
If you’ve never played Pikmin before, this is a fantastic entry point and absolutely worth checking off your gaming backlog. Just be ready, the endgame might test your patience.
✔️ Backlog Status: Completed
🎮 Would I Recommend? Yes, with a warning about the difficulty spike.
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