Pikmin 4
Games review
As of Jun 23, 2026, Pikmin 4 is rated 88/100 on OpenCritic (108 critic reviews), and 87/100 on Metacritic (123 critic reviews). Each source is shown in its own units, never blended into one score.
Is Pikmin 4 worth it in 2026?
An 88 on OpenCritic and 87 on Metacritic across a combined 231 reviews is a genuine critical consensus, not a fluke, and six separate reviewers independently calling this the best series entry carries real weight, though that verdict almost certainly reflects the newcomer experience more than the veteran one. The new mechanics, Oatchi companion, and post-credits levels give the game unusual breadth for the franchise, and the accessibility is thorough enough that anyone who bounced off earlier Pikmin games should reconsider. The problem is that the same design choices that open the door to newcomers actively bore experienced players: four reviewers flagged the difficulty as genuinely too low, repetitiveness sets in during the later hours as enemy variety wears thin, and veterans may not just need adjusted expectations, they may find the game fails to engage them at all.
Newcomers to the Pikmin series or lapsed fans who want a generous, well-crafted entry point with substantial post-credits content to extend the experience.
Series veterans looking for a stiff challenge will find the difficulty tuned well below what older entries demanded, and the co-op falls short of what a Nintendo title at this price point should deliver.
ReviewPond's conclusion, drawn only from the verified scores and review themes below. Not a paid or editorial opinion.
Different sources measure different things, so each is shown in its own units and never merged into one number.
Pros
- best series entry6
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- While every Pikmin game has followed the winning formula that was established two decades ago, each has added its own tweaks here and there. Pikmin 4 seems to have taken the bigges...
- 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.
- That mood is one that brings together both established and new ideas to create a Pikmin that is, I think, absolutely the most well-rounded title in the series. It takes a series th...
- new mechanics and variety6
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- While every Pikmin game has followed the winning formula that was established two decades ago, each has added its own tweaks here and there. Pikmin 4 seems to have taken the bigges...
- Pikmin 4 adds variety to the series' traditional gameplay by offering options other than the grab-and-throw formula of the past, and brings an extra helping of top-tier levels afte...
- 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 grea...
- accessible to newcomers5
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- 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 grea...
- Pikmin 4 is a pleasant, relaxing game that serves as a nice entry point for newcomers, with occasionally odd high-pressure segments.
- Although the first Pikmin seem too harsh in its gameplay, this experience is much more pleasant without "insulting" our gaming capacity. In addition, it is much more beautiful and...
- charming and fun4
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- The Pikmin series blossoms anew, in a bouquet of fresh gameplay and the best of its roots.
- Pikmin 4 is the culmination of all that's come before it, modernised in a truly magical way. There is so much to do, it's hard to think anyone wouldn't find fun here.
- Pikmin 4 is an incredibly charming and fun experience for the most part, but its new additions aren't quite revolutionary enough to stave off a feeling of repetitiveness in the lat...
- oatchi companion3
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- Pikmin 4 is a sequel lives up to the saga, an expansion that naturally integrates a greater amount of content, presenting new mechanics that, through Ochín, enable the creation of...
- Pikmin 4 almost always had fun surprises in store with me for each day’s adventures. Every biome, cave, and challenge brought about new threats and surprises, and my versatility be...
- 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, th...
Cons
- too easy for veterans4
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- Pikmin 4 isn’t quite the best game in the series, but it’s certainly the most confident. With this new entry, Nintendo has decided to wipe away much of the past tedium in favour of...
- 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 grea...
- Yes, the co-op is disappointing, and the campaign's not gonna be challenging enough for some diehard fans, but overall Nintendo has nailed it here, serving up a magical Pikmin adve...
Themes and quotes are drawn from 20 sampled reviews with text; the scores above reflect all 231 ratings. Counts are how many of the sampled reviews mention each point.