https://www.thegamer.com TheGamer delivers the biggest video game news, in-depth interviews, honest reviews, timely previews, and surprising stories. Tue, 01 Aug 2023 17:30:20 GMT en-US hourly 60 While playing Pikmin 4, you read the word “dandori” a lot. Though there doesn’t seem to be a direct English translation from its Japanese origin, Pikmin uses it to mean effectively planning how you will use your time. In the game, that means choosing where you will send your Pikmin in order to maximize your troops’ efficiency. If there’s a dirt wall in one area of the map, and a buried treasure in another, it doesn’t make much sense to throw all of your Pikmin at the wall, wait for them to finish, then move on to the buried treasure. Good time management means juggling dozens of the little creatures, balancing a variety of tasks at once, and not leaving any of your Pikmin idle.

]]> Tue, 01 Aug 2023 17:30:20 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/pikmin-4-dandori-battle-challenge-night-expeditions-caves-switch/ After completing Pikmin 4's tutorial, you'll gain access to the Sun-Speckled Terrace. Once here, the Hectic Hollows is one of the first caves you can access. While there aren't many treasures in this cave, every last bit of Sparklium counts. There's also one castaway in this cave, making it well worth your time.

]]> Tue, 01 Aug 2023 12:31:17 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/pikmin-4-hectic-hollows-guide-walkthrough/ While you go about your big mission to rescue Captain Olimar in Pikmin 4, there will be plenty of subtasks to keep you busy. You'll need to collect treasure for Sparklium, go on night expeditions to get Glow Sap, rescue castaways to find the rest of your crew, and collect Raw Materials as you explore.

]]> Mon, 31 Jul 2023 13:00:20 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/pikmin-4-raw-material-farming-tips-guide/ This is it, folks. Welcome to the final area of Pikmin 4. This poison-pocked landscape will prove resistant and inhospitable, but it's the only place left to collect treasure. You'll find Flarlic, Pink Onion, and all sorts of fungal-looking enemies here.

]]> Sun, 30 Jul 2023 21:45:16 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/pikmin-4-primordial-thicket-treasure-location-map-guide/ Thought the game was over, didn't you? Pikmin 4 doesn't end after you rescue Olimar. Now Oatchi is having some trouble, and you need to track down a Koppaite veterinarian. Radar signs indicate they can be found here, in the Giant's Hearth. For the sake of your closest teammate, it's time to get searching.

]]> Sun, 30 Jul 2023 21:15:19 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/pikmin-4-giants-hearth-treasure-guide/ Pikmin 4 introduces many new enemies to the series while bringing back plenty of familiar faces. Being able to see adorable creatures such as the Breadbug and Honey Wisp is more nostalgic than distressing. However, that doesn't mean there are no terrors to be found on PNF-404 this time around.

]]> Sun, 30 Jul 2023 15:46:18 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/pikmin-4-engulfed-castle-cavern-castaway-treasure-guide/ Throughout Pikmin 4, you'll encounter all sorts of strange creatures, both hostile and not, as you explore in search of Olimar and treasure. You can't properly learn the names of these creatures until you've rescued Dalmo, an animal enthusiast castaway set on creating their own Piklopedia. Fortunately, they're one of the earliest castaways you can rescue.

]]> Sun, 30 Jul 2023 13:30:20 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/pikmin-4-enemies-insulting-names/ The new mechanics in Pikmin 4 help the game strike a great balance between fun and challenging. Limiting your Pikmin squad count and only allowing you to bring three different Pikmin types into the field puts your Dandori skills to the test. You'll need to use every tool available to get every bit of Sparklium.

]]> Sat, 29 Jul 2023 20:15:20 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/pikmin-4-how-to-get-blue-onion/ Answer the call to be a hero in Pikmin 4 by embarking on a mission to rescue your colleagues from the Rescue Corps who have crash-landed on PNF-404. Unfortunately, they became stranded on the alien planet while they were attempting to save the also-stranded Captain Olimar.

]]> Sat, 29 Jul 2023 19:45:22 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/pikmin-4-oatchi-upgrades-gear-abilities-skills-guide/ Pikmin 4 brings you back, once again, to the inhospitable world of PNF-404. With a quest to save the famed Captain Olimar and the rest of the Rescue Team, you'll navigate a long-forgotten landscape full of monsters, treasure, and of course, Pikmin!

]]> Sat, 29 Jul 2023 17:31:20 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/pikmin-4-complete-guide-walkthrough/ As you continue on your mission in Pikmin 4 to rescue Captain Olimar and the rest of the Rescue Corps, you will meet a wide variety of characters. You will progressively save members of the Rescue Corps, who will often unlock a new feature you can use in the game. After you rescue the team's doctor, Yonny, you will gain access to night expeditions.

]]> Sat, 29 Jul 2023 16:31:22 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/pikmin-4-night-expeditions-lumiknoll-tips-guide/ Easter eggs and hidden secrets have been part of gaming for decades; they're fun, exciting, and Pikmin 4 is no exception to this nostalgia inducing tradition. Given that Nintendo has a long lineage of games, consoles, music rights, and other copyrighted materials, there are plenty of references to choose from.

]]> Sat, 29 Jul 2023 14:00:20 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/pikmin-4-best-easter-eggs-hidden-details/ I picked up Pikmin 4 on a whim. When I was buying The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, I realized I could scoop up one additional game for only 30 bucks thanks to Nintendo’s 2-for-1 voucher which lets you get two full price titles for only $100. Given that TOTK is Nintendo’s first and (for now, at least) only $70 game, it was an easy decision to make and Pikmin 4 being the only other unreleased game on the list made it an easy choice for content purposes. People like to read about new games and this deal guaranteed I’d have a new game to write about.

]]> Fri, 28 Jul 2023 17:00:19 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/pikmin-4-biggest-surprise-of-the-year/ Pikmin 4 is all about collecting treasure. Of that treasure, it turns out the thing I treasure most is my Cobalt Blue Game Boy Advance SP.

]]> Thu, 27 Jul 2023 17:31:19 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/old-console-collectible-new-game-astros-playroom-pikmin-4/ Treasure in the Pikmin series has always been guided by a unique perspective; despite playing as a humanoid character, human inventions or otherwise man-made objects, are seen, named, and described from an outsider's perspective. In essence, that's no different from an astronaut exploring and naming objects from an earlier, now-extinct species on an alien planet.

]]> Thu, 27 Jul 2023 17:31:18 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/pikmin-4-best-treasure-names/ Pikmin 4 is a fascinating blend of classic gameplay mechanics and new concepts and ideas. With new types like Ice Pikmin and the tremendously unique Glow Pikmin, things are really starting to shake up. It's also the first Pikmin title to feature every type of collectible Pikmin variety.

]]> Wed, 26 Jul 2023 20:00:22 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/pikmin-4-faq-guide-questions/ Seem familiar? The Hero's Hideaway is the same landscape you first experienced in Pikmin 4 when playing as Olimar during the tutorial phase. It's a lot more intimidating now, with far more environment to explore.

]]> Wed, 26 Jul 2023 18:00:20 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/pikmin-4-heros-hideaway-every-treasure-location-guide/ The Dandori Battle in Pikmin 4 brings back the thrill of competition you get from the battle modes in previous entries. Dandori Battles pit you against an opponent in a timed competition to see who can collect the most treasures. Each Battle is assigned a Dandori level from one to five, with five being the most formidable.

]]> Wed, 26 Jul 2023 17:15:15 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/pikmin-4-dandori-battle-tips-tricks-guide/ With the launch of the latest Pikmin game, you might be looking for a few different titles that can offer some similar aspects to give a try once you’re finished with Pikmin 4. Luckily, there are plenty of different games that have similarities in a variety of ways, while still offering unique experiences, especially if you like to diversify your gaming options.

]]> Mon, 24 Jul 2023 20:00:21 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/pikmin-4-similar-games-list/ The Pikmin series is no stranger to exploration and discovery. Perhaps you remember those chunky Duracell batteries sticking out of the snow near the beginning of Pikmin 2 during the GameCube days. With Pikmin 4, the story is no different; you'll discover and explore plenty of treasures, areas, and enemies.

]]> Mon, 24 Jul 2023 15:30:33 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/pikmin-4-new-enemies-list/ Pikmin 4 has captivated many with its charming world and strategic gameplay. In this title, you embark on your interstellar journey with the colorful Pikmins and encounter countless challenges that test your wit, reflexes, and game sense. Among all these challenges, the various epic boss fights act as the ultimate test of your skill and determination.

]]> Mon, 24 Jul 2023 12:30:19 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/pikmin-4-toughest-boss-battles/ Buckle up, rescue rookie! If you thought the Sun-Speckled Terrace had a lot of treasure. The Blossoming Arcadia in Pikmin 4 has a whopping 60 treasures to find between the surface and its handful of cave systems. Don't be intimidated, though. While it's a lot, and a handful of them are rather well hidden, we've found each and every one, outlining their locations for you here.

]]> Sun, 23 Jul 2023 21:45:22 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/pikmin-4-blossoming-arcadia-all-treasure-locations/ Oh, to be a tiny astronaut running around the earth of some alien planet where you become the leader of an even smaller alien race of creatures. That’s the dream, right? Nintendo’s Pikmin 4, at least in some contexts, can satisfy that dream for you.

]]> Sun, 23 Jul 2023 20:30:21 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/pikmin-4-beginner-guide-tips-tricks/ Did you think the Blossoming Arcadia had a lot of treasure? Well, it did! But the Serene Shores has even more, making for one of Pikmin 4's largest and most time-consuming areas yet. And with the tides shifting at mid-day, it only gets more complicated. Some treasure only shows up in low tide, after all.

]]> Sun, 23 Jul 2023 13:30:21 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/pikmin-4-serene-shores-every-treasure-location/ Pikmin is an adorable series about crash landing onto a hostile alien planet. Luckily, you aren’t alone in your expedition into the unknown and are joined by a group of helpful beings called Pikmin. The Pikmin aid you on your quest to find ship parts, treasure, fruit, and more.

]]> Sun, 23 Jul 2023 13:30:21 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/scariest-pikmin-enemies-in-series/ Pikmin 4, like every game in the series, comes with its own selection of technically oversized items to discover and collect. That's a major plot point of the game, even. To explore further, you need to collect the valuable Sparklium out of these strange objects to fix up and expand your main ship's fuel and functionality.

]]> Sun, 23 Jul 2023 12:00:20 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/pikmin-4-sun-speckled-terrace-treasure-locations/ The Pikmin franchise is one of Nintendo’s most unique IPs to date. This sci-fi adventure takes you on a journey through a strangely familiar land, but through a macro perspective, all while introducing new and unique creatures along the way.

]]> Sun, 23 Jul 2023 05:30:20 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/every-pikmin-color-when-to-use/ Pikmin 4 introduced two more varieties of Pikmin to the series. Pair that larger-than-ever selection of weird little guys with the expanded leafling lore and a new grub-dog-like companion, and there have never been so many friendly faces in the series. That got us thinking: what would their zodiac signs be?

]]> Sat, 22 Jul 2023 00:45:17 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/which-pikmin-are-you-based-on-your-zodiac/ Shigeru Miyamoto reflects on the relatively poorer sales of the Pikmin series, at least when compared to other Nintendo properties. Speaking as the most recent instalment, Pikmin 4, launches on Switch, Miyamoto suggests that previous titles haven't sold as well as hoped because Nintendo's audience finds them too difficult.

]]> Fri, 21 Jul 2023 11:32:57 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/pikmin-hasnt-sold-well-because-of-difficulty-pikmin-4-miyamoto/ Pikmin 4 is great, and it might even be the strongest game of the series. However, in this advancement it can’t help implement new mechanics and means of approachability that dilute the once-challenging gameplay formula. Most of these features I never used once during my review playthrough, or felt confused about what exactly they’d add to the experience if I did. Nintendo takes it too far in one direction with no going back.

]]> Thu, 20 Jul 2023 16:15:17 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/pikmin-4-new-features-night-expeditions-oatchi-difficulty/ I would like to preface this article by making it clear that I’m not very good at maths. Every little thing about this hypothetical scenario is going to be defined by some diabolical napkin science bullshit fuelled by morbid curiosity and easy access to any answers I might require through a quick Google search. I’ve also never buried or even seen a dead body myself, promise, so please don’t put me on a list for exploring the long held question of how many Pikmin it would take to carry one. If I ever was to need help disposing of a dead body, hypothetically of course, I know I’d call on these lil’ dudes because they’re hella loyal.

]]> Thu, 20 Jul 2023 14:00:18 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/how-many-pikmin-would-it-take-to-carry-a-real-dead-body/ Pikmin 4 understands the overwhelming appeal of scale. We explore a tiny version of our world filled with household objects like Game Boys and alarm clocks which, at this size, could easily crush us to death. Microscopic insects and similarly insignificant wildlife we’d previously wipe underfoot are capable of swallowing us whole or throwing us across the environment like insignificant ragdolls. Virtual experiences like this are simultaneously enthralling and terrifying.

]]> Wed, 19 Jul 2023 13:01:16 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/pikmin-4-review/ We’ve made it halfway through 2023, and it feels like we’re in the eye of the storm for new game releases. We’ve just been served a four course meal of Game of the Year contenders with Street Fighter 6, Tears of the Kingdom, Diablo 4, and Final Fantasy 16, and now we’ve got a few weeks of downtime before we’re an even bigger deluge of massive triple-A games, including Starfield, Spider-Man 2, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Alan Wake 2, and Assassin’s Creed Mirage. July may seem relatively sparse compared to the rest of the year, but there’s still a few games you’ll want to keep an eye on throughout the month.

]]> Sun, 09 Jul 2023 21:28:18 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/july-new-releases-pikmin-4-remnant-2-expoprimal-the-expanse/ After the longest wait between Pikmin games in the series history (that's a theme we're probably going to have to start getting used to with pretty much everything), Pikmin 4 launches this month. Hitting digital and physical shelves on July 21, 2023, if you simply can't wait that long, the demo is available to play for free on Nintendo Switch right now.

]]> Fri, 07 Jul 2023 11:52:15 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/pikmin-4-pre-order-guide/ The first half of 2023 has been relentless when it comes to massive video game releases, and the second half of the year shows no signs of letting up. There's a seven-day period in October where we're going to get Alan Wake 2, Super Mario Wonder, Metal Gear Solid's Master Collection, and Spider-Man 2. Sonic Superstars is rumored to be launching that week too. Simply put, most people either aren't interested or can't afford to play everything the industry has to offer. That's why demos are more important now than ever before.

]]> Tue, 04 Jul 2023 14:30:17 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/demos-big-deal-again/ We’ve had some huge months in gaming recently. I’m still in the early throes of Final Fantasy 16, and need to beat Diablo 4, while Street Fighter 6 has fallen by the wayside. May, meanwhile, was dominated by Tears of the Kingdom, and April started the Spring Offensive of video game releases with the likes of Honkai Star Rail and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. But as we roll into summer, baby, it’s time to get weird.

]]> Sun, 02 Jul 2023 14:30:18 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/summer-2023-video-game-releases-experimental/ Pikmin 4's big release day is almost upon us, but some fans of the series are a lot less excited than others. We've been steadily getting more information about the game via the latest Nintendo Direct and a recent batch of previews, which have led fans to discover that Pikmin 4's co-op mode is a lot less robust than its predecessor Pikmin 3 Deluxe. Understandably, they're not best pleased.

]]> Tue, 27 Jun 2023 01:15:30 GMT https://www.thegamer.com/pikmin-4-fans-upset-scaled-back-co-op-mode/