All New Features and Differences From Previous Games

New features in Pikmin 4 are here to help you in your adventures with your little Pikmin friends! Read on to learn every new feature in the game, as well as its differences it has from previous games.

Differences and New Features

Everything We Know
Releases on July 21, 2023 Customize Your Explorer Oatchi the Rescue Pup Collect Treasures for Sparklium Explore Caves for More Resources Use Raw Materials to Open New Areas Night Expeditions New Pikmin Types 3 Pikmin Types Limit Dandori Battles and Challenges Upgrades and Gear System Rewind Time to Try Again Piklopedia Practice Mode 2-Player is Available but Limited

Releases on July 21, 2023

Pikmin 4 will release exclusively on the Nintendo Switch on July 21, 2023. A demo for the game was also released on June 28, 2023.

Pikmin 4 Release Date and Time

Customize Your Explorer

In Pikmin 4, you can design and name your very own explorer! As the newest recruit of the Rescue Corps, you're tasked with finding all the other Castaways that crashed on a faraway planet. You can even change their name and appearance later.

Character Creator Guide

Oatchi the Rescue Pup

New to Pikmin 4 is the Rescue Pup, Oatchi, who can help out in various ways. He can carry things with Pikmin, break through obstacles, and even transport you and your Pikmin over land or water. Oatchi can even attack enemies and sniff out items for you!

During certain parts of the stories, you can play as this adorable little space pup and control him yourself!

Oatchi Guide - Everything You Need to Know

Improve Oatchi with Pup Drive

Oatchi can be trained to improve his current skills or taught new ones so he can be even more helpful once he has enough Pup Drive.

How to Increase Oatchi's Pup Drive

Collect Treasures for Sparklium

The core gameplay of Pikmin returns wherein you collect all kinds of treasure across the planet for their Sparklium. Sparklium allows your ship to find new areas for you to explore. You might even find some of the lost Castaways along the way!

How to Get Sparklium

Explore Caves for More Resources

You may encounter caves that have multiple floors of puzzles. You'll need to strategize well while exploring to avoid getting lost. Time moves differently while in the caves, so you're free to explore without needing to rush.

List of All Cave Locations and Maps

Use Raw Materials to Open New Area

In Pikmin 4, you can use Raw Materials that you can find during your exploration to create bridges and walls. These are very useful in exploration so gather as many raw materials as you can!

How to Get and Use Raw Materials

Night Expeditions

Previous Pikmin games had you leaving the planet every night to avoid danger. In Pikmin 4, you can now set out on Night Expeditions! However, monsters will be in a frenzied state, as noted by their red eyes. Defend the Lumiknolls with Glow Pikmin to safely make it to the next day.

Night Mode and Expeditions Guide

New Pikmin Types

Pikmin 4 features familiar Pikmin from previous games but also introduces more kinds of Pikmin, including the Ice Pikmin and Glow Pikmin.

All 9 Pikmin Types, Locations, and Abilities

Ice Pikmin

Ice Pikmin can freeze water and enemies when enough of them are thrown. Frozen water also allows you to cross over safely. Unlike Blue Pikmin, however, they can't move in the water and remain in place until recalled.

Ice Pikmin Abilities and How to Unlock

Glow Pikmin

Glow Pikmin can only be used at night and can charge up together to attack and stun enemies. They also only appear in Lumiknolls at night but can appear in caves during exploration.

Glow Pikmin Abilities and How to Unlock

3 Pikmin Types Limit

In Pikmin 4, you can only bring a maximum of 3 Pikmin Types when exploring, as opposed to the previous titles where you could bring all of them. This means you'll need to plan ahead and think about which Pikmin Types you are going to need depending on your goals and the environment you're going to explore.

You Can Change Pikmins When Entering a Cave

Now that there's a limit to the Pikmin Types you can bring, you can change the Pikmin Types you're carrying before entering a cave.

Dandori Battles and Challenges

Face off against another Pikmin user and collect more items than your opponent in Dandori Battles. These are similar to two-player battles in past games, but you can now challenge a computer-controlled foe. Beat these mysterious foes and rescue the Castaways!

Dandori Challenge Walkthrough and Locations

Upgrades and Gear System

Pikmin 4 offers several upgrades at the Lab for explorers and Oatchi. These gear include familiar ones like the Anti-Electrifier and new ones like Headlamp+. You can get these helpful equipment by purchasing them from Russ at The Lab using Raw Materials.

The Lab - Best Gear and Items

Rewind Time to Try Again

A new feature added to Pikmin 4 is the ability to rewind time. This is meant for beginners who want to do over mistakes like losing Pikmin. You can also choose how long to rewind for, but you may lose progress this way.

How to Rewind and Save Your Pikmin

Piklopedia Practice Mode

The Piklopedia catalogs all the creatures you find in the game. You can observe this wildlife which will let you practice fighting with them without losing your Pikmin.

Piklopedia List

2-Player is Available but Limited

Multiplayer is still available in the game. However, unlike the previous game, the second player won't be controlling an explorer anymore. Instead, they can assist by throwing pebbles or items during Story mode. They can still take part in Dandori battles either to assist the first player or to control the opponent.

Multiplayer Guide: All Co-Op Features

Pikmin 4 File Size

File Size is 10.4 GB

The digital download of the full Pikmin 4 game will be 10.4 GB. Getting the physical cartridge will not take up any space on the system.

Preload Date and Guide: How to Preload

Pikmin 4 Box Art

The Pikmin 4 Box Art showcases nearly all the Pikmin in the game as well as Oatchi. The physical version can be pre-ordered in select retailers.

Editions Guide - Features and Differences

Pikmin 4 Related Guides

Pikmin 4 Walkthrough Top Page

All Pikmin 4 Guides

All Pikmin 4 Guides
Pikmin Types	Onions	Areas
Caves	Bosses	Piklopedia
Treasures	Oatchi	Night Expeditions
Main Missions	Side Missions	Characters
Gear	Items	Dandori Challenges
Dandori Battles	Olimar's Shipwreck Tale	Trial of the Sage Leaf

All Tips and Tricks Articles

All Tips and Tricks Articles
Multiplayer Guide	Beginner's Guide
Character Creator Guide	Demo Guide
How to Save Your Game	How to Get Sparklium
Best Gear and Items	How to Transfer Save Data
How to Rewind and Save Your Pikmin	How to Increase the Max Pikmin Limit
Recommended Shortcuts	All Flarlic Locations
How to Get Nectar	Best Settings
How to Use the Map	Day Length - How Long is One Day?
How to Solve All Obstacle Types	How to Make Pikmin Flowers Bloom
Pellet Number and Color Guide	How to Freeze Water
How to Cross Water	How to Build Bridges, Walls, and Stairs
How to Get and Use Raw Materials	How to Recover Health
Game Length - How Long to Beat	How to Swarm
Night Mode and Expeditions	How to Get More Pikmin Fast
How to Avoid Pikmin Death	How to Get the True Ending
How to Solve the Bunker Code in Hero's Hideaway	What Does the Screw in the Ground Do?
Is There a Day Limit?	How to Get Through Mud
How to Cure Leaflings	How to Get Glow Sap
Rescue Command Post Guide	Post Game Content and 100 Percent Guide
Completion Rewards	What Happens When You Get Game Over?
Do Enemies Respawn?	How to Unlock Leafling Look
Where to Find Moss	-

All News Articles

All News Articles
Direct Trailer and Gameplay	How to Preload
All Pikmin 4 Editions	Everything We Know
All Merchandise and Toys	Available Platforms and Consoles
Pre-Order Guide	Will Pikmin 4 Have Bingo Battle
How to Claim All Demo Rewards	amiibo Support and Compatibility
Should You Play Pikmin 3 First?	When Does Pikmin 4 Take Place?
Are Bulbmin in Pikmin 4?	Is There New Game Plus?
Will There Be DLC?	-