By 
I consider Pikmin 4 to be one of the essential Switch games. It’s a wonderful adventure with some great challenges, fun additions to the series, and gorgeous gameplay. It’s a game you should own. While that holds true for Pikmin 4: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Dandori Academy, I feel like this is a little less essential an upgrade. If someone already owns the base game, I feel like the additional Dandori Academy mode didn’t feel as robust as Super Mario Bros Wonder’s Meetup in Bellabel Park or Kirby and the Forgotten Land’s Star-Crossed World.
The base Pikmin 4 Switch 2 game experience remains identical to the Switch release. Players are a Rescue Corps member dispatched to a planet to rescue a ship-wrecked Captain Olimar. Of course, the team sent to save him also crash lands. This means they need to recover and rebuild with not only the help of the mysterious Pikmin, but also the Rescue Pup Oatchi. By going through different environments, you’ll find missing members of the team, get necessary parts, deal with challenges from Leaflings, and maybe even rescue Olimar.
Gameplay is unchanged as well. In stages, you’ll be tasked with gathering more Pikmin, getting through stages, and collecting items. This means plucking the characters from the ground, tossing them at objects you want carried or enemies you want defeated, and keeping on top of their progress so you’re always making significant progress as time goes on. Oatchi proves helpful here, both for helping gain access to new areas, getting Pikmin across obstacles all at once by riding on him across land and water, and assisting with defeating enemies. There are also the Night Expedition stages that feel a little more tower-defense in nature due to the need to get glow pellets to make Glow Pikmin who can defend Lumiknolls and fight enemies so the Rescue Corps can gather Glow Sap.
The big changes in the base game fall into two categories, and I really only found one especially useful and notable. The game looks better. The higher resolution is very noticeable and is very much appreciated when going through different locations on the planet. The other feature is that the Switch 2 microphone can pick up voice commands for Oatchi instead of using standard button presses. So instead of pressing X and down for rush, I could say “Rush” and get the same result. Or I could tell the dog to “Gather Pikmin.” Perhaps I’m too accustomed to the standard controls, but I found it easier to go with those. I will say Oatchi did pick up on whatever I said, so the concept does work. But I found I preferred to use the standard commands instead of talking to the Space Pup in Pikmin 4: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Dandori Academy.
The Dandori Battle did get an update, but it doesn’t apply to content. Rather, there is now a GameShare feature. If you select that fight to collect points, you can now choose local and GameChat GameShare options to fight with folks nearby. This does help with getting more players and eliminate a barrier
The Dandori Academy element of Pikmin 4: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Dandori Academy is the new addition and main draw, and I considered it a means of Nintendo to try and keep people playing post-launch. The thing is, if you already did beat the main game (like I did) and ended up playing this version mainly for that, the execution and rewards means it takes a while to really get into it and enjoy it due to around six stages appearing every month. It essentially consists of going through brief stages for about five minutes. These consist of sending Pikmin and Oatchi to gather as many items and defeat as many enemies for as many points as possible to earn a medal. The exams happen between Friday and Sunday, and you can practice before then to ensure you get the maximum amount of points.
These stages are fun, but I found both the Elementary (easy) and Advanced (normal) difficulties too easy. Perhaps it’s because I’m so used to the game already? Elementary only involves strategically gathering items, while a few standard enemies appear in Advanced exams. Graduate (hard) stages are a bit more challenging, since boss characters from the main campaign appear, but I found I had no trouble getting at least a gold medal in that if I practiced first. In the case of the Elementary and Advanced Exams I went through, I also usually finished before time ran out, which guaranteed I’d get one of the two higher tier medals.
As for the rewards, I didn’t feel they were all that rewarding. I always use my Mii photo for my Nintendo Switch 2 avatar, so I didn’t need the Nintendo Switch Online profile pictures. I didn’t use Snapshot Mode, so I didn’t need the frames and photo customization items. There is also an option to tie into Pikmin Bloom, but if you aren’t playing that it also doesn’t feel too valuable. So if you aren’t into those customization elements, it’s more like additional stages are their own reward when those become available instead.
I still consider Pikmin 4 a masterpiece for the Switch, but if you already own it then the Switch 2 edition with the Dandori Academy mode doesn’t feel as necessary an upgrade. The base game is great. It looks better here. Talking to Oatchi is novel, since the commands are recognized. But the Dandori Academy stages didn’t feel as robust an addition, perhaps since exams do roll out gradually. It’s a situation where I think you’re fine passing on this upgrade if you already completed the full game, though folks who are entirely new to the fourth entry will probably benefit from getting the expanded release.
Pikmin 4: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Dandori Academy comes to the Switch 2 on November 12, 2026. The original game is available on the Switch.
