Like every other Nintendo exclusive, it’s on a Friday.
The release of Pikmin 4, Nintendo’s next real-time strategy game, was confirmed for 2023 in Nintendo’s September direct last year, but a specific release date has not been given since then. However, according to a report from Gonintendo, Pikmin 4 has been spotted on the Greek retailer Game Explorers’ website with a specific release date of May 26 of this year.
The release date for Pikmin 4 being close to the launch of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom on May 12, raises some questions. However, it is a common practice for Nintendo to release its exclusives on Fridays, as seen with Kirby’s Return to Dream Land on February 24, Bayonetta Origins on March 17, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom on May 12.
This pattern is also evident in previous releases of games such as Splatoon 3, Fire Emblem Three Hopes, and Xenoblade Chronicles 3, all of which were released on Fridays. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that the alleged release date for Pikmin 4 is accurate. We may also hear about it sooner rather than later in Nintendo’s next rumored direct.
In Pikmin, players take on the role of a captain who leads a group of plant-like creatures called Pikmin to explore the world and solve puzzles. The game’s creator, Shigeru Miyamoto, wanted the player to develop a relationship of trust and empathy with the game by being able to create their own solutions using the tools available to them rather than following a predetermined solution, as if trusting that players are smart and intuitive enough to come up with their own answers to puzzles and life.
Information about Pikmin 4 is limited, but from our experience with the series, it’s easy to assume that the game will follow the four-part structure used in many Nintendo games, especially those in the Mario series. This structure, called Kishōtenketsu (起承転結), focuses on quickly generating new level ideas and twists to keep the player engaged. The idea is exemplified in Mario games, where a level mechanic is introduced, becomes more challenging as the level progresses, and ends with a climax before being replaced by a new mechanic in the next level rather than using the same idea in all levels.
Many games rely on a single mechanic and reward you for mastering it, which can become a stale process the more you get used to it. Instead, Nintendo provides multiple mechanics and twists around every corner, constantly challenging the player’s intuition and mastery of the game while keeping the gameplay fresh and exciting. The appeal of Pikmin lies not only in overcoming challenges, but in actively finding solutions and adapting your own thought process to create a passionate and interactive experience unlike any other game.
