This Deluxe edition turns a Wii U gem into the ideal way to play on Switch. Juggling Pikmin types against the ticking day clock creates a strategic tension all its own, lifted by charming art and consistently clever level layouts.
Your verdict
Category
Strategy2 players3+
Co-op
Description
Three explorers crash on a planet and gather fruit to survive, helped by the Pikmin. Published by Nintendo, released worldwide in 2020. Time management across the days, several Pikmin types, terrain puzzles and a two-player co-op mode.
Pikmin 3 Deluxe review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
Gameplay
"Masterful"
Commanding several Pikmin squads while watching the clock creates a soft, almost organic tension found nowhere else. Each day forces priorities, and time management is the whole strategy. The Deluxe edition enriches the campaign with co-op and extra missions, fixing the original's brevity. The contemplative pace deters the impatient, but the balance remains a delight.
Fun
"Pleasant"
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Easy"
Lifespan
"Long"
Technical info
💾4,6 GB📅30/10/2020
Published by Nintendo
Pikmin 3 Deluxe (Nintendo Switch) price, value & rarity
On Koppai, bosses take the shape of giant creatures dismantled through strategy: you marshal your swarms, exploit a colour-coded weakness and juggle throw timing under pressure. The Plasm Wraith in particular morphs its arena into a shifting puzzle. The tension comes from organisation, not from a trigger.
Better with friends
Two experiences in one package: the story plays out as a pair in calm cooperation, where you split Pikmin and objectives while talking constantly. Then Bingo Battle flips into pure rivalry, a scramble for resources and dirty tricks to fill your grid before your opponent. That double flavour, teamwork then showdown, makes you want to set it up again at any moment.
Is Pikmin 3 Deluxe still worth playing in 2026?
Pikmin 3 Deluxe brings to Switch one of Nintendo's most singular strategy-adventure hybrids. Day-by-day time management and commanding several Pikmin teams create a gentle, almost organic tension found nowhere else. This Deluxe version adds full-campaign co-op and many side missions, which patches the original's brevity. The contemplative pace will put off anyone chasing instant action, but its miniature art direction and finely tuned balance remain a treat that still feels fresh.
