Hey! Pikmin

Hey! Pikmin takes the core idea of the Pikmin series - collecting and commanding small plant-like creatures who together can overcome even much bigger enemies - and reshapes it into a side-scrolling platformer. Captain Olimar crash-lands on an unknown planet once again and must gather his scattered ship parts and a rare resource called Sparklium, but this time he moves linearly from left to right, jumps over pits, and throws his collected red, yellow, blue, rock, and winged Pikmin at switches, enemies, and obstacles he cannot get past on his own.

The game was made by Arzest, a studio that had previously worked on titles like Yoshi's New Island, and it launched in 2017 as a Nintendo 3DS exclusive. The handheld format directly shaped the controls - the player can throw a Pikmin with a classic button press, or use the touch screen to precisely target a specific enemy or switch, an option the series' earlier home-console strategy entries never offered. Stereoscopic 3D also emphasizes the depth of each platforming level and helps gauge jump and throw distances, while individual areas are split into short, clear segments ideal for play in short bursts on the go. The captain gradually uncovers hidden corners with bonus treasures, and each area ends with a battle against a tougher opponent that requires the right color and number of Pikmin to bring down.

Why play it: Hey! Pikmin is an ideal entry point into the world of Pikmin for anyone unsure about strategically commanding a whole group at once - it offers the same charm of collecting and cooperating with colorful little creatures, but wrapped in a clearer, handheld-tailored platforming form on 3DS that can be played in short bursts on the go or at home on the couch, without the player having to track more complex strategic indicators.