Pikmin 4

Pikmin 4 is by far the most accessible and expansive entry yet in Nintendo's peculiar series in which you command a swarm of plant-like creatures on a planet that suspiciously resembles our own garden seen from a height of a few centimeters. This time you create your own explorer, tasked with rescuing a crash-landed rescue expedition, and the story is divided into areas where you search for castaways, treasures, and resources. Each day has a time limit; if you fail to return in time, any Pikmin left outside get eaten by nocturnal creatures.

The core is dandori—a Japanese term for cleverly organizing tasks. You split the swarm into groups, send them to carry items, tear down walls, or fight, all while trying to make sure no Pikmin ever stands around uselessly. The new addition is the dog Oatchi, who can carry cargo, cross water, smash through obstacles, and be trained; thanks to him the game noticeably eases up on the earlier micromanagement. New ice and glow Pikmin types have been added, along with nighttime expeditions with defensive elements and standalone dandori challenges that turn planning into a pure time-trial. The game is also friendlier to newcomers—it offers rewinding time and softer penalties for mistakes.

Technically, it's one of the most beautiful titles on Switch: shallow depth of field, tiny details in water droplets and bark, a clean image, and stable performance. The sound design uses Pikmin squeaks and gentle, almost relaxing music that turns tense the moment danger appears. Reception was very good, and the game was praised for finally striking a balance between the stress of the time limit and the joy of discovery. Today it's an ideal entry point into the series and, at the same time, a strategy game that works even for players who otherwise don't play strategy games—everything is controlled simply, and the reward is a surprisingly addictive rhythm of one day after another. Anyone who once gets pulled into planning the perfect day usually ends up at the console deep into the night, feeling they can manage just one more. It's precisely this tension between meticulousness and haste that keeps the whole series alive.