Pikmin 3 Deluxe on Nintendo Switch: A Deep Dive Into Nintendo's Overlooked Gem

Nintendo is renowned for franchises that extend far beyond familiar icons like Mario and Link, yet not every series receives constant attention.

One such example is the beloved Pikmin series, a unique blend of real-time strategy and adventure that, despite nearly two decades of consistent quality and respectable sales, has often been overshadowed in Nintendo's vast portfolio.

However, Pikmin’s devoted fanbase was treated to a revitalized experience with Pikmin 3 Deluxe, an enhanced edition of the original Wii U release, now available on the Nintendo Switch via physical and Nintendo eShop versions. Pikmin 3 Deluxe tasks players with guiding the three explorers Alph, Brittany, and Charlie as they scavenge for seeds to save their home planet, Koppai, from famine—a predicament caused, as the narrative dryly notes, by a 'general lack of planning' in managing the world’s food supply.

Crash-landing on planet PNF-404, players must reunite the crew, gather resources, and overcome the perils of an alien world and its many hostile creatures.

Crucial to your survival are the multicolored Pikmin, helpful plant-creatures eager to aid your mission at every turn. Throughout the course of each game day, players command up to 100 Pikmin across five diverse regions, tackling obstacles, battling foes, and collecting fruit to stave off starvation.

Time management is central to Pikmin 3 Deluxe, with each day offering only limited daylight to accomplish essential tasks.

This constant race against time creates a rewarding sense of urgency, especially as players coordinate between the three explorers and the various abilities of different Pikmin types. Each Pikmin color boasts unique strengths essential for overcoming specific challenges—blue Pikmin can swim, yellow Pikmin are immune to electricity and can be thrown farther, and other varieties excel in battling fiery threats or breaking down obstacles.

The game skillfully introduces these mechanics, encouraging strategic thinking reminiscent of Nintendo’s approach with Splatoon, but through the lens of real-time strategy. Pikmin 3 Deluxe introduces a wealth of gameplay improvements over its Wii U predecessor.

Among the enhancements are responsive lock-on functionality, the ability to sort Pikmin by type mid-battle, and a generally smoother gameplay experience thanks to the Switch’s hardware.

While some players find the gyro controls less refined compared to the Wii U’s pointer-based system, button-based controls and quality-of-life tweaks make the new version the definitive way to play. Beyond the main story, Pikmin 3 Deluxe offers expanded content: a robust Mission Mode encourages players to chase high scores, collect treasure, defeat enemies, and earn coveted platinum medals.

Split-screen co-op is available both in Mission Mode and the main story, making it easier than ever to share the adventure.

For competitive players, Bingo Battle provides head-to-head strategy with a twist, tasking players with collecting random items to complete a bingo card while managing the chaos of on-screen action. Nintendo has also included new features such as the Piklopedia, where characters provide insightful creature analysis, and achievement badges rewarding completionists for their efforts.

The Deluxe edition’s biggest addition lies in its prologue and epilogue missions starring Olimar and Louie—familiar faces for longtime fans.

While these added missions remix existing stages rather than introducing brand new environments or creatures, they extend the game’s replay value. Overall, Pikmin 3 Deluxe solidifies its place as an exceptional real-time strategy title on the Nintendo Switch.

While some of its new content retreads old ground and certain control options may divide players, the combination of deep strategy, charming world-building, and polished co-op play ensures that Pikmin 3 Deluxe stands out as the series’ strongest outing yet.

With this definitive release, a wider audience can now experience the joy—and the challenge—of one of Nintendo’s most underappreciated gems.

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