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Pikmin 4 official promotional artwork.
Nintendo released a free Pikmin 4 Switch 2 Edition demo on November 2 with Sun-Speckled Terrace and two Dandori Academy stages. The full game launches November 12.
Nintendo released a free demo of Pikmin 4 Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Dandori Academy on November 2, ahead of the game’s November 12 launch. The demo followed a surprise Pikmin Day Direct on October 31, where Shigeru Miyamoto declared November 1 an annual Pikmin Day.
What the demo includes
The demo is playable on Switch 2 only. It covers Sun-Speckled Terrace, the opening area of the main adventure, and includes two Dandori Academy stages. Progress made in the demo carries over to the full game.
What the Switch 2 Edition adds
Nintendo first announced the Switch 2 Edition, which launches physically and digitally, in its September 9 Nintendo Direct. The original Pikmin 4 launched on Switch in July 2023. Beyond sharper visuals, the new edition adds voice commands for Oatchi through the console’s built-in microphone and a new mode called Dandori Academy. Players collect treasure against the clock and earn medals based on their performance.
Nintendo plans to release 72 Dandori Academy stages over time rather than all at launch, with exams held on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Players can also challenge friends in Dandori Battles through GameShare, even if those friends do not own the game. Owners of the original Switch version can buy an upgrade pack for $9.99.
Shorts and Pikmin Bloom
The Pikmin Day Direct also introduced Hello! Pikmin, a series of animated shorts from Nintendo Pictures. The first episode aired at the end of the Direct, and new episodes are published on the Nintendo Today app and other Nintendo channels on a monthly schedule. Pikmin Bloom, the mobile game, gets a Secret Caves update this winter. Players send Pikmin underground to explore, battle creatures, and collect treasure. Cave maps unlock through postcards, and players who take Dandori Academy exams in Pikmin 4 can earn special maps by linking the game to Pikmin Bloom.
The link between the two games is not new. Pikmin 4’s free update in November 2025 added Decor Pikmin from Pikmin Bloom, a photo mode, and two new difficulty options. Photograph a Decor Pikmin, register it in the Decopedia, and Pikmin Bloom awards a matching Gold Seedling. Registration unlocks the day after players rescue Dingo in the main story. Each Decor Pikmin counts once, and both games must use the same Nintendo Account.
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