Pikmin 4’s Switch 2 upgrade brings 72 new challenges, but not all at once
Pikmin 4 is back on Nintendo Switch 2 with a new challenge mode, sharper visuals and a way to talk to Oatchi. The Switch 2 Edition + Dandori Academy launched on November 12, and Nintendo plans to add 72 Academy stages over time.
If you already own Pikmin 4, you do not have to buy the full game again. Nintendo offers a $9.99 US upgrade pack, but that pack needs a separate copy of the original game to work. Newcomers can buy the complete Switch 2 Edition instead.
There is one detail I would check before jumping into Academy: the 72 stages are not all available on day one. Nintendo says it plans to release six each month, starting at launch, and you can return to earlier stages if you miss a month.
Oatchi and the Pikmin return in the Switch 2 edition. Image: Nintendo
What Dandori Academy adds to Pikmin 4
Dandori is the series’ idea of getting things done efficiently. In the new Academy mode, you direct Pikmin and Oatchi around timed stages, collecting treasures and looking for faster routes. The challenges vary in difficulty, so there should be room to practise before chasing a better result.
Nintendo explains that players can practise stages before trying weekly exams, which run from Friday through Sunday. Your performance earns medals that can unlock rewards such as user icons.
The rest of the upgrade includes improved visuals and voice commands for Oatchi through the Switch 2’s built-in microphone. Nintendo says there are nine commands, including instructions to gather Pikmin or carry treasures. A 4K-capable TV is needed for the advertised up-to-4K TV-mode output.
Dandori Academy adds timed challenges to Pikmin 4. Image: Nintendo
The upgrade pack and full game are separate options
The upgrade pack is intended for people who already own the original Pikmin 4, whether they have a packaged or downloaded copy. Nintendo’s US launch announcement lists it for $9.99; the original game is required and sold separately.
If you do not own Pikmin 4, the complete Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Dandori Academy is another option. Nintendo’s US announcement lists the full game at $69.99; check the retailer’s current price before ordering. The upgraded features require a Switch 2.
A scene from Nintendo’s Switch 2 edition listing. Image: Nintendo
Playing Dandori Battles with a friend
Nintendo also supports Dandori Battles with a friend on one system or through GameShare locally or online. The sharing session must start on a Switch 2, and a guest can play the shared game only while that session is active.
For online sharing through GameChat, each participant needs a Switch 2. Online features also require internet access, a Nintendo Account and a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership. I would check those requirements with your friend before planning an online match.
Image credit: Nintendo.
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