Pikmin 3 Deluxe Review Roundup

Pikmin 3 Deluxe is bringing Nintendo's take on real-time strategy to the Nintendo Switch today. The port brings brand-new side story missions, quality-of-life improvements, and additional achievements to the third installment in the cartoony series about plant-based little minions.

A lot of people missed Pikmin 3 when it originally landed on Wii U in 2013, so this version of the game gives them the chance to kill a burrowing snagret with nothing but these knockoff little green men. Fans of the Pikmin series have been clamoring for Pikmin 4, especially as Miyamoto has said that the game is "still happening" back in 2016. This remake could be a sign that the long-awaited sequel is on its way to the Nintendo Switch soon.

• Game: Pikmin 3 Deluxe
• Platforms: Nintendo Switch
• Developer: Nintendo
• Release date: October 30
• Price: $60

GameSpot -- 8/10

"Although the side story missions are the biggest selling point, Pikmin 3 has actually received a fair number of other tweaks in its move to Switch as well. There are new difficulty options, a hint system that helpfully nudges wayward players in the right direction, and other additions like badges--unlockable achievements that are doled out upon completing specific tasks or reaching certain milestones. These nips and tucks don't radically alter the experience for returning players, but they do help make the game more inviting for newcomers, especially those who may not already be familiar with the series." -- Kevin Knezevic [Full Review]

IGN -- 9/10

"Pikmin 3 Deluxe makes an already excellent game even better and transplants it onto a console where far more people have a chance to see how good it really is. Its Side Stories and difficulty modes aren’t massive additions, but they gave me more of the already clever and fast-paced fun that made me fall in love with the original game seven years ago. And while not as flashy new missions, there are a downright impressive amount of smaller touches and quality-of-life adjustments throughout (including replacing the Wii U’s Gamepad screen with Switch-friendly controls) that make this the best the Pikmin series has ever felt. There’s plenty of reason to come back for returning players, and if you missed Pikmin 3 on the Wii U then you absolutely shouldn’t repeat that mistake here." -- Tom Marks [Full Review]

Game Informer -- 9/10

"Pikmin 3 was one of my favorite Wii U games, which isn’t meant to be faint praise it sounds like. Thanks to Pikmin 3 Deluxe, players who didn’t get around to checking it out in its original form have a chance to do so on the Switch. And better yet, they’re getting a version that lives up to its potential as a game to bring people together – even if it’s just to move tangerines and grapes around." -- Jeff Cork [Full Review]

VentureBeat -- 4/5

"I’m thrilled that I had another great excuse to play through it. And I’m really hoping this is paving the way for a Pikmin 4. Even if you bounced off of Pikmin, I think Nintendo has ironed out a lot of the wrinkles that acted as a barrier for this franchise. The controls are solid and friendly. Even the camera never really causes frustrations. Give this game a shot. It’s worth it." -- Jeff Grubb [Full Review]

GamesRadar -- 4/5

"Honestly, the Deluxe part of the experience, like DLC and extra missions are all just the icing piped carefully around the main gameplay cake and will be of interest only to the hardcore who need an excuse to purchase Pikmin 3 for a second time. Not that you need one, the game is still a classic and its Honey I Shrunk The Kids miniature world and gameplay translates perfectly to Switch. It's been seven years since Pikmin 3 arrived on the Wii U, and with its tweaks and extra goodies it absolutely deserves another chance in the sun." -- Rachel Weber [Full Review]

Eurogamer -- Recommended

"While they're still set in Pikmin 3's original areas and a bit of a kitbash, they offer the closest thing to a Pikmin 4 you're going to play this year. And that's the real hope with this re-release - that this return of the Wii U campaign with extra bells and whistles is the launch pad for an all-new Pikmin in the relatively close future. Just like its own small treasures, Pikmin 3 is well worth dusting off, as we wait for the series to properly end its garden leave." -- Tom Phillips [Full Review]