Pikmin 4 Free Demo: Everything You Need to Know

Pikmin 4 is the latest installment in the beloved Nintendo franchise that combines strategy, exploration, and adorable plant-like creatures. The game is set to launch on July 21, 2023, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch. However, if you can’t wait to get your hands on the game, you’re in luck: Nintendo has released a free demo that you can download and play right now. Here’s everything you need to know about the Pikmin 4 free demo.

Also read: Best Stardew Valley Mods You Should Install

What is Pikmin 4?

Pikmin 4 is a game that puts you in the role of a new recruit in the Rescue Corps, a team of explorers who crash-land on a mysterious planet. Along with your faithful space dog Oatchi and a variety of Pikmin, you must explore the planet, find missing parts for your ship, rescue your fellow cadets, and uncover the secrets of this strange world.

Pikmin are small, colorful creatures that have different abilities and personalities. You can command them to carry objects, fight enemies, solve puzzles, and more. There are several types of Pikmin in the game, such as Red Pikmin (fire-resistant), Blue Pikmin (water-loving), Yellow Pikmin (electric), Ice Pikmin (freezing), and Glow Pikmin (luminous). You can also use Oatchi to help you with tasks like smashing obstacles, swimming, and battling.

The game features a rich and vibrant environment that changes depending on the time of day and weather. You can explore outdoor areas like gardens, forests, and beaches, as well as indoor areas like houses and underground caves. You’ll encounter a variety of objects that are familiar to humans but gigantic to you and your Pikmin, such as plants, pots, watches, and even a Game Boy Advance SP. You’ll also face many dangers, such as hostile creatures, traps, and environmental hazards.

The game has a story mode that follows your adventure as you try to repair your ship and save your crew. You can also play in Dandori Battles mode, where you compete against an Olimar clone and his space dog to collect the most objects in a limited time. Additionally, the game supports co-op and online multiplayer modes, where you can team up or compete with other players.

How to Download the Free Demo

The free demo for Pikmin 4 is available now on the Nintendo eShop or Nintendo.com. You can download it by following these steps:

On your Nintendo Switch console, go to the Nintendo eShop icon on the Home menu and select it.
On the Nintendo eShop menu, select “Search” and type in “Pikmin 4”.
Select the “Pikmin 4 Demo” option from the search results and press “A”.
Select “Free Download” and press “A”.
Wait for the download to complete. You can check the progress on the Home menu.
Once the download is done, you can launch the demo from the Home menu.

Alternatively, you can download the demo from Nintendo.com by following these steps:

On your computer or mobile device, go to https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/pikmin-4-switch/
Click or tap on “Download demo” under the game’s title.
Sign in with your Nintendo Account or create one if you don’t have one.
Select your Nintendo Switch console from the list of devices linked to your account.
Wait for the download to start on your console. You can check the progress on the Home menu.
Once the download is done, you can launch the demo from the Home menu.

What Does the Free Demo Include?

The free demo for Pikmin 4 includes a generous amount of content that lets you experience some of the game’s features and modes. The demo includes:

The first three days of story mode, where you create your own explorer character, meet Oatchi and some of the Pikmin types, and start exploring the planet.
A tutorial that teaches you how to control your character, command your Pikmin and Oatchi, use items, and more.
A Dandori Battle mode where you can challenge an Olimar clone and his space dog to a timed competition.
A co-op mode where you can play with another player locally using two Joy-Con controllers or two Nintendo Switch consoles.
An online multiplayer mode where you can play with up to three other players online using Nintendo Switch Online membership.

The free demo also offers some incentives for playing it and transferring your save data to the full game when it releases. These include:

A free Pikmin 4 Oatchi-Rider costume for mobile game Pikmin Bloom , which is a Pokemon GO-like game developed by Niantic that lets you grow and collect Pikmin in the real world using augmented reality.
A 10% bonus in My Nintendo Gold Points when you purchase or redeem a download code for the digital version of Pikmin 4 on Nintendo eShop or Nintendo.com. You can use these points to save on your next eligible digital game or DLC purchase.
The ability to keep your custom character and progress from the demo when you start the full game, so you don’t have to replay the same content.

Why Should You Play the Free Demo?

The free demo for Pikmin 4 is a great way to try out the game before buying it, especially if you’re new to the series or unsure if you’ll like it. The demo gives you a taste of the game’s charming and colorful world, its unique and fun gameplay mechanics, its engaging and humorous story, and its varied and exciting modes. You’ll also get to enjoy some of the game’s improvements and additions over previous entries, such as the character customization, the space dog companion, the new Pikmin types, and the night exploration.

The demo also rewards you for playing it and transferring your save data to the full game, which is a nice bonus. You’ll get a free costume for Pikmin Bloom, a discount on the digital version of Pikmin 4, and a seamless transition to the full game without losing your progress. These incentives make the demo even more worthwhile and appealing.

If you’re a fan of strategy, adventure, or Nintendo games in general, you should definitely give the Pikmin 4 free demo a try. You might be surprised by how much fun you’ll have with this game and its adorable plant-like creatures. And if you like what you see, you can pre-order the full game now and get ready for its launch on July 21, 2023.

How long is the Pikmin 4 free demo?

The Pikmin 4 free demo lets you play the first three days of story mode, which can take about an hour or more depending on your playstyle. You can also play the Dandori Battle mode, the co-op mode, and the online multiplayer mode as much as you want.