Pikmin Day Direct promises a year of Dandori exams for Pikmin 4 on Switch

by VideoGamer.com Staff Last Updated November 2, 2026

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Dandori Academy turns treasure hunting into a weekly exam No Pikmin 5, but the little guys are keeping busy What happens next for Pikmin 4 on Switch 2

Nintendo surprised fans with a Pikmin Day Direct over the weekend, and while there was no Pikmin 5, it laid out what Pikmin 4 Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Dandori Academy brings when it lands on Switch 2 on November 12.

Shigeru Miyamoto used the broadcast to declare November 1 Pikmin Day, because the three original Pikmin lined up look a bit like 1.11, GameSpew reports. Nintendo had already managed expectations on its Direct page: “Please note that there are no new game announcements.” The focus instead was the Switch 2 version of the 2023 strategy adventure, mobile spin-off Pikmin Bloom and a new series of shorts.

Dandori Academy turns treasure hunting into a weekly exam

The big addition is Dandori Academy, a mode where you race to collect a stage’s treasure as quickly as you can. According to the official Nintendo UK game page, exams take place every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and while practice is unlimited, you only get a single exam attempt per week.

Nintendo plans 72 stages in all, rolling out at six per month, so the curriculum runs for a full year. Your exam results earn medals that unlock rewards such as user icons, and some easier stages are set aside for beginners. Here is everything the Switch 2 Edition includes:

• Dandori Academy, with 72 stages released over time
• Voice commands for Oatchi through the console’s built-in microphone
• GameShare support for Dandori Battles, over local wireless or online through GameChat
• Enhanced resolutions of up to 4K in TV mode
• The original Switch version of Pikmin 4

Oatchi gets the most endearing upgrade. Nintendo’s page explains, “You can give nine different voice commands to Oatchi using the built-in microphone on Nintendo Switch 2.” Those commands cover jobs such as rounding up Pikmin and hauling treasure, and Nintendo also reminds players to praise the space pup when he gets it right.

You can give nine different voice commands to Oatchi using the built-in microphone on Nintendo Switch 2.

Nintendo, Pikmin 4 Nintendo Switch 2 Edition game page

A demo is available now and saves carry over to the full game, says GameSpew, which also puts the upgrade pack for existing Switch owners at £7.99. Nintendo lists the download at 11.3 GB.

No Pikmin 5, but the little guys are keeping busy

Away from Switch 2, the Direct showed a Secret Caves update for Pikmin Bloom on mobile, sending your walking companions underground to explore and take on Bulborbs. GameSpew adds that the presentation also covered special maps unlocked by linking Bloom with Switch 2 and passing in-game exams.

The other new arrival is Hello! Pikmin, a run of shorts starring the creatures, with episodes released through the Nintendo Today app. It is not a new game, but it is the most screen time Pikmin have had in a while.

What happens next for Pikmin 4 on Switch 2

The Switch 2 Edition launches on Thursday, November 12, sharing a release day with the Switch 2 version of Metaphor: ReFantazio, according to Nintendo’s November release round-up. The physical card will still boot on an original Switch, but only as the standard game without any of the new features.

With Thursday launch timing, the earliest possible exam weekend starts on Friday, November 13. Nintendo has not said when the next six stages arrive beyond the monthly schedule, and Pikmin 5 remains unannounced.

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