Nintendo announced that November 1 is now the first annual Pikmin Day, accompanied by a surprise Nintendo Direct detailing a free Pikmin 4 Switch 2 demo, a winter Secret Caves update for Pikmin Bloom, and a brand-new animated shorts series produced with Nintendo Pictures.
Shigeru Miyamoto and Nintendo Declare November 1 as Pikmin Day
Nintendo established November 1 as an official annual holiday for its puzzle-strategy franchise during a surprise video broadcast on October 31, 2026. Shigeru Miyamoto explained the reasoning behind the date, noting that the three initial colors introduced in the original—red, yellow, and blue—stand side by side like three ones, making 11.1 a natural fit. Nintendo’s miniaturized franchise launched in Japan in October 2001 before coming to North America in December, meaning the holiday does not tie directly to the series’ initial commercial release. Nine different Pikmin types have been discovered so far across the franchise’s history.
The broadcast served to expand current franchise experiences rather than introduce an entirely new title. Miyamoto warned viewers prior to the presentation that no new Pikmin game would be announced. Instead, the company focused its nine-minute showcase on upcoming hardware updates, mobile features, and animated projects designed to build more excitement about Pikmin going forward. The broadcast also reminded viewers that all four mainline games—Pikmin, Pikmin 2, Pikmin 3 Deluxe, and Pikmin 4—can be played across both the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch 2. While Pikmin 1 and 2 are available to purchase individually on the eShop, Nintendo made no announcement regarding them joining the Nintendo Switch Online GameCube library on the newer hardware.
going forward, I want people to know more about Pikmin.
Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo
Pikmin 4 Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Brings Dandori Academy and Voice Commands
The updated console release arrives on 12 November 2026, featuring improved visuals and hardware-specific additions. Nintendo Treehouse also scheduled a dedicated gameplay stream following the announcements to showcase the Switch 2 edition.
Players can utilize the Switch 2’s built-in microphone to issue voice commands such as Rush
and Go to work
directly to Oatchi, the space dog. Alongside these controls, the new Dandori Academy mode introduces 72 time-limited challenge stages focusing on efficient route planning and treasure collection. The showcase highlighted specific scenarios like the Gargantuan Garden exam, which challenges players to collect gold nuggets before time runs out. Certain units offer unique strategic advantages in these challenges, such as a single purple Pikmin carrying heavy items that would otherwise require multiple standard units.
While practice stages remain open at all times, official exams take place every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, granting players a single attempt to earn medals and post high scores on competitive leaderboards. A free demo covering the opening area, Sunspeckled Terrace, and two Dandori Academy levels will launch on November 2, 2026, allowing players to transfer save data to the full release.
Secret Caves Come to Pikmin Bloom and Connect With Switch 2 Play
The mobile application Pikmin Bloom is receiving a major update this winter introducing Secret Caves, where squads of Pikmin explore underground environments independently. Players must acquire Cave Maps—sometimes found attached to postcards or earned by completing requirements in the Switch 2 edition of Pikmin 4—to access the areas. Pikmin Bloom is available as a free download on both Android and iOS devices.
Inside the caves, squads encounter familiar creatures and battle them automatically. Players can whistle to recall units if a creature prepares a striking blow; injured Pikmin retreat to recover rather than disappearing from the roster. Successful battles yield treasures that are cataloged in a new in-game database.
Hello! Pikmin Animated Shorts and Guest Appearances
Nintendo Pictures collaborated with Miyamoto on a brand-new series of animated shorts titled Hello! Pikmin. The first episode premiered during the broadcast, featuring an encounter between a Pikmin and a toad where the character narrowly escapes by hiding behind a baseball. A second episode was scheduled to premiere the following day, with a third arriving later in November. Miyamoto’s long-running fascination with animation previously yielded several shorts in 2014, including The Night Juicer, Treasure in a Bottle, and Occupational Hazards.
Japanese actress Fuka Koshiba also joined the broadcast. Koshiba is recognized for voicing Kiki in Kiki’s Delivery Service.
I’m not good at the claw machines, but I really wanted the hats, so I thought, ‘Well, let’s just knit them.’
Fuka Koshiba, Actor
Initially, Koshiba encountered the concept through social media posts showing knitted Pikmin hats. Her handmade creations eventually caught the attention of Miyamoto via Instagram, leading to her participation in the franchise’s promotional events.