10 Other Adorable Games To Play!
Pikmin is one of Shigeru Miyamoto’s favorite franchises. While it doesn’t sell as well as Mario or The Legend of Zelda, fans appreciate the game for its imaginative ideas and relaxing atmosphere. In it, players control a tiny humanoid figure who travels to a bizarre planet filled with monstrous natural organisms. They’ll meet tiny plant-like creatures called Pikmin who will assist them during their expedition. It’s a simple game that can get addictive for those who adore the outdoors.
If you’ve finished playing Pikmin and are looking for alternatives – fret not! We’ve combed through the archives and saved you the hassle with our top 10 picks.
Of course, for all the games we’ve reviewed, we’ve also added a handy link, so you can check out our full thoughts on that and see if it’s something you want to invest your time in.
So without further ado, we present 10 games to check out if you’re looking for a game like Pikmin.
Stonefly
Pikmin’s world is vast and large. Another game that will make you feel tiny is Stonefly. This action-adventure RPG has you traverse a vast ecosystem in a small robotic mech. You’ll traverse this game’s universe by hopping on rocks and canopies. You’ll control a young adventurer named Annika, who wants to recover her family’s heirloom.
However, she’ll need to overcome this world’s deadly bugs if she wants to reobtain that cherished possession. This game evokes the same explorative vibes one would obtain traversing Pikmin’s universe as Olimar and the others. The bugs vary in destructive power, appearance, and scale. You’ll adore the game’s cozy atmosphere and its techno-like soundtrack.
This game offers players options to traverse their terrain in the sky more than the land. This makes environment traversal faster and less tedious since most levels contain an assortment of deadly creatures. From its natural settings to its gripping gameplay, you’ll find Stonefly to be a lovely time.
Kirby Mass Attack
Kirby’s dipped his pink-colored feet into different genres in the past. From racing titles like Kirby AirRide to going on a 3D adventure in Kirby and the Forgotten Land, the pink puffball always manages to delight Nintendo fans. Kirby Mass Attack is one of Kirby’s rare journeys on the Nintendo DS. In it, players can control an army of Kirbys, leading to heart-pumping mayhem to ensue.
This game adopts the army-like vibes found in Pikmin. The small Kirbys in this game take on a role similar to Olimar’s Pikmin companions. They’ll help you solve puzzles and deal with the game’s multiple enemies. Like other Kirby games, the worlds look vibrant and are pleasing to the eye. The chaos that occurs on the screen will get you giggling nonstop too.
If you’re looking for a unique Kirby title where you lead an army of puffballs to victory, check this one out.
Tinykin
Like other dormant franchises, Pikmin fans desperately wanted Nintendo to announce news about a new entry in the series. Although they’d get their wish in 2022, it was a long while before that announcement. Thankfully, the developers at SplashTeam had them covered and released Tinykin, a game that looks identical to Pikmin in scope.
However, Tinykin isn’t a full-fledged copycat of Pikmin. It adopts other aspects that help the game feel like a carbon copy of Nintendo’s cherished series. In it, players control Milo, a boy who arrives on Earth but discovers he’s shrunk, everybody’s departed, and the day hasn’t changed since 1991.
With the Tinykin creature’s help, Milo hopes to return to his original planet and body size. Milo will meet many strange creatures along the way who demonstrate good and evil traits.
While the game harbors the army-controlling gameplay aspects of Pikmin, it contains enjoyable 3D platformer elements that resemble those found in games like Super Mario Odyssey. Therefore, if you ever wondered what a hybrid of Mario and Pikmin would look like, Tinykin holds the answer you seek.
Lemmings
The Lemmings walked, so Pikmin and Olimar could run. This is a classic 90’s game with incredible puzzles that require players to ponder. Your objective is to help the game’s Lemming creatures traverse through countless obstacles in hopes of finding a specific exit. It’s not as simple as it sounds, though. The game forces players to assign particular skills to certain Lemmings.
These Lemmings will alter the game’s landscape, clear obstacles, and create a safer passageway for the rest of them. It’s a brilliant game that received much praise when it was released for the Amiga in 1991. Pikmin fans will grow a fondness for the creatures’ naivety and will grow attached to supernatural entities over time like Olimar’s Pikmin buddies.
If you’re looking for a Pikmin-like game that was released before it then it’s worth looking into Lemmings.
Masters of Anima
Masters of Anima is an action RPG with RTS elements. In it, players venture through Spark, a magical world brimming with evil forces. You’ll control 100 Guardians to fight off these evildoers in action-packed battles. You’ll play as the game’s protagonist, Otto, who was gifted with great power and must rescue Otto’s love interest Ana from the evil Zahr and his Golem minions.
Like Pikmin, the guardians have diverse abilities and appearances. Over time, players must master the Guardians’ strengths and learn their weaknesses if they hope to complete Otto’s mission. Their abilities won’t only aid you in combat, though. The Guardians’ powers will help you explore Spark and unlock new routes you never knew existed.
With some formidable bosses, excellent visuals, and a great soundtrack, you’re guaranteed to complete this game with a smile on your face.
Little King’s Story
Little King’s Story is a fun strategy RPG with RTS mechanics. The game has cutesy visuals and fun characters. It gives players an assortment of tasks to complete. In it, players control King Corobo. He must convince the kingdom of Alpoko to enhance the land and build a paradise on Earth by impressing them.
Players will explore caves filled with items and enemies needing to be slayed. You’ll find yourself building armies, creating buildings, digging for treasure, and breaking obstacles to access the game’s plentiful areas. The game’s storybook-styled art will appeal to many gamers who loved reading classic fairy tales during their youth.
The game features many NPCs who have colorful personalities and motives. The game’s recent Steam release isn’t up to fans’ expectations, though. Many prefer the original Nintendo Wii version due to the Steam game having many technical problems. So, if you want to experience this game in all its glory, pick up the Wii version.
Viva Pinata
Viva Pinata is an underlooked gem from Rare. This game has you taking care of magical pinata creatures who come in all types of shapes and sizes. Like Pikmin, it focuses on you and your strong relationship with the pinatas. Once you create a garden that’s up to these pinatas’ standards, they’ll frolic toward you.
This allows players to take them in and raise them at their leisure. From sending them off to parties to breeding them with fellow pinata species, you’ll find yourself putting multiple hours into this gardening and livestock-raising title. Even though kids will unleash their aggression on your beloved creatures, they’ll come back in one piece.
Therefore, players shouldn’t feel terrible when sending them off to be murdered. It’s an amusing game that’s great to play when you’re feeling stressed out. If you’re looking for another great game that have you managing magical creatures in a more comfortable environment, check out Viva Pinata via Xbox’s Game Pass subscription service.
Grounded
Pikmin fans needing another world that’ll make them feel vulnerable and tiny should check out Grounded. It’s a co-op-focused survival game where players control humans who have shrunk to the size of ants. As you patrol the character’s backyard, you’ll encounter familiar creatures who’ll look more menacing than they have any right to be.
The world feels vast, looks stunning, and engulfs players in a dreadful atmosphere. As you trudge through the game’s endearing setting, you’ll learn about who and what turned you into a tiny humanoid. Despite encouraging players to tackle the environment with friends, players can opt for a single-player experience.
Nowhere is safe from bugs. Not the puddles, caverns, or sandbox. It’s best to keep your eyes peeled and your ears in tune when traversing through the game’s eerie yet familiar locations. The game also includes some perks that you can apply to your character’s stats that will give you a better chance at survival. If you’re looking for a fun exploration game to play after Pikmin, this is worth it.
Worms (1995)
Lemmings aren’t the only strategy game that took the world by storm. Worms not only offers incredible thought-provoking gameplay, but it gives off similar nature vibes to Pikmin. Your mission is to murder everything that moves. You’ll do so by moving small worms around randomly generated maps and using guns and grenades to eradicate your opponents.
However, Worms requires a delicate touch. You can’t simply walk into a foe and blast them. You must angle your shots just right if you hope to lay waste to your opponent. Worms also introduce some non-lethal ways for players to ruin their foes’ lives. These include digging tunnels, building girders, and teleporting.
The more time you put into the game, the more knowledgeable about its mechanics you’ll become. The game includes some nicely rendered cutscenes to keep players invested and some astonishing visuals to help with your immersion. The battles can take ages due to their turn-based structure. However, if you’re looking for another fun strategy game where you control strange creatures, Worms (1995) is worth checking out.
The Wild at Heart
The Wild at Heart might be a Pikmin-like game to hold fans over until Pikmin 4 releases. This game features a rich storyline, excellent gameplay, and heartwarming visuals. In it, players must rebuild worn-out paths, battle merciless beats, and solve puzzles using a horde of quirky creatures. These creatures will be accompanied by two runaways who’ll discover this fantasy land’s hidden secrets and lore.
Like Olimar, you’ll deeply swarms of creatures to help you venture through the game’s paths and fight its creatures. These creatures, called Spritelings, can assist you in collecting typical and rare loot too. The game’s world is vast and contains diverse surroundings ranging from soothing coastlines to ancient shrines.
The darkness is your worst enemy in this world. This is when the universe’s cruelest organisms arise and stalk those they deem as weak. Therefore, it’s best to find a decently-lit environment to avoid any dangerous confrontations. The narrative is deep and rich in mature and relatable themes that may bring a tear to your eye. If you’re looking for a stellar action-adventure title with strong Pikmin vibes, I’d recommend giving this game a chance.
So there we have it, our 10 video game picks to keep you busy after playing Pikmin.
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!