Pikmin 4 Switch 2 Edition adds 72 Dandori Academy stages over time
Nintendo released Pikmin 4 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Dandori Academy on November 12, 2026, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2. The enhanced version adds the Dandori Academy mode, a series of exam stages in which the player earns medals.
The Switch 2 Edition is an enhanced version of Pikmin 4, which came out in 2023. The package adds the Dandori Academy, a set of 72 stages that will be unlocked over time, at a pace of six new stages per month. According to Nintendo Life, the full game costs US$ 69.99 in the United States. A free demo of the title has been available since November 2, 2026.
According to the company, 72 stages will be unlocked over time, at a rate of six new stages per month. The game is available on the Nintendo eShop and in physical retail, and a free demo had been available since November 2, 2026.
Learn more: The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time remake leads Nintendo Switch 2 software reveal
Pikmin 4 Switch 2 Edition: what the Dandori Academy adds
The Dandori Academy is presented by Nintendo as a set of tests in which players organize tasks in a strategic and efficient way, which the company describes as the meaning of “dandori”. Stages can vary in difficulty, so players can choose the ones that match their skill level. Each stage can be attempted officially once a week, according to the information gathered by the newsroom.
The Switch 2 Edition also brings visual improvements, with support for resolution of up to 4K in TV mode. The frame rate, however, did not change compared with the original Switch version, which was released in 2023. The Switch 2 Edition is an enhanced version of that original game, and it is not a new title in the series.
See also: Zelda Ocarina of Time returns on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026
Dandori Academy: 72 stages released over time
- Total stages in the Dandori Academy: 72
- Pace of new stages: 6 per month
- Dandori Points per course, according to the Pikmin Bloom app: up to 125
- Official attempt per stage: once a week
Sources disagree on the days when the Academy exams can be taken, and the newsroom did not confirm the schedule. The Pikmin Bloom app, which lists rewards for players of the Switch 2 Edition, says some of those rewards are still in development.
Oatchi gets voice commands on Nintendo Switch 2
The space dog Oatchi, the loyal companion of the rescue team, can now receive voice commands through the microphone of the Nintendo Switch 2. The game allows the player to train the dog to help more and, over time, to share tasks with Oatchi in other areas of the map. Oatchi can destroy obstacles and carry the player and the Pikmin through the adventure.
The name of the character is spelled “Otchin” in the Brazilian source, and “Oatchi” in the English-language pages consulted. The newsroom did not confirm the official spelling in Portuguese.
Dandori Battles and GameShare multiplayer options
Players can challenge a friend in Dandori Battles on the same console. The match can also be played through GameShare, locally or online through GameChat, even if the friend does not own the game. The GameShare session must be started on the Nintendo Switch 2, and the shared game can only be played during that session.
Nintendo states that extra games, consoles or accessories may be needed for multiplayer, and that an internet connection, a Nintendo Switch Online subscription sold separately and a Nintendo account are required for online features, including GameChat.
Pikmin 4 owners can buy only the upgrade pack
Players who already have Pikmin 4 for the Nintendo Switch can buy only the upgrade pack to play the Switch 2 Edition. The pack is the form of upgrade, and the full Pikmin 4 game, sold separately, is required to use this content.
Pikmin 4 Switch 2 Edition price and unconfirmed details
- Release date: November 12, 2026
- Platform: Nintendo Switch 2 only
- Demo: available from November 2, 2026
- Price in the United States: US$ 69.99
- Price in Brazilian reais: not verified
The sources consulted give different prices for the upgrade pack in the United States, so the newsroom does not report a value for it. The Brazilian price and the release date in the Brazilian store were not verified in the sources consulted. Nintendo has not yet confirmed the Portuguese name of the Dandori Academy mode.
