How to play the old Pikmin games on Nintendo Switch

Pikmin 4 is right around the corner, and Nintendo is giving Switch gamers a crack at the old games in the series.

June 21, 2023’s Nintendo Direct was insane, with tons of big reveals and lots of information on upcoming releases. Amidst the new Mario RPG and Detective Pikachu titles, Nintendo gave fans a short but revealing trailer for Pikmin 4. The lighthearted RTS is making a return after just under a decade, and to help jog players’ memories, Nintendo is releasing the old Pikmin games on the Switch.

The re-releases were announced during the Nintendo Direct after the new trailer, which showed off new environments, boss battles, and even a new type of Pikmin. Pikmin 1 + 2, as the new game is called, will be a packaged release of the first two titles on the Switch. Along with Pikmin 3, which was ported from the Wii U to the Switch, this now means that the entire trilogy can be played on Nintendo’s handheld.

Where to get old Pikmin games on the Nintendo Switch

The old Pikmin titles are now available through the Nintendo eShop, with no announced plans for a physical release.

To get the old games, sign into your Nintendo Switch account and navigate to the Nintendo eShop. Pikmin 1 and 2 are currently featured titles, so they should be easy to find. However, you can also search for the series to find them after they stop being featured. Players can also purchase them through the Nintendo eShop website.

The two titles can be purchased individually for $30 each or as a single bundle for $50. If you plan on playing the whole series to prepare for Pikmin 4, the bundle is a significantly cheaper option. This is the first time the games have been released for the Switch, so there’s no chance of already having them in your library.