Pikuniku review for Nintendo Switch

The problem with loving a game as much as I love Pikuniku is that there?s so much good to say about it, it?s hard to know where to begin. So, to start, I?ll talk about what I don?t like about the game.

So..uhh?err…

Yeah, I?ve got nothing. Pikuniku is an absolutely adorable game from beginning to end, a puzzle-platformer of sorts that draws inspiration from games like LocoRoco and Katamari with its blend of cuteness and absurdity, and that had me smiling from beginning to its all-to-soon end.

The crazy thing is, Pikuniku is set in a dystopia. You (controlling Piku) are trying to free villagers from the clutches of Sunshine Inc., a villainous corporation stealing water and, uh, corn, and generally just being kind of mean. It?s a game about corporate greed and evil robots. Yet, despite that, it approaches its topic with a sunny disposition. The colours here are bright, and the visuals jump off the screen, while the oddly-shaped characters you meet are always quick with a joke.

As for the game itself, it brings together a whole bunch of different elements. There?s platforming, of course. There are also puzzles to solve here and there, some fun boss fights, and, in one memorable spot, a dance battle. None of it is particularly difficult, but that wouldn?t fit in with the game?s overall vibe. It?s also not very long, but as someone who always prefers 3-4 hours of excellent gameplay over 15+ hours with lots of filler, that doesn?t bother me at all.

In fact, nothing about Pikuniku bothers me. It?s a happy, fun little game that needs to be enjoyed by everyone who owns a Switch, and the world is a better place with games like this in it.

Devolver Digital provided us with a Pikuniku Switch code for review purposes.