Pikuniku Review — Quirky Platforming Adventure with a Twist

Pikuniku is the perfect dose of humor for when you need to cut down on the cozy vibes and spark up your more playful side. It’s silly, funny, and challenging, but never too hard.

The name Pikuniku comes from the Japanese pronunciation of “picnic,” but the only way I can really relate it to picnics is that they’re both fun and short-lived experiences. The main character in the adventure mode is Piku, a red creature. Niku, who looks the same but is yellow instead (siblings, perhaps?), is only present in co-op mode, where both Piku and Niku have to team up to beat different levels.

This review focuses on the story mode only. I haven’t been able to properly play co-op on my own, although I did try it for a while and managed to beat one of the easier levels.

After having slept inside a cave for a long time, we wake up as Piku, thanks to a friendly ghost who suggests we should go outside. We quickly learn how to move and are presented with the kind of obstacles we’ll come across throughout the whole game. It’s a 2D platformer where we have no arms but can use our legs to jump, kick, and reach everywhere.

The villagers living right outside the cave are initially scared of Piku, who they used to think of as a dangerous beast, and capture him inside a cage. Soon enough, though, the misunderstanding gets cleared up and Piku is liberated, but not before being asked to fix the bridge he broke while approaching the village.

From then, the game allows you to explore the world freely, although some areas need to be unlocked as you make progress. There are the main objectives, of course, but there are also optional quests that make for a more fulfilling experience. Activities like playing hide-and-seek with a talking rock or finding mama bird’s lost pigeons are not necessary for progress, and yet, they feel essential for mood setting and world building.

The story is very simple but, while there may seem to be no depth to it, there’s a clear message surrounding the antagonistic force and what it represents: capitalism. You see, there’s this thing going on in the town, where a Mr. Sunshine from Sunshine Inc. gives people “free money” in exchange for crops and, supposedly, trash. But it’s a matter of time before Piku and the new friends he makes along the way discover what’s actually going on.

Sunshine Inc. is destroying the forest, and taking away all natural resources for selfish reasons. Eventually, the locals start concluding that money is of no use if there are no basic resources to spend it on. So, it all leads to a mission to stop Sunshine Inc. and save the town.

It’s a predictable little plot that still works because the art style and dialogue also contribute to the overall vibe of the game, which is humorous and cheeky.

The platforming aspect of the game is pretty good. Upon jumping toward a specific direction, Piku’s legs can stretch and latch onto hooks that allow him to reach places that would otherwise be impossible to get to. The challenge level feels approachable for pretty much everyone; it requires some basic skills and concentration but it never gets too difficult.

There’ll be a bit of trial and error involved in order to figure out where to go to advance, but there are no penalties for mistakes and dying isn’t really a thing here. For example, if you accidentally fall on spikes, you’ll be brought back to a safe spot where you passed just a few seconds earlier.

The game has some other things worth mentioning, such as trophies that can be found after completing certain quests, or may even be hiding in specific places. You can find secret areas with bugs that will do a cute little act for you, which is really cool. You can even wear different hats, some of them giving you special abilities such as X-ray vision or barking to scare off the others for no valid reason.

Also, if you like mini-games based on sports, you may enjoy a game of Baskick, created by one of the characters in the town. It’s similar to basketball, so you can guess what it’s going to be like.

Pikuniku was a very fun ride for me, and I think it’s perfect for those days when you’re in the mood for something short, playful, and fun. I’d say, it’s a picnic type of game.