Games I Played in 2026 - Pikuniku

 

Console: Switch, PC, XB1, Mobile

Developer: Sectordub

Release Date: January 24, 2019

Pikuniku is a simple adventure game with puzzle-platformer mechanics that focuses primarily on absurdity and dealing with somewhat goofy physics. Made by Sectordub, a small French-British team, I'd heard of Pikuniku without really knowing what it was. Following the announcement of Pikuniku 2, I noticed the first game was over 80% off, so I decided to play it on the spot! 

Two villagers seeing Piku and being terrified, thinking it's THE BEAST!!

Pikuniku is a really simple 2D game with three key mechanics: jumping, kicking, and rolling. Its visual style is also just as simple, with simple sort-of-amorphous characters and flat colors in general. Nonetheless, it feels pretty distinct, especially with how wobbly the characters are coupled with feet always snapping to the ground, making movement look kind of silly. When you jump, Piku will flop around haphazardly. It's an inherently silly game, yet it feels quite nice to play. The physics can be a little janky, however, and get in the way when doing puzzles. It's slightly frustrating at times, but never a dealbreaker.

There's three main areas in the game, each with a little "dungeon" that has some platforming and puzzle challenges. It's all on the easy side and is really forgiving, but the game's tone and silliness keeps things fun enough. There's tiny one-time side games and gags, like playing hide and seek with a teleporting rock, drawing a new face for a scarecrow or kicking watermelons into basketball hoops, as well as a handful of secrets and trophies to find and earn. Nothing mindblowing, but it's cute and doesn't overstay its welcome during the 3-ish hours of playtime.

A villager gives Piku some sage advice.

The story is also appropriately silly, consisting of Mr. Sunshine offering to dispose of the villagers' trash in return for free money. Meanwhile, Piku awakens in a cave within a mountain and leaves, finding out legends about "the beast" being in the cave from the villagers. They capture Piku after you break the bridge to the village and, upon realising that "the beast" was actually not that scary, ask Piku to repair the bridge as a show of faith, especially since with the bridge broken, Mr. Sunshine can't come take their corn and give them free money.

Something that stands out immediately in Pikuniku is the very relaxed, casual writing style, complete with an almost complete lack of punctuation as well as the absence of capital letters altogether, similar to games like Donut County or Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion. The jokes are lighthearted but pretty amusing overall with a touch of absurdity, such as waking up a magical giant piece of toast or having to roll an engorged worm back home. To complement this, the story completely lacks subtlety or surprise, and is a pretty obvious and simple anti-capitalist message.

One of the little side-games you can do: a dance battle with a robot.

Ultimately, the goal of the game becomes to take down Mr. Sunshine, and it leads to some boss battles in the game's only combat sections. They're dead simple, like the rest of the game: avoid attacks and land your own when the time comes. Three hits and it's over. And again, punishment is basically non-existent. There's some nice, slight worldbuilding at hand and it hints at a grimmer world than you'd think, but it's so nonchalant about it all that it's never shocking.

Pikuniku's soundtrack was composed by Calum Bowen, who also goes by bo en, and it's honestly very fitting, with silly synths, cuíca, and other typically "goofy" instruments often used. Some of the tracks are more calm while others are more high energy little ditties that are quite catchy. It's all exactly the kind of music you'd expect from a game like this, I'd say.

 

PROS AND CONS

PROS

• Very silly and quite charming.

• Simple and short to pick up and play.

• Very fitting soundtrack.

• Includes a 9 level co-op mode.

• Consistently amusing.

CONS

• A bit too short to leave a lasting impression.

• Most aspects of the game feel undercooked.

• Physics can be a tad annoying at times.

• Game is either too easy or a little frustrating, with no inbetween.   

 

WORTH PLAYING?

For a low price, absolutely, it's an easy little afternoon game that's just nice. Other than that, though, I didn't resonate much with Pikuniku outside of its absurd premise and visuals. It's a cute, breezy affair that didn't leave much of an impression on me besides being kind of silly. It's perfectly competently made with clearly a lot of love, but it didn't land for me. I recognise, though, that it's definitely a big hit with some people, judging by the excitement over Pikuniku 2. And to be honest, even with feeling kind of whatever about this game, I'm still looking forward to the sequel, especially since it's in 3D and I just prefer 3D platformers.