Nintendomight be widely known as an international video game company, but that hasn’t kept it from venturing into other forms of media, including comics. In fact, Nintendo has secretly been publishing a manga-style comic strip for over a year now (one based on a beloved video game series), andmost people haven’t even noticed.
Nintendo’s comic strip in question isPikminby writer/artist Kino Takahashi, and the first strip was published July 28, 2025. It’s based on the real-time strategy and puzzle video game series of the same name that debuted as a GameCube exclusive in 2001 (and has since been made available on systems including the Wii, 3DS, and Switch). Like the video game, thePikmincomic strip series follows a group ofPikminled by a chibi protagonist as they go about their fun and adventure-filled lives.
Enjoy the firstPikmincomic strip above, courtesy of Nintendo.
The story arcs in thePikmincomic strip are more ‘episodic’ in nature, and less of a serialized narrative. It allows readers to peak into the lives of these characters as they go on their whimsical adventures. Those adventures range from the protagonist observingPikminand learning their ways of life, to overcoming obstacles like natural predators, poorly placed bridges, and potentially deadly puddles.ThePikmincomic is pleasantly low-stakes, and a fun experience for readers of all ages - even those who aren’t too familiar withestablishedPikminlore.
What Is Pikmin? Nintendo’s Manga Comic Strip Lore, Explained
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While the comic strip just throws fans right into the world ofPikminwith little-to-no lore explanations, the video game helps fill in those narrative gaps.Pikmintakes place on an Earth-like planet named PNF-404. This planet is home to the titular Pikmin, which are plant-animal hybrids. When aliens from other planets (including Hocotate and Koppai) come to PNF-404 on different space missions (which usually consists of retrieving items or observing the local fauna), thePikminare happy to help them any way they can.
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This lore is built up throughoutthePikminvideo game series, and while it’s not integral to enjoying the comic strip, knowing the lore does enhance the experience. Fans will begin to notice familiar characters and fun callbacks to the original video game upon reading the comic, on top of simply enjoying the manga-style strip independently of the game. In other words, no matter how one chooses to read thePikmincomic strip,it’s something that everyone should check out.
Pikmin Isn’t the First Time Nintendo Released Comic Series
Introducing theNintendo Comics System(1990-1991)
Pikminmight be the latest comic series produced by Nintendo, but it’s certainly not the first. Between 1990 and 1991, Nintendo had a comic series titledNintendo Comics System, published by Valiant Comics. These comics were based on a number oficonic Nintendo video game series, includingSuper Mario Bros.,The Legend of Zelda, andMetroid, just to name a few. WhileNintendo Comics Systemadopted the classic comic book format as opposed toPikmin’s manga/comic strip style, both accomplish the same result: offering fans a fun and lighthearted experience within the worlds of their favorite Nintendo characters.
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Nintendo is continuing its legacy of producing fun comics based in the worlds of its beloved video game characters withPikmin. And the best part?Pikminis an ongoing comic seriesthat fans can read right now with more than a year of comic strips to read before getting all caught up. And upon reading thePikmincomic series, it’s hard to believe that people didn’t know about this amazing Nintendocomic sooner. Fans can read Nintendo’sPikmincomic for free online atpikmin.nintendo.com!
Nintendo
Nintendo is one of the world’s most successful and popular video game companies. It was founded in 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, who started the company by making Japanese playing cards. When Nintendo broke into the video game industry, it exploded in popularity. Nintendo has released several consoles over the years, such as the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Nintendo 64, Gameboy, Wii, and the Nintendo Switch. The company has also created several iconic franchises like Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing, and Pokémon.
