Okay, Pikmin 3 is a pretty good game. It's only real problems was the lack of story.

However, Pikmin 3 is the most mid Pikmin game, besides Hey, which is a good game, but a terrible Pikmin game. Now, I'll list my top 10 reasons why I believe that Pikmin 3 is the worst Pikmin game, other than Hey! Pikmin.

1. The controls are really dumb. Why do I need to use (B) to dismiss, and (ZR) to whistle? It doesn't make sense, when compared to the previous games. I'm so glad that this was changed in the port...
2. (I'm unsure if this was removed in the Switch port) The cursor having a Whistle distance and throwing distance came off as really dumb. There really isn't an easy way to change it, because of lack of motion controls.
3. The Mission Mode was underutilized. It really felt like a worse version of Pikmin 2's Challenge Mode, minus the cave gimmicks. The maps were small, and it honestly is something the Switch version easily fixed with Olimar's Comeback and Olimar's Mission. The stages were still small in those modes, it was genuinely fun to play, where the Mission Modes were just the same thing over and over, and it was super repetitive. I only got Platinum on all of them because I had nothing else to do. The DLC was good though. Come after me for this, but Pikmin 1/2's Challenge Mode is better.
4. The Story is terrible. People lament Pikmin 4's "cardboard storyline," but I don't really mind it. I posted about it earlier, so you can hear me out for this . Now, Pikmin 3 is beatable in at least 3 hours tops. The ending was good, but it could've been infinitely better. The other ones felt heartfelt, and full of creativity (Even Hey! Pikmin had an ending that genuinely liked and it made me feel really happy). Pikmin 3's ends at a terrible cliffhanger, that had people expecting a new game for a long time. I think that's what made the wait for 4 even more long for us.
5. The Rock and Winged Pikmin are just reskinned Purple and White Pikmin. Don't get me wrong, Rock and Winged Pikmin are cool, but Winged Pikmin look literally the same as White Pikmin, and function essentially as flying White Pikmin with no immunities. Rock Pikmin are just bouncy Purple Pikmin that break crystals. They added nothing new to the table, even though their designs were pretty cool. From a Gameplay perspective, they are identical in (nearly) every way.
6. The chase scene was the only good part about the Formidable Oak. The Final boss of Pikmin 3 was worse than the Emperor from 1. The Emperor from 1 can be tedious and frustrating, but easily falls if you know the right methods. In 3, you literally can just get Rock Pikmin, and win within a few minutes. At least SOMETIMES, the Emperor killed 3 or 5 Pikmin, but the Plasm Wraith has killed NONE. It's kind of pathetic a being whose physical form may not exist in this dimension, that can manipulate elements and can fly, can't resist getting hit with a rock a dozen times.
7. Electricity is a terrible hazard. There is only 1 enemy that utilizes electricity in a dangerous way, and that is the Bearded Amprat, because it comes after your Pikmin while they are stunned. Pikmin literally never die from getting a hearty (estimated) 5,000 to 8,000 volts. A human dies at 100-250 volts. You can see an issue, right? Pikmin 4 may not have the best Electricity system ever, but it still actually kills your Pikmin. I am not saying Pikmin 2 electricity is good in any way, but at least it is a serious matter to handle.
8. Water is a joke. Drowning Pikmin SAVE THEMSELVES. They just act as border only your Captains, Winged, and Blue Pikmin can cross. I have NEVER unintentionally lost a Pikmin to water in Pikmin 3.
9. There is a lack of content. It ranks in 4th for amount of enemies, the areas felt super short, multiple enemies are not common to find (Shearwig, Bulbear, etc.). The areas feel segmented, which (in my opinion) removes the feel of an open world. The fact that tunnels have a screen fade, it honestly ruins the experience for me. Why can't I switch to a Captain while they are going through a tunnel? Plus, you can't save Pikmin in the middle of a tunnel when sunset approaches.
10. Blue Pikmin are useless. They were pretty good in 1, mid in 2, but in 3, you only have TWO FRUITS that the game requires you to have blues. Even then, I can guarantee that there is some specific glitch that allows you to get them *cough cough* Crushing Glitch *cough cough* I understand that these methods will likely go unused in a normal playthrough, but if a Pikmin is barely useable, and only found last, then they are a terrible Pikmin. Pikmin 2 had a decent balance of Blue Pikmin being required. I need some love for my blue bois.

Everybody is praising the Pikmin 3, and I need my opinion to be out there. I don't understand the appeal of Pikmin 3. It's a good game, and I may be biased towards the first two, but it really doesn't change my opinion in that way.

If I missed anything, or misunderstood, please tell me! But, please, let's keep it as civil as we possibly can on r/Pikmin.