is a real-time strategy and puzzle video game series created by Shigeru Miyamoto, and developed and published by Nintendo. The games focus on directing a legion of plant-like creatures called Pikmin to collect items by destroying the area around them, avoiding hazards, and fighting fauna that are hazardous to both the player character and the Pikmin.
The Pikmin series features four main entries and two spin-offs. The first two, Pikmin (2001) and Pikmin 2 (2004), were made and released for the GameCube and later ported to the Wii as New Play Control! titles in 2008 and 2009. Pikmin 2 was re-released in the Nintendo Selects series in 2012. Both titles were remastered for the Nintendo Switch in 2023 as Pikmin 1+2. A third installment, Pikmin 3, was released for the Wii U in 2013. An enhanced port of Pikmin 3 for the Nintendo Switch, Pikmin 3 Deluxe, was released in 2020. The series' first handheld game, Hey! Pikmin, was released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2017. Pikmin 4 was released for the Nintendo Switch in 2023. Pikmin Bloom, the series' mobile spin-off, was released for iOS and Android in 2021. Pikmin Finder, an augmented reality browser-based mobile game, was released in 2023.
Gameplay
The series' gameplay combines elements of action platformer with puzzle and strategy gameplay. The Pikmin games focus on exploring an Earth-like planet named PNF-404, and controlling a crowd of the titular Pikmin. Pikmin are intelligent, loyal, multicolored, plant-animal hybrids that follow the orders of their leader. There have been multiple leaders throughout the series, with the first and most notable being Captain Olimar, a tiny alien from the planet Hocotate introduced in the original Pikmin. Pikmin 2 features Olimar's co-worker Louie and their boss The President who are also playable leaders. Pikmin 3 features leaders from a new alien species. They are Alph, Brittany and Charlie, who come from the planet Koppai and are similar to the Hocotatians, but possess some different features, notably rounded ears instead of pointed ones. Pikmin 4 features a customizable character who is part of an interplanetary rescue team, assisted by Oatchi, a space dog creature with unique abilities.
Pikmin are sent to perform several tasks, with the primary one being the retrieval of items relative to the mission of each game. The player must direct the Pikmin to overcome obstacles and PNF-404's fauna. Individual Pikmin are small and weak against most predators, and some are best suited for certain tasks. It is the responsibility of the player to direct the Pikmin appropriately to ensure successful retrievals of items, avoid danger, and quickly overcome any obstacles and predators. Gameplay is divided into individual days, each of which consists of approximately 13 minutes, in which the player is encouraged to accomplish as much as possible before sunset. At sunset, monsters come out and will eat any Pikmin either left without a leader or far enough away from their Onion.
Pikmin appear in a variety of colors, which signify the Pikmin's abilities and resistance to environmental hazards. The number of Pikmin and their abilities have shifted throughout the franchise, with the first Pikmin game featuring three colors: Red, Yellow and Blue. Red Pikmin are immune to fire, Blue Pikmin can safely move through the water thanks to their gills, and Yellow Pikmin can be thrown higher than other Pikmin, and can carry bomb rocks. In Pikmin 2, Yellow Pikmin have lost their ability to carry bomb rocks in exchange for being immune to electrical hazards, and White and Purple Pikmin are introduced. White Pikmin are the fastest, resistant to poisonous gases, capable of poisoning enemies and capable of spotting objects buried underground. In comparison, Purple Pikmin are significantly stronger and heavier than the other types, which makes them excellent at inflicting damage and carrying heavy items, due to their stunning shockwave effect.
Pikmin 3 introduced two more types: the black and grey-colored Rock Pikmin, and the pink-colored, bee-inspired Winged Pikmin. Rock Pikmin can break crystalline materials and cannot be crushed or impaled. They inflict the most damage out of all Pikmin types when thrown. In comparison, Winged Pikmin can fly freely, enabling them to recover elevated items and attack airborne enemies. Their flight makes it easier to transport things back to the leader's ship or the Pikmins' Onion. In addition to making each type capable of carrying bomb rocks, Pikmin 3 also adjusted the abilities of Yellow, Blue, White and Purple Pikmin. Yellow Pikmin are tied with Rock Pikmin for the fastest digging speed; Blue Pikmin are capable of swimming; White Pikmin are tied with Winged Pikmin for the lowest attack strength and slowest digging speed; Purple Pikmin are tied with Red Pikmin for second highest attack strength and second fastest digging speed, while removing their stunning ability.
Pikmin 4 introduced two other types: Ice Pikmin, which can work during the day like most Pikmin; and Glow Pikmin, which are primarily used during the newly introduced night expeditions and can also be used during the day within caves. Ice Pikmin can freeze enemies and bodies of water, and are invulnerable to being frozen at the cost of having low attack power. They can freeze enemies by attacking them enough, or by being eaten, similarly to the White Pikmin. With the Offensive Method, Ice Pikmin trigger a sort of "Freeze Meter"; if the ring fills, the enemy is frozen. But with the Sacrificial Method, the ring fills significantly upon death, like how the White Pikmin kill their attacker on death. They can float on bodies of water when the water isn't frozen. Depending on the size of the body of water, you may need a whole party of Ice Pikmin to freeze it, leaving only the player and Oatchi left. Glow Pikmin are immune to all the elements of fire, water, electricity, and poison, and can stun enemies when a group is charged together. While they may be used freely at night, they are only accessible during the day within caves and must be summoned using glow seeds, which are gathered from nighttime expeditions. Pikmin 4 readjusted the previous Pikmin types again. Bomb rocks are no longer carried by the Pikmin. Instead, they are items the player can acquire and use at their discretion. Rock Pikmin can now be crushed on hard surfaces, and when taking elemental damage. They also cannot dig fast like Yellow Pikmin, who now dig even faster than before. Purple Pikmin's attack strength is the same as in Pikmin 3, but their shockwave stun returns and gives them extra damage upon impact.
Outside of coloration, all types of Pikmin share the same method of indicating their strength and swiftness: the stalk atop their heads will sport either a leaf, bud or flower, which develops when Pikmin are fed nectar or left planted in the ground for a certain amount of time. By extension, all types of Pikmin are stored in their respective motherships, referred to as "Onions", for safety after sunset, as they are vulnerable to nocturnal predators. The Onions play a vital role in Pikmin reproduction: when any food, such as prey or pellets, is delivered to an Onion, it propagates seeds, which grow and are plucked from the ground as fully developed Pikmin. An Onion serves as an incubator for all Pikmin of its respective color, housing the Pikmin. The Onions travel alongside Olimar as he flies to different locations on the planet PNF-404.
Plot
Characters
Protagonists The main protagonist of the series is Captain Olimar, an employee of the Hocotate Freight Company, who flies a rocket ship known as the S.S. Dolphin, a reference to the GameCube's developmental code name. He has a wife, son and daughter. Pikmin 2 introduces Louie, a co-worker of Olimar, who places the Hocotate Freight Company in debt after losing a shipment of gold "Pikpik" brand carrots to a "ravenous space bunny". The character's Japanese name, Orimā (オリマー), functions as a direct syllabic anagram of Mario (マリオ), another iconic character created by Shigeru Miyamoto.
In Pikmin 3, three new characters succeed Olimar as playable leaders: Alph the engineer, Brittany the botanist, and Captain Charlie. All three characters come from Koppai, a planet whose inhabitants are similar to the Hocotatians, and they interact with each other through in-game dialogue. Though not playable during the game's story, Olimar and Louie both appear later in the game's story and become integral to its plot, are playable in Bingo Battle Mode and five of the downloadable mission levels, and Olimar's expedition logs are later discovered by the crew and offer helpful advice regarding PNF-404. Olimar and Louie are playable in the Olimar's Comeback side story missions unique to Pikmin 3 Deluxe.
In Pikmin 4, the main character is customizable by the player, and works as a rookie member of the Rescue Corps organization. They are tasked with rescuing the other Rescue Corps members, as well as Olimar. This player character is one of two playable characters in the main story, along with the Rescue Corps' dog Oatchi. Though not playable during the game's story, Olimar and Louie both appear later in the game's story and become integral to its plot, with Louie appearing in a more antagonistic role. While not playable in the main story, Olimar is playable in the Olimar's Shipwreck Tale side story.
Pikmin creatures After becoming stranded on the unknown planet in Pikmin, Olimar becomes acquainted with the species of plant-like beings that he names "Pikmin" because they resemble the "Pikpik" brand of carrots on his home planet of Hocotate. They are small, brightly colored creatures who are each as tall as a US dime. They follow any command: from attacking enemies and defending Olimar to retrieving large artifacts. Pikmin are generally very weak unless they are used in hordes, as they are excellent at working together and speak with strange, squeaky noises. Simple commands can, however, be communicated to them by the use of a whistle or any other device capable of producing high-pitched noises.
Pikmin come in several colors, each with strengths and weaknesses. In Pikmin, there are three types of Pikmin: Red Pikmin, who are better in combat and can withstand extreme heat and fire; Yellow Pikmin, who can be thrown higher, can use bomb rocks (Pikmin and Pikmin 3, although all Pikmin types are capable of using bomb rocks in this game), are immune to electricity (Pikmin 2 onward), and can dig faster (Pikmin 3 onward); and Blue Pikmin, which have gills and can walk in water (or get splashed with water-based attacks) without drowning. There are also Mushroom Pikmin who attack the other types of Pikmin. They are created when regular Pikmin are infected by spores let out by the Puffstool.