Pikmin: Wide World

Pikmin: Wide World is a non-canonical fan-made Pikmin game concept currently being developed by Cheepy-Cheepy, and is the sequel to . Pikmin: Wide World includes and incorporates many mechanics, elements, and features of all three main Pikmin games and , but also introduces plenty of entirely new ones. Essentially, Pikmin: Wide World is a very expansive game that is closely modeled after a traditional official Pikmin game.

=Plot= As the S.S. Drake approaches Hocotate, Captain Olimar and the Koppaite trio exchange goodbyes. The ship lands on the bare lot of Hocotate Freight, which Olimar chose as the ship's landing site due to its familiarity to him. Olimar waves goodbye to his saviors as he steps out of the spacecraft and onto the hard cemented ground. Olimar turns to watch the S.S. Drake take off into the sky, but as he turns around again, he is suddenly met by Shacho, the president of Hocotate Freight. Panicked, Shacho informs Olimar that the company is still in its steep debt of, which he had sent Olimar and Louie to pay off. He asks where the Pokos and treasures are, and stops himself before he could continue. He takes a few moments to realize a few crucial details: no emails were being exchanged to and from the Hocotate ship in days, Olimar didn't return to the planet in the Hocotate ship, and Louie was once again not present. Olimar begins to explain all that happened with himself and Louie and the Hocotate ship. After understanding that the Hocotate ship was left behind and that the company has no other usable ships or funds, he asks Olimar what to do. Olimar had no other choice but to reveal his secret project: the Dolphin Lander. Shacho and Captain Olimar suit up and gather rations, and take off towards the Pikmin Planet in the Dolphin Lander to save the company yet again.

Shortly before landing in Balmy Highlands, the Dolphin Lander malfunctions and deposits Shacho into a small, circular area. With him are a dormant yellow Onion, Pellet Posies, and a Superstick Textile. Their food supply is also thrown offboard due to the Dolphin Lander's malfunction, which lands in a seemingly inaccessible but nearby location. Olimar lands the Dolphin Lander in a nearby location and rushes out of it to reunite with his boss, nearly colliding with a crystal gate separating them. Olimar and Shacho discuss how to solve the issue until Olimar notices the yellow Onion and suggests Shacho approach it. Shacho activates the yellow Onion, and, recalling what he had learned on his previous visit to PNF-404, uses the Pellet Posies to grow some Pikmin. He returns to the crystal gate to see Olimar has his own Yellow Pikmin. Shacho, realizing that his Pikmin are of little use in escaping his predicament, throws them over the crystal gate to Olimar. Olimar leads his group of Yellow Pikmin into a dank, cavelike subarea, which is populated by a few harmless enemies as well as Medusal Slurker that had ingested a Juicy Gaggle. Olimar takes notice of an electrode, and from the sparks produced by the severed wire ends, concludes that the device is still functional and could be of use. The nearby charred remains of a Female Sheargrub only serves as proof of his conclusion. After completing the electrode's circuit, the cave lights up and reveals a few bomb-rocks setting on a high ledge. Olimar throws his Yellow Pikmin to the bomb-rocks, the Pikmin drop down to him and follow him outside to destroy the crystal gate with their newfound weaponry. Once Olimar and Shacho are reunited, they have the Yellow Pikmin pick up the Superstick Textile as well as the fruits they found; however, they instinctively follow the leaders and form a convoy because they do not yet know where the Dolphin Lander is. After rounding a corner, the two leaders show the Pikmin where the ship is so that they can learn its location and appearance. Before leaving and going into orbit, however, Olimar and Shacho use teamwork to retrieve their crate of lost rations.

After the Frosted Arcticlops of Frigid Tundra is defeated, it spits out Louie, much to the surprise of Olimar and Shacho. Classically, Louie does not speak, but he does nod his head when Olimar asks if he would like to join Shacho and him. The night after Louie is unlocked, he records notes on how to prepare, cook, and eat every edible creature, plant, and fungus that has been documented so far.

On the night of the defeat of the Greater Studded Beeb in Ancient Metalworks, Olimar is unusually the last leader to board the Dolphin Lander. Unfortunately, Olimar never can board the ship. The very same Plasm Wraith who had so obsessively held him captive had found him again and abducted him. As it turns out, it had been hiding behind the Dolphin Lander every night it landed in that area, waiting for the chance to strike. Olimar could not call out for help because the creature had enveloped him and muffled his whistle. The Dolphin Lander and Master Onion could not wait for Olimar any longer and took off without him to avoid the hostile nocturnal wildlife on the planet's surface. Shacho, full of panic, worries about the fate of his only reliable and sane employee. Louie, in classic fashion, only acknowledges the incident but does not appear impacted by it. The following day, Shacho and Louie rush out of the Lander and notice a trail of plasm blobs: some of these blobs autonomously merge to create Plasm Illusions. Shacho and Louie gather their Pikmin forces and follow the trail of plasm to rescue Olimar. When they finally defeat the Plasm Wraith and ensure it is dead, it leaves behind both Olimar, who holds the Rusted Data Fragment, and a golden cube that can be carried back to the Master Onion.

Ending
Once Olimar, Louie, and their boss finally clear Hocotate Freight's newest debt and explore as much as they can to collect additional funds, they bid farewell to the Pikmin and safely return home to Hocotate. Olimar is amazed by how quickly PNF-404 changes every time he visits the planet and marvels at his discoveries and what differences there will be during his next visit there. Shacho is overjoyed that he was able to join Olimar to save his company, and that Louie was saved once again. Louie finds that even though he is most comfortable and happy on PNF-404, being stranded there makes him want to stay on Hocotate for a while. The Dolphin Lander feels prideful of its role in the voyage to PNF-404 and is excited to go on another adventure in the future. Hocotate Freight once again has a considerable supply of funds to its name, at least until another large debt builds up.

=Gameplay= Players can control and switch between leaders, who control any Pikmin following them. Pikmin can be thrown, dismissed, and ordered to perform a variety of other tasks. Pikmin can carry a large variety of objects, many being enemy corpses, fruits, treasures. Pikmin are also utilized as the primary method of attacking enemies and destroying obstacles. New game modes are permanently unlocked when their respective upgrade is collected in any Story Mode save file. Alternate game modes are listed in the order they are normally unlocked.

Challenge Mode
Returns to Pikmin: Wide World as a mix of Challenge Mode from Pikmin 1 and Pikmin 2 and Mission Mode from Pikmin 3, and is unlocked when the Telecommunications Device upgrade is collected. Explorable space in area levels in Challenge Mode is limited as indestructible obstacles restrict access to places outside the playable area. All other aboveground levels have static layouts, but underground levels have dynamic layouts.

Two-Player Battle Mode
Two-Player Battle Mode returns from Pikmin 2 and includes elements from Pikmin 3, and is unlocked by collecting the Aggression Meter upgrade. Players can choose to play as the leader of their choice, the choices being Olimar, Louie, and Shacho, but both players cannot play as the same leader. Two-Player Battle Mode itself has two match styles, which are Classic Battle and Bingo Battle; Classic Battle carries the legacy of Two-Player Battle mode, while Bingo Battle carries the legacy of Bingo Battle mode.

Bottomless Abyss
A new game mode introduced in Pikmin: Wide World and is unlocked when the Anomaly Log upgrade is collected. Bottomless Abyss, as the name suggests, is a cave that has an indefinite amount of sublevels. The purpose of the game mode is to collect as many Pokos as possible by collecting objects such as treasures, enemy corpses, and golden fruits, and bringing them to the Lander Pod. Sublevels do not have time limits. Every sublevel's theme is random, and its contents, such as enemies, bosses, treasures, golden fruits, vegetation, and obstacles, are always dependant on the theme. A sublevel's theme and contents are determined by if they were encountered in Story Mode; if a Dwarf Red Bulborb hasn't been defeated and collected by the Lander Pod or an Onion in story mode, Dwarf Red Bulborbs will not appear in Bottomless Abyss. The same general concept applies to vegetation, bosses, treasures, fruits, etcetera. A boss is guaranteed to be encountered every few sublevels. Every tenth sublevel is a rest sublevel that contains harmless or low-risk enemies, a few treasures, and most importantly an escape geyser. Sprays that have been unlocked in Story Mode can also be obtained in Bottomless Abyss.

The player normally begins sublevel one with fifteen Red Pikmin, Blue Pikmin, and Yellow Pikmin, and five White Pikmin. Other Pikmin types, such as Rock Pikmin, Winged Pikmin, Green Pikmin, and Purple Pikmin, can also be found and utilized by throwing them into the appropriately-colored Candypop Bud. Additional Pikmin can be created by using a Monarch Candypop Bud. If a sublevel contains a certain type of hazard or obstacle only a certain color of Pikmin can overcome, their respective Candypop Bud will be present on the sublevel. Hosts of parasitic Pikmin can also be found on some sublevels and utilized. Defeating all enemies in a sublevel will reward the player with bonus points, as will clearing a sublevel of all non-corpse collectibles.

When all leaders are down or a Pikmin extinction occurs, gameplay ends and half of all Pokos gathered up to that point are forfeited. When the cave is exited through an escape geyser, gameplay ends and the total amount of Pokos collected up to that point is recorded. If that score happens to be one of the highest scores ever achieved on that copy of the game, it is recorded on the top three highest scores list.

=Content=

Main Pikmin
Although many Pikmin types return in Pikmin: Wide World, only a single new type is discovered: Green Pikmin, which are resistant to acid. All aboveground Pikmin have Onions of their own, but all subterranean Pikmin lack them; as such, they are housed in the Dolphin Lander's PikHold. Individual Pikmin can learn from their experiences with locations, items, enemies, vegetation, hazards, obstacles, and even each other, and that knowledge is exchanged between Pikmin at the end of the day. Exchanged information is synchronized among all Pikmin and is never forgotten. Pikmin are listed in the order of discovery.

Yellow Pikmin


Yellow Pikmin are the first main Pikmin type found in Pikmin: Wide World. They are discovered in Balmy Highlands. They are resistant to electricity and can conduct it as well. Yellow Pikmin have an average attack power, average mobility, high digging speed, and high throw distance. A Yellow Pikmin's defining features are its large pointed ears and white flower. Golden Candypop Buds can be used to transform other Pikmin types into Yellow Pikmin.

Yellow Pikmin can be thrown higher than any other Pikmin type, which makes them useful for collecting objects that are on a high ledge. They also dig up buried objects and clear out tunnels faster than any other Pikmin type. Unlike in Pikmin 3, Yellow Pikmin do not become flowered after they complete an electrode's circuit.

Blue Pikmin


Blue Pikmin are an aquatic species of Pikmin discovered in Arid Oasis. They are resistant to water. They have an average attack power, average mobility, average digging speed, and average throw distance. A Blue Pikmin's defining features are its mouth-like gills, webbed hands and feet, and white flower. Lapis Lazuli Candypop Buds can be used to transform other Pikmin types into Blue Pikmin.

When a Blue Pikmin detects a Pikmin drowning in a nearby body of water, it will immediately rush over to save it, even breaking away from the group if necessary. When a Blue Pikmin reaches a drowning Pikmin, they throw them to shore. Blue Pikmin can also swim underwater, but they usually only do so when in pursuit of an underwater enemy or if the leader they are following is swimming.

Red Pikmin


Red Pikmin are discovered in Frigid Tundra. They are fireproof and can dish out more damage than most Pikmin types. Red Pikmin have an above-average attack power, average mobility, average digging speed, and average throw distance. A Red Pikmin's defining features are its pointy nose and white flower. Other Pikmin types can be transformed into Red Pikmin by throwing them into Crimson Candypop Buds.

Red Pikmin can successfully extinguish ignited Pikmin and can smother out flames by stamping them out. It is reasoned that Red Pikmin have a higher-than-average attack power because of their noses, which jab into the enemies they are hitting.

Purple Pikmin


Purple Pikmin are a subterranean species of Pikmin that are discovered in Ancient Metalworks. They have no particular resistance to anything besides panicking, and they can lift the weight of ten Pikmin. Purple Pikmin have an above-average attack power, low mobility, average digging speed, and low throw distance. The defining features of a Purple Pikmin are its larger size, six hairs, and pink flower. They are the slowest Pikmin variety. Because Purple Pikmin are a subterranean species of Pikmin and thus have no respective Onion, they are stored in the Dolphin Lander when not in use. Purple Pikmin can only be created by throwing other Pikmin types into a Violet Candypop Bud.

Purple Pikmin, when landing after being thrown, have the unique ability to briefly stun most enemies. They do this by using all of their weight to fall straight down onto the ground near a target or onto the target itself. When allowed to pound an enemy, Purple Pikmin can cause extreme damage to it even if they do not stun it. Purple Pikmin are one of the most damaging Pikmin types, the other being Rock Pikmin. The weight and strength of a Purple Pikmin can also be used to clear out some obstacles.

Green Pikmin


Green Pikmin are a new species of Pikmin discovered in Ancient Metalworks. They are immune to corrosive acid and can swim in it, but they cannot breathe in it as they lack gills. Some enemies utilize acid to attack or defend themselves, and pools of acidic water can be found in Ancient Metalworks and Endless Sea. Green Pikmin have an average attack power, average mobility, average digging speed, and average throw distance. A Green Pikmin's defining features are its mouth-like facial structure, tail, and white flower. Green Pikmin are hypothesized to be a mutated relative of Blue Pikmin that can survive exposure to acidic substances rather than basic substances, at the cost of their gills. Although Green Pikmin have their respective Onion, they can also be created by throwing Pikmin into a Demantoid Candypop Bud.

Much like how Blue Pikmin will attempt to save other-colored Pikmin that are drowning in bodies of water, Green Pikmin will attempt to save Pikmin that find themselves in a pool of acid.

Rock Pikmin


Rock Pikmin are discovered in Ancient Metalworks. They cannot be crushed or impaled, and they will become partially buried or be knocked back, respectively. Rock Pikmin have a high attack power, average mobility, average digging speed, and below-average throw distance. A Rock Pikmin's defining features are its rock-like main body, gray skin, and indigo flower. Unlike the other Pikmin types, Rock Pikmin are incapable of clinging onto or climbing enemies and objects because of their physiology. This includes enemies like the Red Bulborb or Shaggy Long Legs, and vegetation like the Burgeoning Spiderwort. Rock Pikmin that are thrown at an object or enemy will bounce off of it after the initial hit and will continue lunging at the target if left unoccupied, which does significantly less damage than if it were thrown. Pikmin can be thrown into an Ebony Candypop Bud to transform them into Rock Pikmin.

Rock Pikmin are one of the two most damaging Pikmin types, the other being Purple Pikmin. Rock Pikmin can also be used to destroy objects made of crystal, ice, and solids made of similar materials that are worn as armor by some enemies. Rock Pikmin, as they are immune to being impaled, can also be used to harm spiked enemies.

White Pikmin


White Pikmin are a subterranean species of Pikmin that is discovered in Mycelial Sepulcher. They are resistant to poison. White Pikmin have a below-average attack power, high mobility, below-average digging speed, and average throw distance. A White Pikmin's defining features are its small stature, large red eyes, lavender hands and feet, and pink flower. They are one of the two fastest Pikmin types, the other being Winged Pikmin, although they carry objects slower than they usually move. White Pikmin are unique for being able to detect and dig up completely buried objects such as fruits and treasures. As White Pikmin are a subterranean Pikmin species and thus have no respective Onion, they can only be made by throwing Pikmin into an Ivory Candypop Bud. They, like Purple Pikmin, are kept in the Dolphin Lander's PikHold.

White Pikmin poison most enemies that eat them. Whether this poison kills the enemy outright, inflicts a bit of damage, or even does any damage at all depends on the enemy's size and characteristics. Smaller enemies that eat a White Pikmin will more than likely die instantly after consuming it, while larger enemies need to be fed several White Pikmin before the poison kills them. Some enemies, usually those that themselves utilize poison, suffer no negative consequences from eating a White Pikmin.

Winged Pikmin


Winged Pikmin are the last main Pikmin type found in Pikmin: Wide World, and are discovered in Endless Sea. They have no resistance to any hazard, but they can simply fly over most of them. Winged Pikmin have a below-average attack power, high mobility, below-average digging speed, and average throw distance. A Winged Pikmin's defining features are its small striped body, relatively large round head, large blue eyes, transparent wings, and indigo flower. They are one of the two fastest Pikmin types, tied with White Pikmin, although they carry objects more slowly than they usually move. Although Winged Pikmin have their respective Onion, they can also be created by throwing Pikmin into a Carnation Candypop Bud.

Winged Pikmin prefer to be airborne and will always be so unless they are knocked to the ground by an enemy, carrying an object that is being carried mostly by grounded Pikmin, or working on clearing most obstacles. While on the ground, Winged Pikmin are as vulnerable as any other Pikmin type. When more Winged Pikmin are carrying an object than grounded Pikmin are, the Winged Pikmin will take to the air and carry the object that way, leaving the grounded Pikmin below without a task to fulfill. Winged Pikmin can fly over most dangers, such as water or smaller enemies, but cannot dodge anything coming down on top of them, such as a Beady Long Legs' foot or a boulder falling from a cave's ceiling.

Other Pikmin
Some Pikmin types encountered in Pikmin: Wide World are not classified as regular Pikmin due to the conditions in which they are discovered or created. Most of them also stand out from other Pikmin types in that they are hostile towards leaders, friendly Pikmin, and other lifeforms. Most hostile Pikmin will ignore any attempts of being whistled at and will continue attacking until they are subdued, but some, like Parasitic Pikmin and their hosts, can be made to join a leader's side.

Alien Pikmin
Alien Pikmin are extraterrestrial Pikmin that found their way onto PNF-404. They are extremely hostile and will attack any creature that draws near. Alien Pikmin have seemingly no special resistance to any hazards, or are at least not resistant to anything seen on PNF-404 during the events of Pikmin: Wide World. They are skinny and have pale skin, black flowers with six curved petals and a cyan center, two claws on each hand and each foot, and black oblong eyes.

Captmin
Captmin are a new combination of leader and Pikmin introduced in Pikmin: Wide World. Captmin are leaders who have failed to survive on PNF-404 and have been transformed by the Pikmin they once led. They wander in various areas and caves and are kept for the entire day once found. Like leaders, Captmin have health meters, can be switched between, and can whistle; like Pikmin, they can latch onto enemies and obstacles to attack them. Captmin are affected both by sprays that affect Pikmin and sprays that affect leaders. Captmin have no resistance to any hazard, much like many of the hosts of Parasitic Pikmin. Captmin cannot be stored in any Onions nor the Dolphin Lander's PikHold because they are not wholly Pikmin; the same case applies to Parasitic Pikmin and their hosts. Leadermin that are left behind at the end of the day are not counted as dead and will have no impact on total Pikmin deaths.

Mushroom Pikmin


Mushroom Pikmin return from Pikmin 1. They are only encountered in Mycelial Sepulcher and its caves, usually accompanying a Puffstool or other fungus-based enemy. Mushroom Pikmin can also be found alone or in groups. Mushroom Pikmin found in the wild never count toward total Pikmin deaths or the limit of on-field Pikmin, but Pikmin that are converted do count towards Pikmin deaths, even before they are disposed of. Pikmin that are converted into Mushroom Pikmin never revert to normal and must be put out of their misery. Mushroom Pikmin retain the characteristics of the Pikmin they once were, including their strength, speed, physical characteristics, and resistances. Any type of Pikmin except Captmin can be transformed into a Mushroom Pikmin.

Parasitic Pikmin


Although they are never truly seen, Parasitic Pikmin are known for infecting larger hosts and controlling them to survive. Unlike in Pikmin 2, hosts can be brought to the surface and most have no special resistances. They have no dedicated Onion to be stored in, and due to their unique physical nature, cannot be stored in the Dolphin Lander's PikHold. They are best used as fodder in combat, where they are most useful. Each type of Parasitic Pikmin host has a different method to attack enemies. When tasked with demolishing an obstacle, most Parasitic Pikmin will use their host to attack it with their stems like an ordinary Pikmin. Some Parasitic Pikmin, such as Gatling Groinkmin or Cannon Beetlemin, use their projectiles instead of their stems to destroy obstacles. Parasitic Pikmin hosts can be found on the surface, but appear more commonly underground. Hosts can also be found sleeping instead of wandering. Their stems glow green while idle. Adults are aggressive and nearly always found leading a group of passive juveniles; the former must be defeated before the latter may join a leader's squad. Adults and juveniles each have a random maturity which affects their movement speeds. Parasitic Pikmin have gray flowers.

Wild Pikmin
Wild Pikmin are normal Pikmin that are, as their name would suggest, wild. They look like idle Pikmin from a distance, but when approached by a leader or an enemy, they will begin attacking them. Whistling to Wild Pikmin will pacify them and cause them to join the side of the leader that whistled them. Wild Pikmin of a certain type can only be found after that specific type is formally discovered.

Characters
Pikmin: Wide World does not introduce any new characters, but some characters do make a reappearance. All leaders require five Pikmin to carry.

Captain Olimar


Captain Olimar, the heroic Hocotation who first led the Pikmin to success, returns to PNF-404 alongside Shacho. Olimar records notes detailing the biology of the lifeforms of the alien planet he is all too familiar with. He is the captain and builder of the Dolphin Lander, which he takes for a test-drive and uses to travel to PNF-404 alongside his boss to repay yet another debt.

The President


The President of Hocotate Freight, who is referred to as Shacho for the sake of convenience, joins Captain Olimar to revisit PNF-404 in search of riches. Shacho records notes about PNF-404's lifeforms that put his love of money on a pedestal, writing about how to squeeze the most Pokos from anything and everything on the planet. He also writes sales pitches for treasures.

Louie


Although Louie was stranded once more on the Pikmin Planet at the end of , he can eventually be found and becomes a third leader after he is rescued. He still possesses his voracious appetite and superior culinary skills, and he will create recipes detailing how to prepare and cook various creatures and vegetation found on PNF-404 once he is unlocked.

Ships
One new ship is introduced in Pikmin: Wide World.

Dolphin Lander
The Dolphin Lander, also referred to simply as the Lander or even the ship, is a one-of-a-kind spacecraft engineered and built by Captain Olimar. It was inspired by the likenesses of the S.S. Dolphin, the Hocotate ship, and an Onion. As such, it is a sort of hybrid of the three crafts in terms of appearance and functionalities. The Dolphin Lander is a sizeable spacecraft and has a large round cockpit that is mounted on three legs that fold in upon takeoff, making it look similar to an Onion. It is cream colored with red details, much like the S.S. Dolphin. The Hocotate Lander also has a quirky personality and is quite informative if not a bit impressionable. Much like the Hocotate ship, the Dolphin Lander is capable of dispatching its version of the Research Pod, the Lander Pod, which is the nosecone of the spacecraft. It is normally only dispatched when leaders delve into caves. The propeller on the nosecone is modeled after a flower, much like the flower on the top of an Onion. The Dolphin Lander is also capable of housing Purple Pikmin and White Pikmin in its custom-built Pikmin hold, which is named the PikHold, similar to how the Hocotate ship could store Pikmin in Pikmin 2.

Onion


An Onion is a vehicle used by most types of Pikmin for shelter and protection from the various creatures inhabiting PNF-404. They share the same color as the Pikmin it produces and the Pikmin that can inhabit it. Much like in Pikmin 3, two Onions can merge at the end of the day to create a Master Onion, which can create and store several Pikmin types. Onions may also be dormant when initially discovered, but approaching them will activate them and cause them to dispense a single Pikmin seed that matches its color. The more Onions that assimilate into the Master Onion, the more efficient of a Pikmin storage device it is. Some Pikmin types, such as subterranean Pikmin like White Pikmin or Purple Pikmin, do not have Onions and can only be made by throwing other Pikmin into their respectively-colored Candypop buds. As those two Pikmin types lack their respective Onions, they are instead stored in the Dolphin Lander's PikHold, which acts as an artificial Onion.

Balmy Highlands
Balmy Highlands is the first area discovered in Pikmin: Wide World. Day 1 takes place here, which, much like in the previous Pikmin games, acts as the game's initial tutorial by teaching the player about basic controls and gameplay mechanics. Yellow Pikmin are discovered here. Balmy Plains is a grassy area with temperate weather and occasional rainfall. Many bodies of water are found in the environment. The major boss of Balmy Highlands is the Grimacing Cremblub, but a secret boss is also present in the area.

Arid Oasis
Arid Oasis is the second area discovered in Pikmin: Wide World. Blue Pikmin are discovered here. It is a beach dotted with bodies of water and contains a visible boardwalk. The area's sweltering heat takes its toll on leaders, but Pikmin and enemies are unaffected by it. The effects can be counteracted by obtaining the Pocket Cooler. Shade present in the area presents minor protection against the heat. The only time Arid Oasis is temperate is when rain is falling there. The major boss of Arid Oasis is the Titan Cottonade.

Frigid Tundra
Frigid Tundra is the third area discovered in Pikmin: Wide World. Red Pikmin are discovered here. Frigid Tundra is an arctic environment that contains snow, ice, and cold water. Snowfall periodically occurs here. The area has a cold climate, which significantly slows down leaders, Pikmin, and most enemies, but its effects can be negated by obtaining the Pocket Heater. However, although the upgrade will not stop the effects of wading through cold water, it can increase the recovery rate of warmth. The major boss of this area is the Frosted Arcticlops.

Ancient Metalworks
Ancient Metalworks is the fourth area discovered in Pikmin: Wide World. Purple Pikmin, Green Pikmin, and Rock Pikmin are all discovered here. This area contains grass and exposed dirt, but metal and concrete ruins decorate the map. Much like with Balmy Highlands, Ancient Metalworks has a temperate climate and occasional rainfall. Mechanical enemies are a frequent sight in this area and its caves. Although bodies of ordinary water are present, an entirely new hazard is introduced: acidic water. Acidic water is found only in this location, and the air above any pool of it is hazy. Any non-Green Pikmin that touch acidic water will dissolve shortly after making contact if not saved quickly enough. The Plasm Wraith serves as the major boss of this area.

Mycelial Sepulcher
Mycelial Sepulcher is the fifth area discovered in Pikmin: Wide World. White Pikmin are discovered here. Mycelial Sepulcher is unique from other areas in that it is a cave-like environment, but is not itself considered a cave. Most of the area is dark, but sunlight shines in through holes in the ceiling and onto creatures and vegetation below; because of this, most of the area is cool except for where sunlight shines in, where it is instead mild. Rain falls through the holes on the ceiling on rainy days. Mycelial Sepulcher's lower temperature moderately impacts the speed of leaders in much the same way as Frigid Tundra's climate does but to a lesser degree. The Pocket Heater can be used to negate this. The major boss of this area is the Titan Webber Dweevil.

Endless Sea
Endless Sea is the sixth and final area discovered in Pikmin: Wide World. Winged Pikmin are discovered here. Endless Sea is a swamp, containing mostly water and mud, with little dry ground to spare. Acidic water is also present. Vegetation and insects are common in the area's humid environment. As the area is warm, the Pocket Cooler can be used to counteract the negative effects of excessive heat. Rainfall lowers the area's temperature to be mild. This area has two major bosses, which are the Hydroe Host and the Winged Snagret.

Caves
Caves make a return from  and appear in Pikmin: Wide World. Caves are underground locations that can be accessed from various holes in the ground of certain regions of aboveground areas, and generally contain as many treasures and fruits as there are enemies and hazards. Vegetation is also often found in caves, matching the theme of the sublevel they are on. Various objects and enemies may also fall from the ceilings of caves. A cave variant known as dens can be found and consist of one to two tranquil sublevels. To create a more realistic atmosphere, all sublevel themes feature occasional patches of dirt, sand, or snow, depending on the cave's location. The primary sources of light in caves is usually a leader's beacon, although some enemies and plants may also produce light. The hole to the next sublevel cannot be entered until the area around it and the path to it from the Lander Pod are cleared of danger: enemies close to the hole or near the path to it must be defeated and most nearby hazards must be neutralized. All caves can be exited using an escape geyser that is present on the bottommost sublevel, although escape geysers may also be found on tranquil sublevels. Some escape geysers must be activated by having Pikmin attack them before they may be used. The contents of a cave do not reappear for fourteen in-game days after they are collected.

Treasures
Treasures make a reappearance in Pikmin: Wide World from  and are once again used to acquire vast quantities of Pokos. Additionally, treasures contain larger quantities of Sparklium than most other objects do, which is needed to fuel the Dolphin Lander. Unlike in the Story Mode of Pikmin 2, where every treasure appears only once and is never encountered again, treasures discovered in Pikmin: Wide World can be repeatedly found and collected. Every treasure in Pikmin: Wide World also has several unique appearances, but they are purely aesthetic and have no impact on its Poko value. No artificial or processed food-based treasures exist in Pikmin: Wide World, as the beings who made them have long-since become extinct by the time the game takes place. Fruits are not considered treasures in Pikmin: Wide World, as they have a more prominent purpose. Along with the common treasures, some treasures only appear in special situations, such as a boss fight.

Nuggets
Although not exactly treasures, nuggets are valuables that return in Pikmin: Wide World from  and come in three different types: copper, silver, and gold. Nuggets, each of which requiring a single Pikmin to carry them. They are found in piles and each type of nugget has different Poko values and Sparklium worths. They can be found both aboveground and in caves, either in the open, within large crystals, or from dirt mounds. Essentially, nuggets can be found almost anywhere. The higher the tier of the nugget, the rarer they are and the smaller piles of them are. Pikmin that do not know where the Dolphin Lander is will instead follow behind the leader that assigned them to the pile if there are no nearby caravans to lead the way. If a Pikmin who is carrying a nugget is whistled, it will drop the nugget on the ground. The following is a detailed list of the existing nugget types:
 * Copper nuggets, each worth and containing  ( with the Sparklium Extractor).
 * Silver nuggets, each worth and containing  ( with the Sparklium Extractor).
 * Gold nuggets, each worth and containing  ( with the Sparklium Extractor).

Fruits
Fruits make a return from  to appear in Pikmin: Wide World as a pivotal gameplay element. Fruits must be collected for the continued survival of the leaders, who feed on the juice they contain. For this reason, they are not considered treasures. Fruits have no Poko value, but they do contain traces of Sparklium, another important gameplay element. Much like common treasures, the amount of fruits currently in existence is infinite.

Sparklium
Sparklium returns from  to serve as a pivotal gameplay mechanic in Pikmin: Wide World. The Dolphin Lander requires Sparklium to perform certain tasks such as blasting off at the end of the day or restoring a leader's health. The Lander requires each night to blast off, but the Sparklium Saver reduces that cost to a mere. The Sparklium Extractor doubles the usual amount of Sparklium harvested from an object brought to the Dolphin Lander. Sparklium can be obtained from a variety of sources other than Sparklium seeds and stones such as fruits and treasures. Generally, fruits contain very little Sparklium while treasures and Sparklium stones contain the most. The larger and stronger an enemy is, the higher its Sparklium value and the chance of it having swallowed a higher-tier Sparklium seed.

Upgrades
A number of Upgrades appear in Pikmin: Wide World. Some of them return from ' and ', but most are entirely new. Upgrades are separated into three categories: area unlocks, Exploration Kit, and ship parts. While area unlocks are self-explanatory, Exploration Kit upgrades aid leaders and ship parts can be brought to the Dolphin Lander to unlock additional features. Features unlocked through ship parts can benefit the Lander itself, leaders, or both parties. Ship parts do not have the same function as they did in , where they were used to repair Captain Olimar's prized spaceship, the S.S. Dolphin.

Enemies
In Pikmin: Wide World, almost every enemy from the canonical Pikmin games returns. Some of these enemies also have different behaviors between instances. Some canonical enemies also have different names or belong to different families than before. Mixed in with these canon enemies are fan-made enemies to not only provide nostalgia but also to provide a fresh new experience to the game. Most enemies too give Sparklium upon death, although in minuscule amounts. Enemies that explode upon death obviously cannot be retrieved, but they do drop a fair amount of Sparklium to make up for it. However, this does not apply to an enemy, such as a Volatile Dweevil, that uses bomb-rocks to destroy itself and its enemy. Some enemies also have an alternate form that is distinguished from their original form.

Plants and fungi
Although Pikmin: Wide World features a wide variety of real-world vegetation, most of it is only useful for hiding under. Vegetation that is unique to the world of Pikmin or has a function are listed in the above link. Most Candypop Buds, when they reach their Pikmin conversion limit, do not wilt and disappear as they do in past Pikmin games; instead, they simply close their petals and cannot be used or interacted with until sometime later.

Date files
Data files return from  and serve a variety of purposes. They can either be created or found by Olimar, Shacho, or Louie, and can be viewed with the HocoPad. Data files created by the leaders contain information regarding Pikmin, other native wildlife, and recovered objects such as fruits and treasures. Data files found in the environment can contain hints about the area it was found in, such as tips on how to solve a puzzle or defeat an enemy more quickly or effectively. Some data files which were left behind by other explorers on PNF-404 can also be found and read.

=HocoPad=

An immersive gameplay feature from Pikmin 3, the KopPad, returns in Pikmin: Wide World as the HocoPad, a Hocotation counterpart. Much like the KopPad, the HocoPad resembles the Wii U GamePad and has several applications that can be used during gameplay.

=Encyclopedias=

Fruit File
=Returning features=
 * Day limit: Pikmin: Wide World has a day limit, but it can be extended by collecting fruits and sources of Sparklium. Fruits are used to produce the juice on which the leaders feed, and Sparklium is used as fuel by the Dolphin Lander. There is no set number of fruits or treasures, so the day limit can be extended so far as to make it seem almost indefinite.
 * Enemy weaknesses: Many enemies have specific parts of their bodies that can be latched on to and attacked by Pikmin, which can result in different reactions from the enemy as well as different amounts of damage. For example, throwing a Pikmin directly at a Bulborb's eyes will cause it to recoil and spit out any snatched Pikmin.
 * Movement tracking: Pikmin follow leaders much like they do in , by moving individually and following the paths leaders take.
 * Swarming: Pikmin: Wide World retains Pikmin swarming and renames it group moving. The concept of charging enemies and dodging using the Dodge Whistle returns from Pikmin 3.
 * Enemy health: Enemies that are injured, but not killed, will partially regain their health overnight. If an enemy is lightly injured, it will regain all of its health, and if an enemy is critically injured, it may die during the night and its remains can be collected the following day. The carcasses of bosses will remain in an aboveground area for up to a day after their defeat, provided they leave remains.
 * Safety zone: The Master Onion returns in Pikmin: Wide World, and all Onions can produce a ring of light to display a safe zone in which Pikmin will enter their Onion automatically. However, Pikmin can only enter their own Onion.
 * Balanced electricity: Most forms of electricity no longer instantly kill Pikmin but will stun them instead. There are some exceptions, however, such as the electric wire gate, which kills any non-Yellow Pikmin on contact.
 * Stumbling and falling: Pikmin can once again stumble and fall over, and leaders can too.
 * Balanced deflowering: Pikmin can only go down in maturity if they are hit by certain attacks, such as a Withering Blowhog's gust of air. This also applies to buried Pikmin, which will not wither if left in the ground for long enough unlike in previous Pikmin games.
 * Dropping seeds: Returns from Pikmin 1. Flowered Pikmin that are killed in any way have a small chance to leave behind a Pikmin seed that develops into a sprout and can be plucked.
 * Spray flowering: While Pikmin become flowered when hit by a dose of ultra-spicy spray in Pikmin 3, they retain their maturity in Pikmin: Wide World.
 * Hiding: Leaders and Pikmin can hide under or behind vegetation to avoid being detected by most enemies. Much like with playing dead, some enemies are not fooled. Enemies that saw leaders and Pikmin hide under vegetation or can see them actively hiding under vegetation will also give chase.
 * Area weather: Areas will have weather that is appropriate for the climate it is in. Rain falls in temperate areas, while snow falls in cold areas.

=New features=
 * Multiple landing sites: Every area is expansive, much larger than those in other Pikmin games. As such, each area has three total landing sites that players can choose from at the start of the day, but only one can be used and is automatically selected until another is unlocked. Unlocking a landing site consists of clearing it of enemies, obstacles, and other obstructions. When leaders approach a location the Dolphin Lander deems suitable for making into a landing site, the Lander will inform them that the location can be made into one. The Dolphin Lander will also notify leaders when the location is cleared. Once a landing site is cleared, it can start being used the following day.
 * Carrying assistance: Leaders can assist Pikmin with carrying certain objects. By default, each leader carries the weight of three Pikmin. The Muscle Pumper upgrade allows leaders to carry the weight of up to five Pikmin. Having leaders assist Pikmin in carrying objects has more uses than needing less Pikmin to carry an object; if the Pikmin carrying an object that is to be delivered to the Dolphin Lander do not yet know where the spacecraft located, a leader helping to carry the object will guide the way.
 * Staying past sundown: Although leaving an area at sundown is highly recommended, leaders and Pikmin can stay on PNF-404's surface until quarterway through the night. At night, most enemies that were active during the day will return to their nests or territories to hide or sleep; likewise, most enemies that spend the day sleeping or hiding will become active and begin wandering the entire area. The only illumination present is provided by enemies and vegetation that produce it, as well as the leaders' beacons, the Onions, and the Dolphin Lander. Nocturnal enemies are attracted to sources of light, so extreme caution must be taken come nighttime. To leave an area at sundown, all three leaders must be present within the day's landing site. The Dolphin Lander will not allow leaders to stay on the surface past sundown for the first few days, but will eventually come to trust that they can take care of themselves.
 * Beacon lights: At night and in caves, the light provided by the leaders' beacons is often the only way to see in the darkness. Unfortunately, a variety of enemies are attracted to the light given off by beacons and tend to gravitate towards them. By default, the color of a beacon's light matches the beacon's color, but the light's color can be toggled to colorless through the options menu on the title screen. The radius of a beacon's field of light can be multiplied by up to three times the normal distance with the Radiant Illuminator.
 * Suit selection: On the area select screen, after the player has collected their first suit upgrade, is an option that allows players to choose which suit upgrade which leader wears. The three suit upgrades are the Scorch Guard, Anti-Electrifier, and Metal Suit Z. Leaders will automatically equip the suits the player chose to have them wear at the start of every day, provided the player chose a suit upgrade for them to wear. If no suit upgrade was chosen for a leader, they will instead wear the default suit. Leaders can return to the Dolphin Lander to switch suits, which will cause them to be beamed up into the spacecraft and become unusable for a fairly short time while they change.
 * Playing dead: Lying down has a special use during combat: playing dead. Leaders can lay down while being attacked by an enemy, which may cause them to back off and resume idle behavior. While playing dead fools most enemies, others can see through the ruse and will continue their assault.
 * Pikmin learning and independence: Pikmin are capable of learning and can become somewhat autonomous the more familiar they are with an area, an obstacle type, or even enemies. The more time Pikmin spend exploring an area with leaders, the more familiar they will become with its layout and landmarks. Pikmin that are told to grab fragments but do not yet know where the fragment bridge they belong to is, they will instead follow the leader that assigned them to the task; when the fragment bridge is found, Pikmin will learn its location and will return there automatically until the bridge is finished or the pile is used up, where they will return to where the pile was and stay there until whistled. The same concept applies to Pikmin carrying objects that are to be brought to the Dolphin Lander, such as fruits or treasures, yet do not know its location; they will follow leaders instead of walking to the landing site. This mainly applies to newly-discovered Pikmin that know only where their Onion is. Leaders or Pikmin that are familiar with the area can be assigned to assist in carrying an object to guide new Pikmin carrying an object to the landing site's location so that they may learn it, and sometimes this may even result in the formation of a convoy; new Pikmin carrying a different object than familiarized Pikmin will follow them to the landing site. Pikmin can also learn which obstacles require what solutions to take down, and which parts of an enemy are more vulnerable than others. Pikmin can also learn which enemies do what and can also remember the noises an enemy makes so that they may anticipate dodging an attack. Pikmin will also flee from hostile enemies when they are not numerous enough to battle it or physically cannot harm it. Pikmin that are not immune to a hazard will learn which ones are, and Pikmin that are immune to a hazard can learn which aren't; as such, a Pikmin who is immune to a hazard witnessing a Pikmin about to be harmed by a hazard they aren't immune to will stop them and lead them away to keep them safe. Pikmin that are both familiar with an area and know the landing site's location will slowly navigate there if they are idle for the majority of the day. At the end of the day, when the Dolphin Lander and Master Onion take off into the sky, all learned information between Pikmin will be synchronized.
 * Squad desertion: Some Pikmin may either willingly or unwillingly leave the squad which they are part of for various reasons. Examples of Pikmin that desert their squad are Blue Pikmin saving a nearby drowning Pikmin and Spotty Bulbearmin when an enemy gets too close. Panic will force a Pikmin to desert their group.
 * Arming leaders: Leaders can pick up and carry stones, any type of bomb rock, or Sparklium stones, throwing or dropping the objects when needed. Throwing a bomb rock will cause its timer to start, and throwing a stone or dud bomb rock will damage it as well as the enemies it lands on. Setting any of them down will not result in any changes in the objects other than them being relocated.
 * Abduction ignorance: Leaders, Pikmin, and objects that have been absorbed by an enemy such as the Medusal Slurker, which cannot digest them, will still have them trapped within itself the following day if they are not saved. Leaders that are captured, but not rescued on the same day, will have critical health levels the day after. Leaders that are left within the creature for longer than a day will be knocked out and be unusable for the rest of the day if the area is visited again. If the area is not revisited, the captured leader will remain in this state and still have to be saved. Pikmin that are trapped for longer than a day will remain.
 * Enemy intelligence: Enemies will intentionally avoid hazards that may damage them. An example of this would be a Red Bulborb walking around an active electrical wire while in pursuit of Pikmin. There are two exceptions to this rule, however: one is if the enemy in question utilizes the hazard it is about to walk into, and the other is dependent on the depth of the body of liquid it is about to tread into. Enemies that crawl along the ground, however, such as a mandiblard, will avoid water to avoid drowning.
 * Getting attention: Whistling produces noise and can attract the attention of nearby enemies. This can be detrimental or beneficial, depending on the situation and how it is used. Some enemies can hear better than others, which affects how close a leader or enemy needs to be to an enemy for them to hear them blow their whistle. The noise whistling produces can be muffled to avoid attracting unwanted attention by obtaining the Whistle Silencer upgrade.
 * Nectar spray: Nectar can be stored in a Spray Bottle by a leader that walks into a blob of it, regardless of the blob's size. If there is enough stored for a single dose, leaders can then spray the nectar onto nearby Pikmin to increase their maturity by one stage.
 * Ground types: The hardness or softness of a surface type can impact gameplay. Hard surfaces, such as concrete, stone, metal, and tile, cannot be burrowed into by enemies such as mandiblards. A Pikmin that is thrown into a hard surface by an enemy such as a Swooping Snitchbug will only be momentarily dazed and lie on the ground before rising to its feet, much like a leader would when thrown by a Bumbling Snitchbug. The only exception to this rule is wooded surfaces, which act as hard ground but can be burrowed into only by enemies. Conversely, soft surfaces, such as dirt, sand, and snow, can be burrowed into by enemies, and Pikmin thrown directly down onto it will be buried upon impact. Leaders can also be buried into soft surfaces by enemies such as Bumbling Snitchbugs and Mamutas but may free themselves by struggling out of the ground. The hardness or softness of the ground may also impact the likelihood of a non-Rock Pikmin being crushed; the likelihood of a Pikmin being crushed on a hard surface is guaranteed, and the chance of a Pikmin being buried instead of being crushed on a soft surface is guaranteed.

=Controls= Pikmin: Wide World has an intuitive and easy-to-learn set of controls, but is not compatible with the Wii remote due to its lack of buttons.