Pikmin: Wide World

"The world is larger than one may think." This article or section presents information pertaining to Pikmin: Wide World, a fanon game created by Cheepy-Cheepy.

Pikmin: Wide World
Rating	E 10+
Genre	Real-time strategy
Platform	Nintendo Switch
Media	Cartridge, digital download
Publisher	Nintendo
Predecessor	Pikmin 3
Creator	Cheepy-Cheepy
Collaborator(s)	Contact me if interested!

Pikmin: Wide World is a fan-made Pikmin game concept created by Cheepy-Cheepy and designed to mirror a traditional game in the series. As well as introducing new ideas and concepts, Pikmin: Wide World features and expands upon many used and unused aspects of all three mainline Pikmin games and Hey! Pikmin and some features of Pikmin Adventure. Chronologically, it takes place immediately after the events of Pikmin 3. Its sequel, Pikmin: Wide World 2, takes place in a different continuity.

Pikmin: Wide World also has tie-ins with other fanon media: Pikmin TCG for the upcoming Pikmin Wide World card set, and Pikmin Maker for featuring some of Pikmin: Wide World's content.

Plot

As the S.S. Drake approaches Hocotate, Captain Olimar and the Koppaite trio of Alph, Brittany, and Captain Charlie exchange their goodbyes. The ship lands on the desolate lot of Hocotate Freight, which Olimar chose as its landing site due to its familiarity. Olimar steps out of the S.S. Drake and onto the sunbaked asphalt macadam and turns to face the spacecraft to wave farewell to his saviors as they blast off into the sky. After turning his back to the dissipating pillar of smoke left in the S.S. Drake's wake, Olimar is suddenly met by the President of Hocotate Freight, Shacho.

Distressed, Shacho pesters Olimar about the company still being in its mountainous debt of  × 55,505, which he sent Olimar and Louie to pay off, and caused by recklessly spending the company's funds on a failed business venture and taking out a massive loan at Happy Hocotate Savings and Loan to reimburse his losses, recalling what happened with the All-Devouring Black Hole Loan Sharks. He demands to know where the pokos and treasures are, but he stops to realize that no messages were received by or sent from the Freight Voyager in days, Olimar didn't return to Hocotate in it, and Louie was once again absent. Olimar begins to explain all that happened with himself, Louie, and the ship and how he got back to Hocotate. After understanding that the vessel was totaled and knowing that the company has no other usable ships nor the funds to pay for a replacement, he pleads to Olimar for a miracle. Unsure of what to do, Olimar informs Shacho that he must return home to see his family before he can ponder the solution to the company's problems.

Upon stepping through the door of his home, Olimar is greeted warmly by his wife Margot, daughter Libra, son Sagittarius, and family pet Bulbie. They all, Bulbie included, seem to have something to show him, which Olimar notices. His family leads him, eagerly and excitedly, to the house's garage to show him the family's secret project: the Dolphin Lander, who also verbally announces herself. Through Sagittarius' genius and planning, the family could construct her while Olimar was away from home. Sagittarius thoughtfully engineered her appearance to combine elements from his father's beloved S.S. Dolphin and what he knew of the Onions of Pikmin. Overcome with pride, Olimar pulls his wife and children close and holds them, thanking them dearly for the surprise, choking out his appreciation through tears of joy while Bulbie cheerfully yips and leaps about. After this heartfelt moment, Olimar wipes his face and informs his family that there is more work to be done and that he will soon return with his boss. Later, Olimar and a very grateful Shacho suit up, gather rations, and take off towards the Pikmin Planet to save the company yet again.

Shortly before landing in Balmy Highlands, a control input mistake by Olimar results in Shacho being ejected into a small circular enclosure isolated from the landscape around it. With him are a dormant Yellow Onion, some Pellet Posies bearing pellets of the same color as it, and a treasure. Their food supply is also thrown offboard due to the Dolphin Lander's malfunction and lands in a seemingly inaccessible but nearby location. Olimar lands the Dolphin Lander a small distance away, in a safe, secure area, and rushes out of the spacecraft to reunite with his boss, almost 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 propagate some Yellow Pikmin. He returns to the crystal gate to see that Olimar also has 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 squad of Yellow Pikmin into a dank subterranean chamber populated by a few harmless creatures and containing a Juicy Gaggle. Olimar takes notice of an electrode and, from the sparks produced by the ends of the severed wires, concludes that the device is still functional and could be of use; the nearby charred body of a Female Sheargrub serves as support. Olimar uses a jar he had on hand to collect the sparklium dust he finds after defeating the various creatures in the cave. After using Yellow Pikmin to complete the electrode's circuit, the connected device illuminates the chamber and reveals some small bomb rocks resting on a high ledge. Olimar throws his Yellow Pikmin to the bomb rocks, and the Pikmin drop down to him with their newfound weaponry in hand and follow him outside to destroy the crystal gate.

Once Olimar and Shacho are reunited, they have the Yellow Pikmin pick up the treasure and the fruits they found; however, they instinctively follow the leaders and form a caravan because they do not yet know where the Dolphin Lander is. After rounding a corner, the two leaders show the Pikmin where the Dolphin Lander is so they may learn her appearance and location. Before entering the Dolphin Lander and going into orbit to avoid the dangerous nocturnal creatures that emerge after sunset, Olimar and Shacho cooperate to retrieve their crate of lost rations. Although they brought twenty bottles of juice, only five remain intact.

The day after, Olimar and Shacho land once more in Balmy Highlands. They call their Yellow Pikmin out from their Onion and explore what they can of the area until they come across Temperate Retreat, the first of many caves they find. Before they delve in with their Pikmin, the Dolphin Lander recommends she detach her nosecone and go with them in the form of the Lander Pod to provide storage for any spoils they find and a way to escape should they become overwhelmed. They delve in, fight off the creatures living within, recovering their bodies and the fruits and treasures they discover, and leave the den with the use of an escape geyser on its final sublevel.

After returning to the surface, the Dolphin Lander voices that dens may not always yield a substantial quantity of valuables. She then suggests to Olimar and Shacho that they relax after a day's work but also tells them they may spend the rest of the day exploring more of Balmy Highlands to bolster their Pikmin populations or see what else they can find. While looking around, Olimar and Shacho may stumble upon Grassy Grotto, which the Dolphin Lander urges them to explore as she detects something that may be extremely useful to their survival. If the two leaders retire to the Dolphin Lander after exiting Temperate Retreat or do not find Grassy Grotto, she will inform them that they should return to the area and continue looking around. Regardless of the decision made, after sunset, Olimar and Shacho discuss the day's events, and during the conversation, they notice a new area to explore: Arid Oasis.

Upon landing the Dolphin Lander at Arid Oasis and stepping out of it, Olimar and Shacho both complain about the area's debilitating heat, which the Dolphin Lander warns could negatively impact their performance and even health, but that water, or even something else they can find, could negate it. Regardless, the pair explores the tropical terrain with their Yellow Pikmin to find Dune Den, or a bit beyond it, Blue Pikmin with their Onion. After discovering Blue Pikmin, Olimar and Shacho may enter and clear Sunken Sands, a nearby cave, with them but may also travel further to encounter and battle the Colossal Cottonade. The night after defeating the herculean beast, Olimar gazes out of the Dolphin Lander's window to self-reflect on how rapidly PNF-404 is changing and subconsciously gets chills when he sees Frigid Tundra. With the help of Blue Pikmin, Olimar and Shacho, at some point, return to Balmy Highlands to collect the Whistle Transmitter and access Desolate Ditch and Humid Burrow. In Humid Burrow, they encounter a familiar parasitic Pikmin host, and the first of several they find if they've been thorough explorers: Red Bulbmin.

Before Olimar and Shacho exit the Dolphin Lander after first arriving at Frigid Tundra, she warns the pair that the area is cold, with Olimar and Shacho complaining in response, and reminds them that extreme temperatures can negatively impact them and even their Pikmin, following up by explaining it can be combated by staying close together, being sufficiently deep underground, or by something they could find. Afterward, the leaders head out and may find Snowy Recess and Lonely Quarry. Before entering Lonely Quarry, the Dolphin Lander recommends bringing in only a moderate quantity of Pikmin as she detects a special lifeform inside. Olimar and Shacho delve in and eventually enter a seemingly vacant sublevel populated almost exclusively by red Pellet Posies. In it, Olimar notices a gentle pulsing red glow emanating from a pile of snow in the chamber and, preparing for the worst, braces for a fight and approaches it with his Pikmin. The Pikmin begin digging at that spot, and after it springs out from underneath and ejects a single Red Pikmin seed, Olimar and Shacho let out a sigh of relief, for it is merely a Red Onion. After leaving Lonely Quarry with their newfound Red Pikmin, Olimar and Shacho may go on to clear Warm Sett and Flaming Trench. The night after discovering Red Pikmin, Shacho reflects on recent events and notices a silhouette in the landscape that reminds him of Hocotate Freight; Ancient Metalworks is discovered. With Red Pikmin now in tow, Olimar and Shacho, at some point, collect the Traction Cleats at Frigid Tundra and return to Balmy Highlands to find the Watering Hole and Arid Oasis to find Sunbaked Sauna and Gritty Getaway.

As the Dolphin Lander records Ancient Metalworks' geographical coordinates, she detects a distress signal somewhere within it. She implores Olimar and Shacho to investigate as soon as possible. As Olimar and Shacho explore the landscape, they see Green Pikmin and their Onion before delving into Wasted Waterworks with their Blue Pikmin to open the way for Dim Greenhouse, the apparent origin of the distress signal. In it, Olimar and Shacho stumble upon Marie, the sole survivor of an expedition crew, who is trapped in a web. After being saved, Marie introduces herself to Olimar and Shacho, who return the formality, and Marie joins them on their mission. Marie claims that she would have expired alongside her suit's life-support system in a matter of days had she not been saved. After leaving the cave, Olimar and Shacho, with Marie's help, discover Rock Pikmin after rescuing the Rock Onion. Now with Rock Pikmin, the three Hocotatians can access Clogged Pipeline, and from within it, they drain a large pool of acid surrounding the Green Pikmin and their Onion. The night of Marie's rescue, the Dolphin Lander tells Olimar and Shacho that she feels more comfortable with them exploring past sunset now that they have another person to rely on. At some point, now having Rock Pikmin, Olimar and Shacho, with Marie, return to Arid Oasis to collect the Jet Juicer and access Wooden Fortress, and Frigid Tundra to access Stone Dugout and Icy Crevasse.

By this point, several of the creatures native to Ancient Metalworks have dissolved into a curious golden fluid upon their deaths, leaving no salvageable remains. While Shacho and Marie respectively express glee and wonder at the substance, Olimar grows increasingly anxious about it, for he knows all too well what it indicates the presence of.

After discovering Green Pikmin, the trio delves into Hidden Scrapyard with them and discovers Purple Pikmin by throwing some Pikmin into a Violet Candypop. Marie becomes noticeably emotional seeing them but does not indulge Olimar or Shacho as to why. Conveniently, in the same cave, they also find and collect the PikHold, a ship part that can be used to store most Pikmin types. The leaders will refuse to leave the cave if the device hasn't been collected, at the insistence of the Lander Pod that it is of utmost importance to them all, herself included. If the day ends at this point after leaving the cave, Marie will insist that they land at Ancient Metalworks again.

With all the Pikmin types they've discovered so far at Ancient Metalworks, the leaders gain access to what was formerly the campsite of Marie, the crew she belonged to, and its captain, Hunnigan. Marie hesitates to enter, straying behind Olimar and Shacho as they continue, and find the Purple Onion, and encounter Hunnigan himself as a Captmin, the first one seen by Marie, as well as Olimar and Shacho if they haven't explored very much. After an emotional scene involving Hunnigan, Marie finally confesses to Olimar and Shacho why and how she's on PNF-404, who Hunnigan is, why she had such an adverse reaction to Purple Pikmin, and why she didn't want to return to what they didn't know was her former camp. Marie then notifies Olimar and Shacho that she knows of a potential new area to explore but needs time to discern its exact location; she then says they should continue exploring until sundown.

The next day, Olimar lands the Dolphin Lander at Frigid Tundra, stating he dreamt about Louie and had a strong suspicion about the area. The Hocotatian trio explores the arctic terrain further than they could before, potentially finding Frozen Lodge, eventually encountering the Brumal Arcticlops. After a long, difficult battle, the monstrous beast succumbs to its injuries, and it spits up, among several valuable items, Louie, much to the surprise of Olimar, Shacho, and especially Marie. Classically, Louie does not speak, but he nods his head when Olimar asks if he would like to join the group. Marie expresses shock at inadvertently rescuing another individual, let alone one her companions are familiar with. All four Hocotatians briefly converse, and with Louie reunited with his coworker and employer, spend the remainder of the day accomplishing miscellaneous tasks such as collecting the Sparklium Saver, which Purple Pikmin are required to access. So long as the Brumal Arcticlops is alive, Olimar refuses to visit any other area. At some point, the party visits Arid Oasis and uses their newfound Pikmin to find and access Castaway Cove and Concrete Compound.

Returning to Ancient Metalworks, all four leaders cooperate to open access to Chemical Reservoir, draining most of the acid in the area, granting all of their Pikmin almost unrestricted access to any portion of it. The group then explores further with their Pikmin and eventually encounters a mighty Robust Bulbot, which, with great difficulty, they defeat. After doing so, come sundown, Olimar is unusually the last to board the Dolphin Lander. Unfortunately, his hesitance jeopardizes his safety, for the same Plasm Wraith that had so obsessively held him captive abducts him again. As it turns out, the Plasm Wraith had been inhabiting the area and, in the form of the Plasm Goolix, skulked out of sight by the Dolphin Lander every day at sundown after seeing Olimar there, waiting for the opportunity to strike. The Dolphin Lander and Master Onion can no longer wait for Olimar and take off without him to avoid the hostile nocturnal wildlife on the planet's surface. Shacho, alarmed and hysterical, dreads the fate of his only reliable and sane employee. Marie worries about Olimar but is unaware of his history with the Plasm Wraith. Louie merely acknowledges the incident but does not appear impacted by it. If Olimar happens to have been downed at some point during the day this occurs, he appears from the Dolphin Lander before takeoff to take in the evening air, still being the last to board the ship.

The following day, Shacho, Marie, and Louie return to Ancient Metalworks and rush out of the Dolphin Lander to the Master Onion. The three Hocotatians gather their Pikmin forces and follow an apparent trail leading through a cinderblock gate into a secluded interior portion of the area, where the dreaded Plasm Wraith resides. When they finally defeat the Plasm Wraith after a long, difficult battle, it leaves behind Olimar and its golden cuboid core. They have the Pikmin take Olimar to the Dolphin Lander and the cube to the Master Onion, but not before personally ensuring that the Plasm Wraith has ceased to exist by destroying any remaining plasm. So long as Olimar remains missing, the President will refuse to land in any other area. The night of the Plasm Wraith's destruction, Marie has a period of self-reflection and, at last, reveals to Olimar, Shacho, and Louie the position of the location she mentioned before: Colossal Hollow.

Immediately upon landing at Colossal Hollow, the sound and sudden appearance of the Dolphin Lander scare away the White Pikmin defending themselves against some Mushroom Pikmin at the landing site. Seeing the Mushroom Pikmin pursuing them, the four leaders rush out of the Dolphin Land as quickly as possible and catch up with them. After uniting with the White Pikmin and separating them from their assailants, the leaders have five ways of dealing with them: flee, lead them away, kill them, purify them with a dose of black nectar, or toss them to a nearby ledge they can not return from.

Although they may risk losing their only few White Pikmin by entering a cave they now have access to because of them, the leaders may also press on through the area with or without them and inadvertently confront the Titan Weaver Dweevil and many of its young. Fortunately, the White Onion appears after the goliath insect's defeat, allowing the leaders to rapidly cultivate White Pikmin by using the many remains scattered nearby. Now equipped with an essentially unlimited supply of White Pikmin, the leaders may delve into Subterranean Spring, Dreary Sepulcher, Fungal Jungle, and Dank Depths if they haven't done so already. The night after the defeat of the Titan Weaver Dweevil, Louie takes a moment to self-reflect on his time on PNF-404 while gazing out of the Dolphin Lander's window and sees a new frontier: Sprawling Swamp. Now with the White Pikmin, the leaders eventually return to Balmy Highlands to access Forgotten Mine and Wayward Citadel and encounter Alien Pikmin, Arid Oasis to access Lost Kingdom, and Ancient Metalworks to access Polluted Pond, Corroded Complex, and Robot Workshop and collect the Revitalizer.

When preparing to land at Sprawling Swamp, the four Hocotatians see that the area is overgrown with many spiked teal brambles sprawling almost everywhere. They use the first clearing they find as the area's initial landing site, and the Dolphin Lander tells the leaders that while she doesn't detect any notable valuables in the area, several powerful lifeforms are present above and below ground and that they should take extreme caution while exploring. The leaders themselves also mention there being wild Pikmin somewhere. Monstrous roars echo through the distance as the leaders navigate what they can with their Pikmin, their exploration greatly restricted by the brambles and forcing them to travel an almost linear path through the area. The area is oddly vacant, being populated by only a few enemies. The only accessible cave is Sunless Sanctuary due to the brambles not blocking it off.

The party continues past and under many brambles and eventually makes a startling discovery: one of the brambles has coiled around the Winged Onion, suspending it in the air, with several Winged Pikmin struggling, with no success, to free their mothership. Fortunately, the Onion is still functional and can be used to propagate Winged Pikmin, but unable to join the Dolphin Lander in orbit after takeoff and merge with the Master Onion until somehow freed. With their Winged Pikmin, the leaders continue to press on through Sprawling Swamp and pass by a large but unseen creature shrieking and struggling under a dense cluster of brambles.

The roars they've been hearing become increasingly louder until they come face-to-face with the source: an angry, scornful Hydroe Host taking the form of an almost unrecognizably mutated Thorned Posy. The leaders fight valiantly against the Hydroe Host with their Pikmin in their lengthiest and most grueling battle yet and emerge victorious because of their Winged Pikmin. As its host body becomes unusable and rapidly deteriorates alongside its brambles, the severely irritated Leech Hydroe formerly controlling it leaps off in a last-ditch effort to destroy its attackers but lands just short of the group and is utterly crushed under the valuable treasure lodged in its body.

After the Hydroe Host is defeated, its thinnest brambles have already become so brittle that they are destructible from any source of damage, opening up various shortcuts to the landing site, granting access into Watery Grave, Overgrown Garden, and Muddy Murk, and perhaps most importantly, allowing the Winged Onion its freedom even on its own; the thicker brambles also become destructible the following day. As more days pass, the hydroe brambles will further deteriorate and eventually disappear, and more creatures will repopulate the area. Now with Winged Pikmin, the leaders may return to Balmy Highlands to access Buzzing Reserve and perhaps challenge the Ancient Bulblax, Frigid Tundra to access Webbed Lair, and Colossal Hollow to access Secluded Hideaway, Divers' Blight, Sunlit Pit, and Black Abyss and collect the Sparklium Extractor.

No matter whether or not the leaders return to Sprawling Swamp the day after defeating the Hydroe Host, the creature struggling under several thick brambles reveals itself to be the Winged Snagret after erupting so forcefully from underneath them as to send fragments of bramble into the air and the sound of snapping twigs echoing throughout the area. This occurs not long after the leaders would exit the Dolphin Lander, and they all would see and hear the creature escape and soar into the sky, questioning what it is, scared of what it may be, and fearing that it may attack.

The Winged Snagret periodically swoops down to attack the leaders and eat any Pikmin it can get a hold of, and the only ways to deal with it are to flee from it, hide under cover, enter a cave, or kill it. Though it has a lot of vitality and can be hard to injure, it often lingers to fight before flying away again. Regardless, with the Hydroe Host dead, the leaders can destroy the thicker brambles to access more parts of the area and reach Pest Nest, Neglected Aqueduct, and Cursed Chasm. In a secluded portion of the area, they may even encounter a Quaggled Mireclops, which the Winged Snagret will fight with if left alive; the Winged Snagret destroys the Quaggled Mireclops' crystal if it wasn't already, and is eventually forced to the ground and crushed under Quaggled Mireclops' foot, killing the snavian instantly, but not before wounding the Quaggled Mireclops. So long as they fight, neither of the two pay any mind to Pikmin, or leaders, who prefer to watch than get involved.

Eventually, the four Hocotatians travel to the farthest reaches of Sprawling Swamp and discover the entrance to Destiny Cavern, what they and the Dolphin Lander sense may be the most treacherous yet rewarding cave to be found anywhere, even if there are caves they have not yet discovered or explored elsewhere. With all the Pikmin species they've amassed during their adventure, Olimar, Shacho, Marie, and Louie delve in. They fight through multitudes of wildlife inhabiting the cave, collecting what they can along the way, and eventually reach the bottom. There, the horrible, dominating Grimacing Cremblub resides. After a long, strenuous battle of strategy and wit, the Grimacing Cremblub falls dead, and the leaders and Pikmin again prevail.

Ending

When enough pokos have been procured to fully repay Hocotate Freight's newest debt, Olimar, Shacho, Marie, and Louie bid an emotional farewell to the Pikmin and then board the Dolphin Lander to leave PNF-404 and return to Hocotate. During the trip back to their home planet, however, the four Hocotatians agree to return to PNF-404 to continue their adventures there once the debt to Happy Hocotate Savings and Loan is repaid in person.

Because of their leaders, the Pikmin relearn to survive on their own and their populations flourish as a result. Various explorers and Captmin lead the Pikmin to further victory. Olimar is wonderstruck by how quickly PNF-404 changes every time he visits the planet, marveling at his discoveries and wondering what differences there will be during his next trip there. Shacho is overjoyed that his employees were able to save his company and that Louie was rescued once again. Marie mourns the loss of her crewmates, though she feels she owes her life to her saviors and would happily oblige to join them on a new adventure. Louie finds that even though he is most comfortable and happy isolated on PNF-404, being stranded there inside of a giant monster makes him want to stay on Hocotate for a while. The Dolphin Lander feels prideful of her 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, such as enemy corpses, fruits, treasures, and more. 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 game. Alternate game modes are listed in the order they are normally unlocked. Any game mode can be played with up to four other players, either locally, online, or both, who can freely join in or disconnect as they wish. Some game modes have special rules pertaining to this, however.

Gameplay usually takes place from a third-person perspective, the focus placed on the current leader, and their squad if any, although the focus will shift to targets that are locked-on to. However, by selecting the option to do so, it is possible to play from a first-person perspective wherein the JoyCons or Pro Controller are used to look around and aim the cursor.

Furthermore, four difficulties exist to alter how challenging each game mode is. They are easy, medium, hard, and ultra-spicy. The default difficulty is medium, but they can be changed between by using the options menu.

Story Mode

The main campaign of Pikmin: Wide World. Using the main menu, up to four players can connect and play simultaneously. If there are fewer leaders than there are players, players with no unique leader will play as a transparent version of an unlocked leader, much like in Pikmin 3 Deluxe. If a leader is unlocked, the order in which the players joined the game will dictate who plays as that leader. For example, if there are four players and the third and fourth players have no unique leaders to play as, the third player will take control of Marie when she is saved but the fourth player will not have a unique leader to play as until Louie is saved.

Battle Mode

Main article: Battle Mode

Battle Mode is a competitive alternate game mode that is permanently unlocked upon collecting the Aggression Meter. Up to four players can compete against one another or team up against an opposing team to win a match.

Challenge Mode

Main article: Challenge Mode

Challenge Mode is a mission-based game mode permanently unlocked by collecting the Telecommunications Device. It has different categories to choose from, which are Produce Pikmin!, Gather Valuables!, Eliminate Enemies!, and Battle Bosses!.

Bottomless Abyss

Main article: Bottomless Abyss

Bottomless Abyss is permanently unlocked when the Anomaly Log upgrade is collected. As the name suggests, it is a cave that has an indefinite amount of sublevels. Accrue as many Pokos as possible to gain a high score.

Content

Main Pikmin

All of the Pikmin species that were introduced in previous Pikmin games return in Pikmin: Wide World as main Pikmin types, and new species of main Pikmin, the acid-resistant Green Pikmin, is introduced. All main Pikmin species have an Onion of their own. Main Pikmin are listed in the order of discovery.

Yellow Pikmin

Main article: Yellow Pikmin

Yellow Pikmin are discovered at Balmy Highlands, are resistant to and can conduct electricity, and can be thrown higher than most other Pikmin types.

Blue Pikmin

Main article: Blue Pikmin

Blue Pikmin are a semiaquatic species of Pikmin discovered at Arid Oasis. They are resistant to and can swim in water, and will rescue nearby Pikmin drowning in a body of water by throwing them to shore.

Red Pikmin

Main article: Red Pikmin

Red Pikmin are discovered in Lonely Quarry, a cave in Frigid Tundra. They are fireproof and have a higher damage output more damage than most Pikmin types.

Rock Pikmin

Main article: Rock Pikmin

Rock Pikmin are the first Pikmin species discovered at Ancient Metalworks. They have adverse reactions to blunt force of all kinds but can not be killed by it, and also have partial resistance to explosions in that they survive them a quarter of the time. Unlike the other Pikmin types, Rock Pikmin are incapable of clinging onto or climbing enemies and objects because of their physiology. They can also be thrown at crystalline solids and ice to damage and destroy them.

Green Pikmin

Main article: Green Pikmin

Green Pikmin are a new species of Pikmin discovered in Ancient Metalworks, and the second to be found there. They are immune to corrosive acid and can walk in it without harm, but they can not breathe in it as they lack gills. Much like how Blue Pikmin will attempt to save Pikmin that are drowning in a body of water, Green Pikmin will attempt to save other Pikmin that find themselves in a pool of acid.

Purple Pikmin

Main article: Purple Pikmin

Purple Pikmin are the third and last of the Pikmin species discovered at Ancient Metalworks, found by throwing Pikmin into one of the Violet Candypops growing in Hidden Scrapyard. They move the slowest of all Pikmin types, but are resistant to panic and wind and can lift the weight of ten Pikmin. They can briefly stun most enemies by landing on or near them with a pound.

White Pikmin

Main article: White Pikmin

White Pikmin are a subterranean species of Pikmin discovered at Colossal Hollow, found fighting some Mushroom Pikmin. They are resistant to poison, but not the gas emitted from the Smoky Progg. White Pikmin are unique for being able to detect and dig up completely buried objects, and poison most enemies that eat them.

Winged Pikmin

Main article: Winged Pikmin

Winged Pikmin are the last main Pikmin species found, and are discovered at Sprawling Swamp. They have no resistance to any particular hazard, but can simply fly over most of them and dodge anything coming down on top of them. Winged Pikmin can swoop down into a pit to save the life of a nearby Pikmin that fell into it and will attempt to rescue any Pikmin struggling in a body of water or acid.

Other Pikmin

Some Pikmin are not classified as regular Pikmin due to the conditions in which they are discovered or created. Most of them are hostile towards leaders, friendly Pikmin, and other lifeforms, and will attack those in proximity. All of the following Pikmin react to being whistled and will approach or, in the case of hostile Pikmin, pursue and then attack the leader that caught their attention, but never join that leader's side.

Alien Pikmin

Main article: 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 resistance to any hazards, at least those on PNF-404. Throwing an Alien Pikmin will inflict damage to the leader who threw it unless they are wearing the Iron Fists.

Captmin

Main article: Captmin

Captmin are fallen explorers that have been reborn by Pikmin, and thus inherit the qualities of both. Like leaders, Captmin have health meters, and can be switched between and whistle; like Pikmin, they can strike using their stems and latch onto enemies and obstacles to attack them more effectively. Pictured to the right is a notable Captmin, Captain Hunnigan.

Mushroom Pikmin

Main article: Mushroom Pikmin

Mushroom Pikmin are Pikmin that have been transformed by exposure to spores. They are naturally encountered at Colossal Hollow and in its caves, alone or in groups, usually accompanying the enemy responsible for their plight. Mushroom Pikmin that are found in the wild count toward the limit of on-field Pikmin, as do Pikmin that were converted. Pictured to the left is a Mushroom Red Pikmin.

Parasitic Pikmin

Main article: Parasitic Pikmin

Although they are never truly seen, parasitic Pikmin infect larger organisms and control them to survive. Adults are aggressive and are nearly always found being followed by a squad of passive juveniles; the former must be defeated before the latter may join a leader's squad. Pictured to the right is the most well-known parasitic Pikmin host, the Red Bulbmin.

Pikpik carrot

Main article: Pikpik carrot

Pikpik carrots are an unlockable Pikmin type that can be used in Battle Mode and Bottomless Abyss by completing every challenge possible in Pikmin: Wide World. Although absurdly comical in appearance, pikpik carrots have no special resistances or abilities.

Characters

Pikmin: Wide World sees the return of several characters, but only the four playable leaders are listed here. One new character is introduced: her name is Marie. All leaders require at least three Pikmin to carry. Each leader has their own signature color and whistle.

Captain Olimar

Main article: Captain Olimar

Captain Olimar is the heroic Hocotatian who first led the Pikmin to success. He is rescued by a trio of Koppaites and returned home to Hocotate by them. He is the captain of the Dolphin Lander, which he uses to travel to PNF-404 alongside his boss to repay yet another debt. Olimar records notes detailing the biology of the lifeforms of the alien planet he is all too familiar with.

The President

Main article: The President

Shacho, the president of Hocotate Freight, joins Captain Olimar to revisit PNF-404 in search of riches. Shacho records notes about PNF-404's lifeforms in a way that showcases his greed, writing about how to squeeze the most Pokos from anything and everything on the planet or how they can be used for the benefit of Hocotate Freight. He also writes sales pitches for treasures.

Marie

Main article: Marie

Marie is a Hocotation that is rescued by Olimar and Shacho as they explore Ancient Metalworks' caves. She writes notes describing how to properly train and domesticate creatures native to PNF-404.

Louie

Main article: Louie

Although Louie once again stranded himself on the Pikmin Planet at the end of Pikmin 3, he is eventually spat up by a giant monster after Olimar, Shacho, and Marie defeat it. He retains his voracious appetite and superior culinary skills and writes recipes detailing how to prepare and cook various creatures and vegetation found on PNF-404.

Ships

One new ship, the Dolphin Lander, owned by Captain Olimar, is introduced in Pikmin: Wide World, and Onions and their various forms make a return. Although other ships such as the Freight Voyager, S.S. Drake, and the remains of the S.S. Dreamrunner exist, they are not included in this section.

Dolphin Lander

Main article: Dolphin Lander

The Dolphin Lander is a one-of-a-kind spacecraft used by Captain Olimar and Shacho to reach and travel from place to place on PNF-404. Marie and Louie also occupy the Dolphin Lander after they are rescued. Sparklium is her fuel source, and maintaining her fuel reserves is crucial.

Onion

Main article: Onion

An Onion is a lifeform used by many types of Pikmin for reproduction, shelter, protection, and transportation. They share the color of the Pikmin it produces and the Pikmin that can inhabit it. After sunset, two Onions can merge to form a unified Onion that can support several Pikmin types.

Areas

Pikmin: Wide World features six expansive and unique areas to explore. Each one features eight caves, up to three landing sites, and its own terrain, wildlife, weather patterns, climate, and challenges. Various crude illustrations made by Pikmin can be seen on various surfaces in them. Areas are listed in the order they are discovered.

Balmy Highlands

Main article: Balmy Highlands

Balmy Highlands is a grassy area with temperate weather and occasional rainfall.

Arid Oasis

Main article: Arid Oasis

Arid Oasis is a beach that is dotted with bodies of water and contains a ruined boardwalk. The area's sweltering heat takes its toll on leaders, but Pikmin and enemies are unaffected by it. Shade present in the area presents minor protection against the heat, as does the infrequent rainfall.

Frigid Tundra

Main article: Frigid Tundra

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 leaders, Pikmin, and some enemies.

Ancient Metalworks

Main article: Ancient Metalworks

Ancient Metalworks is a mostly grassy environment decorated by metal and concrete structures. Ancient Metalworks has a temperate climate with occasional rainfall.

Colossal Hollow

Main article: Colossal Hollow

Colossal Hollow is unique from other areas in that it is a cave-like environment. Most of the area is dark, but sunlight shines 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 fair. Rain falls through the holes in the ceiling on rainy days.

Sprawling Swamp

Main article: Sprawling Swamp

Sprawling Swamp is the sixth and final area. These marshlands contain mostly water, acid, and mud, with relatively little dry ground to spare. The area's extreme humidity and frequent rainfall make it problematic to traverse.

Upgrades

See: Pikmin: Wide World upgrades

Upgrades are separated into two categories: Exploration Kit and ship parts. 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.

HocoPad

Main article: ToolPad

The HocoPad is an immersive gameplay element that resembles the Nintendo Switch tablet and has several applications that can be used during gameplay. Among other things, it is used to view data files that are created or found by the leaders.

Encyclopedias

Various encyclopedias return from previous Pikmin games to Pikmin: Wide World. Whether their completion progress persists across save games can be toggled through the options menu.

Piklopedia

See: Pikmin: Wide World Piklopedia

The Piklopedia of Pikmin: Wide World features every enemy seen so far in the official series, and includes many new enemies. The only vegetation listed in the Piklopedia is unique to the world of Pikmin, as most real-world vegetation is only useful for hiding under.

Treasure Hoard

Main article: Treasure

Treasures are valuable objects that are the primary source of pokos and sparklium because they yield so much of either upon collection. There is an endless supply of treasures that can be collected, and it is possible to collect many instances of the same treasure. Every treasure has several unique appearances. No artificial or processed food-based treasures exist, as the beings who made them have long since been extinct. Fruits are not considered treasures as they have a more prominent purpose: their juice.

Fruit File

See also: Pikmin: Wide World Fruit File

Fruits must be collected for the continued survival of the leaders, who feed on the juice they contain. While they have no poko value in Story Mode or Battle Mode, they do contain traces of sparklium. Much like treasures, there is no limit to the number of fruits in existence.

Achievements

Main article: Pikmin: Wide World achievements

Achievements are objectives that challenge a player's skills to fulfill. Unlocking them provides no rewards or benefits other than player satisfaction and bragging rights. They are unlocked permanently when the requirement to do so is met, and they can be viewed through the main menu on the title screen and the pause menu.

Aspects

Returning aspects

List of returning aspects

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. While leaders can survive one day cycle without consuming juice before succumbing to starvation the following night, they can not survive on PNF-404's surface for an entire night. Juice At the end of each day, leaders drink juice to nourish themselves. Each leader can have their own serving or split one or more servings between themselves, reducing the amount of accumulated juice accordingly. A full serving will give a leader moderately increased movement and attack speed and power throughout the following day, and, as a bonus, passive but slow health recovery even while standing upright. One-half or one-third of a full serving will give a leader slightly improved movement and attack speed and power throughout the following day. One-fourth of a full serving yields no benefits to a leader whatsoever but will make them remark about it. Not being able to drink any juice, which is only possible if there are no whole servings in reserve, will make a leader miserable and impair their capabilities. Difficulty Much like in Pikmin 3 Deluxe, Pikmin: Wide World has various difficulties that change how challenging gameplay is to every player involved. The four difficulties are easy, normal, hard, and ultra-spicy, with normal being the default difficulty. The current difficulty can be changed at any time in any game mode, although in multiplayer sessions only the host can do so, and changing difficulties in Story Mode forfeits any achievements related to completing it at a specific difficulty. As difficulty increases, leader health maximums and how long a suffering Pikmin takes to die all scale down, while enemy health maximums, how many Pikmin enemies can kill at once, and damage leaders sustain from attacks scale up. Ultra-spicy difficulty is unlocked by completing Story Mode at hard difficulty, and in it, many enemies and bosses exhibit exclusive behaviors or attributes and exclusive data files detailing them can be obtained. For reference, each difficulty intensifies the aforementioned differences as follows: 0.5x for easy, 1.0x for normal, 1.5x for hard, and 2.0x for ultra-spicy. 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 Pikmin in its mouth. Additionally, in Pikmin: Wide World, the mobility of most enemies may be reduced by swarming them or their feet, or weighing them down with Pikmin, with Purple Pikmin being the most effective in either case. Ingestion consequences Most mammalian or non-insect enemies that eat Pikmin may burp after eating them, briefly opening them up to attack. A burp will only become louder and longer the more Pikmin are ingested at once. Additionally, the more Pikmin an enemy eats, the more reluctant it will be to eat more; this is far more apparent in smaller enemies than larger ones. White Pikmin and Rock Pikmin also have special attributes relating to being eaten. Any enemy that is large enough and able to ingest a bomb rock and does not die from doing so will be temporarily stunned. Movement tracking Pikmin follow leaders much like they do in Pikmin 3, by moving individually and following the paths leaders take. Additionally, enemies that can see will track leaders and Pikmin with their eyes. Danger detection Like in Pikmin 2 and Pikmin 3, an idle leader will flee from an enemy and, like in Pikmin 3, announce that they are in trouble. However, they will try to hit it instead if it isn't very large, strong, or threatening, doesn't have much health remaining, or Pikmin are actively attacking it. Throwing Leaders typically throw Pikmin or leaders as quickly as the respective button can be pressed. However, Rock Pikmin, Purple Pikmin, leaders, and Captmin are thrown at a slightly slower pace than average-size Pikmin, and White Pikmin and Winged Pikmin can be thrown at a faster pace than the rest. Additionally, leaders can only throw foreign objects at full force one or two seconds after picking them up; otherwise, they drop the object. Additionally, throwing a Pikmin, leader, or object while moving forward will increase the distance they are thrown, which is reflected by the position of the cursor. Swarming Pikmin: Wide World retains Pikmin swarming but renames it group moving. The concept of charging enemies returns from Pikmin 3. Selective whistling Like in Pikmin 3, Pikmin working on a task must be whistled twice in rapid succession or for a slightly longer time than Pikmin that are idle or fighting. This is to prevent Pikmin from being accidentally called away from a task while a leader is whistling other nearby Pikmin. Carrying formation Like in Pikmin 3, Pikmin that are carrying an object will adhere to its shape. Additionally, in Pikmin: Wide World, they will also attempt to distribute themselves equally along an object to distribute its weight. If they are not distributed well enough, they will appear to struggle to lift it and, as a result, drag it, although this is purely visual. Health wheels Leaders and most enemies have a health wheel to indicate their vitality, but not all look the same. Most health wheels are green, and gradually drain clockwise and turn more yellow and then red to represent decreasing health. Uniquely, the Plasm Wraith's health wheel has a beveled, golden appearance, but drains in the same way as normal health wheels. Purely robotic enemies have a unique health wheel that resembles their weakpoints, and those with several weakpoints have their health wheel divided into several sections, each section representing one weakpoint. Destroying one weakpoint causes the health wheel, or one section of it, again in a clockwise fashion, to shatter. Enemy health Enemies that are injured, but not killed, will regain their health overnight. New to Pikmin: Wide World, enemies that are lightly injured will regain all of their health and those that are critically injured may die overnight. How quickly an enemy's health is changed from damage done to it depends on the total health of the enemy: the higher or lower the current health, the faster it regenerates or dwindles. The middle ground is between two-thirds and three-fourths health. Smaller, weaker enemies lose the ability to regain life overnight more easily than larger, hardier ones. The carcass of a boss will remain in an aboveground area for up to a day after its defeat, provided it leaves remains, although it will be infested with Maggot Whiskerpillars by then. Gauge interference Some enemies, like the Humming Kettlebug or the Magnetic Joustmite, can interfere with the Treasure Tracker and the Fruit Finder until they are defeated. Safety zone All Onions produce a ring of light around sunset to display a safe zone in which Pikmin will enter their Onion automatically. Pikmin can only enter their own Onion, meaning it is crucial to leave a certain type of Pikmin by their Onion if that Onion is not yet incorporated into the Master Onion. Stumbling and falling Pikmin can stumble and fall over, even while carrying objects, and so can leaders and even enemies. 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 Pikmin sprouts or buried Pikmin that have flowers, which, much like in Pikmin 3, will not wilt and then reappear with the lowest maturity if left in the ground for long enough. Dropping seeds Returns from Pikmin 1. Flowered Pikmin that are killed in almost any way, with few exceptions, have a small chance to leave behind a Pikmin seed that develops into a sprout that can be plucked. 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. Many enemies that see leaders or Pikmin hide under vegetation or can see them actively hiding under vegetation will target them. Assemble All Returns from Pikmin 3 Deluxe, in the form of the Whistle Transmitter ship part. Leader attacks Leaders can execute punches and kicks to damage enemies. In Pikmin: Wide World, however, damage delivered to a spiked enemy in this way is split between it and the attacker unless the Iron Fists are equipped. Lock-on Returns from Pikmin 3 Deluxe, with minor differences. To lock-on, the current leader must be within the proximity of an enemy or object to focus on and have the cursor be close enough to them, which causes an indicator to appear above the would-be subject, allowing them to be locked-on to. Lock-ons can be canceled, although if another eligible subject is present nearby and the lock-on indicator is present above it, the focus will change to include it also. Whole groups of smaller subjects can also be targeted simultaneously, the focus changing dynamically depending on how many remain. The indicator that shows that an enemy or object can be locked-on to is a light-colored triangle above the object, pointing down at it. If the cursor is locked-on, it changes from its usual look to a reticle with four triangles pointing inward. While locked-on, the cursor sticks to the subject, even if gyro controls are enabled, the camera zooms in and focuses on the subject and rotates to follow it around, and manual camera controls are disabled. Furthermore, the left and right portions of the screen darken, two curved lines appear near the darkened areas, and some textual information is shown on some corners of the screen. While locked-on to an enemy, but not an object, movement forward and backward remain normal but movement left or right results in the current leader strafing around the subject. Dodging makes the current leader and their squad roll around the object as opposed to rolling in a straight line left or right. Additionally, Pikmin charged at the subject will ignore any other nearby enemies or objects and focus solely on the locked-on one instead, and Winged Pikmin and Blue Pikmin will be able to respectively fly or swim up to where it is. Any item that can be carried will also display its minimum weight and current carrier count when locked-on to. Charging Returns from Pikmin 3, with minor differences. Charges can be executed by the current leader at any time and have two modes: selective, which causes only the current standby Pikmin to charge, and total, which causes all Pikmin in the squad to charge. While a charge is prepared to be executed, a leader will pose in preparation, and a stylized arrow indicating the direction of the charge, always in the direction of the cursor, is displayed until the charge is executed, or canceled by performing an action such as whistling. Upon issuing a charge, the current leader strikes a commanding pose, a horn sounds, and the Pikmin in the current squad perk up and utter a battle cry while rushing directly at the subject; when applicable, Winged Pikmin fly and Blue Pikmin swim towards their targets. Pikmin that are made to charge at a group of subjects without being locked-on to them will prioritize targeting enemies over objects, and choose more dangerous enemies and more valuable objects than less dangerous or valuable ones. When Pikmin are charged towards an object that can be carried, they will all race towards it, but only the minimum necessary amount to start carrying it will grab on, and the rest will return. If they are charged toward an object that is already being carried, then only those necessary to fill all carrying slots will grab on, and the others will come back. Pikmin unsuited, inapt, or not useful for the task or situation move slightly towards the target, but retreat shortly after and rejoin that leader. Reasons for this happening include charging flowered Pikmin toward a blob of nectar and charging Pikmin toward the source of a hazard they know they know they can not withstand. Pikmin wielding any type of bomb rock or other forms of weaponry stay by the current leader, and Pikmin outside of grabbing range at the time ignore the charge command completely. Other leaders in the current leader's squad will join charging Pikmin only if they can assist those Pikmin with whatever they are charged towards, such as by punching or kicking targeted enemies, and won't be harmed on contact with it; otherwise, they remain with their current leader. Charging Pikmin and leaders that do not reach their destination after traveling roughly the maximum throw distance will congregate there, sigh, and return to the issuing leader. However, Pikmin that find a task to do or an enemy to fight will do so. Pikmin and leaders that charge will be removed from the squad, and will be readded if they return by themselves, but they can be whistled to return sooner. When no Pikmin are present in the current squad, only a clown horn sounds and the current leader strikes their pose anyway, and any leaders accompanying them comically express embarrassment or discontentment. Some enemies can anticipate charges, especially while in battle, and will attempt to evade them; in ultra-spicy difficulty, this is common with many stronger or more intelligent enemies. Pikmin interaction All Pikmin, idle Pikmin especially, have a natural tendency to interact with or inspect anything nearby. Pikmin may be seen interacting with, among other things, each other, no matter if they are idle or when in a squad. In Pikmin: Wide World, these actions include looking around at their surroundings or each other, looking at a specific part of themselves or another Pikmin, touching each other, grooming themselves or each other, and communicating using a variety of vocalizations. When idle, Pikmin may, in addition to the aforementioned actions, also be seen sitting in a variety of positions, resting their eyes, lying down on their sides, stretching, waving to nearby Pikmin or leaders, and playing abstract games such as, but not limited to, pattycake or rock-paper-scissors. Idle Pikmin will also intently watch any nearby tasks being carried out or enemies being fought and may give a thumbs-up or another sign of approval when the task is complete or the battle is won. While standing in shallow water, Pikmin may harmlessly splash each other or leaders. Blue Pikmin standing by a body of water may also playfully push another Blue Pikmin into it, the pushed Pikmin sometimes pulling the initial Pikmin into the water with them as they're falling in; the same applies to Green Pikmin and acid. The attention of occupied or idle Pikmin may also be directed towards the leaders commanding them or nearby them, as they may watch those leaders, imitate their movements, gestures, or vocalizations, and even try to wipe specks of dirt off their suit. Pikmin may, at any time outside of battle or danger, briefly sing along in unison to the current in-game music playing. Additionally, when a certain combination of certain quantities of Pikmin are in a group or idle near each other, they will sing a special tune specific to that grouping and quantity of Pikmin species, which there are achievements for. Parasitic Pikmin hosts share many of the same behaviors as ordinary Pikmin regardless if they are adults or juveniles, limited only by their physiology. Upon completing a task such as bringing an object to the Dolphin Lander or an Onion, destroying or clearing an obstacle, or defeating an enemy, Pikmin may cheer and celebrate, and may be seen jumping in place, performing a backflip, spinning, dancing, or high-fiving Pikmin beside them. Mushroom Pikmin and Alien Pikmin exhibit only a few of the idle actions other Pikmin may be seen doing, as they are far less playful and much more aggressive and alert. Idle enemies Enemies that are idle and visible may be seen wandering about their territory, looking around, sleeping, or performing a variety of other actions, and enemies in Pikmin: Wide World may also be seen periodically stretching, grooming or scratching themselves, or drinking from nearby water bodies. Additionally, some enemies can be seen to be more awake than others at different times of the day, and some remain under cover to avoid the elements while others prefer exposure to them.

New aspects

List of new aspects

Player profiles In Pikmin: Wide World, players have a profile banner that displays their username, in-game accomplishments, and favorite badge. The default color of the banner is blue, and players that unlock all of the game's content will earn a shiny, sparkling golden banner and an exclusive badge as a reward. First-person perspective Through the options menu, Pikmin: Wide World can be played from the first-person perspective of the leaders. It is possible to look in all directions, and all controls remain the same. Even cutscenes take place in first-person, complete with the heads-up display disappearing. Transitioning between leaders is done much like in the standard, third-person perspective. 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 and general obstructions. When leaders approach a location that the Dolphin Lander deems suitable for making a landing site, it will inform them that the location can be made into one. The Dolphin Lander will also notify leaders when the location is sufficiently cleared. Once a landing site is cleared, it can start being used the following day. Over time, Hocotate Freight crates and capsules will appear around the outskirts of landing sites as they are used. These only serve as decoration and can not be interacted with in any significant way. Leader assistance Leaders can assist Pikmin with carrying certain objects. By default, each leader carries the weight of two 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 fewer 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 is located, a leader helping to carry the object will guide the way. Leaders can also dig up buried objects by themselves or with the help of Pikmin. 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. 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 after Marie is rescued. To stay past sunset, the countdown that occurs during it can be canceled. After sundown, 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. Staying past sunset reduces how much health leaders regain by sleeping by half, and increases their juice consumption by × 1.5. Beacon lights In darkness, the light provided by the leaders' beacons is often the only way to see. Unfortunately, a variety of enemies are attracted, or have an adverse reaction, to the light given off by beacons and tend to gravitate toward 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 pause screen. The beacon of a leader that is harmed will flicker for a few moments afterward. Beacons can be deactivated from the HocoPad to gain an advantage against many enemies in the dark, although the downside to this is that visibility of the leader's immediate surroundings will be minimum to nonexistent and Pikmin will eventually begin to panic when exposed to total darkness for too long. Leaders that have their beacons disabled in darkness will be highlighted by a colored silhouette from their perspective while they are being controlled. Blinding lights Using the HocoPad's camera flash, it is possible to temporarily stun or blind certain enemies at night or in caves, rendering them vulnerable to attack. Members of the aerodentia family, as well as Vampire Bulbears and their offspring, are incredibly vulnerable to this. Maturity intricacies While selecting Pikmin types to take out of an Onion or the Dolphin Lander's PikHold, the specific maturity level of the Pikmin to be withdrawn can also be chosen. Additionally, the maturity stage of a Pikmin has a subtle impact on its offensive capabilities; leafed Pikmin inflict × 1 damage, flowered Pikmin inflict × 1.1 damage, and budded Pikmin inflict × 1.2 damage. Flowered Pikmin follow commands more readily than budded and leafed Pikmin. Playing dead Lying down has a special use during combat: playing dead. Leaders can lie down while being attacked by an enemy, which may cause that enemy 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 In Story Mode and Endless Abyss only, Pikmin are capable of learning and can become somewhat autonomous the more familiar they are with an area, an obstacle type, or even enemies. Pikmin that are instructed to carry objects to be brought to the Dolphin Lander, such as fruits or treasures, but do not know its location will follow nearby leaders, or wander when alone, instead of walking to the landing site; this mainly applies to newly-discovered Pikmin that know only where their Onion is. Either 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 caravan, as new Pikmin carrying a different object than familiarized Pikmin will follow them to the landing site. Similarly, Pikmin that pick up a bridge fragment but have not seen the bridge it belongs to will instead follow the leader that assigned them to the task. When shown the bridge, they automatically continually return there until the bridge is finished or the pile is used up, whereupon they will all meet at the bridge's location and stay there until whistled or a leader is nearby. 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 or movements an enemy makes so that they may anticipate dodging an attack. Pikmin will also flee from a hostile enemy when there are too few of them to battle it or physically can not 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 that 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. When dismissed, Pikmin that are near a hazard they are not resistant to will move the furthest away from it. Pikmin that are carrying an object will avoid walking into hazards they are not immune to, and will also refuse to carry objects around potentially dangerous enemies. Pikmin can also learn to color-coordinate pellet colors. 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 the Pikmin in those respective vessels will be updated and synchronized. In Endless Abyss, Pikmin only learn information when Pikmin in Story Mode do. Wild Pikmin Sometimes, small groups of wild Pikmin idle or wander about an area or its caves, their species depending on the area they were discovered in or under. They are friendly towards allied Pikmin and will interact with them, but will attack leaders and enemies that come too close. Allied Pikmin that witness a wild Pikmin attacking leaders may display confusion or bewilderment, join in until realizing the target's identity, or try to restrain the wild Pikmin. Whistling a wild Pikmin will permanently pacify them and cause them to join the side of the leader that whistled them. Wild Pikmin of a particular species can only be encountered after that species is formally discovered, and are only ever one of the main Pikmin types. Hazard exposure Just like with plucked Pikmin, Pikmin sprouts are subject to hazards. They can not be subject to blunt force as they bend out of the way if possible, or captured inside bubbles, but are subject to other hazards, including pits if they are somehow ejected into one. Additionally, sprouts can survive sunsets. Ripples and waves Movement in pools of water, acid, and nectar is noticed by creatures living in or watching it, so sneak attacks on enemies in it are virtually impossible. Stronger ripples and waves may push around anything in it, which is utilized by some enemies to gain an advantage over their prey. Arming leaders Leaders can pick up and carry rocks, smaller snowballs, any type or size of bomb rock, and sparklium stones, throwing or dropping the objects when needed. Throwing a bomb rock will prime it, and throwing a stone, snowball, or dud bomb rock will damage the object as well as the enemy it impacts. 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 can not 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 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, although their maturity will decrease by one stage each day they are trapped until they reach the leaf stage. 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. Most enemies that crawl along the ground or can not swim will avoid water that is too deep, to avoid drowning. Additionally, larger enemies will recognize their size and utilize it to step over small obstacles such as short ledges to be able to reach their prey. Frenzied enemies Some enemies can become temporarily frenzied by accomplishing a certain action. Frenzied enemies behave unusually and often erratically, and examples of what they may do are attacking enemies around them or moving at an incredibly accelerated rate. Stealth Noise, such as that produced by walking, whistling, Pikmin, leaders, some obstacles and objects, and enemies themselves may 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, and so can detect sound better. However, the noise whistling produces can be muffled to avoid attracting unwanted attention by obtaining the Whistle Muffler upgrade. Whistling Pikmin As dangerous as whistling around enemies can be because of the noise it generates, it encourages Pikmin to recover faster, such as when they fall over or are knocked down. Ground density The hardness or softness of a surface type can impact gameplay. Hard surfaces, such as concrete, stone, metal, and tile, can not 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 determines if Pikmin will be crushed; they will be crushed on a hard surface, but become buried in a soft surface.

Controls

Pikmin: Wide World has an intuitive and easy-to-learn set of controls.

Controls
Joy-Cons	Pro Controller	Action
(Lightly or fully tilted)	(Lightly or fully tilted)	Move the cursor.
(Fully held)	(Fully held)	Move in the direction it is held. If a leader runs into an idle Pikmin while running, it will join that leader. Leaders run a bit slower than flowered Pikmin by default. Twirl or rapidly tilt to make a leader shake off attackers that are latched onto them.
		Places the cursor on top of the active leader.
(Lightly or fully tilted)	(Lightly or fully tilted)	Rotate the camera. In first-person, tilt to turn or look in the direction held.
		Moves the leader's squad in the direction the stick is held as long as the stick remains pushed in. This action is known as group moving and is used to reposition a leader's squad.
		While commanding Pikmin: pick a Pikmin up. When the button is released, the leader throws the Pikmin. When by a sprout: pluck the sprout out of the ground. When by Nectar Grass: pluck blades of Nectar Grass. When directly next to any type of bomb rock, a rock, a smaller snowball, or a sparklium stone: pick up the object. Press again to throw it. Without any Pikmin or leaders and not holding an object: punch or kick. Without any Pikmin and directly next to an object being carried by ground-based Pikmin: help carry the object. When standing on the Dolphin Lander's holographic projection: open its menu. When under an Onion: open its menu. When in a menu: choose an option or continue. When by a hole: enter the cave or next sublevel after confirming the action. When by an escape geyser: leave the cave using it after confirming the action. While Advanced Exploration mode is active: press to jump with the Jetpack if on land or perform an upward stroke if underwater. Hold to lift off with the Jetpack if on land or swim continually if underwater.
		While commanding Pikmin: dismiss. While plucking Pikmin sprouts or Nectar Grass: cancel plucking. While carrying any type of bomb rock, a rock, a smaller snowball, or a Sparklium stone: drop the object. While helping Pikmin carry an object: stop helping. When in a menu: return to the previous menu or close the menu.
		Charge Pikmin in the direction of the cursor. Press and release to charge the current standby Pikmin type, hold briefly and release to charge the entire squad, and hold for longer than that to prepare a charge.
		Switch leaders. Leaders may be switched between even if they are in the same squad.
		Cycle through which Pikmin type or leader will be thrown next, even if not currently holding any Pikmin or leader.
		If locked-on, places the cursor on the subject and keeps it there until canceled. Otherwise, allows moving the cursor without moving the leader while it's held.
		Toggles lock-on while the lock-on indicator is present above a target. Otherwise, press to make the camera face the cursor, and hold to lock the cursor on the spot.
		Whistle.
		In-game: Pause and bring up the pause menu. Press again to unpause. In a cutscene: Skip the cutscene, if possible.
		Toggle between gameplay and the HocoPad interface.
		Up (held): an alternative way of activating the HocoPad's camera function. Once a camera comes up, release without fear of consuming a spray. Down (held): makes the active leader lie down to be carried or play dead. Once a leader lies down, release without fear of consuming a spray. Up or down: consume a dose of the spray placed in the slot respective to the direction pressed. Sprays that affect Pikmin won't be used if there aren't any in the squad. Left or right: dodge in the respective direction if the Dodge Whistle has been obtained.

---