Even though Fox McCloud had a noticeable part in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Mario’s creator, Shigeru Miyamoto, is generally careful about letting characters from different Nintendo franchises appear together. He made an exception for one series, though, as he recently told Polygon: he allows Pikmin to be included in any Nintendo game.
Since the first Pikmin game came out 25 years ago, Nintendo has cleverly used the idea of those little creatures in many of its games and apps – a testament to Miyamoto’s design philosophy. Here are 10 series where you can find Olimar and his Pikmin pals!
10. Animal Crossing (Series)
Pikmin Became Part of the Furniture
Before amiibo figures, Nintendo used collectible e-Cards to unlock special in-game items. One example was the “Pikmin Pattern” e-Card from the Animal Crossing series. GameCube players who used this card could get a wallpaper featuring the Red, Yellow, and Blue Pikmin. Getting the Pikmin item in the DS game, Wild World, was even harder. Players had to connect to a temporary DS Download Station to receive a Pikmin planter.
After the Wii game City Folk offered Pikmin-themed items as downloadable content—like a Red Pikmin hat and a model of the S.S. Dolphin—New Leaf on the 3DS changed things. It made those items, along with a Pikmin planter, available directly in the game through fortune cookies. The game also added new Blue and Yellow Pikmin hats, making New Leaf the Animal Crossing game with the most Pikmin-related content.
9. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Hidden in Plain Sight
To reach the Tower of the Gods in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Link needs to collect three Goddess Pearls. Once he has them, placing each Pearl in the hands of the statues on the Triangle Islands—which look like Red, Yellow, and Blue Pikmin—will cause the tower to rise from the sea.
These characters each have unique features inspired by Pikmin. They all have a small stem-like growth on their heads, and their faces share characteristics with specific Pikmin types: Din has a nose like the Red Pikmin, Farore has pointy ears similar to the Yellow Pikmin, and Nayru has a distinctive mark that looks like the Blue Pikmin’s crooked smile.
8. Super Mario (Series)
Golfing, Go-Karts, and Galaxies
The appearance of Pikmin in the new Galaxy movie continues a trend of cameos in Mario games. For instance, in Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, hitting a golf ball into a flower bed causes Pikmin to appear. Also, a spaceship in the original Galaxy game looks a lot like the ship from Pikmin 2.
If you use Pikmin amiibo, you can unlock an Olimar costume for your Mii character in Mario Kart 8. Super Mario Maker lets you play as Olimar and Pikmin using special Mystery Mushroom power-ups, complete with sounds from the Pikmin games. And in Super Mario Bros. Wonder for the Nintendo Switch, you’ll spot different types of Pikmin appearing throughout the game’s levels.
7. Donkey Konga 2
Bongos, Bulborbs, and Badges
Pikmin, featuring their signature primary colors, and the Red Bulborb return as collectible badges in Donkey Konga 2. Players unlock these badges by winning a minigame and then successfully matching pairs in a memory-style game called “Match That Badge.” Once earned, badges can be used to personalize high score recordings.
The characters Pikmin and Bulborb are depicted as clay models. This style was notably featured in the artwork for Pikmin 2, including the game’s box art and promotional images. Nintendo artist Wataru Yamaguchi created all of these detailed, real-life clay figures himself – everything from Olimar and Louie to the various Pikmin types and enemies.
6. Nintendogs
A Secondhand Scoundrel
Fans of the Nintendo DS game Nintendogs may have noticed a Red Bulborb toy hidden on a shelf in the background of the Secondhand Shop. Although it looks like it’s for sale, you can’t actually buy it in the game. It’s a missed opportunity, as it would have been amusing to see the virtual dogs playing with this enemy from the Pikmin series.
Players have some fun Nintendo-themed items to purchase, like Mario and Luigi hats and remote-control Mario Karts. Plus, Pikmin 4 included a nod to Nintendogs, featuring collectible jigsaw pieces that, when completed, create official artwork from Nintendogs: Dachshund & Friends.
5. WarioWare (Series)
Microgames for Micro Creatures
It’s strange, considering how playful and goofy the WarioWare games are, but they might feature one of the most disturbing Pikmin appearances ever. In WarioWare: Smooth Moves for the Wii, players have to tilt the Wii Remote to roll an Empress Bulblax back and forth, tragically squashing Pikmin under it.
Later WarioWare microgames became more lighthearted. One example, from the DS game WarioWare: D.I.Y., had players tap the screen to launch Pikmin at a target. Pikmin-themed games also appeared in the Switch versions. In Get It Together!, players had to knock a pellet off a flower, while Move It! tasked them with picking up Pikmin from the ground.
4. Nintendo System Software
Cosplay, Collectibles, and Cards
Nintendo has a unique way of making even technical processes delightful. For example, when you move downloadable games from an older system like a DSi or Wii to a newer one like a 3DS or Wii U, a charming animation plays showing Pikmin literally carrying your game data over.
The 3DS featured Pikmin in several ways beyond dedicated games. You could unlock Pikmin-themed hats for your Mii characters in the StreetPass Mii Plaza, and see Pikmin characters as badges in Nintendo Badge Arcade. Plus, the 3DS included special cards to use with the AR Games app, and scanning the Pikmin card brought the plant-like creatures to life on your screen using augmented reality.
3. Yoshi’s Woolly World
The Captain Gets Crafty
Both Yoshi’s Woolly World and its updated version, Poochy & Yoshi’s Woolly World, let you unlock lots of different designs for Yoshi. You can earn these designs by finding special yarn and finishing tricky challenges. Plus, you can unlock even more by scanning compatible amiibo figures.
If you use the Olimar amiibo, Yoshi will dress up like Captain Olimar from Pikmin, sporting a yellow spacesuit and red gloves. Even his spines will change to the three main Pikmin colors! It’s an incredibly cute outfit and might just be the most charming appearance of any character in the game.
2. Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash
Robots and References
Many people don’t know that Nintendo also created the Chibi-Robo! series, which features a small robot exploring the world and collecting items. A full crossover between Chibi-Robo! and Pikmin would be fantastic, and while it hasn’t happened yet, the last Chibi-Robo! game, Zip Lash on the 3DS, did include a nod to the Pikmin series.
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The game includes a capsule toy machine that dispenses collectible figures. You can expand the selection of figures in the machine by scanning amiibo toys, which will add figures based on the scanned character. For example, scanning the Olimar amiibo unlocks a small, cute figure of him leading a group of tiny robot Pikmin.
1. Tetris 99
Pretty Pikmin Puzzle Pieces
Tetris 99, the online battle royale puzzle game released in 2019, regularly holds special events called “Maximus Cup.” Players can earn points during these events to unlock new visual themes. In July 2023, the 34th Maximus Cup celebrated the release of Pikmin 4, and the unlockable theme was designed with elements from that game.
This game is full of delightful touches for Pikmin enthusiasts. Beyond the Pikmin 4 artwork and the Rescue Command Post’s music, you’ll find clever details like Pikmin and Oatchi faces on the Tetromino blocks. Even the targeting reticle and enemy defeat icons are themed to fit the Pikmin universe.
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2026-04-19 18:46