Our Pikmin 3 walkthrough will guide you through the beginning to ending moments of gameplay with strategy tips for this real-time strategy simulation game on the Nintendo Wii U.

Pikmin 3 is the feverishly anticipated RTS game exclusively for Nintendo’s Wii U. This third installment in the Pikmin franchise is the direct sequel to Pikmin 2, which was released in 2004 on Nintendo’s GameCube. As with the previous Pikmin games, you will be in charge of a personal army of up to 100 Pikmin, each with their own special abilities that will enable them to perform various tasks at your bidding.

Let’s start the Pikmin 3 walkthrough with an introduction video from creator Shigeru Miyamoto!

Please note that viewers must be at least 7 to watch, so no harm comes to those with innocent eyes. This game includes Mild Cartoon Violence.

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Pikmin 3 Walkthrough

Pikmin 3 is a fully re-imagined, mass-action strategy title from the critically acclaimed Pikmin series. Players will discover a beautiful world filled with strange creatures and take command of a swarm of ant-like Pikmin trying to survive. The world is densely packed with treasures and enemies, which makes the game much more action focused and fills it with layers of potential strategies and paths, adding greater replayability to challenge modes.

The game has been overhauled to match up to the Wii U’s graphics and capabilities, re-introducing you with four new main characters to the beautiful world filled with Pikmin, treasure, as well as various strange creatures and enemies; a world you must help the Pikmin to navigate and survive. As their leader, you can command them to build bridges, carry building materials, pick up fruit to carry back to the little spaceships, and defeat enemies. New Pikmin species have been introduced in this game, including the pink flying Pikmin, and the Rock Pikmin. The Rock Pikmin can throw themselves at walls, barriers and objects to break or smash them, and come in handy if an enemy has a shell, as they can destroy the armor so the other Pikmin can take them down.

Pikmin 3 is much more action-oriented than its predecessors in the franchise, and also has a greater amount of variety when it comes to strategy. This is helped with the versatility of how you wish to play the game, as you can play with the Wii Motion Plus and Nunchuck combo, where shaking the Wii remote throws your Pikmin, and shaking the Nunchuck makes your Pikmin charge. You can use the Wii U’s GamePad also, as it acts as an overhead map and radar, allowing you to track your Pikmin’s actions in real time. Controlling multiple groups of Pikmin at once is also easier thanks to the Wii U GamePad, making gameplay more fluid, as players can slide a finger across the touch screen to instantly switch between areas of the map. The amount of versatility offered when it comes to your personal play style with this game is improved with how intuitive the controls are, as now you can aim at objects directly, and can command your Pikmin armies in various different ways, depending on your strategy’s current requirements.

The Wii U GamePad also offers a replay feature when a player completes a stage, where it shows the entire map at once with the ability to fast forward, pause and rewind, so the player can re-watch the decisions and actions they made throughout the day and re-evaluate their strategy based upon that. Delve into the fun and beautiful world of the Pikmin once more, greatly and vastly improved thanks to the Wii U’s greater processing and HD capabilities and GamePad. This highly updated game can now offer more options when it comes to game play, and allows you to completely personalize your own play style and strategies.

Key Game Features:

Players can play using Wii Remote Plus and Nunchuk-based controls or the Wii U GamePad controller. With new intuitive controls that make it possible to aim at objects directly, players can command their tiny, yet powerful, squads in different ways.
The Wii U GamePad acts as an overhead map and radar to track Pikmin movements in real time. Players can slide a finger across the touch screen to quickly switch between areas, giving greater flexibility in commanding multiple groups of Pikmin.
The greater processing and HD capabilities of the Wii U console are put to extensive use, resulting in a more intricately designed world, enhanced ant-like movement of the Pikmin and precisely detailed overhead views for enabling easier strategic use of the Pikmin. — Explore a new world of adventure, with lush HD graphics that bring the beautiful, intricately detailed environments to life. It’s easier than ever to immerse yourself in a sumptuously realized world.
After completing a stage, the replay feature allows players the option to review their results using the GamePad and TV. Fast-forward, rewind or pause while assessing the previous mission to decide on other paths.
Show off your skills in a variety of intense challenge modes. Mission Mode challenges players to earn the most treasure in a given time. Challenge a friend in the wild and frenetic multiplayer battle mode.
Enlist armies of Pikmin to solve puzzles, battle dangerous predators, and recover food for your depleted home planet.
Discover the charming personality of Pikmin as they come to life in multiple shapes and sizes.
Five different Pikmin types, including Rock Pikmin and Winged Pikmin, each offer unique abilities.
Explore lush, beautiful environments from your tiny explorer’s perspective.
Split your Pikmin squads among three explorers to maximize your strategy.
Use the Wii U GamePad controller as an in-game camera to capture the alien-safari feel to the world. Snap and caption photos, then share them via Miiverse.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find the 10 Pikmin 3 Secret Memos locations?

This Secret Memos locations guide shows you where to find all 10 of the hidden Secret Memos in every level of Pikmin 3. This includes Garden of Hope, Distant Tundra, Tropical Wilds, Twilight River, and Formidable Oak. Put all the Secret Memos together for a mystery code.

How many Pikmin types are available in the game?

There are 7 different types of Pikmin and each one has its own special abilities – so be careful to choose the right kinds of Pikmin for the different puzzles and challenges that await you!

Red Pikmin: These heat & fire-resistant friends are the soldiers of the species – they’re highly effective in a scrap! Has powerful attacks.

Blue Pikmin: The amphibious Blue Pikmin move easily in water and love a good splash. Will never drown in water. They can even attack underwater.

Yellow Pikmin: The yellow fellows get on well with electricity (immune to electricity) and travel further and higher than the others do when thrown. They are also excellent diggers.

Rock Pikmin / Grey Pikmin (New Type!): Pikmin such as these are very hard, can’t be crushed if something stomps on them, and pack a big wallop when flung! Throw ‘em when you want to break something; For example, they can be used to smash through Crystal Walls.

Winged Pikmin / Pink Pikmin (New Type!): These little creatures can fly anywhere and they’ll happily ferry things around for you or lift obstacles / objects into the air. They can even carry items over hazards.

Purple Pikmin: Strong but slow. Makes a thud when thrown. – Note: This Pikmin only appears in Mission Mode & Bingo Battle Mode.

White Pikmin: Small, fast, and poisonous. Immune to poison. Can find hidden things. – Note: This Pikmin only appears in Mission Mode & Bingo Battle Mode.

How many Pikmin can you take charge of?

Up to 100 Pikmin can follow your crew at once (any others you’ve collected will wait safely in the Onion) and your Pikmin party can be a mix of Pikmin types. Once you’ve called Pikmin from the Onion you can use a whistle to call them to you, and they’ll happily follow your commands! Pikmin are intelligent creatures: throw them at something (they really don’t mind) and they’ll work out what they can do and start doing it.

At your command the Pikmin forces will carry heavy loads for you, break down barriers, build bridges, fight the local wildlife, and more! Of course, some items are very heavy indeed, so you may need to assign a certain number of Pikmin before they can do anything.

What are the different gameplay modes available in Pikmin 3?

Story Mode: This single-player mode follows the story of the brave crew of the SS Drake’s search for food, and has a day/night cycle. Night on the planet is extremely dangerous, so your team can only explore from dawn to dusk. It’s up to you to use your days – and your Pikmin – wisely. While there’s no strict limit on the number of days your mission can continue for, if your crew run out of food they won’t be able to continue their exploration.

As the days go by you’ll open up new areas to explore, each offering their own particular puzzles, challenges, enemies, and even bosses! Thankfully, the ginormous boss monsters don’t recover overnight: if you can dole out some damage today, you can go and finish them off tomorrow.

At the end of a day in Story Mode you can watch a replay of what you did on the KopPad. Watching this replay helps you figure out strategies and learn from your mistakes – why not try the day again for an even better result?

Connect your Wii U to the Internet, and you can compare your completion times and total numbers of Pikmin with other players around the world when you complete Story Mode.

Mission Mode: This solo or co-operative split-screen multiplayer mode allows a friend to join you to complete challenging objectives within a time limit. Whether you’re trying to take down a boss before the timer runs out, or see how much treasure you can gather in a set period, you’ll need to keep your eyes on the clock.

Connect your Wii U to the Internet and you can compare your score in both single-player and co-op Mission Mode with other players around the world.

Bingo Battle Mode: It’s competitive two-player bingo with an endearing Pikmin twist! Each player has a bingo grid filled with different items – simply be the first to complete a line (by getting your Pikmin to bring the right items back to your Onion) to win.

You can play this the clean way or get your hands dirty: will you go directly for the items you need, or sabotage your opponent by stealing their things? How about upping the stakes by placing an instant win item (the momentous Victory Macaroon) on the field? Bingo has never been quite this exciting.

What are the control choices in Pikmin 3?

Pikmin 3 on Wii U supports a variety of control methods, so you can choose the play type that feels most comfortable for you. No matter which control scheme you choose, the Wii U GamePad becomes your trusty KopPad (but more on that in the next question and answer).

Wii U GamePad: Playing the game on the Wii U GamePad is similar to playing the other games in the series on Nintendo GameCube. No need to worry if the TV is in use when you’re playing solo, you can play on the GamePad only with Off-TV Play. Please note: Off-TV Play is not available in multiplayer.

Wii Remote Plus and Nunchuk: The Wii Remote Plus and Nunchuk control scheme offers an even more natural and intuitive version of the Wii Remote and Nunchuk scheme utilised in previous titles.

Wii Remote and Nunchuk: But if you prefer your trusty old Wii Remote and Nunchuk, then you can also play using the GamePad as a monitor.

Wii U Pro Controller: Pikmin 3 is also compatible with the Wii U Pro Controller.

What is the meaning of “KopPad” on the Wii U GamePad?

The Wii U GamePad becomes a handy information terminal called the KopPad, which shows the area you’ve already explored on the map, positions of your crew members and Pikmin, and more. You can scroll the map on the GamePad’s touch screen to see the area in detail on the TV screen, and if you scroll the map while selecting one of the characters you can even send them to a specific location automatically.

The KopPad also receives transmissions from other characters, has a Camera function so you can snap shots of your Pikmin, and displays useful info (like details on how many Pikmin you have in total, active and sitting quietly). At the end of the day in Story Mode you can watch a replay of your activities on the KopPad screen, and use this time to review your strategy for the next day.

Day 1

Welcome to the Pikmin 3 walkthrough! Ghostrobo will be your voice-over commentator showing you around the game’s levels.

Story Introduction: It’s the year 20XX. Planet Koppai is suffering from explosive population growth and its inhabitants’ typical lack of plan-
ning has led to a severe food shortage. Desperate for a solution, Koppai sends probes into the far reaches of space – to discover that a planet codenamed PNF-404 appears to have sources of food!

Three experts are sent out on the spaceship Drake on the most important takeaway mission ever (to bring back food to save Koppai) but they’re forced to crash land on planet PNF-404’s surface! Separated by the crash, the crew search for each other… though each of them runs into some friendly, helpful life forms called Pikmin first.

As the crew explore they discover some fruit – but it’s way bigger than they ever expected, so they decide to use the Pikmin’s* help to carry it back to their ship. Back at the Drake the fruit is processed, extracting seeds to send back to Koppai, and juice to feed the crew as they search for more fruit. Will they gather enough food sources to save their home? Only time will tell!

* Planet PNF-404 is home to curious creatures called Pikmin: in some ways they’re like tiny animals, in others like little plants. They grow in the ground, but when they’re pulled up these instantly loyal little folk will follow your crew around and do all sorts of wonderful things for you. Just throw them at something (they don’t mind) and off they go!

Alph Character Introduction: This cheerful young chap is optimistic and very passionate about his work as the Drake’s engineer. He has great admiration for Charlie, for some reason.

Pikmin Planting Tip: The Onion is a bit like the Pikmin spaceship – since all the different types of Pikmin hide inside it at nightfall too – but it also helps to make new Pikmin! Feed tasty things to it (like Pellets or downed enemies) and out will come a stream of Pikmin seeds that’ll plant in the ground, turning into Pikmin Sprouts. The more valuable something is, the more Pikmin Sprouts you’ll get for it. Uproot a Pikmin and it’ll become part of your squad!
Important note; The Pikmin seeds that come from the Onion usually match the color of Pikmin that carried the object back.

Pikmin Growing Tip: Exploration note; Pikmin are life-forms that develop and grow. Leave a Pikmin buried in the ground (or let it feed on nectar) and it will develop from a leaf into a bud and finally a flower. The more a Pikmin grows, the faster it can do things!

Garden of Hope Fruit Locations Guide

Welcome to the Pikmin 3 Fruit Locations Guide. Here’s the Garden of Hope Fruit Locations Guide to find all the fruits in the entire area.

Day 2

The next two levels will take place in the Garden of Hope.

Brittany Character Introduction: Brittany is the ship’s brilliant botanist. She’s reliable and strong-willed… though she doesn’t seem very disciplined when it comes to her appetite!

Wii U GamePad Tip: Use the “KopPad” to get a clear overview of the areas you have explored, and to see where your squads are at any time!
You can also split your crew into three squads and switch between them to explore in different directions at once. Using the touch screen on the KopPad you can pick a place on the map and send a squad to that location automatically, then choose another team and give them orders. Once you get the hang of switching commanders you’ll get a lot more done!

Day 3

Tip: Before you start exploring, look at the map on the KopPad to plan your day.

Gameplay Tip: Work on multiple tasks at once to use both your Pikmin and your time effectively.

Day 4: Armored Mawdad Boss Fight

The Captain, Charlie, becomes available on Day 4, in this tundra level. You can find in him a cave, go in there with Yellow & Rock Pikmin to free him.

Charlie Character Introduction: Captain of the SS Drake, Charlie is responsible for all her crew. (Don’t say we told you, but his feelings toward Brittany appear to go beyond the professional realm.)

Get ready for the Armored Mawdad boss fight! There are some truly ginormous boss monsters hiding on the Pikmin homeworld, consider carefully when choosing which Pikmin to send against them. For example, to break through the Mawdad’s armor, you’ll need Rock Pikmin so that you can attack the exposed skin of the boss with the rest of your Pikmin (like the Red Pikmin).

Tip: If you’re low on juice, make searching for fruit your priority.

Gameplay Tip: The “Go Here!” command is convenient for gathering up any wayward Pikmin.

3 Captains Note: Some places can only be reached with all 3 crew members. Look for these areas to open up new pathways.

Day 5

Boss Corpse Tip: Boss enemy bodies will still be there the next day. (So go pick up the Armored Mawdad boss from the previous day!) Don’t miss the chance to increase your Pikmin!

Pikmin 3 Walkthrough continues on Page 2 with Day 6.

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