Pikmin Bloom is an excellent mobile game that allows users to use Pikmin to attack mushrooms, harvest and plant flower petals, and go on expeditions to collect nectar. The Pikmin franchise itself began in 2001, when Pikmin 1 was released for people to play on the Nintendo GameCube. In October of 2021, Pikmin Bloom was released. Pikmin Bloom is a mobile app that allows users to grow their own Pikmin, customize their own personal avatar, and plant flowers for other players to see on the map. In Pikmin Bloom, players can walk around in real life to walk around on the app. 

Pikmin Bloom utilizes a map that reflects the real world. Players can send their Pikmin to fight mushrooms at certain locations and call their friends to help them with the mushrooms; these mushrooms count toward tasks players need to do to level up and can offer rewards such as special nectar to feed their Pikmin.

In the game, players feed their Pikmin nectar that turns the leaf on their head into a flower. It also gives the Pikmin more strength during mushroom battles. There are four main nectars players can feed their Pikmin; white, yellow, red, and blue. Players can also receive special nectars from mushroom battles and challenges that change the flower on a Pikmin’s head into a special one, such as a red carnation or a white lily of the valley. Once Pikmin have consumed nectar, players can harvest the petals from their flowers; these petals allow the player to grow new flowers. 

Flowers are typically grown through walking; players are allowed to grow flowers until they run out of petals for that specific flower. Flowers appear on the map and can be seen by other players that pass by that area. Planting flowers allows players to level up and gives players coins that they can later exchange in the shop for any number of goods. Flower planting also reveals expeditions for a player’s Pikmin to go on. 

As a player walks, they can also find huge flowers. When they plant flowers near these huge flowers it can cause them to grow into a huge special flower. Once it blooms, players can collect special nectar from the flower and send Pikmin  to retrieve a special fruit. These fruits will turn into the nectar that players feed their Pikmin. 

Players can send their Pikmin on expeditions to retrieve fruits that give them nectar and seedlings. These seedlings allow the plater to grow more Pikmin. There are five different types of Pikmin in this game; rock Pikmin, pink Pikmin, red Pikmin, blue Pikmin, and yellow Pikmin. Players grow these seedlings by planting them into little slots and walking; different seedlings require a different amount of steps to be grown. 

Some Pikmin  have special accessories that correlate to where they were found; players typically find these Pikmin with special accessories through huge seedlings, which take 10,000 steps to grow. However, if a player’s friendship level with a Pikmin reaches four hearts, the Pikmin is able to go on an expedition and receive a gift. When they open this gift they put a new accessory on. Players can increase their friendship levels with Pikmin by feeding them nectar, sending them on expeditions, and sending them to mushroom battles. 

Overall, Pikmin Bloom is an incredibly creative and innovative game that encourages exercise through the form of walking to grow flowers and Pikmin. This game deserves a 5/5.