Masamichi Abe

Pikmin
Logo used for the third game in the series
Genres	Real-time strategy
Developers	Nintendo
Publishers	Nintendo
Creators	Shigeru Miyamoto
Platforms	GameCube, Wii, Wii U, Nintendo 3DS
First release	Pikmin December 2, 2001
Latest release	Pikmin 3 August 4, 2013

Pikmin (ピクミン, Pikumin^?) is a series of real-time strategy video games created by Shigeru Miyamoto and published by Nintendo. The games focus on directing a horde of plant-like creatures called Pikmin in order to collect items by destroying obstacles, avoiding hazards and/or fighting fauna that are hazardous to both the player and the Pikmin.

The series currently features three entries. Pikmin and Pikmin 2 were both released for the GameCube and later ported to the Wii as New Play Control! games, while Pikmin 2 was also re-released under the Nintendo Selects label. A third installment, Pikmin 3, was released for Wii U. The series' first spin-off and handheld entry was officially announced in a Nintendo Direct on September 1, 2016, and is due for release on the Nintendo 3DS in 2017.

The Pikmin games all focus on exploring a planet officially named PNF-404, which is heavily implied to be Earth, and controlling a crowd of the titular Pikmin. Pikmin are intelligent, multicolored, plant-animal hybrids that willingly follow the orders of their leader. There have been multiple leaders over the course of the series, with the first and most notable being Captain Olimar, a tiny alien from the planet Hocotate introduced in Pikmin. Pikmin 2 features Louie and The President, Olimar's co-worker and boss, respectively, who are also playable leaders. Unlike the first two entires, Pikmin 3 features leaders from an entirely new alien species. In this case, the new leaders are Alph, Brittany, and Charlie, who hail from the planet Koppai and are very similar to the Hocotatians. However, Olimar and Louie both appear as well, albeit in a non-playable capacity. Pikmin are directed to perform a number of tasks, with the primary one being the retrieval of items integral to the mission of each game. To do this, the player must direct the Pikmin to overcome obstacles and/or PNF-404's fauna. However, because individual Pikmin are small and weak against most predators, and some are best suited for certain tasks, it is the responsibility of the player to direct the Pikmin appropriately in order to ensure successful retrievals of any items, avoid any hazards, and quickly tend to any obstacles and/or predators. Game time is divided into single days, each of which consist of approximately 13 minutes, in which the player is encouraged to accomplish as much as possible before sunset.