Since installing Pikmin Bloom over three years ago, I’ve used it pretty much every day. It’s had many positive effects and, for a free app, I think it’s an easy win for many different reasons.
1
Encouraged Me to Get Out More
Pikmin Bloom’s core selling point is all about walking. In essence, it’s much like the step counter you probably already have installed on your phone. But the cherry on top is the layer of Pikmin-related extras that accompany the serious stuff.
Developer Niantic is best known for Pokémon Go, an AR mobile game that also promotes physical activity. But Pikmin Bloom makes the exercise aspect more explicit; it’s more about steps first, and discovering collectibles as a side effect. Even without any of the Pikmin hunting, it would be a fine step counter, with daily records, weekly averages, and rewarding messages for hitting certain goals.
The gamification helps a lot, though, don’t get me wrong. If I’m ever in danger of missing out on a particular badge, that’s a big incentive to get outdoors and get moving. Pikmin Bloom acts as a constant—but gentle—reminder that I should be active as often as possible, for my own sake.
2
Rewarded Me for Longer Walks
Anyone can play Pikmin Bloom, whether you walk over 10,000 steps each day, or just manage to get out for a short lunch break. But the game uses several features to encourage longer walks, and I often find myself walking longer than I intended as a result.
As you walk, you plant virtual flowers which not only brighten up the augmented-reality view of your surroundings, but also reward you with in-game currency. These coins help you level up and, as someone who avoids microtransactions, I’m not about to spend real-world money on them.
Longer walks also mean you’ll discover more Pikmin to do your bidding. This is the ultimate pull for me; different Pikmin can have different decor adorning them, and it’s this collecting aspect that puts the game in a similar genre to Pokémon Bloom. I never really got into the whole Pokémon universe, but Pikmin are undeniably cute and charming:
The game also introduces a Community Day each month, during which you are required to walk 10,000 steps in one day to receive a special badge, alongside other small rewards.
Pretty much everything that you can do in Pikmin Bloom revolves around step count and walking more steps simply gives better rewards. There are ways to min-max the gameplay, but there’s no getting away from the core mechanic: the more you walk, the better you’ll do in the game. I am now, fairly consistently, walking 10,000 steps each day, thanks to Pikmin Bloom.
3
Helped Me Find Variety
Pikmin Bloom may be all about walking, but those other gameplay features are important too. Flower planting, for example, is something you’ll need to do to get coins and speed up flower growth.
But there’s another sense in which I’ve strayed outside my comfort zone, and that’s in the specific walks I’ve taken. The game rewards you for walking in new areas, by increasing the effects of flower planting, and awarding you with unique discoveries.
Possibly the best manifestation of this is the Pikmin decor which is, by turns, bizarre, impressive, and hilarious:
Decor types are determined by nearby features. For example, I live near plenty of parks, so I’m all set for clover Pikmin. But the airport-based Pikmin are much rarer, since I’m not taking a flight every other month. I’m not admitting to any kind of problem here, but I will admit I’ve considered walking to my nearest Airport to complete that specific set!
4
Got Me Taking More Photos
Although I always have my phone with me, I’ve never been great at using it as a camera. I probably take as many photos in a month as many people do in a day. But one thing that has encouraged me to take more photos is Pikmin Bloom.
The collectibles you hunt—including seedlings to plant, postcards, and Pikmin themselves—can be accompanied by a photograph that you took near their origin. These photographs attach, so they act as a permanent link between the in-game object and the real world.
You can also save photos to a calendar, creating a type of photo diary that not only gives more in-game rewards, but also acts as a nice memento in its own right. I sometimes feel a bit weird taking random photos in the middle of a walk, but I’m creating memories for free and I’m happy to fill in some of the blanks in my visual record.
5
Taught Me About My Local Area
One of my favorite features of Pikmin Bloom is the postcard collecting. As you walk the streets, the game will log various points of interest in your vicinity. These can then, potentially, appear as postcards on your map, waiting for a group of Pikmin to be assigned to fetch.
These postcards alone have taught me more about my local surroundings than maybe anything else has. I guess I should be more interested in my city: visit my local library and research the area’s history. But it’s a lot more efficient to get my Pikmin to do this research for me!
I’ve discovered all sorts of points of interest, from war memorials to historic plaques and even a series of Victorian stink pipes—an artifact that was definitely new to me!
I also appreciate the way the postcards are rendered on the map. Although the map itself contains very little detail, all postcards you collect are overlaid onto it. The result is a very different map of your home than the one you’re used to, more a collage of accurate images than an abstract reproduction. I can still use it to navigate, it’s just a very different experience.
6
Sometimes Been a Better Map Than Google Maps
When I say that the map contains little detail, I mean that it doesn’t concern itself with minor issues like the names of roads or points of interest. In fact, unless you already know what you’re looking at, it barely makes sense as a map at all: just a collection of anonymous roads with flowery green in between.
What fascinates me about Pikmin Bloom’s map is its micro detail. Even though it doesn’t label them, it shows every last road and alleyway, even dealing with nuances like separate pedestrianized paths. If you’re walking in unfamiliar territory, this can be useful; like any mobile map, Pikmin Bloom’s shows your current location since it’s so relevant to the game.
I’m putting this down to the source of the mapping data being OpenStreetMap. Apparently, the game uses this data in conjunction with other sources, but I’m sure the accuracy is down to OSM’s incredible level of detail. It certainly shows some details that Google Maps omits, something I would never have expected from an in-game map!
Related
I Never Go Hiking Without this Free App
I don’t worry about getting lost any more.
7
Given Me Something to Do While Waiting
Like any mobile game, Pikmin Bloom is a great time-waster, and it’s a really nice one to have available on hand at any time. In particular, because I’m likely to have already walked for a bit any time I’m waiting for something, it’s great for killing time at train stations or waiting to see a doctor.
The game is also great at feeding up a constant supply of stuff to do. From the daily expeditions to squad management and connecting with other players, there’s almost always something to do if I have some spare time on my hands.
This extends to walking, too. While you can just keep your phone in your pocket and track your steps, you can also play more actively, engaging with the immediate environment and keeping an eye out for Pikmin to pick up.
