Pikmin 4 walkthrough: areas, Oatchi, night expeditions, endings
Pikmin 4 walkthrough: the six areas in order, Pikmin types, Oatchi, caves, night expeditions, Dandori Battles and both endings, ahead of the Switch 2 Edition.
This Pikmin 4 walkthrough takes you through the whole rescue mission in the order the game opens up: the first day, the six areas, caves, night expeditions, Dandori Battles and both endings. Pikmin 4 is a good moment to start, because the Switch 2 Edition with Dandori Academy launches on November 12, 2026. Everything here applies to the original Switch release and to the new edition, since the story and areas are the same.
The advice below sticks to what Nintendo, Wikipedia and the community-run Pikmin Wiki document. Story spoilers sit behind reveal buttons, so you can read the route without ruining the twists.
The setup: what you are actually doing
You play a newly recruited Rescue Corps explorer, customised at the start, who is sent to the planet PNF-404 after the Corps' ship crashes while looking for Captain Olimar. According to Nintendo's product page, you lead the Corps out each day to find your crew and repair the S.S. Shepherd, and treasures provide Sparklium, the element that powers the ship.
That gives the game its loop. Each day you land the S.S. Beagle at a discovered landing spot, gather treasure and raw materials, rescue castaways, fight creatures, and return before dark. Sparklium is the progress bar: more of it opens new areas. The Wikipedia entry adds that you meet Oatchi, Shepherd's rescue pup, and the communications officer Collin early on, and that the medic Yonny is the person who makes the cure for the "leafling" condition spreading through the Onions.
Day one and the first hour
The first day is a guided tutorial. You find Oatchi and Collin, head into the Burrow of Beginnings to rescue Captain Shepherd, and repair the S.S. Shepherd using a few nearby treasures, per the Pikmin Wiki. After that the game opens up to the Rescue Command Post, which acts as your hub and where you prepare for each day.
- Learn the basics with Red PikminRed is the first type you get. They are fire-resistant and a strong first line of attack, according to Nintendo.
- Work with OatchiOatchi can carry you and up to 60 Pikmin on his back, dig and smash obstacles, drag heavy items and take independent orders.
- Use the rewind featureIf a throw or a fight goes wrong, rewind time and try another approach instead of restarting the day.
- Head home before darkPikmin left alone at night are vulnerable, so return them to the ship or whistle them to your side.
Rewind is the most underused feature for newcomers. Treat it as a free retry on a bad route, a lost Pikmin or a creature you misjudged.
Pikmin types and when each one matters
Nintendo lists nine types, and you can bring up to three types into the field at once, so the pre-day squad choice is a real decision. The table summarises the official descriptions.
| Type | What it does |
|---|---|
| Red | Fire-resistant; strong first line of attack |
| Blue | Works on land and in water; carries treasure and fights |
| Yellow | Smashes electrified gates, directs currents, digs well, launches high when thrown |
| Ice | Freezes enemies and can freeze water so others can cross |
| Glow | Thrives in darkness; central to night expeditions |
| Purple | Equal to 10 regular Pikmin in strength and weight; stuns when thrown but moves slowly |
| Rock | Heavy and unbreakable; suited to crystals and large enemies |
| Winged | Flies over water, lifts obstructions, fights flying enemies |
| White | Poisonous and fast; withstands toxic environments |
The order you unlock types is not fixed. Wild Pikmin found in caves can unlock a type before you discover its Onion, though you cannot use it until the Onion is found. Pikmin deployment also starts at 20 and can be raised to 100 with Flarlic upgrades, according to Wikipedia, so spend your early Flarlic on squad size.
The six areas in order
The Pikmin Wiki lists six main areas, plus the Rescue Command Post hub. They open as you collect Sparklium. The first three thresholds documented on the wiki's area page are 300 Sparklium for Sun-Speckled Terrace, 1,500 for Blossoming Arcadia and 4,000 for Serene Shores. Later areas also depend on rescue milestones, which we describe below without guessing exact numbers.
- Sun-Speckled TerraceA small garden and your gentle introduction to the loop. Rescue the first castaways, find Onions and learn throwing.
- Blossoming ArcadiaA playground-style area that asks you to start mixing squads and using Oatchi's abilities.
- Serene ShoresA beach. Water makes Blue and Winged Pikmin especially valuable.
- Hero's HideawayThe inside of a house, where the story's first turning point takes place.
- Giant's HearthA campsite, opened after the first big story beat.
- Primordial ThicketAn autumn forest and the final area of the main rescue.
Each area has several landing spots. The first visit always lands at base one, and you unlock other bases as you discover them, though some are blocked until you clear the enemies guarding them, according to the wiki. The game also lands you at your most recently used base each day, so unlock the closest base to your current goal before you commit a long day to it.
Oatchi: train him early
Oatchi is the biggest change from earlier Pikmin games. Nintendo describes four core abilities: Giddyup for riding and jumping, Clear Obstacles for digging and smashing, Go Fetch for dragging heavy items, and Divide and Conquer for giving independent orders while you are elsewhere. He gains experience and unlocks abilities, which you upgrade at the hub, per Wikipedia.
The practical advice is to use him constantly. Riding him with a full squad on his back lets you cross areas faster, and sending him on a Go Fetch task while you fight something else turns a one-person job into a two-person one.
Caves and Dandori Challenges
Caves are multi-floor puzzle areas full of creatures and treasure. Time moves differently inside them, at a sixth of normal speed according to Wikipedia, so the day clock is not your enemy in the same way. That makes caves the place to experiment with squads. You can also change squads before entering, so check your three types against what a cave is likely to throw at you.
Some caves hold Dandori Challenges, timed treasure-collecting missions where the goal is to collect the most items before time runs out. Treat them as optimisation puzzles: plan your throws, split the squad and let Oatchi work in parallel.
Night expeditions
Night expeditions are selected from the Rescue Command Post. According to the Pikmin Wiki, rescuing Yonny unlocks them. They play like tower defence: you use only Glow Pikmin to gather resources while defending your Lumiknoll from creatures that are drawn to it. Glow sap, which cures leaflings and prevents transformation, is obtained here, so they are not optional if you want the full story.
- Bring a plan. Place Glow Pikmin so they can protect the Lumiknoll while others gather.
- Repeat expeditions. Each area has multiple expeditions, so replay for extra sap.
- Do not rush. Losing Pikmin at night is cheaper than losing the run, so retreat to the ship if a wave overwhelms you.
Story beats and both endings
The Pikmin Wiki describes two endings. The first comes after you rescue the full Corps and gain enough Sparklium to open Hero's Hideaway.
The red leafling in Hero's Hideaway turns out to be Olimar, who is defeated in a Dandori Battle and cured. The Rescue Corps then prepares to leave. Wikipedia notes that the story ends with the Corps leaving, Olimar departing in the Dolphin, and Moss staying behind with the Pikmin.
After the first ending, Oatchi's tail leaf prevents him from travelling to space, so the team returns to cure him. You rescue Yorke and Don Bergman, win a final Dandori Battle against Louie, and rescue Nelle, which opens the Cavern for a King. The Ancient Sirehound, ridden by Louie, is the final boss, and its drop, the Gift of Friendship, provides the cure for Oatchi.
Dandori Battles
Dandori Battles are competitive arena matches in which each side tries to secure more spoils and treasure than the opponent. Both sides gather Pikmin and have their own Oatchi, and you can play solo, in co-op or against another player. They are required to finish the story, so do not skip them. The best habit is to split work early: send Oatchi to carry while your squad clears obstacles, and keep your Pikmin count high.
Olimar's Shipwreck Tale
Rescuing Captain Olimar unlocks Olimar's Shipwreck Tale, a side mode where you collect the S.S. Dolphin's 30 missing parts within 15 days, using only Red, Blue and Yellow Pikmin. Moss replaces Oatchi, and there are no caves or Dandori events, per Wikipedia and the Pikmin Wiki. It is a shorter, tighter challenge that rewards route planning.
Difficulty options and the Switch 2 Edition
A free update added Relaxed and Fierce difficulty options, creature activity level options and Decor Pikmin. Relaxed softens the experience if you want a calmer playthrough, and Fierce raises the stakes for veterans. The upcoming Switch 2 Edition adds voice commands for Oatchi, sharper visuals and GameShare for Dandori Battles, as covered in our launch news. You can find hub information on our Pikmin 4 page and more step-by-step pieces in the walkthroughs section.
Efficiency tips for a smooth run
A few habits keep the days productive without needing any hidden knowledge. First, decide the goal of each day before you leave the Rescue Command Post: a castaway, a cave, or a Sparklium push. Second, pick your three Pikmin types for that goal, because the squad limit is the main thing that forces trade-offs. Third, remember that the S.S. Beagle can be brought to discovered landing spots, which saves long walks back. Finally, keep Pikmin working in parallel: while one group carries treasure, another can fight, and Oatchi can handle a separate task.
- Rescue first, collect second. Castaways move the story forward, so prioritise them when the day timer is tight.
- Use caves for low-pressure practice. Time passes slowly inside, so test new squads there before a risky surface fight.
- Check the Creature Activity Level. The free update lets you tune how aggressive creatures are if a section feels too hard or too easy.
FAQ
How many areas are in Pikmin 4?
The Pikmin Wiki lists six main areas plus the Rescue Command Post hub: Sun-Speckled Terrace, Blossoming Arcadia, Serene Shores, Hero's Hideaway, Giant's Hearth and Primordial Thicket.
How many Pikmin types are there?
Nintendo lists nine: Red, Blue, Yellow, Ice, Glow, Purple, Rock, Winged and White. You can take up to three types into the field at once.
How do you unlock night expeditions?
According to the Pikmin Wiki, rescuing Yonny unlocks them, and you start them from the Rescue Command Post.
Is there a second ending in Pikmin 4?
Yes. After the first ending, the team returns to cure Oatchi, which leads to a final Dandori Battle and the Ancient Sirehound boss fight.
Do I need the Switch 2 Edition to follow this guide?
No. The story and areas are the same on the original Switch release and the Switch 2 Edition.
Has finished every FromSoftware game at level 1. Writes the boss guides and checks them on every patch.