Pikmin AR gameplay revealed during public test — cutest cardio workout ever

(Image credit: Niantic)

As announced by Niantic, the official open testing of the upcoming Pikmin AR game has started in Singapore yesterday. The new mobile game is currently listed as "Pikmin App (Early Access)" on Google Play and is available to those located within the region.

Players have been discouraged from sharing whatsoever images or recordings of their gameplay online. However, fans have already shared some of the game'south FAQ pages, which comprise early gameplay details. From what we can tell at the moment, the game doesn't exactly resemble the interactive experience of Pokémon Go, the last AR mobile striking that emerged from the Nintendo and Niantic collaboration.

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In fact, Pikmin AR is described more as a passive walking experience encouraged by growing Nintendo'due south beloved Pikmin characters, finding fruit, gathering seedlings and more than.

The gist of it is simple: the more you walk, the more "step energy" yous gain, which then allows you to grow your own adorable Pikmin from seedlings. You can even name the footling guys and feed them nectar to brand the top of their heads blossom into beautiful flowers.

Now, how exactly practise you gather that nectar? The answer, over again, is walking. Exploring the surroundings with your Pikmin lets you discover certain fruit, which can then exist turned into nectar. And one time your Pikmin bloom, they start leaving trails of bloom petals behind, which later helps more than seedlings spout, allowing you to eventually create a whole army of Pikmin.

Your Pikmin can be actually useful, too, equally you can send them out on expeditions to places where y'all've walked already to get together more seedlings.

According to Eurogamer, you tin as well opt to brandish your bloom trails to others, showing routes that you lot've walked on for the past v days as well as your avatar and Pikmin.

From what we know already, it looks like we can encounter all vii major species of Pikmin in the game, including the ones that were introduced in Nintendo's latest games: Ruby, Blue, Yellow, Purple, White, Rock and Winged. And by discovering new areas and certain places, y'all tin also run across a special costumed "Decor" versions of Pikmin.

Although the concept of the upcoming Pikmin game is different from that of Pokémon Go, that doesn't mean that the new AR app won't exist just every bit big of a striking when information technology launches one-time this year. Afterward all, what will better way to encourage you to get your daily dose of cardio than a bunch of cute Pikmin characters?

Denise is a news author at Tom's Guide covering all things tech, gaming software/hardware, streaming, and more. She regularly produces short-form news articles too as long-form content, including reviews, ownership guides, how-tos, and features. When she's not live-streaming horror games on Twitch, she tin be found exploring Eastward London while playing Pokemon Go. She's likewise a part-time piano enthusiast and regularly experiments in the kitchen. You can reach her at denise.primbet@futurenet.com.