Pikmin is a real-time strategy game where Captain Olimar must gather the thirty missing parts of his space ship before his life support runs out on an unexplored planet. The planet's hostile atmosphere and strange flora and fauna make it essential for Olimar to lead the Pikmin in collecting the necessary pieces.
The Pikmin are a plant/insect life form native to the planet, and they come in three varieties: red, blue, and yellow, each with a special ability. The red Pikmin are immune to fire, while the blue Pikmin can swim, and the yellow Pikmin can be thrown far. In addition to the story mode, there is a Challenge Mode that allows players to grow as many Pikmin as possible in a single day.