Nintendo has announced a new Secret Caves gameplay feature for Pikmin Bloom, arriving in winter 2026, alongside a series of animated shorts titled Hello! Pikmin. The announcements came during a surprise Pikmin Day Direct presentation on October 31, 2026, in which Nintendo also declared November 1 an annual celebration of the franchise.
The presentation featured Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto, who explained that November 1 was chosen because the original Pikmin game introduced three Pikmin colors—red, blue, and yellow—that can be arranged to resemble the number 1.
The biggest gameplay announcement concerned Pikmin Bloom, the location-based mobile game. Its upcoming Secret Caves update will introduce underground expeditions where players send Pikmin to explore, encounter creatures, battle enemies, and collect treasure.
Players will need cave maps before entering these locations. Nintendo explained that maps may be attached to postcards, giving players another reason to examine the postcards they collect during regular gameplay.
Once a cave map is obtained, players can dispatch multiple Pikmin to explore the location automatically. When the group encounters a creature, players can command their Pikmin to attack or use the whistle to recall them from danger.
Pikmin that sustain excessive damage will withdraw from battle and recover over time. Successfully defeating enemies rewards players with treasure, which will be recorded in a new in-game collection.
Nintendo also confirmed a connection between Secret Caves and Pikmin 4 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Dandori Academy. Players who participate in Dandori Academy examinations will be able to obtain special cave maps for Pikmin Bloom.
The Secret Caves update is scheduled for winter 2026, although Nintendo has not announced a specific release date.
The presentation also provided additional information about Pikmin 4 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Dandori Academy, which launches on November 12, 2026.
The Nintendo Switch 2 edition introduces voice commands for Oatchi using the console’s built-in microphone. Its Dandori Academy mode challenges players to collect treasures efficiently, with timed examinations taking place on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Players receive medals based on their performance.
A free demo will become available on November 2, allowing players to explore Sunspeckled Terrace and try two Dandori Academy stages.
Nintendo also confirmed that all four mainline Pikmin games are playable on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 through the platforms’ available versions.
Beyond the games, Nintendo introduced Hello! Pikmin, a recurring animated short-film series created in collaboration with Nintendo Pictures.
The first short premiered during the Pikmin Day presentation. Another episode is scheduled for November 1, followed by an additional installment later in November. Beginning in December, Nintendo plans to release one new short every month.
The animated films will be distributed through the Nintendo Today! app and other channels. Nintendo previously released the Pikmin short film Close to You in 2025.
Although the presentation did not reveal an entirely new mainline Pikmin game, it established a release schedule for several upcoming franchise additions, including the November 2 Pikmin 4 demo, the November 12 Switch 2 edition, and the winter Secret Caves expansion for Pikmin Bloom.
