With a massive library of multiplayer-friendly games, the Switch has something for everyone. Looking for your next co-op adventure to play through with friends? Grab your buddies and Joy-Cons, as we’re listing the top 20 best co-op games on the Nintendo Switch.

The top 20 best co-op games on Nintendo Switch

20. Snipperclips – Cut It Out, Together!

• Release: March 3, 2017
• Purchase on Nintendo eShop

Paper cutouts with silly faces come to life in Snipperclips, a two-player co-op puzzle adventure. Snip and Clip have to solve surprisingly complex puzzles to get through each level, and this requires some precision cutting. Both Snip and Clip can cut each other’s excess paper to transform their shape, which is needed to activate contraptions, mechanics, and more.

Related | Top 20 Best FPS Games on Nintendo Switch

19. Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes

• Release: January 18, 2019
• Purchase on Nintendo eShop

Travis Touchdown, the would-be hero from the No More Heroes, gets sucked into a video game! Now, he must fight his way out by teaming up with Badman in Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes, an arcade action spin-off game of the No More Heroes series. Two players can team up in local co-op and perform wacky team maneuvers like the “Choco Banana with Caramel Ice Cream” special attack! We’re not kidding about that name, by the way.

18. Gal Guardians: Demon Purge

• Release: February 23, 2023
• Purchase on Nintendo eShop

Two high school girls are suddenly forced to become heroes when their school turns into an ominous castle haunted by vengeful demons in Gal Guardians: Demon Purge. Two players can take control of either sister in local co-op as they run, jump, and slash their way through the halls of the castle in this fast-paced platformer action game.

17. Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu/Let’s Go Eevee!

• Release: November 16, 2018
• Purchase on Nintendo eShop

Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikchachu/Eevee! is a remake of the original Pokémon Red & Blue, released all the way back on the original Game Boy. This game incorporates a lot of mechanics from the popular mobile game Pokémon Go, and you can even have your buddy join in on the fun. During battles, both players can move their Joy-Cons to toss Poké Balls, just like in Pokémon Go. The second player can’t really do much besides help in battles, but it’s still plenty of fun for Pokémon fans.

16. Astral Chain

• Release: August 30, 2019
• Purchase on Nintendo eShop

Astral Chain is a fast-paced action game from PlatinumGames, the developers behind the Bayonetta series. Taking place in the distant future, you take on the role of a special task force member equipped with sentient weapons known as Legions. Astral Chain allows a second player to take control of the Legion, allowing players to coordinate their attacks in local co-op.

15. Starlink: Battle for Atlas

• Release: October 16, 2018
• Purchase on Nintendo eShop

Starlink: Battle for Atlas is a sci-fi shooter RPG where players take control of a ragtag band of freedom fighters aiming to free the galaxy. Starlink is a “toys-to-life” game, where you get to use physical toys to unlock characters, weapons, and more in the game. On top of the game featuring split-screen co-op, the Switch version of Starlink features an exclusive Starfox side story!

14. Super Mario Odyssey

• Release: October 27, 2017
• Purchase on Nintendo eShop

Mario’s debut adventure on the Switch, Super Mario Odyssey, is an excellent globe-trotting journey, taking Mario through various locales inspired by real-world locations. Mario is accompanied by a ghost-like being named Cappy, who resides in Mario’s signature hat. In co-op mode, a second player can take manual control of Cappy, and they can assist Mario is various ways. It’s not a fully-fledged co-op mode, but it can still be fun, especially for some younger gamers.

13. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

• Release: January 19, 2019
• Purchase on Nintendo eShop

New Super Mario Bros. U, originally released on the Wii U, was ported to the Switch in the form of New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe. This version contains the same four-player co-op action that the Mario series is known for, plus some new playable characters and bonus content. If you’re looking for some of Nintendo’s signature 2D platforming action, look no further than New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe.

12. Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker

• Release: July 13, 2018
• Purchase on Nintendo eShop

Toad, the plucky little sidekick in Mario games, finally gets to be the star of the show in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, a puzzling adventure that supports local co-op play for two players! As Captain Toad and Captain Toadette, players must navigate diorama-like levels and rotate the camera to uncover hidden stars and treasure.

11. Kirby Star Allies

• Release: March 16, 2018
• Purchase on Nintendo eShop

Kirby is back for his first outing on the Switch, and he’s brought three friends with him! Kirby Star Allies can be enjoyed with up to four players in local co-op, and players can combine abilities to unleash powerful team attacks. One player is Kirby, while the other three can be the helper characters, or another variant of Kirby if they want.

10. WarioWare: Get It Together!

• Release: September 10, 2021
• Purchase on Nintendo eShop

The WarioWare games have always been about zany party antics, and WarioWare: Get It Together! is no exception. The main story mode can be enjoyed in local co-op, as Wario and his friends find themselves trapped inside their own video game. The only way out is to work together and complete microgames as a team!

9. Luigi’s Mansion 3

• Release: October 31, 2019
• Purchase on Nintendo eShop

Luigi’s Mansion 3 is a spooky adventure game that sees Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach taking a well-deserved vacation at an eerily named hotel called “The Last Resort.” Sure enough, things take a turn for the paranormal as Mario and Peach disappear, and the hotel turns into a ghastly version of itself at night. It’s up to Luigi and his new and improved Poltergust G-00 to save the day, and this time he’s not alone! A second player can join in on the fun as “Gooigi,” a jelly-like clone of Luigi.

8. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

• Release: May 4, 2018
• Purchase on Nintendo eShop

Another game that was rescued off of the ill-fated Wii U, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is platforming perfection, now available on the Switch. The Snowmads have invaded DK Island, and they’ve covered everything in snow and ice! It’s up to Donkey, Diddy, Dixie, and even Cranky Kong to save the day in 2D platforming action, complete with two player local co-op.

7. Yoshi’s Crafted World

• Release: March 29, 2019
• Purchase on Nintendo eShop

Yoshi’s Crafted World is a bright and colorful platformer for gamers of all ages. As Yoshi, players get to run through creative worlds built with every day objects like cardboard boxes, yarn, and more. Up to two Yoshis can run around in local co-op for a fun time, and the game even offers an easier “Mellow Mode,” which is perfect for younger or inexperienced gamers.

6. Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer Featuring The Legend of Zelda

• Release: June 13, 2019
• Purchase on Nintendo eShop

Indie rhythm roguelike Crypt of the NecroDancer meets The Legend of Zelda in an unlikely crossover! In Cadence of Hyrule, our heroine Cadence finds herself transported to the land of Hyrule. In order to return home, she needs to save Hyrule in a dungeon crawler where everything moves to the music. Follow the beat to deal more damage and ward off Ganondorf’s minions in this fun blend of rhythm and action games, with support for up to two players in local co-op.

5. Darksiders Genesis

• Release: Februrary 14, 2020
• Purchase on Nintendo eShop

Slash and blast your way through the underworld in Darksiders Genesis, a spin-off of THQ’s Darksiders series. Darksiders Genesis is a top-down action adventure game, featuring War and Strife, two of the four horsemen. War and Strife have their own unique abilities and play styles, so you have to team up and work together in local co-op to take down enemies.

4. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity

• Release: November 20, 2020
• Purchase on Nintendo eShop

Koei Tecmo continues the Hyrule Warriors series with Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, an intense action game set 100 years before the events of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. You and a friend can battle together through the times that led up to the Great Calamity in split-screen co-op, learning more about Zelda and the four Champions along the way.

3. Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes

• Release: June 24, 2022
• Purchase on Nintendo eShop

Koei Tecmo and Nintendo once again team up to bring another army-slaying action game, this time set in the Fire Emblem: Three Houses universe. In Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes, players play as the mercenary Shez, as they pursue their own plan of revenge in an alternate continuity of Fire Emblem: Three Hopes. As with Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, you can play through battles in split-screen co-op with a friend.

2. Pikmin 3 Deluxe

• Release: October 30, 2020
• Purchase on Nintendo eShop

Nintendo’s adorable real-time strategy game returns with Pikmin 3 Deluxe, a Switch port of the Wii U game. While the original Wii U release had some multiplayer options, Pikmin 3 Deluxe adds the option of full co-op during the main game. Two players can take control of the three captains as they work their way through PNF-404 in search of sustaining food.

1. Kirby and the Forgotten Land

• Release: March 25, 2022
• Purchase on Nintendo eShop

It’s another peaceful day on Planet Popstar, when suddenly an interdimensional portal opens up in the sky! Kirby and friends get sucked into a whole new world, and now they have to find a way back home in Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Kirby’s first big 3D adventure. You can play through the entire game with a buddy, playing as either Bandana Dee or another Kirby. Kirby and the Forgotten Land is a wild and memorable adventure for players of all skill levels and ages, and it’s one of the best Kirby games to date.

Whether you’re a fan of classic FPS games from the past or present-day modern shooters, the Switch’s library has something for all shooter fans. Looking for the next game to blast your way through? Here are the top 20 best FPS games on Nintendo Switch.

The top 20 best FPS games on Nintendo Switch

20. DOOM (1993)

• Release: July 26, 2019
• Nintendo Store Link

What better way to kick off this list than with the granddaddy of all FPS games? id Software’s DOOM arguably put the first-person shooter genre on the map, and it’s still a blast to play through today. If you’re curious or if you just want some good, old-fashioned demon-slaying fun, the original DOOM is still a must-play.

Related | Top 5 Nintendo Switch RPG games

19. Overwatch 2

• Release: October 4, 2022
• Nintendo Store Link

The world could always use more heroes! Overwatch 2 is the sequel to Blizzard’s popular team-based hero shooter, featuring new heroes, maps, and brand-new PvE game modes that focus on fighting the creeping threat that is Null Sector.

18. Fashion Police Squad

• Release: February 2, 2023
• Nintendo Store Link

Socks with sandals? Not on our watch! Fashion Police Squad is a parodic retro FPS with a creative art style and premise. As a member of the elite Fashion Police Squad, your job is to patrol the streets and fix any eyesore outfits using a variety of silly weapons.

17. Immortal Redneck

• Release: May 10, 2018
• Nintendo Store Link

One day, a redneck tourist ends up transported into Ancient Egypt. If that wasn’t weird enough, he’s covered in bandages! Immortal Redneck mixes classic shooter action with rogue-lite elements. The redneck ventures into the pyramids of Egypt, and every time he bites the dust, he comes back a little stronger with new abilities.

16. Payday 2

• Release: February 27, 2018
• Nintendo Store Link

Grab your mask and get ready to rob a bank in Payday 2, an FPS heist game that can be played with up to four players in co-op. Every job requires a different approach—will you go in guns blazing, or will you opt for a more subtle approach by disabling security cameras and knocking out the guards?

15. Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus

• Release: June 29, 2018
• Nintendo Store Link

Frau Engel and the Nazi army have taken over southern America, and it’s up to BJ Blazkowicz to destroy the Nazis for good in Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus. Much like DOOM (2016), Wolfenstein II seeks to deliver a classic PC shooter experience that is touched up with modern controls and systems.

14. Borderlands: The Handsome Collection

• Release: May 29, 2020
• Nintendo Store Link

Experience the wild and zany world of Pandora in Borderlands: The Handsome Collection, which contains both Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, plus all the released DLC. The Borderlands series is notably one of the first “looter shooter” games, which involves collecting guns with over a billion different combinations of stats.

13. Metro 2033 Redux

• Release: Februrary 28, 2020
• Nintendo Store Link

Following an apocalyptic event, the Earth’s surface is left in ruin, and humanity is driven underground. Metro 2033 Redux is an atmospheric first-person adventure with an emphasis on exploration, story, and resource management. Explore the remnants of Moscow’s underground metro network in an attempt to reach the other colonies about impending doom.

12. Slime Rancher: Plortable Edition

• Release: August 11, 2021
• Nintendo Store Link

Who said all FPS games have to be violent? Take a trip down to the colorful countryside of the Far Far Range as Beatrix LeBeau, a young rancher who aims to become a successful slime wrangler. In Slime Rancher: Plortable Edition, you roam the countryside and collect wild slimes, crops, and other creatures as you build up a respectable ranch.

11. BPM: Bullets Per Minute

• Release: September 8, 2022
• Nintendo Store Link

Asgard is under attack from the underworld legion, and it’s up to a lone Valkyrie to defend the homeland in BPM: Bullets Per Minute, a stylish blend of rhythm music games and FPS. Enjoy a rocking soundtrack and shoot to the beat in a world where everything is tied to the background music.

10. Shotgun Farmers

• Release: September 30, 2022
• Nintendo Store Link

Shotgun Farmers is a goofy and competitive multiplayer FPS where you get to grow your own guns. Seeds are expelled into the ground every time you fire a gun, and those seeds actually grow into new copies of that gun. That corn shotgun your enemy just fired at you? A bunch of new shotguns are now growing in the ground!

9. Screencheat: Unplugged

• Release: November 29, 2018
• Nintendo Store Link

Remember back in the day, whenever you were playing split-screen shooters with your friends, and someone would always know where you were because they peeked at your screen? Screencheat: Unplugged takes that concept and dials it up a notch by making every player invisible, which means you HAVE to look at your opponent’s screens to know where they are!

8. Crysis 3 Remastered

• Release: October 15, 2021
• Nintendo Store Link

Become the ultimate hunter in Crysis 3 Remastered, an enhanced port of Crytek’s premiere FPS series. As Prophet, fight your way through a version of New York covered in rainforest. You are armed with the trusty Predator Bow that can fire specialized arrows, each suited for different kinds of situations and enemies.

7. Dying Light: Definitive Edition

• Release: October 19, 2021
• Nintendo Store Link

The world has been overrun with zombies, so what’s the next logical step? Kill them all in style, of course! Dying Light: Definitive Edition is an open-world FPS with an intuitive parkour system where you’re encouraged to traverse the world with style. Dying Light: Definitive Edition features every single piece of DLC released, so you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck.

6. Quake II

• Release: August 10, 2023
• Nintendo Store Link

Earth is under attack by the hostile alien force known as the Strogg, and it’s up to you to bring the fight to their home world in Quake II, one of the finest PC shooters from the 1990s. Now rebuilt for modern consoles, Quake II still holds up today as a fast and frantic shooter.

5. BioShock: The Collection

• Release: May 29, 2020
• Nintendo Store Link

It all starts with a lighthouse, a man, and a city. BioShock: The Collection features some of the best first-person adventure games from the 2000s and 2010s, containing BioShock, BioShock 2, and BioShock: Infinite. The original BioShock is still cherished in many gamers’ hearts, as it was the first big FPS adventure that absolutely nailed atmosphere and story.

4. DOOM (2016)

• Release: November 10, 2017
• Nintendo Store Link

DOOM (2016) was a soft reboot of the franchise, dressed up for modern consoles. Despite the prettier graphics, DOOM (2016) intentionally avoided all the typical mechanics of first-person shooters of that era, and instead opts for a more action-oriented approach, more akin to the classic PC shooters of the 1990s. No hiding behind cover or regenerating health here—it’s you against the forces of Hell in do-or-die combat!

3. The Outer Worlds

• Release: June 5, 2020
• Nintendo Store Link

The Outer Worlds is a new sci-fi FPS RPG from Obsidian Entertainment, the developers behind the beloved Fallout: New Vegas. As an everyday colonist, you find yourself in the middle of a grand conspiracy that could mean the end for the Halcyon colony. Explore rich landscapes, build your character, blast through creative alien creatures, and pave your own story as you find a way to save the Halcyon colony.

2. DOOM Eternal

• Release: December 8, 2020
• Nintendo Store Link

After the events of DOOM (2016), the armies of Hell have finally invaded Earth. The Doom Slayer must once again answer the call to action before all of humanity is wiped out. With new weapons, abilities, and a greater emphasis on enemy strategy and weaknesses, DOOM Eternal delivers fast-paced, tactical shooter action where every second counts.

1. Metroid Prime: Remastered

• Release: February 8, 2023
• Nintendo Store Link

Samus Aran’s first departure into the 3rd dimension is still, to this day, one of the best Metroid games ever. Out of nowhere, Nintendo surprised Metroid fans with a remastered port of Metroid Prime to Switch, complete with new control schemes, revamped sound, and a fresh coat of paint. It’s your chance to experience one of the finest first-person adventure games in history!

The Ice Pikmin are one of the two new species introduced in the fourth game, and they are worth all the fuss—at least, in my opinion. These little blue walking icicles can freeze enemies and bodies of water, making traversal much easier (even though you don’t need to rely on this skill that much when Oatchi learns to swim). If you’re not sure how to get Ice Pikmin in Pikmin 4, hop in, as we explain everything you need to know in this handy guide!

Related | How to play the Pikmin games in order

How to get Ice Pikmin in Pikmin 4

You can find Ice Pikmin just by exploring underground areas as you progress through the story. Some of the stages where you can encounter them include:

• Sun-Speckled Terrace: Aquiferous Summit, Last-Frost Cavern, and Hectic Hollows
• Blossoming Arcadia: Drafty Gallery
• Serene Shores: Subzero Sauna and Seafloor Resort
• Hero’s Hideaway: Frozen Inferno and Doppelgänger’s Den

You will most likely see them for the first time as you go into the Last-Frost Cavern in Sun-Speckled Terrace. These underground spaces are the best source of Ice Pikmin before you find the Ice Onion in Hero’s Hideaway and gain the ability to make your own. Until then, just use Oatchi’s sniffing skills. Once he gets the first Ice Pikmin, you can begin to use Command to have him look for a particular type of Pikmin in certain areas.

Happy hunting for Ice Pikmin! If you need more assistance with this game, feel free to explore more useful guides in our dedicated Pikmin 4 section!

If you were reluctant to bring Oatchi anywhere close to water after that, it’s understandable. However, don’t be mad at yourself for too long—you didn’t know! And Oatchi actually can swim, but there is a trick to it. In this guide, we show you how to make Oatchi swim in Pikmin 4, so that you can do more in this fun little game!

Related | How to get Ice Pikmin in Pikmin 4

How to make Oatchi swim in Pikmin 4

It turns out that, to make Oatchi swim in Pikmin 4, you do need to expose your faithful companion to water by forcing him into the deep end. It may look cruel at first, but Oatchi survives his first swim, so no harm done, right? Furthermore, this close contact with drowning is necessary for him to learn to swim, and you can see that in two in-game days.

Namely, two days after Oatchi’s inglorious bath, you learn that your dog doesn’t fear water anymore, and you can ride him safely across any watery surface, thanks to the Doggy-Paddle skill.

This skill is quite useful because it allows you to transport yourself and your Pikmin more easily, but there are some additional perks you can unlock by upgrading Doggy-Paddle. At Level 2, Oatchi swims faster, and at Level 3, Oatchi can get the underwater treasure to the surface and bite creatures when submerged. Each upgrade costs two Pup Drives.

That is all there is to know about how to make Oatchi swim in Pikmin 4. If you need more assistance with this adorable game, you can check out more guides in our dedicated Pikmin 4 section!

Related | How to upgrade tools in Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life

How to use a seedmaker in Story of Seasons

A seedmaker is a really important resource, because you can use it to turn some of your crops into seeds, which cuts out the cost of purchasing them from Vesta. At 30,000 gold, it’s no cheap investment, but you can save that chunk of change because there’s someone in town who will give you one for free.

Daryl in Story of Seasons

You may have already met the scientist Daryl. He lives in the house that looks like a set from an old horror movie, and can often be found skulking in the forest. Outside matches inside, as he’s quite creepy and morally questionable: he stalks Flora, wants to capture the Yeti in the forest for experiments, and is overall not really a pleasant person.

Daryl’s secret, though, is that he is the inventor of the seedmaker, and his patent for it was stolen by corporate executives. This is why we call these games simulators, as sometimes they’re too real for comfort. If you become his friend, Daryl will tell you this story and give you a seedmaker completely free of charge.

How to befriend Daryl in Story of Seasons

Daryl is truly one of the easiest people in the game to befriend. His favorite gift is any kind of fish, which you can collect with a fishing pole sold at Van’s shop for 500 gold. He visits on the 3rd and 8th of each season, and a cutscene announces when his shop opens and closes, so you always know when he’s there. He sets up shop in the center of the village, right next to the inn.

How to start the seedmaker event in Story of Seasons

Once you significantly boost your friendship with Daryl, visit his house to start the seedmaker cutscene. He’ll even install it for you right next to the refrigerator and closet, which is directly across from the barn. You can use this to reproduce high quality crops into seeds, which adds a great chunk of money to your daily income. See, sometimes it pays off to be nice to odd people.

For more secrets in Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life, keep following our coverage.

The best late game armor to use in Tears of the Kingdom

The best late game armor in the entirety of Tears of the Kingdom has to be the Wild set, returning from Breath of the Wild. You can find all three pieces of the set in the Depths.

Not only does the Wild set look pretty nice, but it also maxes out at a whopping 84 defense when all three pieces are fully upgraded to four stars. With that much defense, most attacks will only do a quarter’s heart worth of damage to you. On top of that, the Wild armor set bonus is Attack Up, which helps you beat up baddies quicker.

Related | Tears of the Kingdom: How to Get the Land of the Sky Fish in TotK

The caveat to the Wild set is that you need lots of Dragon parts to fully upgrade each piece. In fact, you require lots of horn shards and spike shards from all three Dragons, which can be a little annoying to farm.

Of course, this is merely one option for duds. There are tons of armor options in Tears of the Kingdom, and they are pretty much all viable once you fully upgrade them. Some other sets that are great to use include:

• Barbarian set (60 defense, Charge attack stamina cost reduced set bonus)
• Awakening set (60 defense, Attack Up set bonus)
• Fierce Diety set (60 defense, Charge attack stamina cost reduced set bonus)
• Ancient Hero’s Aspect (84 defense, but you need to do the gargantuan task of completing all 152 Shrines in the game)

What are some of your favorite armor sets to use during the late game of Tears of the Kingdom? Let us know in the comments below! Also, be sure to check out our dedicated Tears of the Kingdom guide collection.

All treasure locations in Pikmin 2

There are four main areas in Pikmin 2, but unlike Pikmin 1, each area houses underground caves that can be explored for more treasure. The unique thing about these caves is that they are randomly generated, to a certain degree.

Most of the surface-level treasures can be located easily with our maps, but the underground ones are a little more tricky to spot, due to the slightly randomly generated-nature of the caves.

Related | Where to Find All Ship Parts in Pikmin 1

Since your cave treasure locations are going to be a bit different, we have compiled a general list of where to find all treasures in Pikmin 2, sorted by area and cave. Just keep relying on your Treasure Gauge, as it can help you pinpoint the locations.

Valley of Repose treasures

The three caves in Valley of Repose are Emergence Cave, Subterranean Complex, and Frontier Cavern.

Awakening Wood treasures

The four caves in Awakening Wood are Hole of Beasts, White Flower Garden, Bulblax Kingdom, and Snagret Hole.

Perplexing Pool treasures

The four caves in Perplexing Pool are Citadel of Spiders, Glutton’s Kitchen, Shower Room, and Submerged Castle.

Wistful Wild treasures

The three caves in Wistful Wild are Cavern of Chaos, Hole of Heroes, and Dream Den.

If you are looking for more Pikmin-related content, be sure to check out our dedicated Pikmin section right here on Touch, Tap, Play!

All ship part locations in Pikmin 1

On the level select screen, you can see how many parts are remaining in an area by looking in the bottom right corner. With that said, do not bother going back to old areas until you unlock both the Yellow and Blue Pikmin, as you need them to find all the ship parts.

The Impact Site

Related | Best Controls for Pikmin 1 + 2

Two ship parts are here, and the first one is automatically obtained as a story event. You cannot get the west ship part until you have Yellow and Blue Pikmin, as you need to use bomb rocks to break open the wall and cross some water.

The Forest of Hope

It is a good idea to get the Whimsical Radar first, as this enables your monitor map, which lets you see the locations of all nearby ship parts, marked with a white star. We have marked the Whimsical Radar with a red star.

The Forest Navel

You unlock the Blue Pikmin here, so it is a good idea to reach The Forest Navel before you revisit any of the older areas, as many of the parts in earlier areas are blocked off by water that only Blue Pikmin can cross.

Note that one of the ship parts is actually inside a Bread Bug that wanders throughout the middle area. You will have to take it down to get the part within.

The Distant Spring

The ship part in the very center of The Distant Spring is inside the Armored Cannon Beetle. To defeat it, you need to block its frontal blowhole by throwing a Pikmin at it. This causes it to overheat, exposing its weak backside.

The Final Trial

Once you get 29 ship parts, The Final Trial unlocks. There is only one ship part to acquire here, and it is inside the final boss of the game, the Emperor Bulblax! He is a mighty beast, and you need to use all the tactics you have learned thus far to take him down.

Cannot get enough of the adorable little plant dudes? Be sure to check out our dedicated Pikmin guide collection.

The best control scheme for Pikmin 1 + 2

The default controls for Pikmin 1 + 2 are as follows:

• L-stick: Move
• Push L-stick: Reset pointer
• R-stick: Move camera
• ZL: Snap camera behind player
• ZR: Change camera zoom level
• X: Dismiss Pikmin by color
• A: Throw Pikmin
• B: Whistle for Pikmin
• Y: Switch captain (Pikmin 2 only)
• Hold L + R-stick: Direct Pikmin group
• Hold A + R: Switch held Pikmin

Related | How to Switch Between Pikmin in Pikmin 1 + 2

Additionally, you can also enable limited motion controls that activate whenever you throw or whistle. You can enable the motion controls by doing the following:

• In Pikmin 1, press the + button to open the menu, then press right on the directional pad to access the controls screen. Press the – button to activate motion controls.
• In Pikmin 2, press the – button to open the controls screen, then press the + button to activate motion controls. If you are playing 2P battle, both players must do this if they want motion controls.

We personally think that having motion controls enabled is the best control scheme for Pikmin 1 + 2. When you are holding a Pikmin and prepping them for a toss, you can physically move your controller for free-form aiming. Gyro controls are also active when you are whistling with the B button.

This really boils down to personal preference, though. It is rather strange that the games do not let you turn motion controls permanently on and not just when you are doing an action, but it still works in the end. We recommend trying the game out with motion controls enabled to see if you like it, then simply turn them off if you do not.

Cannot get enough of the adorable little plant dudes? Be sure to check out our dedicated Pikmin guide collection.

Switching between Pikmin in Pikmin 1 + 2

In Pikmin 1, once you move onto the second level, The Forest of Hope, you encounter a second Onion with yellow coloring. This Onion unlocks the Yellow Pikmin, and Olimar gives you another explanation on how to switch between your active Pikmin.

Related | How to Turn on Gyro Controls in Pikmin 1 + 2

By default, your Pikmin follow you around in one large group. Press and hold the A button to grab onto the closest Pikmin next to Olimar, then press the R button to cycle through your chosen Pikmin. The little bubble at the bottom shows your currently selected Pikmin.

Another way to switch between Pikmin is to simply dismiss them by type. When you have all your Pikmin following you, press the X button to dismiss them. The Pikmin will sort themselves by color—Red Pikmin split off to the left, Yellow Pikmin to the right, and so forth. This can help you quickly call one group to your side.

Switching Pikmin in Pikmin 2 functions exactly the same as it does in Pikmin 1, so you do not have to worry about memorizing any new button combinations. Holding Pikmin with the A button and then cycling with the R button still works.

Cannot get enough of the adorable little plant dudes? Be sure to check out our dedicated Pikmin guide collection.