Forever Stuck Leveling Up: A #PikminBloom Review

Before I begin, I am reposting my original Medium article on the blog. However, this blog post is the most comprehensive and up-to-date version of the article, as I have edited it to reflect some updates. I am not being endorsed or paid to write this review. However, if you are already a Medium subscriber, I might earn a small commission for my Medium article. It might only be a few pennies, but it’s better than earning nothing at all. Here is the link to the original Medium article:

♡ Medium Article: Forever Stuck on Level 42

Since fall of 2021, I have been playing this cute little step-tracking game called Pikmin Bloom. It is very similar to its older cousin, Pokémon GO since both mobile games were developed by Niantic.

I’m not going to explain how this game works, so if you’re interested in learning more, I’ll leave a resourceful link for you here:

👉 https://pikminbloom.com/en/

At one point, there were 60 levels but the game has since been updated to reflect the need for additional levels. In the beginning, the levels are simple and easy to complete, but as you progress in the game, it becomes more difficult with each level. The game is very simplistic and adorable in my opinion, and it has a lot of decent side quests to occupy your time with.

Personally, I am absolutely obsessed with this adorable little game that is available as an app on my phone. My followers on #Twitter are probably annoyed by my tweets and rants about it! This game has become such a big part of me that I have even included it in my Twitter bio 😅 I am indeed a #PikminBloom enthusiast and I am not ashamed.

What Makes This Game so Great?

The Pikmin Bloom mobile app is a spinoff from the Pikmin Bloom video game(s) which I have never played. Sure, leveling up can become a grind, but I think that’s what makes the game exciting to play. Those things that we have to work hardest for are often the most rewarding.

At first sight, this game may appear to be just like any other fitness game but there are hidden depths to it. There are side quests and other challenges which you can complete, helping you stay motivated and engaged with the game for longer. Despite my best efforts, I found myself stuck at level 42 for 8 freaking months!

When I wrote this article, I was struggling to advance to Level 43 because of the number of flowers needed. However, I managed to move on to Level 44, which I am currently stuck on. Unfortunately, I am still having difficulty advancing any further as there is a necessary flower requirement that has proven to be an obstacle in my journey. Ironically, the flower requirement for Level 44 is the same as the one I had for Level 42 😑 This is an ongoing struggle of mine and it is almost laughable at this point.

As you can see, I have let my steps accumulate but I am disengaged with the game itself. I tried doing additional side quests, collecting cool postcards from around the world, and leveling up with team players who I found on #Twitter, but that’s where the fun stops.

I stopped caring about the steps. I stopped putting in the hard work and I have become complacent. At one point, I resorted to my treadmill back when I still cared about steps. Then I quickly learned that there was an additional challenge to this game: You need to plant flowers!! 🌼

𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬?

I’m having a hard time leveling up because it takes too much time and effort to plant more flowers, and the inconveniences outweigh the benefits. I know this is a lame excuse, but please hear me out. Living in Canada is already quite challenging as it is, and here’s why:

🌸 My grass is not that green

I live in Canada, and the grass here is not nearly as green as it is where you are. Rather than being sunny and warm, it’s snowy (and cold!). So why would I want to go out when I could stay inside? It might sound a bit ridiculous, but when it’s below freezing and there’s snow on the ground, the chore of planting virtual flowers in a game is humorous because it doesn’t represent real life.

I would like to see the game’s design reflect the real-time weather conditions in more immersive and realistic ways like it’s done with Flight Simulator. My husband is excited about the future of the Flight Simulator update, so he’s been telling me a lot about it.

🌸 Treadmills are only good for steps

I used to use my treadmill when I first started this game. But then I found out that there was an additional challenge of planting flowers. You can’t plant flowers on a treadmill because the game does not count walking in one spot as square footage for planting. Treadmills are only good for adding to your daily step count.

(っ◔V◔)っ Game Update: After I posted this article, I like to think that the developers listened to me, as now I can plant flowers while on the treadmill. As you can see, I still suck at planting virtual flowers.

🌸 I have limited phone data

I live in Canada where phone plans are expensive for what they are. I have limited data on my phone, and have used up my data trying to plant flowers outdoors. I seem to have a 50% success rate planting flowers at locations with free WiFi but the game eats up my phone battery like it’s a snack.

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ FINAL THOUGHTS ♥

I am very curious to know if you have played the Pikmin Bloom mobile game. What level are you currently stuck on? Please leave your comment below ↓ and join the conversation!

P.S. You can also connect with me on Twitter (@hellokitty8404), and I encourage you to subscribe to my blog so that you can receive the latest updates from me. Additionally, I am hosting a giveaway for my Canadian readers to celebrate my 7th blogiversary!

➤ Click here to enter the giveaway

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Published by Hilary Tan

I am currently in the process of finding my inner goddess as I search for inner peace, find mental clarity, develop mental toughness, and crush goals. Come join me on this journey so we can live our best lives!

32 thoughts on “Forever Stuck Leveling Up: A #PikminBloom Review”

  2. Feets says:
    Reply

    😂 Poor thing. I’m surprised that not every type of exercise helps.

    Have you ever had a Nintendo 3DS or 3DSXL? There was this one game that was on the base Nintendo that counted your steps when your Nintendo was off. The original Nintendo, you could kinda shake it and it would count steps, but the other ones you’d actually have to get up which peeved me. 😂😂😂

    That would piss me off considering how little I leave my house. That’s a really cute game though. Is it a donation game or just a fun exercise game?

    Liked by 1 person

    • Hilary Tan says:
      Reply

      The app is very similar to Pokémon Go b/c it was created by the same developers. It leverages the step counter on your phone and is limited to that tracker. It’s good if you carry around your phone everywhere but not good if you leave your phone behind. I connect my Apple Watch to my phone which helps provide a more accurate reading when my phone isn’t with me. As for other exercises, sadly the step counter doesn’t count it. I noticed this with different exercises as well.

      Yes, I do have a 3DS. I thought the step counter was cool. The only problem was that I had to keep it on sleep mode in order for it to count steps and carry the thing around with me. It was bulky and I rarely left the house with the 3DS. It lived in a case on my shelf, so I wasn’t able to utilize that feature.

      I rarely leave the house, mostly because it’s too cold outside. Idk anyone who enjoys exercising in freezing cold temps lol Sometimes I will get steps at malls and stuff because free wifi and lots of walking, but lately I haven’t been to a mall. Hmm, I’m not sure what you mean by a ‘donation game.’ There’s in-game purchases but the game itself is free. I refuse to pay for things in the game haha The game itself is a bit deceiving because it looks really fun but in reality, it’s just a cute, hyped-up step counter. It’s still the best step counting app in my opinion ☺️🌺

      Liked by 1 person

      • Feets says:

        Donation game as in the sense that they plant flowers or trees for every so in so flower you plant.

        And I agree. The 3DS is extremely bulky.🙄 It was an amazing device and I wish they’d update the 3DS to be a tad smaller and have more stuff and games on it but I doubt it. Also, mine is somewhere.

        And oh, it’s a pedometer basically. I hate those so much. I hate things that capture my steps. I walk a lot but how I walk typically doesn’t get read on those things. That’s good thou that it captures with Apple Watch. My mom says that hers is pretty accurate too. I don’t have one.😂

        Liked by 1 person

      • Hilary Tan says:

        Oh I see! Sadly no, they don’t donate to a good cause but I wish they did.

        I agree, the 3DS was awesome but bulky. Nintendo created an even bulkier Nintendo Switch. The Switch I have connects to the television, so it’s not something I would carry around with me. Even the Lite version seems bulky to me.

        I was initially reluctant to get an Apple Watch, but it has proven to be incredibly useful. It does so many things that I use on a daily basis, like two-factor authentication for my work emails.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Feets says:

        😮 My mom is trying so hard to make me get one (because it has a heart monitor on it) but I’m hardheaded. You just made it even harder to say no to it.😅 (not a bad thing)

        I don’t have a switch, but my sister has one. It is very bulky! It reminds me of a Leapster (the purple one) I had as a kid. I was OBSESSED. Leapsters weren’t as advanced as that time (2004-2006 leapsters) but they could connect to a TV and were bulky. I wish switch had more different games. I’m not against ACNH because it looks fun, but I don’t want to buy it and that’s the only game I’m playing. The 3DS had so many different games like Scribblenauts Unlimited, Style Savvy, and so on. Even older games had really fun games, but the switch seems a bit new so they don’t have that much.

        I suck at shooter and fighter games and a lot of adventure games like BOtW. I like simulators and fishing, strategic, cooking, dress up and designing games. 🥲 (to some people this would be girly but I’m horrible at other games hehe)

        Liked by 1 person

      • Hilary Tan says:

        Being born in the early 90s, I might have been too old for the Leapsters gaming console. My mom once suggested getting a Nintendo Wii as there were workout games advertised on TV. I wasn’t able to commit to it so we didn’t end up purchasing one.

        I don’t recognize the games you mentioned, and that might be because I’m too old. However, I did find the 3DS quite enjoyable; it offered a lot of good games, like Animal Crossing: New Leaf and several Pokémon titles. I still have my 3DS – it’s buried in a drawer somewhere in the house lol

        Liked by 1 person

      • Feets says:

        You probably weren’t too old, you probably just liked different games. The ones you mentioned are not as niche as Scribblenauts. That game doesn’t really have a fan base really. Just people who own the game and occasionally talk about it on YouTube.

        I had a Wii and hardly played just dance or anything on it. Many different reasons. I had a WiiU that I have Scribblenauts unlimited on. I don’t really like that format. Bulky.

        Style Savvy is a dress up game within a store setting,and if you’re not into “girlier” or fashionista games, that one probably would be boring.

        I knew little people that played ACNH so that one was extremely niche, it only got really, really big during the pandemic…but Pokémon? I’ve never heard a more popular game other than legend of Zelda and Mario. A lot of the fans were interesting and mildly irritating people at my school and would carry around trading cards and brag about having older versions—which, I mean, it’s not bad. It’s actually cool, but it was hard to talk to them because my interests weren’t in video games like that. I literally played taking care of baby games. (My mom raised my sisters and I in a very girly environment. We watched Strawberry Shortcake, Barbie movies, and many other shows—typically shows that are on DVD. Other than a couple of obscure shows and video games, we grew up with interests like those. I can go on about this but I won’t.)

        Liked by 1 person

      • Hilary Tan says:

        That’s true. The games you played aren’t as niche specific. I don’t really remember the rest of the games I played tbh other than those ones that come to mind. The main reason why I bought the 3DS in the first place was so I could play Okamiden, which was a spin-off of Okami (my favorite PS2 game). Okamiden was rather disappointing and didn’t live up to Okami.

        I didn’t play Animal crossing until 2015, after I had a miscarriage. I needed something to distract myself and the lady at GameStop recommended it. At the time, I didn’t know there was a fan base/niche community other than it being a popular game. As for Pokémon, my husband introduced me to it and I thought it was a cute game. Neither Animal Crossing or Pokémon are very challenging games but I find them relaxing. I didn’t play the Pokémon games until 2013. Haven’t played Zelda. Yes, I had a couple of Mario games.

        I’m not a super girly person and my mother didn’t understand the point of video games. I practically had to beg my parents to let me play video games.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Feets says:

        Dang. I assume I got technology like that so I would shut up (and not cry about particular things that happened in my childhood). I just got the previous DS a lot less sparingly, but I liked them.

        That reminds me of Nintendogs+Cats. Nintendogs is better and it’s hard to get a cat…however, I want that stupid game again but it’s overpriced.😔 I’m afraid of dogs and cats, but at least I could play those.

        I was more into Sonic when I was younger but not into fan groups because I didn’t have access to computers until 13 where I had full access.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Hilary Tan says:

        I have a pet cat. You probably wouldn’t like him much because he’s super playful and looks mean – but he’s super friendly and a lovely-dovey 🐈‍⬛💕

        I didn’t play Nintendogs because I think I was too old for it but the people who have played it adore that game. So I guess it’s a good game! I didn’t play Sonic either although it was a popular game too. My daughter isn’t too into Sonic but she knows all of the characters. We got her a Sonic game but she only played it a couple of times.

        P.S. It’s totally normal and healthy to cry! I cry a lot and I think it’s cathartic. In terms of my past, I try not to think about my crappy past and focus on the present (and future) instead.

        Like

  3. Pooja G says:
    Reply

    I’m not a gamer but this does seem quite fun! I actually do love games like this but the truth is I just don’t have time and I know if I started playing I’ll get so into I’ll lose track of time lol.

    Liked by 2 people

  4. Pingback: May Recap | Spring 2023 – Sereneluna

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