Marking its three-year milestone in Korea, Niantic’s augmented reality game Pikmin Bloom is capturing renewed interest, making it one of the season’s unexpected success stories. According to Mobile Index, the game achieved a weekly active user (WAU) count of 360,000 on Google Play in the last week of October, following a strong performance that placed it at the top of Google Play’s popularity rankings. Released in November 2021 in Korea, Pikmin Bloom, built on Nintendo’s beloved Pikmin IP, has seen its user base steadily grow as word of its enjoyable concept spreads.
At its core, Pikmin Bloom revolves around enhancing the walking experience. The premise is simple yet engaging: as players walk, they find small sprouts that, after a certain number of steps, grow into Pikmin, charming plant-like creatures that accompany them on their journey. Features like “planting flowers” and “weekly challenges” are also included, and at the end of each day, players can review their walking route and add personal notes or photos, creating a reflective experience. Fans of the game appreciate its simplicity; one user remarked, “The game requires no complex controls. I just need to walk, which is refreshing. I even take detours to plant virtual flowers on my way home.” Another player noted, “With Pikmin Bloom, I find myself going out daily, even after leaving my job.”
Beyond just entertainment, Pikmin Bloom offers physical health benefits. Walking after meals, a core activity in the game helps lower post-meal blood sugar and improves insulin response. After eating, carbohydrates break down into glucose, causing a blood sugar spike, and unused glucose can accumulate as body fat. Light physical activity, like a post-meal stroll, activates muscle movement, which helps use up this glucose, reducing blood sugar levels. Studies published in Diabetologia confirm that post-meal walks can significantly reduce blood sugar levels, especially beneficial for long-term metabolic health.
To maximize health benefits while walking, posture is crucial. Walking with a straight posture—keeping the spine aligned and the eyes forward—helps reduce strain on the body. Engaging the core and landing heel-first can protect joints from excessive stress. Taking steady, purposeful strides can enhance the physical benefits of walking.
Safety remains important while playing Pikmin Bloom. Walking while focused on a smartphone screen can reduce one’s awareness of their surroundings and increase the risk of accidents. Studies have shown that looking at a screen while walking reduces auditory awareness by 40-50%, narrows visual focus by 56%, and decreases front-view attention to 15%. To avoid these risks, Pikmin Bloom automatically counts steps even with the screen off, allowing users to keep their attention on their surroundings.
As Pikmin Bloom enjoys an unexpected surge in popularity, it’s proving to be more than just a game—it’s a lifestyle companion that promotes both enjoyment and physical well-being for its users.
Sayart / Kang In sig, insig6622@naver.com
