Pikmin 4 features vast environments full of hidden treasure, lost castaways, and a cavalcade of side objectives. From Dandori Battles to night expeditions, the game has a variety of modes that prevent the adventure from ever feeling stale. If you are looking for a challenge or plan on completing every aspect of Pikmin 4, the many cave systems scattered throughout the game will test your multitasking and combat skills.

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Multiple cave systems are hiding in each stage in Pikmin 4, and each one offers a unique challenge that rewards you with new treasures and strategies. There are 24 cave systems in the game, and while each has something different to offer, some are more fun and memorable than others.

10 Kingdom Of Beasts - Blossoming Arcadia

Some cave systems are more puzzle-oriented, while others feature a gauntlet of enemies to test your combat skills. The Kingdom of Beasts, located in the second explorable area, falls into the latter category, and to clear it, you will need to face six sublevels crawling with new and familiar creatures.

What helps make Kingdom of Beasts stand out from other cave systems is that it contains your first encounters with some of the most dangerous enemies in the game. The third sublevel features a fight with an Empress Bulblax, while the final one pits you against an Emperor Bulblax. Both can be difficult, but taking them down here will help you with later encounters against them.

9 Ultimate Testing Range - Giant’s Hearth

After spending so much time tossing your Pikmin around, you might think the Ultimate Testing Range will examine your ability to hit a target. The first few floors feel like any other as you defeat enemies and collect treasure, but once you reach the final sublevel, you will ultimately realize that the target is you - and you walked in on something's shooting practice.

The final boss of the Ultimate Testing Range is a Man-at-Legs, a giant spider-like creature with a machine gun. You read that right. In order to defeat it, you'll need to dodge a flurry of bullets and then charge at it between rounds, with that window getting smaller as its health gets lower. It's a surprising and tense encounter against one of the most formidable enemies in the game.

8 Hectic Hollows - Sun-Speckled Terrace

Hectic Hollows is one of the first cave systems you'll discover in Pikmin 4's opening area, and it perfectly showcases the benefits of exploring these mostly optional areas. Not only do you walk away from it with more treasure and raw material, but it subtly teaches you how to use Ice Pikmin to reach new areas.

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It's not nearly as challenging as other caves, and it's only two sublevels deep, so it shouldn't take too much time to clear. Minus an encounter with a Tusked Blowhog, Hectic Hollows feels like a safe space for learning more about the Pikmin and Oatchi's capabilities without feeling overwhelmed.

7 Frozen Inferno - Hero’s Hideaway

Reminiscent of older dungeons from The Legend of Zelda series, the Frozen Inferno cave system is found on the kitchen counter in Hero's Hideaway and features a fire-and-ice theme throughout. You can only enter with Red Pikmin at your side and must locate Ice Pikmin hiding within to reach the end.

There are only four sublevels in Frozen Inferno, but each one is freezing cold, so you'll need to use Fire Starters to keep your team warm. Aside from dealing with many fire and ice hazards, this cave system culminates with an epic encounter against the Snowflake Fluttertail, a boss that will test everything you've learned here.

6 Below-Grade Discotheque - Serene Shores

When you go out to dance, you can expect flashing lights and loud music to carry you through the night, but the local discotheque in Pikmin 4 desperately needs repairs. The flickering lights make this cave system hard to see in, so it's definitely recommended that you equip the Headlamp before diving in.

The first four sublevels have an eerie vibe about them, but you'll eventually discover the party once you reach the final floor. A boss known as Groovy Long Legs awaits you, with a giant disco ball for a body that lights up the room and turns up the bass. It's both surprising and delightful, and one of the reasons Below-Grade Discotheque remains one of the most memorable cave systems in the game.

5 Trial of the Sage Leaf - Rescue Command Post

Depending on how you approach the post-game content, the Trial of the Sage Leaf might be one of the last cave systems you encounter. It becomes available at the Rescue Command Post after finishing a side campaign and contains some of the hardest Dandori Challenges in the game.

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All ten floors require you to meet specific objectives before time runs out, and most of them will likely be completed with only a few seconds to spare. The rewards for clearing the fifth and final story of the cave are phenomenal, so if you're struggling to complete everything in the main game, it might be worth swinging over to collect some valuable upgrades.

4 Seafloor Resort - Serene Shores

Most of the cave systems you enter appear dark or harrowing, but the Seafloor Resort has an entirely different vibe. After looking around for a bit, you'll realize that this cave system is actually a habitat inside of an aquarium. It's refreshing to see a new aesthetic, and it's so relaxing you might not want to leave when you're finished exploring.

It's best to bring Water and Ice Pikmin with you on this voyage and to also make sure Oatchi's swimming ability has been unlocked. It's not a very challenging cave - except for the final encounter with a Masterhop on the fourth sublevel - but it's gorgeous imagery and ambient atmosphere help it stick out from the crowd.

3 Plunder Palace - Hero’s Hideaway

Similar to Seafloor Resort, Plunder Palace has a much more colorful and vibrant aesthetic to it than other cave systems. But, while the former doesn't bring anything new to the table except for its aquatic atmosphere, Plunder Palace introduces an enemy - the Breadbug - that puts a nice twist on how you approach collecting items.

Breadbugs are not necessarily dangerous, but they want the same treasures you do. If they see your Pikmin carrying something across the room, they will try to collect it for themselves, and each Breadbug has a carrying power of 10. You'll also encounter Giant Breadbugs in Plunder Palace that have a carrying power of 30, so you'll need to work tactfully to steal your treasures back from them.

2 Engulfed Castle - Serene Shores

Most of the cave systems in Pikmin 4 have a haunting atmosphere, but the Engulfed Castle can be downright terrifying if you don't know what's waiting for you. There are five sublevels here, but if you linger too long in one area, a dangerous creature known as the Waterwraith drops from the ceiling and begins to stalk you.

The first encounter with this liquid monster is one of the most terrifying moments in the game and one that you likely won't forget anytime soon. The tension as it stalks you through narrow hallways is unlike anything in Pikmin 4. Longtime fans may also notice that the Engulfed Castle is almost identical to the Submerged Castle from Pikmin 2, with only a few minor differences.

1 Cavern For A King - Primordial Thicket

Cavern for a King is going to be one of the last cave systems you discover, and aside from Trial of the Sage Leaf, it's bound to be one of the hardest expeditions in Pikmin 4. Not only does it contain 20 sublevels, but each of them features a tough boss, puzzle, or hybrid of the two that will test everything you've learned on your journey.

One of the toughest aspects of Cavern for a King is Pikmin management. You can only enter the cave with 100 of them, and replacing any that perish during these trials is not easy. If you've been sitting on Glow Pikmin seeds, this is a great area to use them to ensure you have a full army of tiny creatures by your side at all times.

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