It's a Nintendo IP. The first game out for the Gamecube and you played as little man Captain Olimar who carshed landed on a planet. Your spacecraft broke into several pieces and you must collect them all in 30 days. If you fail to do so your suit will run out of oxygen and you will die. You discover these ant like creatures called Pikmin. You control them to special tasks to recover your spacecraft pieces.

A second game came out for the Gamecube called Pikmin 2. You play as Captain Olimar (with a new cast of characters) You go on the hunt for treasure to save your company from going bankrupt. That's it! You just hunt for treasure using the Pikmin. 

Pikmin and Pikmin 2 were released on the Wii.

Recently a third game called Pikmin 3 came out for the Wii U. You have a new set of characters are a quest for fruit to save their people from hunger. You use the Pikmin to gather fruit.

These don't have much depth to them, but there is strategy to them. Each Pikmin has their own special skills. Like Fire Pikmin are good fighters and don't get brunt. Blue Pikmin can go under water, ect. You need to increase your Pikmin population in order to build a good army and plan out your day. Time passes in these games. However in Pikmin 2 you can go underground to hunt for treasure and time does stop down there.

The first one has more pressure to it because you have to beat the game in 30 days (game time). I believe you don't have to get all the parts to your ship, but if you want to best ending you need to get them all. As for the other two you can take your time. The game counts how many days you played, but you won't die. Although in the third one your characters eat the fruit you find. I have yet to run out of fruit. My guess is you'll die.

I have played all three games. I never own the first one. I played it at Mia's house. I didn't get far because I felt terrible when my Pikmin died. I picked up the second game for the Wii a few years ago. I really enjoyed it. I then got the third one from the MK8 promotion where they gave away a free game. I'm enjoying it, but I think I like the second one the best because you don't need to worry about yourself. Just your Pikmin.

These games are relaxing, but can be a bit stressful. I always freak out during boss battles because I still feel bad when Pikmin die. I also get mad when they try to do stuff on their own. lol

Also I love how the planet you go to is basically Earth. The treasures in the second game is stuff you find in our everyday life. Like a rubber ducky for an example. 

For those who are curious check it out! You should be able to find GC installments easily. 

By the way. Pikmin 3 is one the best looking Wii U games. It looks so real.