A free update became available for New Pokemon Snap players to download on August 3. In the update, three new areas were added for players to explore including Mightywide River, Secret Side Path, and Barren Badlands. In these new areas, players will find new Pokemon to photograph.
Having trouble accessing one or more of these new areas? We’ve got you covered with a quick guide on how to unlock all of the new areas added to New Pokemon Snap via the August 3 free update!
New Pokemon Snap | How to Unlock All New Update Areas
The first step when it comes to unlocking and accessing the new areas added to New Pokemon Snap through the August 3 update, you’ll first need to have the update downloaded.
If you’re having trouble with this, we have a separate guide that’ll walk you through ways to ensure the update is downloaded.
With the update download, your next order of business will be to unlock and explore the newly added areas which include Mightwide River, Secret Side Path, and Barren Badlands.
Below, we’ve outlined what you need to do to unlock and access each one of these new areas.
How to Unlock Secret Side Path in New Pokemon Snap
Secret Side Path will be one of the first of the newly added areas to unlock for you in New Pokemon Snap. Note that you will need to learn about the new shrink feature of the NEO-ONE first before you’re able to unlock and explore the Secret Side Path area.
To do this, jump into New Pokemon Snap, then complete the cutscene where you’re told about the new shrink feature on the NEO-ONE. After that, select “Research” and then select the Day version of Florio Nature Park.
Inside of Florio Nature Park (Day) you’ll find the somewhat hard to spot entrance to the Secret Side Path. The entrance to Secret Side Path is closer to the end of the Florio Nature Park (Day) course and can be found across from the large pond area.
If you look to your left when Dodrio pops out and continue looking towards your left, you’ll eventually spot a tree with a little hole at the bottom. At this point, you should get a prompt to scan the area.
When you scan, and you successfully scan the spot by tree completely, you’ll get a prompt that you can get through there (the tree hole) and the NEO-ONE will shrink down, taking you to the Secret Side Path area.
Here, you’ll find Pokemon like Wurmple, Dodrio, Torterra, Shroomish, Emolga, and even Snorlax!
After you’ve unlocked Secret Side Path through Florio Nature Park and complete the course once, Secret Side Path will appear on your map as a separate area to the right of Florio Nature Park.
Like other areas, Secret Side Path has a Research Level you can increase by running through the course and taking great photos.
How to Unlock Mightywide River in New Pokemon Snap
After you’ve unlocked Secret Side Path, the other two areas in New Pokemon Snap are pretty simple and straightforward to play through. All you need to do is find them on the map, select them, and run through the course.
With Mightywide River, you’ll find this new area on the island of Belusylva to the right of Founja Jungle. By selecting it, you’ll be able to run through it and explore.
The Day version of the new Mightywide River area in New Pokemon Snap is one that unlocks automatically after the update has been downloaded.
Similar to other areas in New Pokemon Snap, Mightywide River has a Night course that can be unlocked after you reach Research Level 2 on the Mightywide River “Day” course.
During your run through the Mightywide River course, you’ll spot Metapod, Psyduck, and even Gyarados! Need help finding Gyarados? We have a guide that’ll show you exactly how to snap a photo of this elusive Pokemon!
How to Unlock Barren Badlands in New Pokemon Snap
Barren Badlands unlocks in New Pokemon Snap at the same time as Mightywide River. Unlike Mightywide River which can be found on the island of Belusylva, Barren Badlands is located on the island of Voluca to the right of Sweltering Sands.
All you need to do is find Barren Badlands here on the map, select it, and you’ll be able to run through the course. The Day version of the new Barren Badlands area in New Pokemon Snap is one that unlocks automatically after the update has been downloaded.
During your run through Barren Badlands, you’ll be able to spot Pokemon like Diglet, Tepig, Lycanroc (Midnight Form), Onix, and more!
Similar to other areas in New Pokemon Snap, Barren Badlands has a Night course that can be unlocked after you reach Research Level 2 on the Barren Badlands “Day” course.
The more you explore these new areas and increase your Research Level, the more opportunities you’ll have to photograph new Pokemon. Be sure to check back here at Prima Games for more guides on New Pokemon Snap!
Related: Where to Find Gyrados in New Pokemon Snap
