Not only does New Pokemon Snap have considerably more Pokemon than its predecessor, but it also features a lot more courses too. There are 30 of them in total, although nine of these are evening or nighttime variants of earlier ones and another six are used largely to house the game's mysterious Illumina Pokemon. Despite this though, there's still an awful lot for players to explore.
The Lental region in which New Pokemon Snap takes place is broken up into six islands and players will need to visit all of them if they're to uncover the mystery surrounding the Illumina phenomenon. They'll unlock new courses as they play, typically by raising their research level in earlier courses and photographing Crystabloom and Illumina Pokemon on each island.
Updated on August 7, 2021 by Tom Bowen: Less than six months on from the game's initial release, Nintendo surprised players with news that New Pokemon Snap would be receiving some pretty substantial free DLC. It released just one week later, bringing with it 20 new Pokemon, 21 new photo requests, and three brand new courses. Unfortunately, however, some players may not have access to all of the new locations right away. This guide explains how to unlock every course in New Pokemon Snap - including the DLC courses - while also providing information about research level requirements and how many photo requests each individual course has attached to it.
Florio Nature Park
Park (Day)
- Research Level 2: 40,000 XP
- Research Level 3: 70,000 XP
- Max Level: 90,000 XP
- Photo Requests: 13
The Park (Day) course will be available as soon as players have completed the opening tutorial section of the game.
Park (Night)
- Research Level 2: 50,000 XP
- Max Level: 110,000 XP
- Photo Requests: 13
Players will unlock the Park (Night) course after they have finished two runs of Park (Day).
Illumina Spot
- Research Level 2: 1 XP
- Max Level: 60,000 XP
- Photo Requests: 1
In order to explore the Florio Island Illumina Spot, players will first need to complete a single run on the Park (Night) course.
Secret Side Path
Side Path (Day)
- Max Level: 100,000 XP
- Photo Requests: 2
Unlike the two other DLC areas, players will be able to visit the Side Path (Day) course relatively early on. After unlocking Park (Night) and installing the 2.0 update, Phil will suggest looking for a special tree in Park (Day). If players scan it, the NEO-ONE will shrink and they'll be taken to Side Path (Day). After completing a run, the Side Path area will be available directly from the course select screen.
Side Path (Night)
- Max Level: 100,000 XP
- Photo Requests: 1
The Side Path (Night) course is unlocked immediately after players first discover the alternate route that leads the Secret Side Path.
Research Camp
Camp
- Max Level: 120,000 XP
- Photo Requests: 11
The Research Camp becomes accessible after players have photographed their second Illumina Pokemon. An alternate route is unlocked after they snap a picture of their third one, at which point players can switch routes by returning to the main menu and then reentering the camp.
Founja Jungle
Jungle (Day)
- Research Level 2: 35,000 XP
- Research Level 3: 55,000 XP
- Max Level: 75,000 XP
- Photo Requests: 10
If players have already reached research level 2 in the Park (Night) course, they'll unlock Jungle (Day) after photographing the first Illumina Pokemon.
Jungle (Night)
- Research Level 2: 45,000 XP
- Max Level: 115,000 XP
- Photo Requests: 10
After reaching research level 2 in the Jungle (Day) course, Professor Mirror will ask the player to return at night to photograph a glowing Crytabloom. After this, they'll be able to choose Jungle (Night) from the course select screen.
Elsewhere Forest
Forest
- Research Level 2: 40,000 XP
- Research Level 3: 70,000 XP
- Max Level: 80,000 XP
- Photo Requests: 18
The Forest course will become available after players reach research level 2 in the Volcano course.
Illumina Spot
- Research Level 2: 1 XP
- Max Level: 75,000 XP
- Photo Requests: 1
Players will gain access to the Belusylva Island Illumina Spot once they reach research level 2 in the Forest course.
Mightywide River
River (Day)
- Research Level 2: 45,000 XP
- Research Level 3: 55,000 XP
- Max Level: 60,000 XP
- Photo Requests: 4
Mightywide River is classed as postgame content, so players will need to have installed the 2.0 update and completed New Pokemon Snap's main story in order to explore River (Day).
River (Night)
- Research Level 2: 50,000 XP
- Max Level: 90,000 XP
- Photo Requests: 3
The River (Night) course will be unlocked as soon as players reach research level 2 in River (Day).
Blushing Beach
Beach (Day)
- Research Level 2: 30,000 XP
- Research Level 3: 45,000 XP
- Max Level: 70,000 XP
- Photo Requests: 6
The Beach (Day) course is unlocked at the same time as the Sweltering Sands when players discover Illumina Orbs. Players are able to choose which order they visit the islands.
Beach (Night)
- Research Level 2: 50,000 XP
- Max Level: 110,000 XP
- Photo Requests: 7
The Beach (Night) course will become available once players have unlocked the Durice Island Illumina Spot. Completing it doesn't move the story along though, so players can skip this one until later if they'd rather complete the game's main story first.
Maricopia Reef
Reef (Day)
- Research Level 2: 35,000 XP
- Research Level 3: 45,000 XP
- Max Level: 60,000 XP
- Photo Requests: 5
Players can unlock the Reef (Day) course by reaching research level 2 in the Beach (Day) course.
Reef (Evening)
- Research Level 2: 50,000 XP
- Max Level: 90,000 XP
- Photo Requests: 10
Before players can explore the Reef (Evening) course, they'll first need to complete the game's main story. After the credits, they'll get a message to say that the course is now available.
Lental Seafloor
Undersea
- Research Level 2: 35,000 XP
- Research Level 3: 75,000 XP
- Max Level: 90,000 XP
- Photo Requests: 15
The Undersea course will be unlocked once players have reached research level 2 in Reef (Day).
Illumina Spot
- Research Level 2: 1 XP
- Max Level: 40,000 XP
- Photo Requests: 1
After players have unlocked Pink Illumina Orbs, they'll need to throw one at the Clawitzer at the beginning of the Undersea course to unlock a new route. Following this to the end will unlock Maricopia Island's Illumina Spot.
Sweltering Sands
Sands (Day)
- Research Level 2: 30,000 XP
- Research Level 3: 50,000 XP
- Max Level: 60,000 XP
- Photo Requests: 10
In order to unlock Sands (Day), players will need to unlock Illumina Orbs and reach research level 2 in the Jungle (Night) course.
Sands (Night)
- Research Level 2: 30,000 XP
- Max Level: 100,000 XP
- Photo Requests: 5
Reaching research level 2 in Sands (Day) will once again lead to the professor asking players to return to the course at night to photograph the Illumina phenomenon. From here on out, they'll see Sands (Night) on the course select screen.
Fireflow Volcano
Volcano
- Research Level 2: 30,000 XP
- Research Level 3: 60,000 XP
- Max Level: 70,000 XP
- Photo Requests: 16
Players will unlock the Volcano course after taking a photo of the glowing Crytabloom in the Sands (Night) course and also reaching research level 2.
Illumina Spot
- Research Level 2: 1 XP
- Max Level: 35,000 XP
- Photo Requests: 1
To unlock the Voluca Island Illumina Spot, players will need to reach research level 2 in the Volcano course and then play through it once more to exit through the ruins.
Barren Badlands
Badlands (Day)
- Research Level 2: 40,000 XP
- Research Level 3: 60,000 XP
- Max Level: 60,000 XP
- Photo Requests: 5
Assuming that players have already installed the 2.0 update, they'll be able to access Badlands (Day) after completing the game and sitting through the end credits.
Badlands (Night)
- Research Level 2: 50,000 XP
- Max Level: 80,000 XP
- Photo Requests: 6
In order to unlock the Badlands (Night) course, players will first need to reach research level 2 in Badlands (Day).
Shiver Snowfields
Snowfields (Day)
- Research Level 2: 25,000 XP
- Research Level 3: 70,000 XP
- Max Level: 110,000 XP
- Photo Requests: 17
The Snowfields (Day) course will become available once players have photographed four Illumina Pokemon in total.
Snowfields (Night)
- Research Level 2: 45,000 XP
- Max Level: 120,000 XP
- Photo Requests: 11
All players need to do to unlock Snowfields (Night) is to reach research level 2 in the daytime version of the course.
Outaway Cave
Cave
- Research Level 2: 35,000 XP
- Research Level 3: 55,000 XP
- Max Level: 70,000 XP
- Photo Requests: 17
To gain access to the Cave course, players will need to unlock purple Illumina Orbs and reach research level 2 in Snowfields (Night)
Illumina Spot
- Research Level 2: 1 XP
- Max Level: 50,000 XP
- Photo Requests: 1
Once players have reached research level 2 in Cave, reentering the course will cause them to take a different route, and scanning the green stone at the very end of it will unlock the Durice Island Illumina Spot.
Ruins of Remembrance
Ruins
- Research Level 2: 40,000 XP
- Research Level 3: 50,000 XP
- Max Level: 40,000 XP
- Photo Requests: 13
Players will be able to visit the Ruins course immediately after photographing their fifth Illumina Pokemon.
Illumina Spot
- Research Level 2: 1 XP
- Max Level: 80,000 XP
- Photo Requests: 1
To gain access to the Aurus Island Illumina Spot, players will need to light up all of the Crystablooms in the underground section of the Ruins course. Most are easy to find, but one or two are hidden behind Pokemon and so players will need to get them to move using a combination of Illumina Orbs and Fluffruit.