- Publisher: Nintendo , The Pokemon Company
- Release Date: Oct 6, 2023
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- Critic score
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Oct 4, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns is an anomaly for both the Pokemon series and adventure games at large, but the marriage of the two makes it into something special. It’s earnest, fun, and at times downright satisfying, and even though it’s undoubtedly weird, it’s also the perfect title for introducing new players to the world of mystery games.
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Oct 27, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns is a heartwarming follow-up to the first game, though it does fall short in terms of depth and originality. Still, the overall experience is worth it for fans of the first game, and the movie, and for Pokémon fans in general.
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Oct 13, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns is, for the most part, a delight. You’re naturally going to get the most out of this game if you’re a Pokémon fan, but even if you’re not, it provides a fun entry point to the world where monsters and humans co-exist. If you’re a seasoned mystery game player, the pace might be a little too slow for you: it’s more about enjoying the story than putting your investigation chops to the test. But if you’re willing to accept that, there’s a great deal of fun to be had here.
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Oct 5, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns is a lovely, charming sequel to the 3DS game, unfortunately let down by inexplicable graphical shortcomings. Where the first game was one of the best-looking games on its platform, Returns ends up looking rushed and unfinished for a significant amount of the game’s 15-hour runtime. If you can overlook a total lack of lighting, the core game in Detective Pikachu Returns is a charming experience that gives the best sense of how Pokémon exist alongside humans in Pokémon’s history. It’s not difficult or challenging, but it is fun, and sometimes that’s close enough.
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Oct 5, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns is not only a game that has much charm thanks to the world where it takes place or because its protagonist has all the personality in the world. The exercise of research seems very simple, even essential. However, it is still challenging. Each of the mysteries to be solved becomes more complex, and the challenge is always there.
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Oct 4, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns is a fantastic mix of cases to solve, Pokémon and Pikachu's charismatic figure. Although it is quite an enjoyable experience, it has two major flaws: low difficulty and too short a duration. Those who enjoyed the first entry will definitely have a great time with this sequel, even if it is not the masterpiece some were looking for.
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Oct 4, 2023While overtly silly and over-the-top at times, Detective Pikachu Returns effectively balances its light with its extreme darks, wielding its cuteness as a tool to tell an impactful and fairly relevant tale about corruption, felt throughout various cases.
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Oct 4, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns is just what we expected: a satisfying conclusion to the story that began with the original Nintendo 3DS game. Despite its simplicity and not too attractive graphics, we found its plot to be entertaining, and the wide variety of Pokémon present in the game will make many fans happy.
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Oct 4, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns is a charming Pokemon mystery adventure that is anchored by a heartfelt story.
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Oct 30, 2023If you’re looking for a simple, fun, family-friendly Pokémon spin-off game, Detective Pikachu Returns is a fair option. However, among all Pokémon games available on the Nintendo Switch, I would recommend virtually any other game in the Switch library over this one for any player desiring for some level of challenge.
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Oct 4, 2023Detective Pikachu: The Return is a definite step forward from the first installment, but it still lacks that quality leap that could make this subseries a must for franchise fans. The main charm of the adventure lies in the charisma of its two protagonists and the opportunity to experience the Pokémon world in a different way compared to what the main series offers. However, the game's extreme simplicity, driven by the choice to make it accessible to a wide audience, may not satisfy all fans of the saga.
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Oct 17, 2023Perhaps the most pressing question that presents itself as you play Detective Pikachu Returns, is… who is this game meant for? Obviously, adults and teens aren’t the target audience and the amount of reading required means it’s not really for little kids either. That said, I do believe there’s a niche for this game. I think older elementary school kids who can read and love the Pokémon universe may really go for this game in the same way so many have fallen for the Pokémon anime series over the years. Not every game needs to be universally appealing and I feel like this one serves its specific audience well. And hey, if you do dig Detective Pikachu Returns, there’s a fair amount of chew threw here, with a solid 12-hour campaign (which you can stretch longer if you tackle all the game’s side missions). Given the game’s budget price tag, hopefully “the case of the wasted money” won’t be a mystery that weighs on you.
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Oct 13, 2023For me Detective Pikachu Returns was very easy, but I could see the appeal to a younger audience, looking for more different Pokémon content. I would like to play in this world of Pokémon again, and if they improve on what they have now, I can see this franchise could have some longevity.
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Oct 9, 2023It can be difficult to recommend Detective Pikachu Returns, unless you are a Pokémon fan who buys absolutely everything they put in front of them. On the other hand, if you like it more casually, I would say save your money.
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Oct 5, 2023If you are looking for a Pokémon game without combat but with atmospheric staged mystery cases and a humorously presentation, Detective Pikachu Returns could be exactly your cup of tea. Well, if it's not a problem for you, that the gameplay is mostly totally unchallenging.
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Oct 4, 2023Like its predecessor, The Return of Detective Pikachu is a kind of visual novel that tells us a story, with the difference that this time it offers us greater freedom of movement and side activities in addition to the main adventure. It's a pity that no progression system has been implemented, but the scenario is a priority here, and it's not for nothing that it was easily adapted for the cinema. The title's Japanese and English dubbing has been very well done, encouraging us to leave the cinematics behind. In short, Returns may seem a little empty, but it's a breath of fresh air that does the license a world of good.
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Oct 4, 2023With a relaxed mood and an atmosphere clearly aimed at the most loyal Pokémon fans, Detective Pikachu Returns packs a gentle but interesting narrative experience that delves into the bonds between Pokémons without being boring.
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Oct 4, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns is a good deal for Sherlock Holmes fans and those who don't really like action packed games. It feels more like a long movie with a few select actual game parts. The graphical part is nothing spectacular and leaves to be desired. Lastly, the fact the game does not have PT-BR localization is a big minus especially because of the amount of dialogues and text.
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Oct 5, 2023Master Detective Pikachu Returns is a simple puzzle adventure game without much of a challenge, but with a charming storyline.
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Oct 4, 2023While there is room for improvement, the return of this odd pairing with their new bag of tricks is entertaining. Your mind won’t be changed if the style of the previous game wasn't for you, but patient gumshoes should be satisfied with a capable follow-up.
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Oct 16, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns takes some steps back compared to its 3DS predecessor – most notably in its presentation – but retains its charming writing, beautiful worldbuilding and loveable cast of both humans and Pokémon alike.
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Oct 4, 2023If you're looking for a strong challenge, you won't find any in here, but if you have toddlers at home or you just want to dive in Pokemon world without major headaches, this game will please you as much as a nice cup of coffee.
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Oct 4, 2023As a game for Pokémon’s younger fans, it works, but everything is too simple and guided for those looking even for the smallest challenge.
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Oct 4, 2023A "Layton-esque" detective game in which Pikachu is obviously the undisputed star. Light and somewhat repetitive gameplay make it suitable for a fairly young or inexperienced audience in this genre of titles. Those looking for a deeper, more complex and challenging experience should look elsewhere.
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Nov 16, 2023The game fulfills the expectations of a less demanding detective game, and for younger players or perhaps Pokémon lovers, it's a really good spin-off.
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Nov 13, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns is a welcome return for our mystery-solving duo. Although it comes across as simple in many ways, you’ll still find enjoyment if you’re in the mood for a relaxing game with a good story.
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Oct 29, 2023The wonderful story and complex characters in Detective Pikachu Returns are hampered by the game's repetitive and simplistic gameplay. Although the story, its cast of characters, and endearing Pokémon make the game worthwhile to play, it is by no means as great as the detective in the title.
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Oct 26, 2023Detective Pikachu is a fun adventure game aimed especially at children and young Pokemon lovers. Although it allows us to see the Pokemon world more closely, its too easy mechanics may alienate players looking for a more challenging game.
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Oct 18, 2023While the idea of a smart-talking Pikachu who solves crimes is one that I think almost everyone can get behind, Detective Pikachu Returns is a game with narrower appeal. If you loved the first game and can accept that this is essentially a 3DS follow-up that fell between the couch cushions for a half-decade, you might enjoy this. If you have a Pokemon-loving kid, I think they’ll get a kick out of this entry-level adventure. Otherwise, this is harder to recommend to anyone with even the smallest amount of experience with the genre. Not everything aimed at a younger audience is going to work for us big kids, and I regrettably think this is one such case.
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Oct 16, 2023Despite its rigidity and lack of innovation, investigations are okay and story is fine, and keeping in mind that it focuses on younger detective-trainers, it comes as a decent introduction to the genre.
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Oct 13, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns is a fun little Nintendo Switch adventure that is ideal for younger players, offering a colourful, eclectic mix of characters, Pokémon and storytelling. It does veer to the simpler side in places in both game design and visual fidelity, but the appeal of the Pokémon universe is strong enough to draw players of all ages into the tale. Those who were fans of the Nintendo 3DS game or simply enjoy a classic point-and-click adventure would feel right at home with Detective Pikachu Returns.
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Oct 10, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns may not be the most puzzling of adventures, but it's fun and charming enough to stay engaging.
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Oct 10, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns offers an interesting look into the world of Pokémon. While the actual crime-solving lacks depth, and dialogue cutscenes feature a bit of repetition, fans of the original 3DS game will surely find something to love in Detective Pikachu Returns. There are some witty scenes, and at times the game isn’t afraid to poke fun at real-world aspects, like the Detective Pikachu movie. In addition to this, the simple deducting feature makes the game a good fit for younger players, or for parents wanting to play together with their kids.
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Oct 10, 2023All things considered, developer Creatures has done a bang-up job at solidifying Detective Pikachu‘s niche in just two entries. What’s more, the new installment optimizes the signature real-world atmosphere with a clean image on Switch systems. Those looking to explore the world of Pokemon through a new set of eyes will surely appreciate the clever twists and turns of Detective Pikachu Returns, now available to play.
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Oct 9, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns is a great ride for younger players, with its straightforward gameplay and fun story, but layers on enough edge and bite into the writing that long time series fans will enjoy what it has to offer as well.
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Oct 9, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns is a fun albeit flawed game designed for children to enjoy with a family member next to them. Its core gameplay does get repetitive the more you play it, but what brings it all together and keeps you engaged is its story and themes that give it depth despite taking place in a game that looks too simple to even make an impact.
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Oct 4, 2023The apple didn't fall far from the tree with Detective Pikachu Returns. It's a game that stands out for its charisma, but can be guilty of being too simple, something quite similar to what happened to the Nintendo 3DS entry.
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Oct 4, 2023New gameplay mechanics, better - but not stunning - graphics, a good balance between the game elements, a quite exciting 2.0 story and less demanding challenges. All in all: a solid story adventure from the Pokémon universe.
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Oct 4, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns is a relaxing time in a universe full of characters you know and love, and it’ll make you laugh, but it won't be for everyone.
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Oct 4, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns is a decently fun little detective story. Don’t expect any intense logical deductions or unpredictable twists – but it’s fun enough to follow along with even so. The relationship between Tim and Pikachu is a highlight as are the Pokémon who help you along the way. Uninspired human character designs marr an otherwise decent presentation full of cool Pokémon and fun music.
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Oct 4, 2023Ultimately, Detective Pikachu - the Return can boast a plot that could entice the most die-hard fans of the Pokémon world but is also characterized by a somewhat sparse gameplay system, which fits into the market segment of investigative graphic adventures designed for a very young audience. The target audience is therefore quite clear but only occasionally manages to achieve the objective it has set itself.
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Oct 4, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns ends up feeling much like its predecessor, a fun story and charming world that could have benefitted from more gameplay variety. The antics of its titular character are the beating heart of the experience. And while it would have been nice to see more ambition on the gameplay front, there’s an infectious charm about Detective Pikachu Returns that’s undeniable.
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Oct 4, 2023With its virtues and flaws, it is a direct sequel of the Nintendo 3DS game. Recommended for Detective Pikachu fans.
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Oct 4, 2023The investigations are good and the story isn't bad either, and being a title aimed at young Pokémon investigators, Detective Pikachu Returns offers a good introduction to games of this type.
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Oct 4, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns serves up more of what delighted us the first time around, with an endearing and exciting story packed full of fun and light-hearted silliness. We really do enjoy this gruff, coffee-addled take on Pikachu, he never fails to raise a smile when he goes off on one, and the game successfully straddles a very thin line in giving us an adventure aimed at younger players that long-time Pokémon fans and ancient gamers such as ourselves can also enjoy. If you can handle the inherent repetitiveness of most of the core gameplay, alongside some rather drab visuals, you'll enjoy this one.
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Oct 4, 2023A game that can be enjoyed without any problem by die-hard Pokémon fans looking for original stories beyond the main games of the franchise. The younger ones will overlook its outdated graphics and will be captivated by the fantastic recreation of Pokémon in a realistic world.
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Oct 4, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns doesn't quite make good on the promise the film adaptation gave the series, but it's a solid follow-up and anyone who liked the first will double down on having a good time with the second.
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Oct 4, 2023Because of its simplicity, Detective Pikachu Returns is an easy recommendation for young kids and their parents. Hardcore fans will have some fun comparing and contrasting the game's story with the 2019 movie. For everyone else, there are better, more challenging adventures out there, even if none of them feature an electric rat with a children's sized Sherlock Holmes hat.
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Oct 4, 2023While I’ve made it clear that this game is meant for a younger audience, I still recognize its merits. The visuals are clean and crisp, even if the humans look a bit weird. Pikachu himself is a real bright spot, with more charm and personality than any other character. And if you’re a diehard Pokémon fan, there are a ton of them scattered throughout this story. But I can’t recommend this game to anyone reading this review. Rather, Detective Pikachu Returns will be a great fit for your kids. If you’re looking for a fun, approachable adventure they can dive into, this might be a pretty good choice.
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Oct 4, 2023Detective Pikachu: The Return only works as a large and varied "Pokémon container," but as a detective adventure it will only be able to give some satisfaction to the youngest players.
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Nov 16, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns marks the return of beloved duo. The game offers a perfect start for young detectives among us, but the puzzles and cases are made too easy for adults. It's mostly for families, with a linear story, but the writing is very charming.
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Oct 13, 2023Detective Pikachu 2 makes a lot of fun choices to make sure gamers know the story will differ from the movie. But different doesn’t equal interesting. While there are many interesting plot points, they are separated by miles of incredibly simple and boring game play that challenges players at the same level most children’s programming does, by waving the answer directly in your face. Younger gamers will get a kick out of this low stakes detective story but older gamers are in for an absolute slog.
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Oct 10, 2023While Detective Pikachu Returns is undeniably enjoyable, its only standout feature is its somewhat decent storyline, which ties up loose ends from the original 3DS game and provides moments of laughter as Tim and Pikachu interact with each other. However, it suffers from several issues, such as somewhat dated graphics for this day and age, a short playtime, and very easy difficulty. Nevertheless, it’s a game I’d recommend during a potential sale, allowing you to comfortably unwind in bed while enjoying Pikachu and Tim’s misadventures in Ryme City.
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Oct 4, 2023Permanently taken by the hand, the player who sets out to discover Detective Pikachu Returns must be young enough to appreciate the formula... but not too young if they don't want to be put off by the idea of spending 12 hours reading texts. As for older fans of the Pokémon saga, they will try it just to discover the end of this incredible story which features a Pikachu with a gravelly voice dressed as Sherlock Holmes and a great coffee lover.
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Oct 6, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns is definitely adorable in this Switch debut although the required deduction skills to solve its cases remain at an incredibly low bar to clear which made it hard to hold my attention for very long.
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Nov 10, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns takes place in Ryme City, a place where Pokémon live alongside humans rather than being used for battles. This is a setting that every Pokémon fan has dreamed of at least once, and the Pokémon are all portrayed wonderfully. Pikachu can now collaborate with other Pokémon during the investigation, an element that was not present in the series’ first installment. However, as a detective adventure, Detective Pikachu Returns feels overly simple and lacks depth, both in its gameplay and story.
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Nov 2, 2023Detective Pikachu brings an intriguing story that will appeal to the fans of detective games, but also a considerably simpler gameplay than its predecessor so that younger players and possibly Pokemon diehards will get the most fun out of it.
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Oct 25, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns is an especially simplistic game with very slow pace, non-existent challenge and a lot of backtracking. Nevertheless, a decent story in addition to its cute visuals may offer a passable experience for fans of Pikachu.
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Oct 24, 2023I could appreciate the animation, the odd joke, the voice acting from the English dub Pikachu, and just being in the world of Ryme City. It was an extension of the film I enjoyed and it was a place to be with my favourite Pokemon, too. I think if you temper your expectations, Detective Pikachu Returns can be exactly what it wants to be, a delightful journey through the world of Pokemon.
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Oct 22, 2023Pokemon have had a lot of brilliant spin-off games over the years. Detective Pikachu Returns isn't one of them. It's a fine game, but it has little to go with in terms of gameplay or even story.
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Oct 18, 2023Unless you’re a Pokémon fan that loves to read and are looking for something easy to play casually, Detective Pikachu Returns unfortunately doesn’t have too much to offer outside of charm. While the game does have some interesting interactive elements, it focuses more on story rather than having super engaging gameplay. It’s clear that a lot of love and care was put into the narrative and character dialogue, but the decision to rehash certain plot elements from the movie gave a strange sense of deja vu and made some of the twists feel less impactful. If for some reason you haven’t seen the movie though, I recommend playing Detective Pikachu Returns beforehand, as you’re likely to gain a lot more from the overall experience by doing so. Otherwise, it’s difficult to fully recommend this sequel that doesn’t quite live up to the quality of the 3DS original.
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Oct 18, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns had the potential to appeal to everyone as most Nintendo and Pokemon games do, but instead falls in the bracket of being a milquetoast experience that will only occupy younger players.
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Oct 13, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns is a charming, if bare-bones, mystery game that deals with surprisingly heavy themes at times. However, simplistic game mechanics and formulaic mysteries mean that more grown-up Pokémon fans may find the experience frustrating at times.
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Oct 12, 2023If you get into it, you can spend a few entertaining hours with Master Detective Pikachu Returns, even as an adult. Think of it as a kind of meditative experience that is more about entertainment and less about cracking difficult cases. These are set up very simply, and will only have children do a bit of mulling. On the whole, it's not a very long game, but it shows that the Pokémon world has more to offer than just the same pattern as in the main games.
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Oct 10, 2023If you’re in the market for a laidback, autopilot sort of game — or if you just happen to be a big fan of Pokémon, Detective Pikachu Returns serves as a great palate cleanser as we inch closer and closer towards the onslaught of AAA, action-heavy games that accompany the holiday season. On the other hand, if you’re looking for something to fill the void left by Ace Attorney or Professor Layton, it’s a harder one to recommend based on the gameplay alone.
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Oct 9, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns is a charming sequel that relies on its beloved IP to get by, delivering a story that's more engaging than most Pokemon adventures but falling flat with uninspired gameplay and dated visuals.
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Oct 8, 2023Overall, this game is a charming mystery story that’s a little disappointing in its execution. If only looked at through the view that it is a child’s game, it is slightly better. My fear would be the conversations are possibly too drawn out for smaller children to engage with. If you absolutely love Pokémon more than anything or are between the ages of 5 and 12, it might be worth a play through.
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Oct 6, 2023A charming, if basic, detective game is transformed into a patronisingly simplistic visual novel for only the youngest of Pokémon fans.
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Oct 6, 2023At its core, a rather likable and enjoyable adventure game marred by exceptionally low difficulty levels and unimaginative gameplay. The lackluster audio-visual elements further compound its shortcomings. The overall presentation resembles a dated attempt at a children's detective story, catering exclusively to a kids' audience.
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Oct 4, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns maintains the charm and simplicity of the original game, which makes it another great entry-level game for children. On the other hand, it stands in the shadow of it’s predecessor, since the mystery fails to retain interest. Still, Returns is a worthwhile experience for Pokémon fans, who’ll find depth and the fun in dialogue and interactions with the little monsters.
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Oct 4, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns is charming and well-made enough for what it is, but that is a mystery game made for younger readers. Its setting, story, and mechanics are all geared toward gently introducing the uninitiated to mystery tropes with a soft-touch approach, and that makes it hard to recommend for any age group above tweens. There's some satisfaction to be had in seeing the story unfold, but mostly this is a game made to be played by or with kids, not to make you feel like a kid again.
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Oct 4, 2023Mostly, Detective Pikachu Returns does what its title promises. It’s a little longer than the first game, coming in at just over 20 hours, but other than that it’s still Pikachu stealing the show, some cosy and straightforward crimes that take a little too long, and some more interesting puzzles on the way. It won’t make you think too hard, but it’s relaxing and opens up the world of Pokemon a little wider. Fans of the first game will welcome the sequel with open arms, but those looking for a Pokemon-themed LA Noire may need to keep searching.
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Oct 4, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns is a straightforward mystery adventure whose strengths lie in its Pokémon setting and breakout star.
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Oct 4, 2023The mystery story of Detective Pikachu Returns makes some bizarre and unexpectedly dark choices to get to its underwhelmingly predictable conclusion, and as a result it’s unclear who this is all for. Is it for young kids who will find the simplified puzzles about right, or adults who grew up with Pikachu and can handle the more mature themes of the second half? It’s still a cute, bubbly, animated adventure with humor, unique pokemon to meet, and a mystery to solve, but the mystery solving is long-winded, the visuals are lackluster, and the gameplay is so basic it might as well not be there at all.
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Oct 4, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns is a decent, though bland, introduction to adventure games that's elevated by its off-kilter use of the Pokémon franchise.
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Oct 4, 2023Detective Pikachu is full of simple puzzles, witty dialogue and Pokemon to discover. It won't thrill older fans from a gameplay perspective, and it's visually inconsistent, but it will likely introduce thousands of young fans to a whole new genre of video games.
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Oct 4, 2023Like recent mainline Pokémon games, Detective Pikachu Returns struggles to find a way for the franchise's wide-ranging fanbase to coexist. Childproofed investigation systems don’t leave much room for surprise in a string of heavily telegraphed cases. Thankfully, both kids and adults will find some common ground in a playful adventure that has a lot of fun bringing personality to the series’ various critters.
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Oct 4, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns is more adventures with the charming electric mouse from the original, but the straightforward investigation mechanics can be incredibly frustrating in a game that wouldn't look out of place on the Wii U.
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Oct 4, 2023Investigations are multi-staged, and some of the reveals are interesting if not particularly surprising. The inclusion of newer-generation Pokémon since the original title makes Ryme City feel even more alive and part of the Pokémon world, and the city is full of small details to really drive home the idea of people and Pokémon living together.
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Nov 2, 2023While I loved the movie’s story and heart, Detective Pikachu Returns at the end of the day just felt boring to me. In my opinion the best part about the game that sees players use partner Pokémon was wildly underused and the game would have been more fun with more of those. In a year like 2023 where Nintendo is dropping games like Legend of Zelda: TotK, Pikmin 4, Mario Wonder and more I think we can forgive them for having one case that was closed too early.
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Oct 18, 2023I enjoyed my time with Detective Pikachu Returns, in spite of its lackluster presentation and mediocre meandering. Not just because of some silly scenes like the divorce mac and cheese, but because it’s Pokemon, and it’s always fun to see Pokemon living normal lives around human characters (or without). Nonetheless, Detective Pikachu Returns just isn’t a very good game, it fails to meet the presentation quality of the original despite having better hardware, and the gameplay gimmicks don’t make up for the back and forth that lack any real detective work. At the very least it should have combined the first game to make for a complete experience.
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Oct 16, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns falls flat, feeling like a hollow experience with under-baked and sparse bolts of brilliance. Wide and mostly empty areas, a difficulty level smaller than a Cutiefly, slightly more gameplay than your standard visual novel, short run time and limited usage of its one truly unique and fun mechanic. Forgive the cliche, but most of Detective Pikachu Returns’ moves just weren’t very effective.
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Oct 16, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns is a fun game to play if you're a kid. For adults it's way too easy and graphically it doesn't impress one moment. It's also kind of stupid that the game doesn't have localisation in every country when its targeting kids as the main audience. A bit of shame, since the core of the game can be fun and charismatic.
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Oct 10, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns arrives on Nintendo Switch with the promise of concluding the narrative than was born in 2016. The story is indeed told to the end, but at the cost of one of the great qualities that defined its predecessor: puzzles as a visual representation of reasoning. Gameplay has become an automated, unnecessarily simplified process, capable of insulting even the youngest players. If you're expecting Detective Pikachu Returns to be a step forward in this line of Pokémon spinoffs, through a narrative evolution and a deepening of the detective mechanics, you'll be disappointed. It's just another Pokémon game that validates the feeling Nintendo has left us with: the comfort of the franchise's success and popularity allows it to produce titles without soul or effort.
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Oct 10, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns brings you back to Ryme City to solve crimes once again. While there’s a cute story and some light-hearted fun, the visual quality and price of the game let it down.
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Oct 8, 2023When it’s at its best, Detective Pikachu Returns delivers the charm and cuteness that have always been hallmarks of the Pokemon franchise. However, all too frequently it fails to reach those heights thanks to shallow gameplay, a bloated story, and repetitive missions that feel lackluster, no matter what age demographic they are targeting.
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Oct 4, 2023Unless you're a Poke-Fanatic or a young child, Detective Pikachu Returns probably won't hold very much for you. Detective Pikachu is still a joy to watch, but his shenanigans are hardly worth the $50 price tag. However, I think that this game would be a great fit for younger Pokemon fans who aren't looking for deep multi-layered mysteries. As much as I wished that Detective Pikachu Returns had a stronger storyline, Detective Pikachu still has plenty of charm and the kids seem to enjoy his shenanigans as much as they did during his movie.
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Oct 11, 2023Apart from reading, walking around, pushing together clues that are already next to each other and sometimes completing a quick-time event that you can't lose (!), nothing happens in Detective Pikachu Returns. Part 2 now provides new partners, for example Fukano now supports you with his sniffing nose. But that doesn't change the untapped potential and doesn't take the game to a new level. Even the story is so boring and predictable that I don't want to repeat it here. The game doesn't expect anything from you, but you have to continue it again by pressing a button. In this respect, the film of the same name gives you a much better experience - and significantly cheaper. All that remains is the Pokémon skin and charm: instead of crooks, you chase Pokémon like Mewtwo. Instead of interviewing witnesses, you take the statements of Pokémon. Yes, super cute, but so is every other Pokémon game. No case is particularly memorable. Or to put it another way: If Sherlock Holmes ever runs out of narcotics, he can also play this for five minutes.
| This publication does not provide a score for their reviews. | |
| This publication has not posted a final review score yet. | |
| These unscored reviews do not factor into the Metascore calculation. | |
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Oct 6, 2023The new entry of Detective Pikachu is far from being a great game, and it shows again that Pokémon has to reconsider the quality of the series.
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Oct 10, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns isn’t setting up a sequel, and while I’m glad to have some closure, I am sad to leave Ryme City. Sometimes I get tired of sending Pokémon out for battle to knock each other out, and I just want to go on adventures with Pikachu by my side. Detective Pikachu Returns is imperfect, but lets me revisit the Pokémon world I’d most like to live in. I hope, even if this is the end of Tim and Pikachu’s story, it’s not the end of The Pokémon Company doing interesting, off-the-wall adventure games that can look at this universe in fresh ways.
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Oct 4, 2023Detective Pikachu Returns is a welcome deviation from the mainline Pokémon games, thanks to its charming story and characters. It’s also a rare chance to see what life is like for Pokémon themselves, beyond the series’ focus on trainers, gym leaders, and professors of pocket monster studies. For the younger Pokémon fan with a thirst for solving mysteries, it’s easy to recommend. For longtime Pokémon fans, it’s simply a pleasant change of pace — and a big dose of Pokémon personality.
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Oct 4, 2023It doesn’t feel entirely fair to compare Detective Pikachu Returns to Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, which are much bigger, more complex games that have a lot more going on in the background (we’re not supposed to be able to phase through). But when you compare this new game to something like New Pokémon Snap, it’s impossible not to feel like Creatures absolutely dropped the ball or at least didn’t capitalize on a prime opportunity to take the Detective Pikachu chunk of the Pokémon franchise to its next level.