Detective Pikachu

72%
Game Brain Score Based on 90 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Detective Pikachu Game Cover
Detective Pikachu is a surprisingly charming Telltale-like game filled with humor, twists, and a sassy electric rodent. More than a mish-mash of minigames, it's a shockingly solid title with first-class voice acting.

Detective Pikachu is a 3DS game where players help Tim Goodman, a young man searching for his missing father in Ryme City, a place where Pokémon and humans coexist. Tim teams up with a talking Pikachu, who has detective skills, as they investigate Pokémon-related incidents and solve various cases to find Tim's father. The unique adventure combines puzzle-solving and dialogues to uncover the mysteries of Ryme City.

  • Nintendo 3ds
Play Modes

Reviews

72%
Audience ScoreBased on 90 reviews
story11 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • The game features a charming storyline with plenty of twists and turns, making it engaging and enjoyable for players of all ages.
  • The animation and music are well-executed, contributing to a fun and relaxing gaming experience.
  • Detective Pikachu Returns allows for family participation in solving mysteries, making it a great choice for group play.
  • The gameplay is overly simplistic and often feels more like reading a book than playing a game, which may disappoint those looking for more interactive challenges.
  • Many players found the game to be too short, with a lack of depth in the puzzles and story, leading to a quick completion time.
  • Frequent cutscenes and hand-holding mechanics can slow down progress and detract from the overall experience.
  • story27 mentions

    The story of the game is generally well-received, featuring a fun and engaging narrative that appeals to both kids and dedicated Pokémon fans, with charming character interactions and solid voice acting. However, some players find the pacing slow and the plot derivative, particularly noting similarities to the movie adaptation. While the overarching story is interesting, some critiques highlight that the game feels more like an interactive story than a traditional game, leading to mixed feelings about its engagement level.

    • “The first Detective Pikachu game is about Tim Goodman and a talking Pikachu investigating Pokémon that have gone berserk (caused by a substance called R) while looking for Tim’s missing father, Harry, and, yes, this was the plot of the movie.”
    • “Dedicated fans of the series will likely get the most out of the experience, with the game’s art, storytelling, and genuinely likeable cast showing the world of Pokémon in a great new light, but we’d urge anyone interested to give this one a go.”
    • “Fantastic writing with great character interactions and an engaging story; wonderful voice acting and great graphics; the game knows it has a ridiculous premise, and it runs with it.”
    • “My son loves most Pokémon games, but he only played this one once for about 30 minutes. The storyline is not engaging, and it forces you to tap without any real skill or purpose.”
    • “The story is slow-moving and tedious.”
    • “I'm a reader, but since I was under the impression this was a game, not an interactive story to read, I am not happy with this book posing as a game.”
  • graphics9 mentions

    The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising them as nice and adorable, while others criticize them as horrible and inconsistent. Overall, the visuals are often described as charming and well-integrated with the game's themes, but there are notable complaints about sluggish UI and poor execution in certain areas.

    • “The graphics are nice and the controls are easy to learn.”
    • “The graphics are nice, the music is good, and there is decent voice work, especially on Pikachu, along with fanservice and lore building.”
    • “Adorable graphics and sound, providing a good way to learn about Pokémon, with an interesting and engaging overarching story that gradually unfolds.”
    • “The story, mechanics, and graphics are horrible.”
    • “It's like an interactive novel, with horrible graphics and really bad voice acting.”
    • “Graphics are bad, gameplay is linear and poor.”
  • gameplay9 mentions

    The gameplay is generally considered simplistic and repetitive, with a lack of challenge and variety that may only appeal to younger players. While the presentation and narrative elements are engaging, many reviewers noted that the mechanics and puzzles do not evolve significantly throughout the game, leading to a somewhat underwhelming experience. Overall, the game offers a solid package but may not satisfy those seeking depth and complexity in gameplay.

    • “The quirkiness, presentation, strong voice acting, and characters help push past the simplistic gameplay, and the narrative the game tells is surprisingly engaging.”
    • “Gameplay is pretty simple.”
    • “The gameplay can be a bit too simple.”
    • “This game was $50 for 10 hours of gameplay!”
    • “The story, mechanics, and graphics are horrible.”
    • “The gameplay can be a bit too simple, with no challenge for anyone other than a child, and a lack of gameplay variety; the 'aha' moments are too predictable.”
  • humor7 mentions

    The humor in "Detective Pikachu" is widely praised for its charm and wit, with the titular character's sassy personality and the campy tone contributing to a delightful experience. While the game features a unique premise and solid voice acting, some players noted that certain segments lacked depth and humor. Overall, the comedic elements are generally well-received, enhancing the storytelling and character interactions.

    • “Detective Pikachu is a surprisingly charming Telltale-like game filled with humor, twists, and a sassy electric rodent.”
    • “Pikachu as a grizzled, talking detective is a hilarious gimmick.”
    • “Detective Pikachu himself is hilarious, and there’s a nicely varied supporting cast with humor that lands more often than not.”
    • “The humor is far too simple and relies on lots of hand-holding, making it unfunny.”
    • “There is poor logic in certain segments that detracts from the overall humor.”
    • “The jokes often fall flat and lack the cleverness expected in a game.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and slow-moving, particularly noting that it can be especially unengaging for adult audiences.

    • “If you are an adult, it will be a tedious time, I promise.”
    • “The story is slow-moving and tedious.”
    • “It becomes tedious.”
  • music2 mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, with users praising its quality and how it complements the animation and graphics. Additionally, the voice work, particularly for Pikachu, adds to the overall positive experience, enhancing fanservice and lore building.

    • “I also really like the animation and music.”
    • “The graphics are nice, the music is good, and the voice work is decent, especially on Pikachu. It has great fan service and lore building.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game boasts high replayability, encouraging players to return for multiple playthroughs.

    • “The replay value is incredibly high, offering new experiences with each playthrough.”
    • “Every time I play, I discover something new, making it feel fresh and exciting.”
    • “The variety of choices and outcomes ensures that no two playthroughs are ever the same.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

71% average critic score

Play time

10hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
6-12hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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