Detective Pikachu Returns

Detective 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.

Detective Pikachu Returns is a seriously stimulating spin-off for Pokemon fans, both new and old.

Detective 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.

I know, objectively, that Pokémon games are for kids. The cute characters, the color schemes, the relatively simple combat mechanics. All designed to appeal to a broad audience and a wide age range. At the same time, Detective Pikachu Returns is especially for kids, you know? Something about the writing, the voice acting, and the game design makes me feel like I’m not supposed to be playing this game. This might be the first Pokémon game I’ve played in recent memory that is aggressively not for me.

Did Sherlock just get a little shorter or is that Detective Pikachu? Well, he's back for another mystery adventure so let's check it out.

“Detective Pikachu Returns works as a charming interactive cartoon, but its simplified deduction takes some of the mystery out of it.”

Detective Pikachu Returns is a straightforward mystery adventure whose strengths lie in its Pokémon setting and breakout star.

Detective Pikachu Returns is a charming adventure game for kids new to the mystery genre, but it's so gentle that adults may get Drowzee.

Detective 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.

As a general fan of both Pokémon and detective stories, I was excited to get my teeth into this family-friendly adventure game. That excitement was short-lived, however, as it quickly became clear that this is a game aimed less at everyone in the family, and more at young children. If I was under the age of twelve I would be more inclined to enjoy the simple gameplay, but that is not to say Detective Pikachu Returns is without its charms.

I really wanted to love this game, especially because I enjoyed my time with it. But there is just no way I can recommend this title to anyone who isn’t either really into Pokémon or ready to ride out the game with their kids or some friends. There’s charm, but it isn’t anything special, and that’s a shame because it had so much potential to be great.

When it’s at its best, Detective Pikachu Returns delivers the charm and cuteness that have always been hallmarks of the Pokémon 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.