Detective Pikachu Returns Reviews
Detective Pikachu Returns might not push the boundaries in terms of graphics, and it certainly won’t bend your mind with its easy and straightforward deductions. However, it’s a charming game with cute character interactions, a good sense of humor, and an interesting story. Some games just make you feel happy when you play them, and I found Detective Pikachu Returns to be one of those games.
Detective 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.
While 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.
Detective Pikachu Returns is a charming mystery adventure. The long-awaited sequel to Tim Goodman's saga was worth the wait.
Detective Pikachu Returns is a half-decent sequel to a flawed original; it may be a great experience for younger children who love Pokémon, but weak puzzles and lackluster dialogue will disengage the rest of us.
Detective 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.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Detective Pikachu Returns isn’t for everyone, with too much reading for little ones and an overly-gentle difficulty curve for adults, but I think some kids, particularly those just beginning to read and explore the greater Pokémon universe, will have a great time with the game. A surprisingly robust world, diverse mysteries, and involving plot may even draw in some parents, despite badly-dated visuals. Investigate Detective Pikachu Returns before buying, but if it seems like it’s right for you or your kids, don’t hold back – it might just hit you like a minor bolt of brilliance.
It 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.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
If 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.
Review in German | Read full review
In closing, The Return of Detective Pikachu is an entertaining spin-off that brings a fun new perspective to the universe. Sure, there are a few flaws, but the heartfelt story should satisfy even the youngest fans of the franchise.
Review in French | Read full review
I had a fantastic time with Detective Pikachu Returns, with more than a couple of jokes and moments having me laugh or smile at the screen. I would often wish I had been playing it with someone else in the room with me as I wanted to point out silly little jokes, comments from Pikachu or odd things the other Pokemon in the game were doing. It's got some issues, but I never once wanted to stop playing it. Now excuse me while I make a coffee!
Detective Pikachu Returns isn't among the best adventure games, but it presents a solid experience especially designed for newcomers to the genre. Despite some mistakes, fans of the original title will really like the new experience, which manages to have a consistent evolution in relation to its predecessor.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Detective Pikachu: The Return is a sequel that remains too much anchored in the past, fossilizing in a "comfort zone" that returns a production that differs little from its predecessor in terms of novelty.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Detective Pikachu Returns is a simple puzzle adventure without much of a challenge, but with a charming story.
Review in German | Read full review
While 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.
If you like strong challenges, surely this game is not for you, but if you have kids at home or you are looking to immerse yourself in the Pokémon world without further complications, this game will please you like a good cup of coffee.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
A "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.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Because 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.
Detective 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.
Detective Pikachu Returns serves up more of what delighted us 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.