Detective Pikachu Returns: release date, trailers, gameplay, and more

By Jesse Lennox August 17, 2023

One of the more forgotten entries in the monster-catching franchise is also the most unique. Detective Pikachu was originally a 3DS game (and a feature film) that cast Pikachu as a smooth-talking (that’s right, he talks!) detective who teams up with a kid named Tim Goodman to solve various mysteries. Rather than play like an RPG, this entry was more of an adventure game, focusing on story and, naturally, solving mysteries. After the success of the game and film, it was only a matter of time before a sequel game was announced. The wait turned out to be quite a bit longer than many expected, but now that Detective Pikachu Returns has been officially announced, we’ve put on our caps and collected all the clues about this upcoming adventure.

Contents

Release date
Platform
Trailers
Gameplay
Preorder

Release date

Nintendo

Detective Pikachu Returns is right around the corner. The game will launch on October 6, 2023.

Recommended Videos

Platform

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Pokémon franchise has always been exclusive to Nintendo consoles, so Detective Pikachu Returns will only be coming to the Switch.

Trailers

Detective Pikachu Returns - Nintendo Direct 6.21.2023

The reveal trailer for Detective Pikachu Returns reveals the, well, return of Detective Pikachu and Tim Goodman. We see shots of Ryme City as humans and Pokemon live together and the mayor announces the beginning of Pokémon Friendship Week.

Aside from shots of new Pokémon the duo will meet and work with, including Mewtwo, we are completely in the dark about what cases our heroes will need to unravel.

Detective Pikachu Returns with a Bolt of Brilliance

The following Bolt of Brilliance trailer rehashes a lot from the original trailer, but goes much deeper into the gameplay and characters. It also reveals the main mystery being solved involves Detective Pikachu trying to track down his former partner, Harry, who has gone missing. Harry is Tim’s father, who we know will be teaming up with the little yellow detective this time around. His mother and sister, Irene and Sophia, will also play some role in the narrative. A friend of Tim’s, Rachel, is the daughter of the mayor of Rhyme City, Howard Myers.

Gameplay

Nintendo

Not a single hint of gameplay was shown off in the initial trailer, but the second did give us a good look at what we’ll be doing.

During an investigation, Tim will interview the humans while Pikachu handles the Pokemon, and then they’ll share their information to make deductions.

On the crime scene, you will examine and select elements in the environment that may be clues. What’s new is that occasionally other Pokemon will lend their special skills to help you solve cases. Growlith, for example, can track suspects by their scent, while Darmanitan can break down certain walls or obstacles.

Preorder

Nintendo / The Pokemon Company

You won’t have to do any sleuthing to find preorders for Detective Pikachu Returns. The game is available now to preorder on Nintendo’s official site. You only have the one, normal edition to pick from which costs $50.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Jesse Lennox loves writing, games, and complaining about not having time to write and play games. He knows the names of more…

Gaming

PlayStation 6: release date speculation, price, specs, and more

In a recent quote, Sony Senior Vice President Naomi Matsuoka said: "Looking ahead, PS5 will enter the latter stage of its life cycle." Many in the industry took that to mean that we may be hearing about the next PlayStation console sooner rather than later.

Considering Sony has yet to break its naming convention, it feels safe to assume whatever future home console we get will be called the PlayStation 6. But not only has the name not been officially confirmed, but neither has the idea of a next-generation PlayStation console or even a PS5 Pro. It's almost a guarantee, but technically nothing is set in stone. Rumors and potential leaks have already started stirring up excitement, so let's see what the future of PlayStation may look like according to the rumors.
Release date speculation

Gaming

Homeworld 3: release date window, trailer, pre-order, and more

The long, long wait for a new Homeworld title is finally coming to a close. This classic RTS series once stood toe-to-toe with the titans of the genre such as StarCraft and Command and Conquer, but aside from a more recent prequel, it hasn't been seen since the sequel in 2003.

At the same time, the entire RTS genre has fallen from the grace it once enjoyed, with almost none of the major names existing in that space anymore. However, we did get hints at a proper Homeworld sequel coming in the future after Gearbox purchased the rights and released the Homeworld Remastered Collection, a prequel game called Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak, and even a tabletop version of the game. Here's everything we know so far about this RTS title.
Release date

Gaming

Frostpunk 2: release date, trailers, gameplay and more

Winter, or should we say Frostpunk 2, is coming. The sequel to one of the most brutal takes on the city-building genre has been cooking for a long time, and fans have been eagerly anticipating any scrap of news about this chilling title. The original was one of the few games to mix survival and city simulation elements together, all wrapped up in a frozen backdrop that made every decision harrowing. So come, sit by the warmth of the furnace, and learn everything we know about Frostpunk 2.
Release date

Frostpunk 2 got a release date of July 25, 2024 during the Xbox Partner Preview showcase in March.
Platforms
As of the time of this writing, Frostpunk 2 is only confirmed to be coming to PC. However, the original game was also a PC exclusive before later being ported to console, so it is possible the sequel will follow a similar staggered release schedule.
Trailers
Frostpunk 2 Announcement Trailer