Highlights
- Detective Pikachu Returns is the highly anticipated sequel to the original game and film, featuring the coffee-loving and tough-talking Pikachu.
- The game will retain its mystery-solving adventure style, with Pikachu and Tim teaming up to unravel Pokemon-related cases in Ryme City.
- New Pokemon abilities and characters, including returning favorites like Mewtwo, will be featured, adding depth and excitement to the sequel.
A new trailer for Detective Pikachu Returns was just shown off during the recent Pokemon Presents livestream, revealing some more information about the upcoming sequel’s cast, new Pokemon abilities, and plot. The original Detective Pikachu was released on the Nintendo 3DS in 2016 as a mystery-solving adventure spin-off in which players teamed up with a new version of Pikachu to unravel various Pokemon-related cases. Detective Pikachu quickly gained a devoted following and won multiple awards, and a live-action film adaptation was produced in 2019 starring Ryan Reynolds as the voice of the titular rodent gumshoe.
Rumors of a Detective Pikachu sequel were circulating as far back as last fall before it was officially announced during June’s Nintendo Direct livestream. Aside from getting an official name and release date, details about Detective Pikachu Returns were rather sparse, though it was confirmed that the coffee-loving, tough-talking Pikachu will once again partner with Tim Goodman to solve cases in Ryme City. Fans also noticed returning characters like Mewtwo, who could very well have a major role in the sequel’s plot. Now The Pokemon Company has revealed more clues about Detective Pikachu Returns ahead of its launch on the Nintendo Switch on October 26.
The latest Pokemon Presents livestream was streamed on August 8, and with it came a host of announcements and reveals for various Pokemon games, animated media, and live events. One of these was a new trailer for Detective Pikachu Returns, in which the gruff-but-lovable Pokemon investigator reintroduced himself, Tim, and the various citizens of Ryme City - where humans and Pokemon live and work together in harmony. Pikachu and Tim are still solving cases together while looking for clues about Tim’s missing father Harry and working to uncover the secrets behind a new threat to the city.
Just like in the first Detective Pikachu, the duo of Pikachu and Tim solve these cases by questioning suspects and looking for clues - with the latter talking to the humans and the former addressing the Pokemon. The pair use their case notebook to piece together the clues they uncover - and this time they have a few new helpers with useful skills to aid in the investigation. Growlithe can use its strong sense of smell to sniff out trails and lead Pikachu to suspects, while the powerful Galarian Darmanitan can break down obstacles with its mighty punches.
Pikachu hints that other Pokemon will be able to assist him and Tim on their missions in Detective Pikachu Returns, and that he and Tim will be able to hang out at the Pokemon-run High Hat Cafe for a warm cup of coffee between missions. More information about Detective Pikachu will likely be uncovered in the run-up to its October launch, and the game already looks like a promising evolution to the spin-off that charmed Pokemon fans a few years ago.
Detective Pikachu Returns releases on Nintendo Switch on October 6, 2023.
