Detective Pikachu Returns is a 2023 adventure and puzzle-solving video game for the Nintendo Switch, developed by Creatures Inc. and published by The Pokémon Company (Japan) and Nintendo (worldwide). It is the sequel to 2018’s Detective Pikachu for the Nintendo 3DS and was released on October 6, 2023.
Note: this game is a separate work from the 2019 live-action film Pokémon Detective Pikachu starring Ryan Reynolds. The two share a name, a detective-hatted Pikachu, and the setting of Ryme City, but they have entirely different casts, composers, and soundtracks — a distinction earlier versions of this page did not make clearly.
Genre: Adventure, puzzle, and mystery-comedy. Platform: Nintendo Switch.
Quick Facts
| Title | Detective Pikachu Returns |
| Type | Video Game (Nintendo Switch) |
| Release Date | October 6, 2023 |
| Developer | Creatures Inc. |
| Publisher | The Pokémon Company / Nintendo |
| Composer | Takuto Kitsuta |
| Where to Play | Nintendo Switch (Nintendo eShop) |
Story and Development
Set two years after the original Detective Pikachu, the game follows Tim Goodman and his talking partner, Detective Pikachu, as they investigate a string of new Pokémon-related incidents in Ryme City while continuing to search for clues about Tim’s missing father, Harry. The mystery widens to involve a jewel theft at the estate of jeweler Sanjeev Denis, an inaugural Pokémon Friendship Week hosted by Ryme City’s mayor, and the reappearance of Mewtwo — blending point-and-click detective puzzles with the series’ signature humor.
Direction was led by Yasunori Yanagisawa and Katsuyoshi Irie of Creatures Inc., with Masamichi Anazawa, Akira Kinashi, and Shinya Saito producing, and Hiroyuki Jinnai credited as writer. The game was first shown at a Nintendo Direct in June 2023, with a gameplay-focused trailer following on August 8, 2023, ahead of its October release.
A tie-in anime short, Detective Pikachu & the Mystery of the Missing Flan, produced by Polygon Pictures, premiered on YouTube on October 25, 2023, to accompany the game’s launch window. Detective Pikachu Returns went on to be the best-selling retail game in Japan during its first week of release, with over 85,000 physical copies sold, though it drew a mixed critical reception overall.
Who composed the Detective Pikachu Returns soundtrack?
Takuto Kitsuta composed the score for Detective Pikachu Returns. Kitsuta is Creatures Inc.’s longtime in-house composer, known for scoring the Pokémon Ranger, PokéPark, and Detective Pikachu series. The game’s soundtrack is credited to Kitsuta together with the Nintendo Sound Team.
Unlike the 2019 live-action film, Detective Pikachu Returns has not received a formal retail soundtrack album release; the complete score has circulated through fan-archived rips and YouTube playlists rather than an official streaming release. For clarity: the live-action Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019) was scored separately by Henry Jackman, whose soundtrack (with tracks like “Mewtwo Awakes” and “Ryme City”) belongs to that film only and is not part of this 2023 game.
Voice Cast
The English dub features Kaiji Tang reprising his role as the voice of Detective Pikachu, alongside Khoi Dao as Tim Goodman and Laura Stahl as Rachel.
Detective Pikachu Returns is available exclusively on Nintendo Switch, playable both on the console and via the Nintendo eShop. As a first-party Nintendo/Pokémon title, it is not available on any other platform or streaming service. The game received mixed-to-average reviews from critics, holding a 66/100 on Metacritic and a 26% recommended score on OpenCritic.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed the music for Detective Pikachu Returns?
The 2023 Nintendo Switch game was composed by Takuto Kitsuta, Creatures Inc.’s longtime composer for the Pokémon Ranger, PokéPark, and Detective Pikachu series, working alongside the Nintendo Sound Team.
Is Detective Pikachu Returns the same as the Pok\u00e9mon Detective Pikachu movie?
No. Detective Pikachu Returns (2023) is a Nintendo Switch video game developed by Creatures Inc. It is unrelated in cast, composer, and soundtrack to Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019), the live-action film starring Ryan Reynolds and scored by Henry Jackman.
Who directed Detective Pikachu Returns?
The game was directed by Yasunori Yanagisawa and Katsuyoshi Irie of Creatures Inc., with Masamichi Anazawa, Akira Kinashi, and Shinya Saito producing.
What platform is Detective Pikachu Returns available on?
It is exclusive to the Nintendo Switch, released October 6, 2023.
Who voices Detective Pikachu in the game?
Kaiji Tang voices Detective Pikachu in the English dub, with Khoi Dao as Tim Goodman and Laura Stahl as Rachel.
Is there an official Detective Pikachu Returns soundtrack album?
No official retail soundtrack album has been released for the game. Takuto Kitsuta’s score is credited in-game and has circulated through fan-archived rips rather than a formal album release.
How was Detective Pikachu Returns received?
It earned mixed reviews (66/100 on Metacritic) but was commercially strong, becoming the best-selling retail game in Japan during its first week with over 85,000 physical copies sold.
Related reading: Video Game Soundtracks | Movie Soundtracks