Is Detective Pikachu Returns a Remake? Story Overview

The original Detective Pikachu, not to be confused with the film, was released in early 2016 for the Nintendo 3DS systems. On 6 October 2023, more than eight years later, a new game called "Detective Pikachu Returns" is releasing, from developer Creatures and published by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo.

Some fans are wondering if Detective Pikachu Returns is actually a brand-new game or a remake/remaster of the original for the Nintendo Switch...

Detective Pikachu Returns: A Sequel or Remake?

If you are one of the gamers who wonder if Detective Pikachu Returns might be a remake/remaster due to the game's name, then we've got some news to share. 

Detective Pikachu Returns is not a remake or a remaster. It is a sequel to the original title, developed from the ground up by Creatures, and once again follows the exploits of, you guessed it, Detective Pikachu and Tim Goodman!

Detective Pikachu Returns Story Overview

Now that you know that Detective Pikachu Returns is a completely new game and not a remake/remaster let's take a look at the official story overview.

The game takes place in Ryme City, where Pokémon-related incidents are taking place. You will once again play with Tim Goodman and partner up with  Detective Pikachu to solve mysteries. One of the biggest mysteries in Detective Pikachu Returns is the disappearance of Tim's father, Harry Goodman. You can read an official story overview for Detective Pikachu Returns returns below.

Unravel a series of mysteries across Ryme City with a tough-talking, coffee-loving Pikachu and his human partner, Tim Goodman. When a jewel theft occurs, the case sets this great detective duo down a path filled with mystery. Why did Tim’s father, Harry, go missing? What is causing the Pokémon-related incidents around Ryme City? Answer these questions and more by searching for clues, investigating scenes, and using your case notebook to make deductions.

We do expect the game's story to last over a dozen hours, as the first title in this spin-off series took, on average, 14 hours to complete.

In case you've missed it, check out the Detective Pikachu Returns trailer below, showcasing Ryme City and some of the main characters you will meet in this brand-new story.

So there you have it: Detective Pikachu Returns is not a remake or remaster. This is a brand-new game for the Nintendo Switch, with new mysteries to solve in Ryme City.