Cody Gravelle
Screen Rant"A Fine Game That Knows Its Niche": Detective Pikachu Returns Review
Published 10/4/2023
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
70
+4 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalCritic Atlas
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Switch - 10/6/2023
Detective Pikachu Returns
Solve mysteries with the personality-packed Detective Pikachu! Unravel a series of mysteries across Ryme City with a tough-talking, coffee-loving Pikachu who calls himself a great detective. This Pikachu may have a self-assured attitude and talk like a middle-aged man, but he somehow manages to keep his lovable charm. Together with his partner Tim Goodman, this great detective duo cracks several cases with the help of the many Pokémon and people who live in Ryme City.
- Developer
- Creatures Inc.
- Publisher
- The Pokémon Company, Nintendo
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Critic average
66
Average of 28 scored external reviews.
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Whimsical / playful / lightheartedDefining · Curated baseline
Story / character-drivenDefining · Curated baseline
Puzzle / logic-focusedDefining · Curated baseline
Strategic / planning-heavyStrongly · Curated baseline
Exploration-drivenStrongly · Curated baseline
Cozy / low-pressureStrongly · Curated baseline
Atmosphere-driven / aesthetic identityStrongly · Curated baseline
Systems / mechanics-drivenModerately · Curated baseline
Show 11 more descriptors
Side-content richModerately · Curated baseline
Serious / dark / groundedSlightly · Curated baseline
Highly replayableSlightly · Curated baseline
Punishing / high-pressureSlightly · Curated baseline
Short / focusedSlightly · Curated baseline
Run-based / proceduralNot present · Curated baseline
Reflex / execution-heavyNot present · Curated baseline
Combat / action-focusedNot present · Curated baseline
Buildcraft / customization-heavyNot present · Curated baseline
Loot / progression-drivenNot present · Curated baseline
Multiplayer / socialNot present · Curated baseline
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Review coverage
Critic signal strength
Numeric critic scoring uses full scored reviews once available. Review-in-progress scores act as temporary early signal only until full review scores exist. Unscored reviews still count as coverage, but they are not included in the critic average.
High confidencePolarized
Critic avg
66
28 scored reviews
Total coverage
28
All coverage currently scored
Score range
50–90
Lowest to highest scored review
Signal shape
Polarized
Score range is 31+ points
Critic landscape
The critic average is 66 across 28 scored reviews, with a 40-point spread. Critics are far apart on this one.
How to read this
Treat the average carefully. A polarized landscape is where reviewer match, review text, and score deltas matter more than the headline number.
Most scored reviews currently sit in the 70–79 band.
Score distribution
Shows how included scored reviews are clustered across the normalized 100-point scale.
28 included scored reviews
90–1001 review · 4%
80–891 review · 4%
70–7913 reviews · 46%
Below 7013 reviews · 46%
Showing 21-28 of 28 matching critic reviews. 28 total critic reviews. Page 3 of 3.
PJ O'Reilly
Nintendo LifeReview: Detective Pikachu Returns - Drab-Looking But Fun Forensics For The Fam
Published 10/4/2023
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
70
+4 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalJames Paley
COGconnectedDetective Pikachu Returns Review – Clues and Coffee
Published 10/4/2023
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
68
+2 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalOzzie Mejia
ShacknewsDetective Pikachu Returns review: Open-and-shut case
Published 10/4/2023
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Scoring alignment
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Score
70
+4 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalGiovanni Colantonio
Digital TrendsDetective Pikachu Returns review: childproofed mystery offers elementary fun
Published 10/4/2023
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Scoring alignment
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Score
60
-6 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalDetective Pikachu Returns is an enjoyable, if very simple, mystery adventure
Published 10/4/2023
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
60
-6 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalTom Phillips
EurogamerDetective Pikachu Returns review - a textbook mystery that owes everything to its charm
Published 10/4/2023
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
60
-6 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalBryan Vore
Game InformerDetective Pikachu Returns Review - Cracking The Case - Game Informer
Published 10/4/2023
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
73
+7 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalPlayer reviews
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