The most frequently asked questions about Detective Pikachu, the 2018 game for Nintendo 3DS, with short answers and links to our detailed pages.
The game
What is Detective Pikachu?
A mystery-solving game for Nintendo 3DS, released on March 23, 2018: you play as Tim Goodman, who teams up with a talking Pikachu to find his missing father in Ryme City.
Do you need to know Pokémon to play?
No. Pokémon are characters in the game, with no battles or catching. Knowing their moves sometimes helps to understand a clue, but is never essential.
Is it difficult?
No, it is an accessible game: the deductions are guided and a mistake can be corrected without penalty. See Getting Started.
How many chapters are there?
A prologue and nine chapters. See the walkthrough overview.
Is the game on Nintendo Switch?
No, it exists only on Nintendo 3DS. Its sequel, Detective Pikachu Returns, was released on Switch in 2023.
Can you still buy it?
As a physical copy, yes, most often secondhand. The digital version has no longer been available since the Nintendo eShop for the 3DS closed in March 2023.
The adventure
I’m stuck, what should I do?
Talk to Pikachu, who will remind you of the objective; question everyone again on every topic; examine the scenery. Our detailed walkthrough covers every chapter.
Who is the culprit?
We won’t say here. The answer is in our walkthrough of chapter 9, to be read once you have finished the adventure.
What is R?
A mysterious substance that makes Pokémon aggressive, at the heart of the investigation. Its origin is revealed over the course of the chapters.
What is the amiibo for?
It unlocks short Pikachu videos, which may contain clues. See The Detective Pikachu amiibo.
Around the game
Does the movie follow the game’s story?
It takes the starting point and the main characters, but tells a different story. See From the Game to the Movie and Beyond.
What is “Birth of a New Duo”?
The first game, released in Japan in 2016 and limited to the first three chapters. See Birth of a New Duo.
Should you play the first game before Returns?
It is recommended: Returns directly continues the story of the 2018 game.
