The continued success of the sports title isn’t too surprising – it’s the second-biggest physical release in the region this year and hit 11.3 million users since its release. Detective Pikachu Returns was also released last week and ranked third despite mixed reviews (read ours here).

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Hogwarts Legacy occupied fourth and fifth place, while Mortal Kombat 1 went from second to eighth. Sales for the fighter dropped by 38 percent week-on-week. Another noteworthy shift is The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which fell to tenth place due to sales decreasing by 10 percent. Check the full top ten for the week ending October 7th below.

This was true of both the original 3DS game and especially the Hollywood movie. Detective Pikachu Returns very much continues along those same lines. It’s more of the cute, wholesome, kind of clever, writing that characterized the first game and the movie, with some fun characters, a fun if unsurprising story, and some very straightforward gameplay that even the youngest of players can wrap their heads around. 

"Tim Goodman is trying to find his missing father with the latter’s partner Pikachu, who awoke with a pretty strong sense of amnesia about the incident that led to the disappearance, and also an inability to use his moves."

If you didn’t play the original – which launched on the 3DS very late in its life – or did not watch the movie (which launched right after an Avengers movie, so it didn’t set the world on fire), then you don’t really need to worry about not being caught up with the story with this game. It does a good job of getting you onboarded with the events of the game (and even the movie, with some playful in-universe teasing about where it diverged from the story of the game) at the start, and the story is written to stand well enough on its own with minimal context or information necessary. 

And the premise is pretty much the same – Tim Goodman is trying to find his missing father with the latter’s partner Pikachu, who awoke with a pretty strong sense of amnesia about the incident that led to the disappearance, and also an inability to use his moves. However, Tim can understand what Pikachu says – and with that ace up his sleeve, the duo set out to investigate various cases and mysteries, with Tim getting testimony and accounts from people, and Pikachu getting them from Pokemon. The two then put the information they have together to try and figure out what the solution to the case might be.

So the broad setup is the same, and it plays out pretty much the same as the first game. The cases are simple, if fun, involving the unique intricacies of the world of Pokemon in some fun ways, and giving us more of a loom at what life in it might be like. Familiarity with the various Pokemon you encounter only makes the interactions with them, and the deep dives into these cases, more fun – this is definitely a game for fans first and foremost.

"Detective Pikachu Returns very much continues along those same lines. It’s more of the cute, wholesome, kind of clever, writing that characterized the first game and the movie, with some fun characters, a fun if unsurprising story, and some very straightforward gameplay that even the youngest of players can wrap their heads around. "

One thing that has changed this time around is how the story itself is structured. The original game presented the central conflict very early on, and every case you tackled was explicitly with the intention of chipping away at the central mystery more and more. In Detective Pikachu Returns, the story structure is more episodic, where you take on a bunch of problems, and get the full picture for how they come together in the story the more you play. In that sense, uncovering what the story is itself becomes a game this time around, especially for younger players – as mentioned, the story isn’t going to catch you off guard.

Older players will probably pick up on where it’s going. That said, it’s done well, and it’s great fun to follow along with anyway, and the resolution is earnest and satisfying. The writing itself, while being primarily kid-friendly, does have some bite for older players too; as mentioned, it gets delightfully meta and self-aware a lot of the time, and sometimes it starts referencing, if not outright tackling, some surprisingly dark and hefty (for Pokemon) subject matter too.

The gameplay side of things has seen some big changes as well. How cases are tackled is totally different this time around thanks to the new case diary mechanic. This is… I suppose it makes sense from a contextualization perspective, but it actually simplifies gameplay a bit too much. Essentially, all you have to do is talk to the witnesses and investigate the relevant areas, and then you’re just going to go into the diary and select one from numerous possible theories in response to the facts and evidence you have gathered that answers the question on hand. If you pick wrong, Pikachu chides you gently, and you get to pick one from the remainder. 

This means the actual gameplay is extremely simplified now, since the puzzle solving aspects of the first game are all but gone. You do get some fun QTEs during some segments, which I guess make for some more active gameplay, and there are some fun segments where you can team up with other Pokemon and use their powers in some fun ad hoc mini games, but other than that, you’re talking to people, and you’re picking the right choice in your diary.

Which is why it’s a good thing the writing keeps things fun and interesting enough, at least for Pokemon fans. The critical path is pretty fun, the side quests you can pick up have some of the cleverest and most amusing writing, and it is, of course, always a joy to just chat with Pikachu unprompted and get his pearls of wisdom (which almost all have to do with coffee, or his great detective skills and prowess).

"The game also has a surprising amount of voice acting, which ranges from being inoffensive to surprisingly well done. The star of the show is Pikachu himself, and his voice work is great."

In other areas, gameplay has remained mostly unchanged. You’re still navigating in thinly disguised grid based environments (which feels a bit jarringly dated), and there are still a lot of loading screens separating the various areas (thankfully none of them is too long).

The graphics are… fine. They do look distinctly simple and have a lower budget feel than something like, say, New Pokemon Snap did. On the 3DS, Detective Pikachu was actually one of the better looking games on the system. Returns has definitely made some improvements to the visuals over that game, but it still looks markedly on the lower end of what the system can offer. The good thing is the performance remains steady, the best that I could tell – although, of course, in a slow paced adventure game like this, even if there were frame rate drops, it wouldn’t impact much. However, thankfully that is a moot point.

The game also has a surprising amount of voice acting, which ranges from being inoffensive to surprisingly well done. The star of the show is Pikachu himself, and his voice work is great. Unfortunately, the cutscene direction and music both let down the good voice work a lot of the time, and it comes off as feeling more stilted and awkward than it otherwise should.

Should you play Detective Pikachu Returns? If you are a fan of Pokemon, and enjoyed the original game, you will probably get something out of this one. While there are some changes to what the first game did, on the whole, the boat has not been rocked too much, and you will still get more of that same formula here. Younger players especially will probably like this game a lot and be drawn to it, with its charming characters, fun story, and simplistic gameplay. For older players, the recommendation has more caveats, but if you’re down for getting a deeper look at the Pokemon world than you otherwise get, you’ll find what’s here fun enough.

This game was reviewed on Nintendo Switch.

The adventure title unfolds in Ryme City with Pokemon and humans living together. Players will investigate scenes for clues and use the unlikely duo’s abilities to gather statements from people and Pokemon to aid their investigation. Some Pokemon will also work with you, like Growlithe, who can track smells or Luxray, with the ability to see through walls.

Aside from investigating, players can also venture to the Hi-Hat Cafe to drink coffee or interact with characters like Tim’s friend, Rachel Myers. Thus far, Detective Pikachu Returns has received mixed reviews from critics, with a 67 Top Critic Average on OpenCritic. Stay tuned for more details on future updates and additions in the meantime.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage

Mirage focuses on Basim Ibn Ishaq and his journey from street thief to an assassin as part of the Hidden Ones. With only the four districts of 9th century Baghdad to explore, the return of parkour and urban traversal, and a more open-ended approach to assassinating targets, Assassin’s Creed Mirage looks to be a strong return to form.

The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria

Following up on the success of titles like Valheim, The Forest, and more, Free Range Games’ co-op experience focuses on Gimli and his dwarves as they return to reclaim Moria. Players will traverse the mines, claiming different resources to create better tools, weapons and armor, and battle enemies like orcs, cave trolls and more. With base-building, exploration, survival elements and support for up to eight players, it’s an overall different spin on the Lord of the Rings formula and launches on October 24th for PS5 and PC.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is easily the biggest release of next month and launches on October 20th for PS5. Set several months after the events of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, it sees Peter and Miles battling new villains like Kraven and his hunters, while also dealing with Dr. Curt Connors, who transforms into Lizard. Meanwhile, the Symbiote takes hold of Peter, granting new powers but corrupting his mind. With a map that’s twice as large as previous games, brand new activities and abilities, and instantaneous switching between both heroes, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 looks like a step up from the original in almost every way.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

At first glance, Super Mario Bros. Wonder seems to ask, “What if Mario, but trippy?” After Bowser shows up in the Flower Kingdom and does Bowser things, it’s up to Mario and friends to stop him. New Wonder Flowers can alter a stage in crazy ways, from living pipes to an overhead perspective and stampeding enemies, but the 2D platformer has a lot more to offer. You can equip Badges for unique perks, and use new power-ups like turning into an Elephant or using bubbles to trap enemies.

Multiplayer supports up to four players with the option to create rooms and partake in races, while asynchronous elements like Live Player Shadows add a whole new dimension to solo play. Super Mario Bros. Wonder launches on October 20th for Nintendo Switch.

Detective Pikachu Returns

If you need a Switch title to tide you over before Mario’s next big adventure, there’s Detective Pikachu Returns. As a sequel to the 2016 adventure title on the Nintendo DS, it sees Tim Goodman and Detective Pikachu working together once more to investigate the disappearance of Harry, Tim’s father.

While Tim questions human NPCs for clues, Pikachu interacts with Pokemon and uses their abilities in unique ways, like tracking scents with Growlithe, destroying objects with Darmanitan or seeing through walls with Luxray. How extensive the mystery will be remains to be seen, but Detective Pikachu Returns should be worth investigating when it launches on October 6th on Nintendo Switch.

Forza Motorsport

As a reboot of Turn 10 Studios’ acclaimed racing sim franchise, Forza Motorsport has over 500 cars (with more than 100 making their debut for the series), 20 locations, and 800 upgrades. It’s a ground-up rebuilding of what makes the Motorsport series so good. Everything, from the handling and tire physics to the damage model and visuals, has been revamped and supports full ray tracing during gameplay.

The new Builders Cup will test your skills in single-player, while Featured Multiplayer aims to create a living racing community with continuous events. All of this barely scratches the surface of Forza Motorsport, and we can’t wait to dive deeper when it launches on October 10th for Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Sonic Superstars

Jump up, superstar, but not quite the one you’re thinking. Sonic Superstars sees Sonic, Knuckles, Amy and Tails reunited, venturing to the new North Star Islands to combat Eggman, Fang the Sniper and the mysterious chip. For the first time in the series, there’s support for up to four players on screen, while new abilities manifest thanks to Emerald Powers.

If you’re looking for more competitive multiplayer, Battle Mode is available with races, star collecting and survival for up to eight players online and four players locally. Sonic Superstars launches on October 17th for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch.

Ghostrunner 2

Jack is back and this time, he’s venturing outside of Dharma Tower to pursue an AI cult. You’ll still traverse perilous environments, wall-running, slow-mo dodging and slicing enemies into ribbons (while hopefully not dying). However, along with new skills, Jack also has a bike to engage in fast-paced stages with split-second platforming. Releasing on October 26th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC, Ghostrunner 2 also promises revamped progression, more involving boss fights and the same synthwave goodness.

NHL 24

Compared to EA Sports’ other properties, from the revamped EA Sports FC 24 to the long-awaited EA Sports UFC 5, NHL 24 may feel like more of the same. However, EA Vancouver promises plenty of new features, from new total control skills to a new passing system, physics-based contact and even full crossplay for Ultimate Team and the new and improved World of Chel.

Whether you’re keen on body-checking fools or mastering the system’s intricacies, NHL 24 looks like a sizable improvement over its predecessor. It launches on October 6th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PS4 and Xbox One.

Lords of the Fallen

Lords of the Fallen is releasing on October 13th for PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC. Developed in Unreal Engine 5 and aiming to be Dark Souls 4.5 in a post-Elden Ring world, it sees players exploring two worlds: Axiom, the Land of the Living, and Umbral, the Land of the Dead.

While you have a litany of weapons, armor sets, and spells to battle enemies, utilizing the Umbral Lamp to traverse environments and potentially escape the realm of the dead is also important. It looks sharp, and even with the release of Lies of P, who can say no to another solid Souls-like?

Alan Wake 2

Over 13 years since the first game’s release (both in-game and outside of it), Alan Wake finally returns in a full-fledged sequel. While Alan remains trapped in the Dark Place, seeking an escape, newcomer and FBI agent Saga Anderson ventures to Bright Falls to investigate killings related to Wake’s work. The former surreal environments and even bends them in unique ways, while the latter acquires clues and organizes them in her mind space.

Both will have to deal with horrifying enemies, using flashlights to focus and make them vulnerable to firearms. With a much more ambitious scale and gorgeous visuals, Alan Wake 2 could be a dark horse in one of the most packed years in gaming. It’s out on October 27th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC.

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1

At long last, the legend returns…sort of. Konami’s Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection is a compilation of the mainline titles, with Vol. 1 featuring Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. These aren’t remasters or remakes, though – Metal Gear Solid is locked to 30 FPS, while Metal Gear Solid 2 and 3 are from the HD Collection released about a decade ago.

Nevertheless, they’re as faithful as you can get, while the collection delivers goodies like graphic novels, guides, scripts and even the option to play Metal Gear, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake and even Snake’s Revenge. Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 launches on October 24th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PS4, PC and Nintendo Switch.

Transformers: EarthSpark – Expedition

Going from the Cybertron series and Transformers Devastation to this doesn’t paint Transformers: EarthSpark – Expedition in the best light. Nevertheless, Tessera Studios’ action-adventure title could be better than expected with its combat and exploration. It launches on October 13th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch and PC.

Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged

A follow-up to the surprisingly entertaining Hot Wheels Unleashed, Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged offers even more arcade racing with more content and features. There are five new environments, from a museum to a mini-golf course, new abilities like double jumping, and over 130 vehicles (with two new types: motorcycles and ATVs).

There’s even an extensive new campaign and cross-platform support with new modes like Elimination Events and Drift Challenges. All-in-all, it looks like a worthy follow-up that doubles down on what works. Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged launches on October 19th for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Nintendo Switch.

Ark: Survival Ascended

What if Ark: Survival Evolved but remade in Unreal Engine 5 (and also charging fans for it)? For better or worse, Studio Wildcard is going in that direction with Ark: Survival Ascended, which launches in October for PC, Xbox Series X/S and PS5. Along with better visuals and support for Nanite and Lumen, it offers cross-platform multiplayer, improved performance, a new third-person camera, Photo Mode, an updated mini-map, ping system and much more. Will it be worth the wait, especially with the $45 price and Survival Evolved going offline? Time will tell, but thus far, the developer has its work cut out for it.

Luxray is an Electric-type Pokemon, but in Detective Pikachu Returns, it can help you peer through walls (which should help in finding things). You can also ride it, like with Growlithe, who was previously shown to sniff out scents. There’s also Darmanitan, who can destroy walls and obstacles. Head here to see them in action.

Other Pokemon abilities remain to be revealed, so stay tuned for more details and potential gameplay in the coming weeks. Detective Pikachu Returns launches on October 6th for the Nintendo Switch. Head here for more gameplay of the investigations and the story.

Detective Pikachu Returns will one again shine the spotlight on the titular coffee-loving, gruff-talking detective and his human partner Tim Goodman. Still in Ryme City, the duo are still looking for Harry Goodman, Tim’s father, while other members of Tim’s family, like his mother Irene and his little sister Sophia will also have a role to play in the story. Then there’s Rachel Myers, a friend of Tim’s who goes to college with him, and her father Howard Myers, the Mayor Ryme City.

On the gameplay side of things, Detective Pikachu Returns will, of course, place the bulk of its emphasis on investigations. As you might imagine, that will imagine talking to a lot of people and Pokemon, for which Tim and Pikachu will take the lead respectively. Crime scenes will need to be investigated for clues, and you’ll be solving cases using all the your gathered information in your case notebook.

Outside of that, you can ride arund on a Growlithe’s back, get a Darmanitan to punch through certain walls and obstacles, or go to Hi-Hat Cafe, a famous coffee house where you can go to chill out and relax. Check out the trailer below for more details.

Detective Pikachu Returns launches on October 6 for the Nintendo Switch.

What exactly that will entail obviously hasn’t been detailed yet, but it seems safe to assume that we’ll be learning more about Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s two-part expansion, The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, which will see the launch of its first part, The Teal Mask, this Fall, followed by the second part, The Indigo Disk, this Winter.

It’s also likely that we’ll be learning more about Detective Pikachu Returns, which is set to launch for the Nintendo Switch this October. Whether any major new upcoming titles will be announced remains to be seen, but given that post-launch support for Scarlet and Violet hasn’t even kicked off yet (much less wrapped up), it seems improbable.

https://twitter.com/Pokemon/status/1687449174021660672

As reported by @CentroLeaks on Twitter, datamining of the mobile title Pokemon Masters EX has unearthed a line of code following a recent update to the game, which references a promotional campaign tied to an upcoming Pokemon Presents livestream, seemingly set for August 8.

While it’s unlikely a new mainline Pokemon game will be announced just yet, there are still upcoming releases in the pipeline that could receive new details.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s first expansion, The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero – Part 1: The Teal Mask, is set to release sometime this fall, while Part 2: The Indigo Disk is due out this winter. The Pokemon Company could also potentially look to share new details on Detective Pikachu Returns, which is set to launch in October.

https://twitter.com/CentroLeaks/status/1685015655261597696

Well, as rumoured, at the recent Nintendo Direct, we finally found out. Nintendo has officially unveiled the next Detective Pikachu game, which is appropriately titled Detective Pikachu Returns. Starring the titular coffee-loving detective and his human partner Tim once again, the game will see players interacting with many a personable characters, both human and Pokemon, while the story will seemingly revolve around Mewtwo. Check out the trailer below.

Detective Pikachu Returns launches for the Nintendo Switch on October 6. Nintendo says more details on the game will be revealed in the coming weeks and months, so stay tuned.