5 Best Games Like Detective Pikachu Returns

Self-proclaimed brilliant and tough-talking detective is back – bigger, better, and, you guessed it, needing more caffeine—to set the day rolling. Detective Pikachu Returns, is a must play. Our beloved sassy electric rodent detective always has an intriguing case to crack, all along filled with a Telltale-like tale brimming with humor and twists. 

The game offers plenty of mish-mash minigames that play like an adventure game all across Ryme City. It’ll surely fill your afternoon with charm, unraveling mysteries and leaving you with ear-to-ear smiles. But if you’ve already played Detective Pikachu Returns, why not take a look at our best games like Detective Pikachu Returns? These should give you an alternative option while still offering the same wacky and fun vibe as Pikachu’s bolt of brilliance.

5. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

If you love watching the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation film series, then you may want to hop on over to CSI: Crime Scene Investigation – the video game. The game draws inspiration from the series. It follows a rookie tasked with investigating crimes. He does have help from Gill Grissom and the CSI team, which adds to the intrigue of running ideas by them.

Just like in the series, players kick off collecting evidence. They analyze the evidence on-site and at the lab. You may visit the morgue, too, if need be. All the while, you’ll be attempting to solve five brand-new cases. You'll use realistic techniques like forensic science across the bustling streets of Las Vegas. If you’re in for some cerebral exercise, let’s get to cracking some hardcore cases, ey?

Platforms: PC, macOS, & Xbox

4. Greedfall

Developed by Spiders and published by Focus Home Interactive, Greedfall is an action RPG game released in 2019 on major platforms. It’s set in the 18th century, where players venture into unchartered grounds on a remote island brimming with magic, lost treasures, secrets, and mysterious creatures. Players must carve their unique path, taking up quests and ticking off objectives off of a checklist using any manner of means. They can employ strong force or opt to use diplomacy, stealth, or even deception to get their way.

Thanks to the freedom to forge your own journey, Greedfall infuses plenty of potential learning points that test your moral incline. You’ll spend your time exploring and swashbuckling, running into all sorts of characters, from mercenaries to settlers to treasure hunters. The game’s art style stands out the most, thanks to distinct muted warm colors and dark undertones inspired by Baroque art. And as tensions increase between invading settlers and the locals, it’s up to you to weave your way through Greedfall’s intricate world and find yourself victorious on the other side.

Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Series X/S

3. The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles

The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles offers new players the sweet deal of getting the compilation of The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures and The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve in one package. It might invoke a sense of nostalgia for fans who played the original on Nintendo 3DS, now remastered for modern platforms. The games still hold up today, unsurprisingly, thanks to their dramatic and charming yet witty way of exploring attorney life.

Players will navigate their way in court, from collecting evidence to battling it out in court. Unlike what you might expect, though, the narrative unfolds in a visual novel, which infuses shocking twists and mystery waiting to be resolved. And the fun never stops. Cases consistently stream in and out of adventures. It’s always thrilling to solve a complex crime. Overall, the game keeps feeling fresh, with a stellar build-up toward the end of the story. With two games for the price of one, I’ll call that a sweet bargain.

Platforms: Switch, PS4, PC, & Nintendo 3DS

2. The Case of the Golden Idol

Similar to Detective Pikachu Returns, The Case of the Golden Idol also puts players in their detective shoes. However, this time, it takes you to the 18th century with hand-drawn artwork to boot. You’ll no doubt put in some thought process to your decision making, with often reasoning needed behind solving every case. What’s more? You enjoy a compelling story unraveling via a series of a dozen murders. I guess the murder mystery narrative just never gets old, does it?

What matters, though, is the mystery underneath, which takes you by surprise. It’s definitely well worth the time poured into the game. Plus, the fact that the murder mystery has spanned a whopping 40 years makes you feel like Einstein upon finally solving it. Who knew all the fuss was about a golden idol so powerful people are willing to kill for?

Platforms: Switch, PC, & macOS

1. Omensight

Developed and published by Canadian studio Spearhead Games, Omensight is an action RPG game that takes the mantle from the Stories: The Path of Destinations series. The two are set in the same universe. However, Omensight tasks players with breaking a time loop that repeats the end of the world over and over again. 

Can you save the world from the apocalypse? Well, as for you? Maybe not. But as the Harbinger, a powerful mystical warrior who only steps in when there’s a true crisis, you might stand a chance. Omensight is the kind of game that has plenty at stake. Yet even with the sense of urgency, it manages to intrigue you thanks to its vibrant characters and endearing fuzzy animal things. 

Furthermore, the game features a bopping, epic soundtrack. It matches the intensity of the battle, culminating in an action murder mystery game you won’t want to miss. Ready to beat up hordes of animal people? Perhaps dip your toes into an imaginative end-of-the-world scenario? Omensight should scratch that itch perfectly well.

Platforms: Switch, PS4, Xbox One, & PC

So, what’s your take? Do you agree with our best games, like Detective Pikachu Returns? Are there more games like Detective Pikachu Returns we should know about? Let us know over on our socials here.