Pikachu games: the official games where Pikachu leads or plays a major role
Find Pikachu-led Pokémon games without confusing them with unofficial matching games that also use the Pikachu name.
Scope: Official Pokémon and Nintendo games with Pikachu as mascot, partner, protagonist or named lead
Quick answer
Start with Pokémon Yellow or Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! for a partner Pikachu journey. Detective Pikachu and Detective Pikachu Returns use a separate talking detective. PokéPark, Hey You, Pikachu!, Pokémon Channel and several crossover games also give Pikachu a leading or playable role.
Partner Pikachu games
Pokémon Yellow made Pikachu the player’s visible partner in a main-series adventure. Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! revisits Kanto with a partner Pikachu that stays outside its Poké Ball, learns exclusive techniques and cannot evolve.
Pikachu-led spin-offs
Hey You, Pikachu! used voice interaction, while Pokémon Channel centered on watching television and completing activities with Pikachu. The two PokéPark games use Pikachu as the playable lead. Detective Pikachu and Detective Pikachu Returns feature a distinct talking detective partnered with Tim Goodman.
Playable appearances
Pikachu is also playable in crossover and competitive titles including the Super Smash Bros. series, Pokkén Tournament and Pokémon UNITE. Those appearances are different from a game built around Pikachu as the story partner or protagonist.
Search results also contain unofficial browser games that use the Pikachu name. This list covers licensed Pokémon and Nintendo releases rather than treating those unrelated matching games as official titles.
Sources
Official Pokémon and Nintendo pages anchor current facts. Community references are used to locate version-specific questions, then cross-checked before publication.