Choosing guide · NexWave Games
Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! or Eevee!: which version should you choose?
A Pikachu on your shoulder or an Eevee on your head is the difference you immediately notice between the Let’s Go games. There is more to choosing than the cover, though. Some wild Pokémon differ and your permanent partner gets its own abilities. The adventure’s foundation remains the same, so choosing one version does not mean missing an entirely different story.
Choose the partner you want to travel with
Let’s Go, Pikachu! starts you with Pikachu; Let’s Go, Eevee! starts with Eevee. That partner travels outside its Poké Ball and receives special moves and techniques. You can play together, dress it up and strengthen your bond. Personal preference matters: you will see and interact with this Pokémon throughout a substantial part of the adventure.
Your permanent partner does not evolve. Do not choose Eevee expecting to turn that partner into a particular evolution, or expect partner Pikachu to become Raichu. This concerns the special partner version, not a general rule for every Pokémon of that species. Both partners learn useful abilities. You need not choose solely according to which type appears strongest in the first battle.
Which wild Pokémon do you want to meet?
Both stories travel through Kanto, but certain Pokémon appear in the wild in only one version. Oddish, Sandshrew and Growlithe are examples in Let’s Go, Pikachu! Bellsprout, Vulpix and Meowth appear in Let’s Go, Eevee! If you have a clear favourite, examine version differences before ordering. That is a more concrete reason than preferring a packaging colour.
Trading with another player can help complete your collection. Playing together on one console differs from trading between two games, however. Trading uses supported communication with another player and an appropriate setup. Do not automatically buy both versions assuming two cartridges in one Switch create a trading connection. First decide which Pokémon you want to catch yourself and which trading options you can actually use.
The same approachable structure, with its own catching style
Both versions show wild Pokémon moving visibly around the world. Catching emphasises different skills from many traditional Pokémon games: timing and aiming the Poké Ball matter. Trainer battles remain part of the adventure. In handheld mode, you aim with the system and throw using a button; with a detached Joy-Con, you use the corresponding motion. Choose what feels comfortable for your Switch setup.
Support Play lets a second person help on the same console, but does not create a completely separate second adventure. When buying used, compare the full cartridge title with the case and confirm included accessories. Poké Ball Plus is optional; do not buy it thinking it is required to begin. Ultimately, choose your favourite partner and wild Pokémon. Both versions provide the same foundation for the main journey.