Ever since the original release of Pokemon, gamers have had to make a choice. Back in the 90’s, it was between Pokemon Red and Pokemon Blue. As the Pokemon series has continued, each release has seen multiple versions. The newest Pokemon game, Pokemon: Let’s Go once again offers two versions for players to purchase. You can either pick up Pokemon: Let’s Go Pikachu or Pokemon: Let’s Go Eevee. As always, both games are very similar in overall gameplay and story, but feature a few distinct differences. Depending on your skill, nostalgia, and overall preference, you might want to pick up one version over the other. Whether you’re team Pikachu or team Eevee, both games are excellent, so it’s a win either way.
Exclusive Pokemon
The biggest difference between Pokemon: Let’s Go Eevee and Pokemon: Let’s Go Pikachu are the pokemon you’ll catch and encounter. There are 151 Pokemon overall, but both versions contain exclusive creatures that you can’t catch in the opposite game. Personally, I favor Pokemon: Let’s Go Eevee when it comes to exclusive creatures, but it’s ultimately a matter of preference. Neither game has “better” Pokemon; each contains a dozen or so exclusives. Here’s a list of the differences:
Let’s Go Pikachu Exclusives
- Sandshrew
- Sandslash
- Oddish
- Gloom
- Vileplume
- Mankey
- Primeape
- Growlithe
- Grimer
- Muk
- Scyther
Let’s Go Eevee Exclusives
- Ekans
- Arbok
- Vulpix
- Ninetails
- Meowth
- Persian
- Bellsprout
- Weepinbell
- Victreebel
- Koffing
- Weezing
- Pinsir
Partners and Moves
Like Pokemon Yellow, Let’s Go Eevee and Pikachu allow you to hang out with the first Pokemon you meet. Obviously, Let’s Go Eevee has you partnering up with the Normal-type Pokemon Eevee, whereas Let’s Go Pikachu pairs you up with the iconic Electric-type.
When you’re not in battle, your partner Pokemon will join you on your adventure. You can have Eevee or Pikachu rest ontop of your head or follow you around, so you’ll want to pick the Pokemon you like more. You’ll be seeing them for almost the entirety of your journey, so it’s best to pick the game that features your favorite Pokemon.
Partner Moves
As a final note, depending on which version you choose, your partner Pokemon will be able to learn different powerful moves. Pikachu is pretty strong as is, so it can only learn 3 additional moves. However, Eevee has a plethora of elemental moves that it can learn. Generally speaking, Eevee is the more powerful choice and allows for better options and strategy. However, Pikachu remains ever-cute and cuddly, so it’s a hard choice overall.
Which Version Should You Buy?
Ultimately, you will be happy with your purchase of Pokemon: Let’s Go regardless of which version you choose. While there are noticeable differences, they don’t make a huge impact on the overall game. If you favor Vulpix or want a powerful Dark-type move, maybe you should grab Let’s Go Eevee. If you’re a bigger fan of the cute Pikachu and don’t mind the lacking additional moves, Let’s Go Pikachu is just as good of a choice. For the true completionist, the best bet might be to pick up both versions! Either way, you’ll have a blast playing Pokemon Let’s Go. If you’re buying for a young fan or franchise newcomer, either version will suffice. It’s only the truly hardcore Pokemon players that will strongly recommend one version over the other.