Summary

• Pikachu's design has remained largely unchanged over the years, relying on its perfect simplicity to represent the Pokémon brand.
• Unique Pikachu designs are often available through special events in-game, adding variety to the character.
• Pikachu's costumes add a cute and festive touch to the character during different seasons and events.

The exceptionally cute Pikachu is the Pokémon mascot for a good reason, and it's consequently no surprise that there's also a surplus of adorable designs for the character. After slimming Pikachu down a bit from its initial design, Nintendo has never severely overhauled the character for any incarnation, relying on its perfect simplicity to carry the brand across the decades. There are some cute design variants of Pikachu, however, mostly focusing on decking it out in a variety of outfits and styles while retaining the same Pokémon underneath the dressing.

Pikachu notably showed up in different costumes in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire thanks to the various outfits of Cosplay Pikachu, which could take on memorable appearances like Pikachu Rock Star and Pikachu, PhD. The majority of unique Pikachu have been accessible through special events, however, so timing can be key to building a strong assortment. Most of them were made available through Pokémon GO, which makes all wild Pikachu take on a different appearance whenever a timed event adds a new design.

10 Winter Beanie Pikachu (Pokémon GO)

Holiday 2019

If you're cold, they're cold, unless they happen to be wearing a wintry hat that looks perfectly cozy. This Pikachu gets extra points for just how snug it seems to be, and the dark red and white of the winter beanie are a perfect color choice. Available as part of the Holiday 2019 event in Pokémon GO, the Winter Beanie Pikachu was definitely not one to miss.

9 Summer Hat Pikachu (Pokémon GO)

Second Anniversary Event 2018

Pikachu got ready for some intense sun exposure in July 2018, donning shades and a wide-brimmed hat for the Second Anniversary Event of Pokémon GO. The sunglasses are one of the more unique touches among any event Pikachu, and it's hard to find any that compete with this cool factor. This is the perfect Pikachu option to step in for Winter Beanie Pikachu when the seasons start to shift.

8 Pop Star Pikachu (Pokémon GO)

GO Fest 2021

Pop Star Pikachu is as pink and precious as it gets, with a surplus of sparkles sending the overall look into overdrive. The Pokémon GO event design is the same one that can be found in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, although it's available on a permanent basis there. It pairs with Rock Star Pikachu, which might be even better but definitely ranks lower on the cute scale.

7 Witch Hat Pikachu (Pokémon GO)

Halloween 2017

The second Halloween event Pikachu in Pokémon GO went for the tried and true classic of a witch's hat, and the wicked attire contrasts perfectly with Pikachu's lovable face. With purple fabric, an orange stripe, and an appropriately askew tilt, this hat would make it hard for any coven to turn Pikachu down. Although the Halloween event may have topped itself since, this is still a perfect look for the season.

6 Cake Costume Pikachu (Pokémon GO)

6th Anniversary Event 2022

The Cake Costume Pikachu of the 6th Anniversary Limited Event is one of the silliest to ever grace Pokémon GO, but that's also a big part of its charm. Pikachu's hat goes the extra mile with two whole layers of cake and a candle on top, making this the perfect outfit for a birthday party, wedding, or any celebration in between. A bow tie adds a slight dash of formality, so Pikachu can't be accused of simply throwing this outfit together.

5 Flying Pikachu (Pokémon GO)

July 2020 GO Weekly Challenge: Skill

Dangling from balloons while drifting through the sky seems like an intimidating prospect, but Pikachu's contented face turns it into an adorable look. This event Pikachu first appeared in Pokémon GO during a July 2020 Weekly Challenge, although the same basic idea has reappeared on more than one occasion since. The concept comes from the Pokémon Trading Card Game originally, with the motif being established by a 1997 card that depicted the original chubby version held aloft.

4 Holiday Attire Pikachu (Pokémon GO)

Winter Holiday Part 1 2023

Pikachu's very first special appearance in Pokémon GO happened in the Holiday 2016 Event with the simple addition of a Santa hat, and the 2023 version revisits the idea with more flair. A spring of holly bedecks the hat, and a bow ties up a ruff of fluff around the neck with a Poké Ball pin. The central position of the hat makes it smaller than the often lopsided headwear options for Pikachu, but it's still hard to argue with the overall effect.

3 Explorer Pikachu (Pokémon GO)

Secrets Of The Jungle 2020

Pikachu's prepared for the wilds with its Explorer getup, available for one week in Pokémon GO in late 2020. The hat is nice, but the real star of the look is the canteen hanging at Pikachu's side, which borrows the design of a Wailmer. It's cute for Pikachu to represent another Pokémon like this, and the strap slung across its shoulder makes Pikachu look ready to venture forth.

2 Original Cap Pikachu (Pokémon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon)

Pokémon Anime 20th Anniversary

The biggest foray that the mainline Pokémon games have made into unique event Pikachu designs is with the variety of cap-wearing Pikachu, the majority of which were originally distributed in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the anime and the release of the movie I Choose You! in Japan. Ranking the available hats largely depends on individual Pokémon generation preferences, but it's hard to argue that the original cap isn't the most iconic. Pokémon Sword and Shield and Scarlet and Violet have both brought the cap-wearing Pikachu back.

1 Mimikyu Costume Pikachu (Pokémon GO)

Halloween 2019

Pikachu wearing a Mimikyu costume is a huge full-circle moment, as Mimikyu's design is based around the idea of a perpetually disguised Pokémon trying to look like Pikachu to receive positive attention. There's something very sweet about Pikachu donning the look for the Pokémon GO Halloween 2019 event, even if there is a weird recursion to Pikachu wearing what is sort of a costume of itself. Although there are plenty of other event Pikachu with cute designs, no others have a concept this cute, making it a major Pokémon standout.