Mouse

About

Mouse is a single player shooter game with violence and science fiction themes. It was developed by Fumi Games and was released on April 16, 2026. It received very positive reviews from players.

Join private investigator Jack Pepper on a guns blazing, jazz-fueled adventure in MOUSE: P.I. For Hire. MOUSE combines the charm of hand-drawn rubber hose animation inspired by the classic cartoons of the 1930’s with the adrenaline and action of an explosive first person shooter.

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95%

Audience ScoreBased on 6,262 reviews

story723 positive mentions

stability53 negative mentions

Stunning and unique rubber hose animation art style with a captivating 1930s cartoon noir aesthetic.
Engaging and fast-paced boomer shooter gameplay with satisfying gunplay and smooth movement.
Excellent voice acting, memorable characters, and a well-crafted jazzy soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere.

Repetitive combat encounters and limited enemy variety reduce gameplay depth over time.
Lack of mission replayability and no New Game+; missing collectibles or achievements require redoing the entire game.
Some weapons are unbalanced with a few dominating others, and occasional bugs and invisible walls hinder exploration.

story
1,708 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
55%
3%
The story is a noir-inspired detective narrative set in a unique 1930s cartoon world that many find engaging and well-written, with memorable characters, strong voice acting, and a compelling blend of humor and darker themes. However, it can feel uneven, sometimes predictable or overly cliché, with pacing issues and a lack of meaningful player involvement in the investigation; some players found it diluted by cheesy puns or political messaging. The absence of mission replay or new game+ negates replay value and frustrates completionists, as missed collectibles and side missions require restarting the entire game.
- “The story is a fantastic noir tale of clues, twists & turns, old friends, new enemies, shady women, and cheese, lots of cheese.”
- “Troy Baker obviously killed the voice acting, and while it definitely was “cheesy” at times, I truly think that’s what they were going for, and the dialogue between characters and the story it tells is very good.”
- “The story is way better than I expected: funny, surprisingly dark at times, packed with twists, and full of great voice acting (Jack Pepper is a fantastic protagonist).”
- “The story is where the game could have made up for that, but it's actually not a compelling story at all.”
- “Some characters get a lot of development then just kind of disappear without any further purpose, others get absolutely no introduction or backstory and then show up out of the blue to be "very important plot point" for five minutes, then die.”
- “Once the story ends you cannot go back to other locations to collect the collectables (or anything else).”
gameplay
1,416 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
50%
5%
The gameplay of this game is a solid, fast-paced boomer shooter inspired by classics like Doom and Bioshock, featuring smooth gunplay, varied weapons, and unique traversal mechanics. While it is widely praised for its polished feel, satisfying combat, and engaging level design, some critics note repetition, limited enemy variety, and underused mechanics that slightly diminish its depth. Overall, the gameplay effectively complements the striking 1930s cartoon art style and noir atmosphere, delivering a fun and enjoyable shooter experience despite lacking major innovations.
- “I had this game on my wish list for two years and I have to say I am overjoyed at what they have given us. The gameplay was excellent for a boomer shooter with some fairly unique traversal mechanics and so many different varied environments; not a single level looks or feels the same, which is so refreshing in a time where developers recycle many things in their gameplay areas. All the weapons felt great and varied from your basic pistol and shotgun to your more unique brain-in-a-jar gun that makes enemies' heads explode. All the animation and attention to detail is flawless. Everything looks and feels like so much love and care has been put into this game. They clearly had a team burning with passion for this game. The story is also well written with a lot of twists and turns all coming together very well. This is a must play and I look forward to any future DLC the developers put out for this game.”
- “In an era where everything is either bloated, broken at launch, or trying way too hard to be cinematic, Mouse PI just pulls up like: “yo, what if gameplay actually mattered again?” and somehow… it works. Mouse PI brings back that tight, focused, mechanically satisfying loop that reminds you why you even enjoyed gaming in the first place. No fluff, no corporate checklist design, just pure, intentional gameplay. It’s that rare kind of polish where you stop noticing mechanics and just lock in.”
- “Gameplay-wise, it’s a really fun “boomer shooter” with tight gunplay, satisfying weapons (the cartoonish ones are especially great), and excellent movement. The gameplay constantly feels fresh; adding a new mechanic or weapon almost every level. The game nails its identity... it feels like classic Doom-style gameplay but wrapped in a slick 1930s noir cartoon world, and that combination just works way better than I expected.”
- “5.5/10 - tedious, paper thin gameplay takes away from the art.”
- “The lack of enemy variety though becomes apparent because you meet all the enemies the game has to offer in the first few hours of gameplay and everything else is just the same or a reskinned version of the same enemy.”
- “Unfortunately, the core gameplay does not live up to the same standard.”
graphics
1,391 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
49%
1%
The "graphics" aspect of the game is widely praised for its unique and stunning 1930s rubber hose cartoon art style, blending hand-drawn 2D animation with 3D environments that create an immersive noir atmosphere. This distinctive black-and-white visual identity, combined with detailed animations and a fitting jazz soundtrack, is considered the game's strongest asset, captivating players even if the gameplay and story received mixed feedback. While some note minor visual bugs and occasional eye strain due to the high-contrast style, the art direction and presentation are overwhelmingly regarded as exceptional and a key reason to play.
- “The vintage, rubber-hose animation aesthetic isn’t just a gimmick—it’s executed with incredible care and attention to detail, making every scene feel alive and dripping with personality.”
- “For hire is one of the most visually striking indie shooters in recent memory, blending a gritty noir detective story with a 1930s rubber-hose cartoon aesthetic.”
- “The black-and-white palette really pops in motion, and the added film grain aesthetic gives it that extra layer of polish, elevating an already impressive art direction.”
- “Part of it is admittedly a challenge of the wider scope of Mouse's genre but there simply isn't enough animation in the game - it does just enough art to adequately evoke the steamboat-willie-but-noire-but-doom aesthetic, but not a drop more.”
- “The artstyle is charming -- it's basically what has everyone sold on this game -- but even that feels lacking.”
- “The black-and-white visuals and smooth, exaggerated animations make everything feel super alive and unique. But with the black and white art style, comes issues with readability sometimes.”
music
726 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
40%
1%
The music in this game is widely praised for its exceptional jazz and big band soundtrack that perfectly complements the 1930s noir cartoon aesthetic, elevating the atmosphere and gameplay. Many reviewers highlight its catchy, energetic, and immersive quality, with adaptive tracks that sync well with the action, making it a standout feature that often rivals or surpasses other aspects of the game. Although some mention occasional repetitiveness or gaps in music during certain moments, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack is integral and one of the best parts of the experience, with several players purchasing the OST separately.
- “The jazz soundtrack fits the time period and overall mood of the game perfectly, constantly reinforcing that noir atmosphere without ever feeling overbearing.”
- “The hand-drawn rubber hose animation style makes it feel like you're playing through a classic noir cartoon, and the jazzy soundtrack fits the atmosphere perfectly.”
- “The original jazz soundtrack perfectly sets the tone, blending noir atmosphere with playful cartoon energy, and small details like the vinyl scratch when opening the pause menu add a lot of charm.”
- “Music sometimes replays across levels, making it feel samey near the middle of the game.”
- “Frankly, the music lacks the energy or variety it really needs to be standout.”
- “My issue, then, is that there was sometimes a lack of music between combat encounters.”
humor
338 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in the game is a blend of witty noir-style writing, slapstick, cheesy puns (especially cheese-related), and numerous pop culture and meme references that often elicit chuckles but can verge on overused or cringeworthy for some. Voice acting, particularly Troy Baker’s performance, enhances many of the comedic moments, though the humor is sometimes hit-or-miss, with certain players finding the relentless puns and meta-jokes tiring by mid-game. Overall, the humor complements the game's unique 1930s cartoon aesthetic and noir tone, providing a charming, if occasionally polarizing, comedic flavor.
- “The humor is excellent, both visual slapstick and dialogue-driven jokes are executed brilliantly.”
- “Classic, fun, and cartoony, with superior voice acting and the perfect level of dry, deadpan humor.”
- “Game journalists hated the cheese puns but they are pretty funny.”
- “At the halfway point, the writer just could no longer contain the Tumblr writing anymore and the game turned into one unfunny mess.”
- “It's unfunny cheese puns half of the time and blatant references to other media with no joke attached the other half.”
- “The writing can't help but spew Reddit rhetoric (to a cartoonish degree, fittingly) in addition to obsessively just being not funny.”
optimization
149 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
45%
12%
The game is generally well-optimized, running smoothly on a wide range of hardware with minimal bugs or crashes, and maintaining solid frame rates even at high settings. However, some users report occasional stuttering, frame drops, or performance dips in certain areas or after extended play sessions, suggesting room for improvement. Overall, the optimization supports a polished experience, rarely hindering gameplay or immersion.
- “For a game launching day 1 that is this well optimized and has next to zero issues already peaks my interest and the fact that all the animations are hand drawn warrants my attention even more and I don't regret it at all.”
- “I'm playing it on my ROG Xbox Ally X and it runs at absolute max settings with a smooth 120 fps perfectly optimized, no issues at all.”
- “Game is super optimized, runs great on Linux and Windows with high and low power hardware and there are settings for the level of 'distortion' you want in both graphics and audio.”
- “Performance is also terrible for such a visually simple game, especially on Deck.”
- “Edit after completing the game - performance needs a huge patch.”
- “Another issue is that the optimization on PC can be shotty at certain points where it can drop to 40 fps consistently after going a clean 100fps-160fps.”
atmosphere
144 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
49%
2%
The game’s atmosphere is widely praised for its exceptional blend of 1930s noir and classic rubber-hose cartoon art style, enhanced by an immersive jazz soundtrack and strong voice acting that create a vibrant, nostalgic world. This distinctive visual and audio design deeply engages players, frequently cited as the game's standout feature that elevates the overall experience despite some narrative or gameplay shortcomings. The cohesive aesthetic and lively ambiance consistently receive acclaim for making the game feel like an authentic, entertaining animated detective story.
- “The hand-drawn rubber hose animation is incredibly charming, and the 1930s cartoon atmosphere is so well realized that it pulls you right into its world.”
- “The noir detective atmosphere combined with a classic 1930s cartoon art style is absolutely stunning, and the fact that it’s all in black and white makes the experience even more immersive. It truly lets you live the vibe 100%, especially with the music, sound effects, and most importantly for me personally, Detective Jack’s voice and his dialogues with the characters—everything is dialed in perfectly.”
- “The world of Mouseburg is dripping with atmosphere, personality, and dark, jazzy charm that no other game comes close to replicating.”
- “I'll probably end up finishing the game because I am interested in the story, but I really don't understand why so many people seem to love the game or why it's currently overwhelmingly positive; it's not bad, but the only things I feel they did really well are the art style and atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere and aesthetic carry the game, hard; if it didn't have the swinging prohibition-era music with the rubber hose style then it would absolutely not be getting so much positive attention, it would be far more mixed, and therein lies the issue.”
- “Instead of reinforcing the noir atmosphere, the writing frequently breaks it.”
stability
85 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
4%
62%
The game generally runs smoothly and is well-optimized across various platforms, including lower-end PCs, Linux, and Steam Deck, with most users experiencing minimal performance issues. However, it does contain occasional bugs, glitches, and softlocks that can disrupt gameplay, particularly in later stages, though these are often manageable through reloads and are not game-breaking. Overall, despite some stability quirks, the experience remains enjoyable and polished compared to many contemporary releases.
- “The game is bug free and well optimized for low to mid-range PCs like mine.”
- “Game is super optimized, runs great on Linux and Windows with high and low power hardware and there are settings for the level of distortion you want in both graphics and audio.”
- “The game runs great even on low end hardware (my Steam Deck can run it docked at 1080p at 80+ fps on my 144hz TV).”
- “Buggy as hell, had to reload saves because I got stuck multiple times.”
- “Incredibly buggy, sounds randomly spam play, doors don't open, falling through floors, rooms where the flashlight is supposed to be available but isn't so you end up having to reload a save because you can't see anything...”
- “The game has several glitches such as enemies not activating in certain areas or spawn points, enemies' bullets flying through walls or other forms of cover, cut scenes getting caught and not showing characters because the camera is behind something.”
replayability
57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
56%
26%
The game suffers from a significant lack of replayability due to non-replayable levels, absence of new game+ or postgame content, and no ability to revisit missions for missed collectibles or side quests. While it offers a fun single playthrough experience with a hub world and upgrade systems, completionists may find it frustrating and are often forced to start over to fully complete the game. The community-driven mods provide some extended replay value, but overall the game would benefit greatly from features enabling mission replayability and additional endgame content.
- “Huge replay value with all the secrets and items to find. Just an amazing game all around!”
- “A single playthrough could take you 10-15 hours to finish, and that in my eyes is the perfect amount since the game also has nice replayability.”
- “Replayability [████████░░] - secrets alone will bring me back.”
- “The game has a hub world, a weapons upgrade system and collectibles (which are found or bought) but no replayable linear levels, which means that not only is it incredibly punishing for completionists, but you can potentially miss out on the true potential of your arsenal and slow down its progression (most weapons start uninteresting and you're stuck with them for quite a bit).”
- “My major gripes when it comes to gameplay is the inability to replay certain levels or areas, as is common with other boomer shooters to have some level of replayability without having to restart the game from the beginning, and it makes it difficult to collect cards, newspapers, or comic strips when you are unable to return to almost all areas of the game.”
- “-no ng+ or level select to replay missions for missed collectibles and side missions (biggest oversight and kills replay value imo).”
grinding
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
9%
83%
Grinding in the game is widely regarded as tedious and repetitive, with combat and mini-games becoming frustrating over time, especially since important rewards require repeatedly completing monotonous tasks. The inability to easily replay levels for collectibles or 100% completion adds to the frustration, making progression feel more like a chore than an enjoyable challenge. Overall, the grinding detracts significantly from the gameplay experience despite some enjoyable core elements.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “That leaves you stuck grinding it out afterward, which feels more tedious than rewarding.”
- “Combat starts to feel repetitive toward the later stages, enemy variety could have been pushed further, and some side content ends up feeling more grindy than rewarding.”
- “Mini-games are mindless with a card game being extremely tedious - for any reward you need to play the same game with the same strategy 20 times - take the highest number you have - win.”
character development
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
52%
Character development is primarily praised for its exceptional and detailed character design, capturing a charming vintage cartoon aesthetic with creative animations and expressive visuals. While most reviews highlight strong character portrayals supported by great voice acting and engaging interactions, a few note a lack of visual distinctness among characters and limited character growth in the narrative. Overall, the art style and design significantly enhance the game's atmosphere and appeal.
- “The character design is also fantastic, with so many excellent-looking NPCs and enemies, everyone a character that someone in the art department poured a lot of love and detail into.”
- “The developers flawlessly nailed the vintage cartoon aesthetic, and the attention to detail in the character designs is phenomenal.”
- “The character designs and animations are Vivziepop versions of a rubber hose character rather than a rubber hose character.”
emotional
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game delivers a charming and emotionally engaging experience through its blend of wholesome humor, atmospheric storytelling, and strong voice acting, particularly Troy Baker's portrayal. It balances lightheartedness with deeper themes like fascism and racism, creating genuine emotional beats without taking itself too seriously. While some players felt less connected to the humor and characters, many appreciated the nostalgic, noir-inspired tone and the nuanced emotional range evoked by key moments and environments.
- “The combination of visuals, cutscenes, and mood-setting music leaves just the right amount of space for characterization, while still allowing for one or two genuinely effective emotional beats.”
- “At first I was just satisfied and thought to myself that it was one of those "style over substance" games but the more I played the less repetitive it felt to me because of how the story and its world just reeled me in and made me feel invested, making that stagnation feel non-existent.”
- “The insane asylum is probably one of my favorite portions of a game ever, as so many different points of that area just made me feel a full range of the emotional spectrum, from somewhat uneasy to entirely thrilled.”
monetization
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
13%
67%
The game stands out positively in its monetization approach, offering a fair price point with no microtransactions or intrusive ads, which is appreciated in contrast to many mainstream titles. Despite heavy advertising and marketing campaigns, it avoids being a cash grab and maintains an indie spirit focused on creativity rather than aggressive monetization. However, some users note that despite the promotional push, the game itself feels basic and lacks innovative gameplay elements.
- “And not only is the price point terrific, there's also no evil overlord megacorporation forcing nonsense microtransactions!”
- “Indie games like this are 10x the fun, zero microtransactions, no weird political agenda!”
- “No ads”
- “I was surprised to see how basic it was given the massive advertising campaign behind it.”
- “Seriously, I got ads for this game on YouTube, Reddit, the Steam front page.”
- “Ever wonder why an indie game has had so much YouTube ads pushing for it, Funko Pops at EB Games on release date, a song made by Caravan Palace (I'm sure any indie game can get that deal and front that much cash) along with countless positive reviews for a beyond mediocre game that brings nothing new to the table and feels like an early 2005 game...”