Mouse: P.I. For Hire Launches April 16 on PS5, Xbox, Switch 2, and PC

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Mouse: P.I. For Hire, a new game from Fumi Games and PlaySide Studios, will launch on April 16, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC (via Steam). The digital version will cost $29.99 and has already received positive feedback from early reviewers.

In this game, you play as Jack Pepper, an ex-soldier and police officer who now works as a private detective in the gritty, fictional city of Mouseburg. What really makes it stand out is its unique look: everything – characters, weapons, and enemies – is hand-drawn, frame by frame, in the style of classic 1930s black-and-white cartoons. These drawings are then combined with 3D environments, creating a visual style that one reviewer called completely original.

The game is also coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the original Nintendo Switch, but Fumi Games will announce the release dates for those versions later.

A Warsaw Studio’s Unlikely Critical Breakthrough

Fumi Games, a small independent game studio in Warsaw, Poland, has received surprisingly positive reviews for their game, Mouse: P.I. For Hire. Critics have been largely enthusiastic in their early reviews, published before the game’s release on April 16th.

Reviewers are raving about this game, with PC Gamer calling it the best shooter in years thanks to its fantastic graphics and gameplay. Kotaku and Final Weapon echoed this praise, with Final Weapon pointing out that it offers more content and refinement than many full-priced titles. Currently, it has impressive scores of 81 on PC and 75 on PS5 on Metacritic, which is a great result for a new game.

While the game is largely being praised, a few reviewers mentioned some minor issues. Some felt the difficulty dips a bit in the middle, and a few late-game sections felt slower than the rest of the game. A small number of critics also wished the detective work had been more in-depth, considering the game’s focus on investigation. However, these comments are relatively uncommon and don’t overshadow the overall positive feedback.

The Story: Three Cases, One Sprawling Conspiracy

The story starts with a simple missing person case. Private investigator Jack Pepper, voiced by Troy Baker, is hired to find a former soldier and magician named Steve Bandel. But the case quickly becomes much bigger, unfolding into three connected mysteries: a woman’s murder, a series of kidnappings targeting mice in the city, and a secret political group with surprisingly far-reaching goals that Pepper never anticipated.

The game unfolds as players gather clues hidden within each level. They organize these clues on a corkboard in Pepper’s office, and by connecting them, they reveal the bigger picture of the story. While the game has a cartoonish style, it tackles serious issues like corruption, prejudice, and political radicalism. A standout feature is the voice acting, particularly by Baker, who expertly blends the game’s humor with moments of real emotional depth.

The game features a campaign with over 20 unique levels, taking place in diverse areas of Mouseburg like city streets, a movie studio, an opera house, sewers, and swamps. Players who finish the main story can expect to spend around 13 to 15 hours playing, and those who explore all the optional side quests could easily spend 18 to 20 hours.

Gameplay: Movement, Arsenal, and Boomer Shooter Roots

As a huge fan of old-school shooters, I’m really loving Mouse: P.I. For Hire! It’s super fast-paced and all about keeping moving – there’s no hiding behind cover or health that refills. It reminds me of classics like Doom, BioShock, and Quake, games where standing still means certain death. You start as Pepper with just a quick dash and your fists – the game calls them ‘mitts,’ which is cute. But as you play, you unlock awesome moves like a double jump, wall running, a cool tail-powered glide, and even a grappling hook. They all blend seamlessly into both the shooting and the platforming, making everything feel really dynamic.

As you play, you get an awesome range of weapons! You start with just a basic pistol, but quickly unlock things like a Tommy Gun, a shotgun, and even a shoulder-mounted cannon. But the coolest part? Some weapons are totally original and over-the-top. There’s this one called the Devarnisher that literally strips the paint – and skin! – off enemies, and they just fall apart in this funny, cartoony way. Plus, the levels are packed with crazy hazards like falling pianos and exploding barrels. Reviewers kept saying the combat was still fun even after playing for hours, and I totally agree – it’s consistently entertaining!

When players aren’t on missions, they return to a central area – Pepper’s office and the surrounding neighborhood. Here, they can use collected blueprints to upgrade their weapons with the help of a character named Tammy. They can also take on optional side quests from other characters and play a baseball card mini-game to relax between battles. PC Gamer noted that this hub world feels like a real place to unwind, similar to the style found in Dishonored, and isn’t just a disguised loading screen.

A Visual Style Years in the Making

Originally known as just “Mouse,” Mouse: P.I. For Hire debuted in 2023. Developed by Fumi Games, the game uses a classic rubber hose animation style – a look reminiscent of early cartoons from the 1920s and 30s that’s recently become popular again. The studio spent several years creating a unique process that combines traditional hand-drawn 2D animation with the 3D Unity game engine. This allows all the characters on screen to always face the player directly, just like in those original cartoons, no matter how they move.

Honestly, the sound in this game is incredible. They went all-in on a 1930s vibe, with a real live big band jazz score playing throughout every level. Even the sound effects are designed to sound like they came straight out of those old-time cartoons – all crackly and warm. A lot of reviewers have said it’s the most consistently stylish game they’ve seen in a long time, and I totally agree – everything just fits perfectly.

Release Details

The detective game Mouse: P.I. For Hire will be available worldwide on April 16, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC (via Steam). The digital version costs $29.99 on all platforms. If you prefer a physical copy, the standard Switch 2 edition is $39.99, while special ‘Mouseburg Editions’ will be available for $49.99 and $59.99.

Fumi Games plans to release downloadable content after the game’s launch, but they haven’t announced when it will be available or what it will include yet.

Keep reading: Latest gaming news

Fumi Games created the game Mouse: P.I. For Hire, and PlaySide Studios will publish it. It will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC (through Steam) starting April 16, 2026. Versions for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the original Nintendo Switch are still being planned and will be announced at a later date.

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2026-04-16 01:29