MOUSE: P.I. For Hire
A retro-FPS where you blast waves of cartoon goons with a tommy gun, dodge ink spills, and collect cheese wedges in a black-and-white 1930s world.
Nails the rubber-hose aesthetic, earning its $20 if you can tolerate brutally tough bosses.
For you if
- You loved Cuphead's art style but want a first-person shooter.
- You enjoy fast-paced boomer shooters like Dusk or Amid Evil.
- You appreciate hand-drawn animation and noir detective stories.
Not for you if
- You hate hard boss fights that require multiple attempts.
- You’re turned off by 1930s cartoon humor and slapstick.
- You prefer realistic graphics or modern FPS mechanics.
The rubber-hose visual style is the standout hook that 70+ hour players keep praising, alongside smooth boomer shooter pacing.
Boss difficulty spikes frustrate even long-time players, with some feeling stuck permanently.
Media
What critics say
- 3.5/5TheGamer
Mouse is an enjoyable and visually stunning shooter, but its unwillingness to put up even a semblance of challenge is its biggest downfall.
- 8/10PlayStation Universe
Mouse: P.I. For Hire is an outstanding curiosity that doffs its sleek fedora to Disney and the noir genre.
- 9/10Nintendo Life
When a game is right, it's right. And this one here is right.
Before You Play
Refreshed monthlyIs MOUSE: P.I. For Hire beginner-friendly for someone new to first-person shooters?
Yes, MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is very beginner-friendly. Reviews describe it as "too easy," meaning new FPS players won't struggle with its simple movement and forgiving difficulty. The game's hand-drawn aesthetic and clear visual feedback make combat easy to read. Beginners can use the game's saves and side jobs to ease into the experience.
Is MOUSE: P.I. For Hire fun solo, or is it better with friends?
MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is a single-player-only first-person shooter. There is no cooperative or multiplayer mode, so it is best experienced solo. All reviews and store listings describe it as a single-player adventure.
Source: Steam Store Page
Is there any post-game content or New Game Plus in MOUSE: P.I. For Hire?
No, there is no free roam after the story and no New Game Plus mode. The campaign consists of 24 main missions and 14 side jobs, taking roughly 7-9 hours for a straight playthrough or 14-16 hours for completion. Once you finish the final mission, you must reload a previous save to clean up missed collectibles, as there is no chapter select or replay function.
What should I know before starting MOUSE: P.I. For Hire?
Move constantly because standing still gets punished. Manually save your progress often instead of relying only on autosaves. Complete side jobs early to earn upgrade flexibility — they are not optional for a clean run.
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