Ever since Steamboat Willie hit the public domain, fans of the rubber-hose animated-style character have overwhelmed the indie media with their own movie titles and video game creations. One such title is Mouse: P.I. for Hire, a charming, black and white shooter that pits our protagonist, Jack Pepper, against various different types of cheese-eating pests, armed to the gnashers with a range of deadly weapons.
The Sword Is Mightier Than the Pen
Jack Pepper sounds just like what a detective would be called, even if this gun-loving crime fighter is another mouse, wearing the stereotypical attire consisting of a duffle coat, wide-brimmed hat, suit and tie. I half expected a stealthy investigation story with small gunplay elements and deep-fitted mechanics suited to real-life detective work, but what I received was a fast-paced FPS, borrowing elements from the Doom franchise like dashing, armor pickups and locked enemy kill rooms. The latter is not at all a bad thing, however, as Mouse: P.I. for Hire brings to life quirky cartoon characters with interesting stories around each one.
Nooks and Crannies
Once the introduction has finished where we magically survive the biggest fall of our lives, we find ourselves in the main hub of Mouseburg, a large-scale town that can be traversed in an unusual way, which I will talk about later on. Here, Jack can explore a small area containing his own office, a bar, a weapon upgrade shop featuring a gruff-looking rodent behind a cage, etc. We can meet several important four-legged friends, including our journalist informant Wanda Fuller, handy-mouse Tammy Tumbler, and mini bartender John Brown, all offering a hand in our mission to uncover various mysteries surrounding the town. Returning to this area makes the use of Jack’s trusty car, which can be actively driven using an isometric map, immersing the player into discovering towns and settlements through a toy-mat-style traversal mechanic.
Wheels of Cheese
Each twist and turn we take in the game is full to the fondue with cheese-filled dialogue and brie-nibbling gangster mice just waiting to sniff the end of my gun barrel. Mowing down black-nosed buggers is practically the work of a trigger-happy serial killer, but to Jack Pepper, it’s all in a day’s work. Jack definitely seems to reload his weapons more than he writes notes for his cases. As a private investigator, Jack’s murdering spree is very much a public endeavour, filling in his enemies with a plethora of bullets in city streets, subway stations, etc. Once Jack has made more holes in bodies than Swiss cheese, he saunters away from the crime scene with no consequences or guilt for the several families now lacking their very own Remy or Emile.
Most of the animation work is as smooth as cream cheese, especially the healing animation where Jack downs a big bottle of health juice as we can witness the whole thing be guzzled in front of our very eyes. Jack may also pick up various smaller pieces of food scattered around levels, which are the exact thing we all know mice stereotypically love to indulge upon: cheese. These are really handy in tougher encounters where Jack can just pop a slice in his mouth from his person when no health bottle is in sight.
No Mouse Traps Around Here
Boomer shooters are not the same without hiding a thing or two. Jack’s mouse body is extremely nimble, and mice are obviously very good at scurrying into small places, particularly in this case where players can access hard-to-reach areas for secrets and loot. Certain places, like vents, can be crouched into, which probably reminds Jack of the good old days when he didn’t hold a murder weapon for a good old blasting. Speaking of blasting, Jack can access hidden areas by shooting explosive barrels to open secret rooms that may contain special items, extra cash or even just some scenic storytelling. Throughout the story, Jack will also acquire unique upgrades that will help him to reach even the most tricky places, such as a double jump or an ability that turns Jack’s tail into a propeller for gliding. Cute little plushies are even scattered among each level, purposefully inspired by Doom’s action figures where Jack likes to subtly play with each one before placing it into his collection. Lastly, Jack can find locked containers that give him another use for his tail. Instead of using lock picks like any other protagonist, Jack opts to use his trusty tail, thin enough to weave between the cracks and release the entire mechanism without lifting a finger.
Final Thoughts
Mouse: P.I. for Hire is a charming, nostalgic, crime noir-style shooter that contains all the classic tropes of a proper fast-paced shooter with some unique elements to flesh it out. Jack Pepper, voiced by none other than Troy Baker, is a gruff, no-nonsense detective whose taste for blood is a little more concerning than to be conceived. Nevertheless, the game’s unique setting of Mouseburg is a welcome one, providing players with a story that enters the weird, wacky and wonderful.
Publisher: Playside
Developer: Fumi Games
Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Windows PC
Release Date: 16th April 2026
