MOUSE: P.I. For Hire Reviews
MOUSE: P.I. For Hire delivers a confident blend of noir storytelling and retro-inspired FPS design, pairing stylish black-and-white visuals with satisfying, fast-paced combat and a surprisingly grounded detective narrative. Its strongest moments come from the balance between chaotic shootouts and slower investigative sequences, all anchored by a compelling performance from its lead. While the aiming can feel imprecise and the detective systems play it a bit too safe, the game’s identity, atmosphere, and pacing help it stand out in a crowded genre.
Mouse: P.I. For Hire is a fun, visually exciting ride that you won't want to end. Lumi Games put their heart and soul into putting this game together, which shows in the attention to detail present throughout. The amount of pop culture easter eggs, both visually and in the dialogue, shows that they did their homework. Even with the minor issues I experienced, I would recommend this game to anyone.
Mouse: P.I. For Hire undoubtedly succeeds in accurately capturing the visual essence of Depression-era cartoons. The game's combat system is functional and agile, offering a fair variety of weapons and tools. However, Fumi Games' title is limited by design choices that restrict level replayability, the fluidity of exploration, and a difficulty level that can become tedious for some players.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Mouse: P.I For Hire blends kinetic gameplay with stunning rubber-hose visuals and furnishes it in a noir detective story. There was a lot of hype going into this one and Fumi Games have absolutely knocked it out of the park.
The idea of turning a boomer shooter into a cartoon-style game is bold enough. To then set it in black and white in a world of mice is downright crazy. But it works brilliantly. A highly political story, combined with offbeat humor and slapstick, makes Mouse P.I. a fantastic single-player shooter.
Review in German | Read full review
MOUSE: P.I. for Hire excels in gameplay as a smooth first-person shooter. It's rare to see indie games feature such great gameplay, and this is an early contender for Indie Game of the Year.
Where Mouse: P.I. for Hire falls slightly short is in its controls, which weren't always as smooth or as responsive as I would have liked them to be. Still, those drawbacks don't take away from how incredible and fun Mouse: P.I. for Hire is. There's no other game quite like it, which is why it's one of 2026's standout games so far.
MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is exactly the kind of rubber hose shooter worth the wait. It values its hand-drawn style just as much as its gameplay. Fumi Games found a way to make the mix of 1930s cartoons and fast-paced FPS action matter. The animation never feels like a gimmick. The story takes its time to get moving and the enemies don’t always put up a fight. However, watching Jack Pepper unravel the corruption in Mouseburg keeps the mystery moving through the slower hub moments.
Mouse: P.I. For Hire is a stylish shooter that blends noir storytelling with fast, frenetic combat. Its varied levels, memorable boss fights and striking aesthetic make it easy to get swept up in the experience. However, rigid level design, unbalanced weapons and some questionable gameplay mechanics hold it back. It’s messy, creative, and occasionally frustrating — but when it clicks, Mouse: P.I. For Hire feels genuinely special.
A superbly crafted boomer shooter that stands out for its interesting artistic style and substantial playtime.
Mouse: P.I. For Hire features exceptional art direction, accompanied by standard FPS mechanics and a detective element that, although underutilized, does not stop the game from being an excellent choice if you want to shoot in a world with a lot of personality.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Mouse: P.I. For Hire is one of those titles that works better than you think it would. Nailing the Doom-like gunplay and rubber-hose art style, it’s just as enjoyable to play as it is to look at. Plus, with a stellar cast, especially Troy Baker, it’s one of the most memorable shooters you can play. There are a few holes in it, like various glitches and repetitive elements, but it's a cheese worth taking a bite of.
Mouse: P.I. For Hire is more than just its visuals, with fast paced gunplay and fantastic movement packed into a single player FPS package.
We are faced with what we can consider the most charming game of 2026, one that isn't afraid to explore a genre as rigid as the first-person shooter and brings a lot of personality to a space where that is currently lacking. MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is a very welcome change of pace.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Mouse: P.I. For Hire is a shooter that wins you over through sheer personality. Fumi Games has crafted a world dripping with charm, from its rubberhose animation and original jazz soundtrack to death animations so creative they make you stop mid-firefight just to watch. The noir narrative keeps you guessing with constant twists, and Mouseburg feels like a place worth exploring even when everyone in it wants you dead. Where it stumbles is in its second half, as combat runs out of tricks and traversal abilities fail to deliver meaningful variety. Side missions are too scarce to matter, and the pacing loosens when it should tighten. But none of that erases the fact that this is one of the most distinctive and charming FPS experiences in years, a handcrafted love letter to noir, cartoons, and gaming itself that stays with you long after the credits roll.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Mouse P.I. For Hire is charming, funny, fluid, and kept me smiling throughout. It demonstrates the power of passion in game development.
Unafraid to take risks, Mouse: P.I. For Hire revives the essence of classic noir through immersive and electrifying gameplay. While it presents occasional shortcomings in performance and narrative, the title shines with its visual originality and mechanics, establishing itself as a unique and indispensable experience in today’s gaming market. A true love letter to fans!
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The Golden Age of Animation wasn’t called that for nothing, and MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is its modern gold standard following the likes of Cuphead and Bendy. Though relatively simple as a shooter and not up to par pacing-wise, this game has the production value and vision of yesteryear, and is a hand-made, hand-drawn testament to the art form of animation. Back it up with jazzy tunes and the best voice actors money can buy, and you’ve got another squash n’ stretch best-seller hot off the presses.
Mouse: P.I. for Hire shows how a clear vision and an offbeat personality can turn a boomer‑shooter homage into something sharper. Its 1930s aesthetic isn’t just flair—it’s the lens through which the game reshapes a well-worn genre, blending irresistible style, unexpectedly mature writing, and a protagonist who wins you over between gunfights and unpaid debts. Not everything lands perfectly, but the result is a game that knows exactly what it wants to be and delivers it with craft, rhythm, and charm. Jack Pepper won’t reinvent FPS games, but he certainly jolts them awake with passion, irony, and a world that smells of celluloid and aged cheese. So the real question is: are you ready to dive into his whirlwind of lead, jazz, and cheddar?
Review in Italian | Read full review
MOUSE: P.I. For Hire may excel in several aspects, as it succeeds in delivering a classic cartoon-style adventure filled with mystery and suspense that stays with you throughout the experience. This is supported by fast-paced and enjoyable gameplay with a nostalgic tone. However, it may be held back by some repetition in its activities.
Review in Arabic | Read full review