MOUSE: P.I. For Hire Reviews
A military veteran, ex-cop and now a P.I. ' Jack Pepper seemingly lived through it all and yet his biggest catch is on the horizon. A case so convoluted, it would make a mice throw itself into a cheese trap willingly! With a banging rooster of weapons, loads of charisma, trusty rubber hose animations and a smooth jazz soundtrack, this detective will shoot through any and all clues. Do you have what it takes to put all the evidence on the board?
Review in Slovak | Read full review
MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is a solid first-person shooter with a great twist that cannot carry the game all the way. I loved the black and white cartoon presentation initially and liked the classic mechanics. But after three or four locations, the presentation is no longer surprising, and the gun battles start to feel repetitive.
It’s a competently and even entertainingly made game, but a dismally cynical work of art, and it never manages to shake the impression that the only reason that it looks the way it does is that the marketing team thought that it would be a good way to “stand out” and shift units.
Solid first-person shooter gameplay and unique bosses make it easy to recommend for fans of the genre, especially those who don't mind the extended experience. Switch 2 players may particularly enjoy mouse mode, a fitting way to play, but there is some stuttering in Performance mode, which aims at 60 fps. If you love a good trenchcoat-clad, heat-packing hero with a wit as sharp as his cheese, go ahead and hire this mouse to take a sharp-toothed bite out of crime.
Fun film noir-style rubber hose animation-inspired fast-paced first-person shooter on Switch 2
A great boomer shooter which is inspired by a lot of popular games of the past, but at the same time feels unique thanks to its wonderful visual style.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Mouse P.I recreated the classical cartoons from the 30s as a modern boomer shooter that you will only experience once in a lifetime
Review in Arabic | Read full review
While MOUSE: P.I. For Hire doesn’t quite scratch that detective itch, its incredible aesthetics and lively cast make it well worth the trip to Mouseburg.
Making use of a 1930s cartoon aesthetic, Mouse: P.I. For Hire is absolutely brimming with character and personality. It looks incredible, and it plays well too: this is a fun (if casual) first-person shooter that will keep you entertained from start to finish.
Aware of its ambitions, MOUSE: P.I. For Hire avoids delving too deeply into complex mechanics or sophisticated exploration and progression structures, but there's no doubt it manages to blend the "rubber hose" aesthetic with the creation of an undeniably immersive noir atmosphere. The audiovisual excellence, which articulates a spectacular sound design with cohesive art direction, underpins a solid first-person shooter - even if its gameplay is not very innovative - finding a good balance between inspiration and originality.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Mouse: P.I. for Hire is absolutely excellent. The presentation is stellar, with graphics that accomplish their goal of creating an interactive version of a 1930s cartoon. The soundtrack is good enough to convert players into fans of big band jazz. The shooting and platforming feel right, while the game clocks in at the right length. For fans of both shooting and action in general, Mouse: P.I. for Hire is a must-have title.
Mouse: P.I. For Hire is a highly successful experiment that masterfully blends 1930s rubber hose animation with the gritty, disillusioned tropes of hard-boiled noir. While hindered by a rigid level structure that lacks backtracking and some minor repetitiveness in its old-school FPS encounters, the game is tremendously fun. Its chaotic and visceral gunplay is elevated by brilliant writing, caustic humor, and stellar voice acting led by Troy Baker. A lethal and captivating investigation that stands as one of the most stylistically inspired shooters in recent memory
Review in Italian | Read full review
MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is a visual treat, but it's also a memorable experience to play. It's a classic shooter that oozes charisma and will provide hours of good fun.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
In the end, it’s more than just a good looking game. It’s a creative take on the detective genre that manages to carve out its own identity. It stumbles in a few places, particularly with combat precision and pacing, but there’s a lot here to appreciate. If you’ve been drawn in by its style, there’s a good chance you’ll find something to enjoy beneath the surface too.
With a simple yet effective progression system, a power fantasy combat loop, and passionate attention to detail, Mouse P.I. For Hire is easily one of the best titles of 2026. It reminds me of just how much joy a single-player first-person shooter can bring when it fires on all cylinders.
MOUSE: P.I. For Hire offers a genuinely long, linear shooter set in the past—in both the real world and a cartoon universe. Although the game features mice, it’s not hard to imagine them as humans. The brutal action isn’t for kids, and adults will certainly appreciate its parodic tone. The game doesn’t take itself seriously and pokes fun at the ubiquitous clichés. Exactly as it should be. The original and fresh take on an otherwise serious theme turns it into an entertaining game that doesn’t try to trip players up. I’m completely satisfied. A great debut from the Polish developers at Fumi Games.
Review in Czech | Read full review
MOUSE: P.I. For Hire isn’t a perfect game. The detective portion is shallower than it should be. The combat is fast-paced and fun, but it gets easier over time and becomes a bit repetitive. The difficulty isn’t very high, and some abilities or weapons could be put to better use. The post-release technical glitches also can’t be completely ignored. But on the other hand, this is an original game with a huge personality. It has great visuals, lively animations, a fantastic soundtrack, and—most of the time—very entertaining action. It doesn’t rely on just one visual gimmick. It has a world, a pace, humor, voice acting, a soundtrack, and enough content to stand on its own as a full-fledged shooter with adventure elements. It’s not just “Cuphead as an FPS.” It’s MOUSE. That’s exactly what sets it apart from the rest of the run-of-the-mill titles. And at a time when so many shooters look, play, and shoot almost identically, that’s quite a lot.
Review in Czech | Read full review
All things considered, Mouse P.I. For Hire is a game I’ve loved ever since the first trailer and continue to love even after the credits roll, albeit with a few significant reservations. It’s a solid, entertaining shooter, underpinned by outstanding art direction and a top-notch soundtrack, with personality to spare. At the same time, however, it displays some naivety in its writing and a few structural limitations that prevent the title from making the final leap towards the excellence that the 2024 previews had led us to hope for. As a debut, it remains a bold and highly distinctive achievement, and Fumi Games proves it has clear ideas and talent to spare for the future. I recommend it without hesitation to anyone looking for a boomer shooter with an unmistakable style and to those who love old-school cartoons.
Review in Italian | Read full review
MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is a stylish and competent boomer shooter wrapped in hand-drawn rubber hose animation inspired by 1930s cartoons. Jack Pepper's noir adventure through Mouseton delivers tight, fast-paced FPS gameplay backed by an outstanding original jazz big band soundtrack. On Steam Deck, the game runs smoothly at a locked 40fps with minimal visual trade-offs, earning its Verified status honestly. Some structural repetition across levels and a lightweight Metroidvania layer are minor complaints against an experience that stands out for its remarkable visual identity, satisfying gunplay, and evident care in optimization for both handheld and PC platforms.
Review in Italian | Read full review
There is no denying it: Mouse: P.I. for Hire is a game that knows how to have style. The idea of combining the look of 1930s animation with a noir story starring an anthropomorphic mouse worked incredibly well. While handling a detective story that gathers everything expected from works in that genre, the game addresses the problems within the city of Mouseburg, drawing direct parallels with the situations we face in our own reality. These aspects are complemented by fast-paced and extremely fun gameplay, resulting in an arcade shooter title that can easily hook you.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review