Mouse PI for Hire

MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is a PC first-person shooter with noir storytelling, hand-drawn black-and-white rubber-hose animation, and fast-moving combat inspired by classic boomer shooters. The project was originally revealed simply as Mouse, but the current storefront name is MOUSE: P.I. For Hire. Developed by Fumi Games and published by PlaySide, it follows private investigator Jack Pepper through the corrupt streets of Mouseburg.

The game is built for solo players who want a linear crime story, aggressive gunplay, secrets, and a highly stylized cartoon world rather than multiplayer progression or a character-class system.

A Detective Story Played at Shooter Speed

Jack Pepper begins with a missing-person investigation that develops into a wider conspiracy involving corruption, kidnapping, murder, gangs, and crooked police. The detective framing gives the campaign its structure, but the primary play loop is still action-focused: explore an authored level, locate clues and collectibles, fight through hostile spaces, and push toward the next case objective.

Investigation sections are integrated into the campaign rather than presented as a separate open-ended detective simulator. Players search environments, follow evidence, open routes, and connect story information while the game keeps moving toward the next firefight or boss encounter.

Mouseburg is presented through more than 20 noir-infused levels covering locations such as city streets, film studios, opera buildings, poisonous swamps, and underground sewers. The campaign uses compact objectives and combat arenas, making it suitable for players who prefer a focused single-player shooter over a large open-world investigation.

Movement, Weapons, and Cartoon Violence

Combat is based on constant movement. Jack can use a broad arsenal of cartoon-styled firearms and equipment while navigating encounters with wall-running, a grapple hook, and double-jumping. These abilities are unlocked as the campaign progresses, adding a Metroidvania-inspired layer to level traversal and encouraging players to revisit spaces when new movement options become available.

The arsenal includes more than ten weapons and pieces of equipment, ranging from conventional firearms to deliberately exaggerated cartoon inventions. Consumable power-ups can temporarily alter the flow of a battle, so players must decide when to spend them rather than treating every encounter as a simple aim-and-fire sequence.

Enemies include mice, rats, and shrews, with heavily armed gangs and corrupted authorities forming the main opposition. Boss encounters provide larger set pieces, while hidden rooms, collectibles, clues, and upgrade resources reward players who inspect corners instead of following the most direct route.

Players who enjoy the same aggressive retro-shooter instincts but want a timer-driven arcade structure may find fast first-person action games like Mullet MadJack a useful comparison. MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is more authored and narrative-led, while Mullet MadJack places greater emphasis on repeated runs and speed management.

What the Current PC Edition Includes

The standard PC product is a paid single-player game. Steam also lists a Digital Deluxe Edition containing the base game, a digital comic book, the original soundtrack, and access to one story expansion. The expansion is separate from the main campaign and is not required to play the core Mouseburg investigation.

The content model is therefore straightforward: purchase the base campaign for the complete main story, or choose the Digital Deluxe package if the soundtrack, comic, and additional story content are relevant to you. There is no verified free-to-play transition, seasonal progression system, or competitive multiplayer component.

The campaign is structured around authored missions, combat mastery, clue collection, secret hunting, and movement-based exploration. It does not use procedural generation or loot rarity as its central progression loop.

Who Is MOUSE: P.I. For Hire For?

This is a strong fit for players who want single-player boomer-shooter combat with a distinctive visual identity. The combination of black-and-white animation, jazz, noir narration, cartoon weapons, and fast movement gives the game a clear personality beyond its conventional shooter foundations.

It should appeal to players who enjoy exploring handcrafted levels for secrets, switching weapons during hectic encounters, and replaying areas to complete missed objectives. The movement abilities also add a light exploration layer for players who like discovering alternate routes and returning to previously inaccessible spaces.

It is less suitable for players seeking campaign co-op, online matchmaking, stealth-first missions, deep role-playing builds, or a fully systemic detective experience. The investigation supports the story and level flow, but the main attraction is still shooting through Mouseburg.

For a different take on hand-drawn cartoon action, stylized 1930s-inspired combat in Cuphead offers a useful contrast. Cuphead is a side-scrolling run-and-gun built around boss patterns and local co-op, whereas MOUSE: P.I. For Hire uses first-person movement, level exploration, and a noir campaign.

PC Controls and Platform Features

The PC edition supports mouse and keyboard as well as controllers, with rebinding and remapping options available. Full controller support is confirmed for Xbox Wireless Controllers and PlayStation DualSense controllers, giving players a choice between precision aiming and gamepad movement.

Steam features include Steam Cloud, achievements, trading cards, Family Sharing, and Remote Play on TV. The game is also listed as Steam Deck Verified, making it a practical option for players who prefer handheld PC gaming.

English includes full voice acting, while interface and subtitle localization is available in English, French, Italian, German, Spanish from Spain, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Turkish, and Ukrainian. No separate PC anti-cheat system or mod-support ecosystem is prominently listed in the current storefront information.

Players comparing it with a more combat-first modern classic can also look at high-speed arena shooting in DOOM. DOOM emphasizes weapon cycling, Glory Kills, and open combat arenas, while MOUSE: P.I. For Hire adds detective presentation, cartoon traversal abilities, and a more overtly authored noir setting.

MOUSE: P.I. For Hire FAQ

Was MOUSE: P.I. For Hire previously called Mouse?

Yes. The game was originally presented under the shorter name Mouse. Its current official PC storefront title is MOUSE: P.I. For Hire.

Is MOUSE: P.I. For Hire multiplayer?

No. The game is designed as a single-player campaign and does not provide online multiplayer, local co-op, or split-screen play.

What is included in the Digital Deluxe Edition?

The Digital Deluxe Edition includes the base game, a digital comic book, the original soundtrack, and access to one separate story expansion.

Does the PC version support controllers?

Yes. The PC edition supports mouse and keyboard controls, Xbox controllers, PlayStation DualSense controllers, button remapping, and control rebinding.

How long is the campaign?

The campaign contains over 20 levels. Its structure focuses on completing cases, surviving combat encounters, finding clues and collectibles, unlocking traversal abilities, and revisiting areas for additional discoveries rather than procedural runs.

What languages are supported on PC?

English has full voice acting. The game also provides interface and subtitle support for 14 languages, including French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Turkish, and Ukrainian.