MOUSE: P.I. For Hire, Everything We Know Before Launch

MOUSE: P.I. For Hire has been turning heads since its first trailer. A noir detective FPS wrapped in hand-drawn 1930s rubber hose animation is a pitch that sells itself. But beyond the striking visuals, there is a deep shooter with metroidvania elements, a full weapon upgrade system, and a case-based story voiced by Troy Baker.

The game was originally set for March 19 but was pushed back slightly. It now launches April 16, 2026 on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. Here is everything we know.

The Story: Noir Meets Slapstick

You play as Jack Pepper, a former war hero turned private investigator in the city of Mouseburg. Troy Baker voices the role with a stoic, slightly sarcastic delivery that fits the hardboiled detective archetype.

The story kicks off with what looks like a classic damsel in distress setup. It doesn’t stay simple for long. As Jack digs deeper into Mouseburg’s seedy underbelly, the case spirals into a web of murder, corruption, and unlikely enemies. The tone walks a tightrope between dark noir storytelling and slapstick cartoon humor, and early previews say both sides land.

The game is structured around cases. Each case sends Jack out into the city to fight enemies, gather clues, and face bosses. Then you return to your office in Mouseburg to piece the evidence together before the next case opens up. Fumi Games promises over 20 chapters of content.

Combat: 12+ Weapons and the B.A.N.G. Upgrade System

MOUSE is a proper shooter first. The combat is fast, twitchy, and built on classic FPS foundations. You get over 12 weapons, each with its own cartoon personality.

Named weapons include:

• The Micer (your bread and butter firearm)
• The Devarnisher (fires turpentine balls that dissolve enemies like something out of Who Framed Roger Rabbit)
• The James Gin (a nod to classic spy culture)
• The Boomstick (exactly what it sounds like)
• Dynamite for when subtlety fails

Every weapon can be upgraded through the B.A.N.G. system at Tammy’s workshop. The Micer, for example, has three tiers of upgrades. The first tier boosts damage, clip size, and max ammo while cutting spread and recoil. It also unlocks an alt-fire mode. This turns each weapon into something you invest in and build around rather than just a pickup you swap out.

Beyond Shooting: Detective Work and Metroidvania Elements

The game is not just corridor shooting. Between combat encounters, Jack investigates crime scenes using a unique tail pick lockpicking mechanic that plays like a miniature game of Snake. It is a clever break from the action that fits the detective theme.

Fumi Games has confirmed the game incorporates metroidvania elements. You will unlock traversal abilities as you progress, including wall running, grapple hooks, and double jumps. These open up new paths and secrets in previously visited areas.

There are also NPC interactions with their own questlines, plus additional minigames scattered throughout Mouseburg. The developers describe the storylines as “pretty adult, deep, gripping, and dark,” which contrasts nicely with the cartoon exterior.

The Art Style: How It Works

The visuals deserve a closer look because the execution is unusual. Every character and weapon is hand-drawn frame by frame in black and white rubber hose style. These 2D sprites are layered over fully 3D environments, creating a visual contrast that makes Mouseburg feel like a living cartoon set.

Think Cuphead’s aesthetic applied to a first-person shooter with film noir lighting. The result is something no other game looks like right now.

Platforms, Price, and Game Length

• Release date: April 16, 2026
• Platforms: PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2
• Price: $29.99
• Game length: 12 to 20 hours depending on playstyle
• Developer: Fumi Games (Warsaw, Poland)
• Publisher: PlaySide Studios (Melbourne, Australia)

The Switch 2 version is notable. MOUSE will be one of the early third-party titles on Nintendo’s new hardware.

Why the Delay?

MOUSE was originally announced for a March 19, 2026 launch. In February, Fumi Games pushed the date back to April 16. No specific reason was given, but the extra month of polish is a good sign for a game this visually ambitious. The hand-drawn animation style requires meticulous work, and a short delay beats a rough launch.

What Preview Coverage Says

The hands-on impressions from early March are overwhelmingly positive:

• Xbox Wire called it “this year’s most surprising shooter”
• GamingBible described it as “the most original FPS I’ve ever come across”
• The Koalition praised it as “the most creative hand-drawn noir FPS I’ve ever played”
• Console Creatures called the preview build “aces so far”

The consensus across outlets: MOUSE is not a gimmick. The art style is the hook, but the gameplay has the depth to back it up.

Should You Wishlist It?

At $29.99 for 12 to 20 hours of content, MOUSE sits in the sweet spot for indie shooters. The weapon upgrade system, metroidvania traversal, and detective mechanics give it layers beyond just “shoot the cartoon enemies.” Add Troy Baker’s voice work and a day one launch across every major platform including Switch 2, and you have one of the most complete indie packages of spring 2026.

If you enjoyed the rubber hose aesthetic of Cuphead but want something with more narrative depth and FPS action, this is the game to watch.

MOUSE: P.I. For Hire launches April 16, 2026. Wishlist it on Steam now.

For our earlier hands-on impressions, check out our MOUSE preview. If you enjoy shooters with a unique indie twist, browse our action genre page or our Best Indie Games on Steam Deck list.