Headlining the cast is Troy Baker (Death Stranding, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle) as Jack Pepper, a soldier turned private investigator who ends up tumbling tail-first into the corruption surrounding Mouseburg. Wanda Fuller, the “resident” journalist of the city, is voiced by Florian Clare, who acted in The Strangers Chapter 1 and 2.

Tammy Tumbler, who assists Jack in upgrading weapons, is played by Camryn Grimes, whose resume includes roles in NCIS, The Mentalist, and even Swordfish. Then there’s Fred Tatasciore (Invincible, Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties) who plays John Brown and runs the Little and Big bar. Finally, Frank Todaro of Code Vein 2 and People of Note fame voices Cornelius Stilton, a politician who’s keen on helping Jack.

It’s an eclectic cast, and we can’t wait to see what role they’ll play throughout MOUSE: P.I. For Hire when it launches on April 16th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2. Check out our feature for more details in the meantime.

An explosive new launch trailer is live, and it has us eager to see what Jack Pepper gets up to in a world that’s so absurdly over-the-top, its chaos is just a part of the fun. Mouseburg is already quite interesting on its own, and Jack’s corny one-liners are a perfect fit, reminding us of those old detective films with world-weary protagonists.

It’s a solid showcase of what the game is going to throw at you, from its investigations, combat, upgrade menus, and more. It promises about 12 to 20 hours of gameplay (depending on how you play) for just $30, and that’s not counting the post-launch expansion that was announced a couple of weeks ago. There’s a lot to feel optimistic about with this one.

As always, we’re erring on the side of caution and waiting until we get some time with it before we actually begin celebrating. Like all of you, we’ve been burned before. But we must admit that the trailer, showcased below, makes it pretty damn hard to keep our excitement in check. MOUSE: P.I. For Hire arrives on April 16th, so it’s not long before we can finally dive in.

The music video takes us to El Paradiso, a casino where there’s a lot of fun to be had, although that entertainment might come at a price that’s too high for some unfortunate souls. While Jack Pepper, the game’s protagonist, makes a brief appearance, the video is still quite interesting, hinting at the kind of cases the world-weary detective might be taking on. Crooked authority figures, gangsters – the list goes on, and that’s.

We’re hoping the rest of the game’s soundtrack is as catchy as this one, as it would be the perfect accompaniment to its impressive gameplay and a bunch of interesting weapons for Pepper to use as he tracks down leads and drops droll one-liners.

This is a title we’re diving into as soon as it drops for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2 on April 16th. It retails for $29.99 and promises 12 to 20 hours of gameplay, which varies wildly depending on how you approach things. Best of all, there’s even more to look forward to post-launch with a story expansion in the works.

Distinct Rubber-Hose Animation is More Than Aesthetic

First impressions aren’t everything, but even cursory glances at Mouse: P.I. For Hire are arguably more memorable than countless other shooters. Drawn by hand, Mouse: P.I. For Hire adopts a 1930s rubber hose animation style – so called for the noodly limbs typifying its movement – but its contrasting black-and-whites aren’t just for aesthetic value. No, rubber hose’s inherent charm introduces a disarming undertone which studio Fumi Games capitalise on, bringing unsettling surrealness which you feel in the explosive actions of a gun-toting rodent.

A Film-Noir Inspired Detective Story

Characterised by moral ambiguity, corrupt underworlds, and moody undertones, Mouse: P.I. For Hire’s film-noir inspiration runs deeper than its vintage palette. First and foremost, this is a detective story; as rodent P.I. Jack Pepper, you’ll navigate the unscrupulous city of Mouseberg, where a simple missing persons case untangles a web of lies, kidnapping, and murder. Jack’s a grizzled, former war hero with no qualms gunning down gangland leaders and police lieutenants alike. But – as is typical of noir anti-heroes – is his mission ill-fated? Explore the seedy streets and you’ll see just how deep the mouse’s burrow goes.

20+ Action-Packed Levels Across a City Playground

Mouseberg’s reported twenty-plus levels are varied. Across your investigations, you’ll be visiting film studios and opera buildings, plus poisonous swamps and underground sewers. Likewise, recently revealed footage shows a three-stage boss fight against a robotic mouse who dwells inside a secret laboratory. There’s density here too; much like real mice who like to hide in dark, secluded areas, you’ll be wise to check every nook and cranny for any lurking danger.

Mechanically Similar to Popular Shooters

With its fast paced, run-and-gun action, Mouse: P.I. For Hire looks poised to carve out a distinct place for itself in the FPS space. While its frenetic gunplay and fluid movement are immediate standouts, the game’s hardboiled narrative suggests it is aiming for more than just satisfying action. Rather than relying solely on momentum and combat, Mouse appears to frame those mechanics as one part of a broader experience, with its storytelling playing a much more central role.

A Suite of Movement Abilities

And, speaking of movement, Jack Pepper enters the fray with a spring in his step – sliding, dashing, and double-jumping are in his moveset, as is wall-running and pipe crawling. Fumi Games are instilling a very on the move ethos, expanding on it with a broad suite of manoeuvres typical of the “Boomer Shooter” sub-genre. And yet, you’ll want to use all of Jack’s mobility options; see, he’s not an armoured Master Chief, he’s just a regular mouse with a gun. Only a few hits, the devs insist, is all it takes to down him.

Missions Offer Multiple Approaches

A key aspect of the game’s design is its non-linear, sometimes maze-like level structure, encouraging players to explore environments thoroughly rather than simply moving from one encounter to the next. Whilst it’s unclear at this stage how labyrinthine Mouseberg’s levels actually are, what we do know is you’ll have some agency in how Jack completes his missions. Take an early opera house infiltration as an example: Jack can sneak in undetected, or he can sway the corruptible denizens of the city to aid his mission; greasing the palms of the opera house staff for secret access, for instance.

Weapons are Cartoonish Twists on Period-Correct Firearms

In addition to his fists, Jack comes packing with up to eleven weapons in his arsenal. We’ll get onto the more creative firearms next, because the mainstays deserve a moment in the spotlight too, not least for their humorous reload animations. The Micer is a one-handed revolver, the Boomstick a pump-action shotgun, and the James Gun the mobster classic Tommy, with ammo that stops enemies in their tracks. The Kiss Kiss is a double-barrelled shotgun that fires explosive shells, while each gun comes equipped with an alt-fire mode: burst-shot for the Micer, hold-charge mechanism for the Boomstick, and so on. But, a special highlight is indeed the firearms’ cartoonish reloading: the James Gun’s drum, for instance, appears comically glued in place, with Jack yanking it loose with the suction of sink plunger.

Other Weapons are More Experimental

Alongside “conventional” weaponry (conventional used in the loosest way) are some bizzaro firearms straight out of the Looney Tunes playbook. A de-varnishing chemical weapon rapid-fires paint stripper that melts your enemy’s skin and flesh. The Loose Cannon is indeed a cannon, presumably sheared loose from a pirate ship; plus, there’s a freeze ray, fire-damaging chainsaws, and a science-infused attitude adjuster complete with a brain in a jar co-pilot.

Weapons Can Be Upgraded

Injecting some light RPG mechanics is Mouse: P.I. For Hire’s weapon upgrading system. Located in the game’s hub area, in Tammy’s workshop are workbenches where you can augment Jack’s firearms with specific power-ups. Details on what these upgrades entail are relatively light at the moment, although additional firing modes, alongside some experimental progressions, have been hinted by the developers.

Momentary Power-Ups Add Yet More Zaniness to Combat

Eating spinach will temporarily boost Jack’s punching power, much like Popeye; drinking coffee activates finger guns that quicken firerates, kinda like Cuphead. Cheese acts as a health boost, while chili peppers bring fire damage bonuses.

Jack’s Mousetail is a Multi-Purpose Tool

Not quite a Swiss army knife, but Jack’s tail has numerous versatile uses for traversal and gameplay explorations. At times, it’s a lockpick effective at breaking him into sealed-off areas. At others, it’s a grappling hook which can navigate him to otherwise unreachable places. It’s also, amusingly enough, capable of rapid rotation like the whir of a helicopter’s blade, spinning to get Jack airborne for one of the game’s most creative traversal options.

Hazards Dot the Environment

A crucial element underpinning the game’s “always be moving” action is the abundance of environmental hazards which you can utilise against Jack’s assailants, or your enemies will use them against you. Explosive barrels feature, alongside freezing areas, fire, and more flesh-dissolving turpentine. Surroundings are there to be crumbled too. With fistfuls of dynamite, you can level walls and floors, gaining an edge by remodelling the environment through chaos.

Original Big Band Soundtrack Underscores the Vibe

What is 1930s noir fiction without a big band soundtrack? This period in history is known as the “Swing Era” for a reason, so it’s fitting that Mouse: P.I. For Hire comes loaded with a suitably original big band score. The jazz cements the aesthetic, of course, but you can level up the music by authentically degrading it; in the game’s audio settings, there are filters which rewire the sound to replicate early wax cylinder recordings or vintage shellac vinyl.

Release Date, Length, and Price

Mouse: P.I. For Hire is set for release April 16, and it’s coming to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. The game has been price at 29.99 USD and will be 12 to 20 hours long. Likewise, there are no pre-order bonuses or special editions currently available. Of course, should this change we’ll let you know.

PC Requirements

To meet the minimum system requirements to play Mouse: P.I. For Hire, you’ll need an Intel Core i5 9600 or Ryzen 3600 processor, GeForce 1050ti, Radeon RX 580, or Intel Xe Graphics, and 16 GB RAM. Recommended specs, however, list the same CPU as the minimum, yet with higher calibre GPUs: GeForce 3060, Radeon 6600, or Intel Arc B570. 16GB RAM is still recommended, as is 8GB VRAM. Filesize is relatively paltry at 20GB.

Samson: A Tyndalston Story

Growing up is never easy, yet there’s a bittersweet feeling in returning to your childhood town, older and wiser. Not for Samson, though. His goal in Tyndalston is to pay off a debt that increases each day. Time is money, literally – you have limited hours to choose different jobs, whether it’s a getaway driver for a bank job or tuning up some local thugs. With a combat system that’s more about fighting dirty and vehicular mayhem that would make Mad Max proud, Samson promises a lot for its $25 price when it launches on April 8th.

DarkSwitch

Think Against the Storm, but expanding vertically – that somewhat explains Cyber Temple’s DarkSwitch. With a giant tree as your base and a malevolent fog slowly creeping in, you need to build, construct defenses and sometimes venture into the unknown to survive. It probably isn’t a coincidence that Akira Yamaoka is composing the soundtrack, probably hearing the word “fog” and asking nothing more. But with a full-fledged story mode that promises over 20 hours of thrills, DarkSwitch could end up a dark horse when it launches on April 9th.

Replaced

AI trapped in a human’s body, an alternative United States under the thrall of megacorporations, post-nuclear panic – all of this and more await in Replaced, Sad Cat Studios’ long-in-development cinematic platformer, which launches on April 14th. It also features stunning 2.5D graphics and a Free Flow combat system akin to Rocksteady’s Batman: Arkham franchise. Over its eight-hour runtime (11 to 12 if you stay and smell what’s left of the roses), there’s a harrowing, unpredictable experience with more than its fair share of bleak commentary on the world as we know it.

Starfield (PS5) and Terran Armada

Bethesda’s new – and not at all controversial – IP is finally coming to PS5 on April 7th alongside the latest story DLC, Terran Armada. At $49.99 for the base game ($10 for the new DLC), it’s the best time for PlayStation players to explore the Settled Systems, especially with the Free Lanes update. Besides expanding on space travel, it introduces new companions, outpost improvements, new points of interest, more upgrade systems, and more. Meanwhile, Terran Armada promises a more interesting story, its own exclusive Incursions, new ships, and even an HK-47-style companion in Delta.

Regions of Ruin: Runegate

As intriguing as the pixel art style and sheer number of systems could be, I never expected 2018’s Regions of Ruin to get a sequel. Runegate is out on April 14th and follows pretty much the same premise – venturing out into a ruined world, helping your Dwarven brethren, obtaining resources, and ultimately, establishing a place to call home. With more varied locations, sleeker visuals and much more to do, it promises to be the definitive Regions of Ruin experience.

Road to Vostok (Early Access)

If you can’t wait for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2’s first story DLC to hit this Summer, Road to Vostok may tide you over. Entering early access on April 7th, it tasks players with exploring the post-apocalyptic areas between Finland and Russia, ultimately culminating in Vostok. You’ll need to loot supplies and build a formidable arsenal, dealing with changing seasons, rough weather, bandits, and even the military, with death in Vostok causing you to lose everything. It’s a ways off from full release, but those looking for another challenging survival FPS may find it worthwhile.

Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred

Vessel of Hatred was a steaming hot pile of whatever, but Lord of Hatred, Diablo 4’s next expansion, looks more promising. Available on April 28th, it sees the world in peril once more because Mephisto. You’ll likely be the one to lay the smackdown on him after venturing to Skovos, a scintillating new region full of new points of interest and plenty of demons to scour. Two new classes, the Paladin and Warlock, bring even more unique playstyles and build variety than before, while Blizzard is reworking the Skill Tree, bringing back the Horadric Cube, and more. Maybe this will be the release that finally elevates Diablo 4 to the next level. We can only hope.

MOUSE: P.I. For Hire

What if you combine the rubber-hose animation of Cuphead with boomer-shooter-like gameplay? You get MOUSE: P.I. For Hire, a hard-boiled noir adventure focused on Jack Prepper, as he investigates a missing persons case and ends up discovering more than he bargained for. The slick hand-drawn animation is undoubtedly the appeal, as it brings Mouseburg to life in astonishing detail. Of course, this is a shooter as well, with weapons ranging from the grounded – pistols, shotguns, machine guns – to the wacky like freeze rays, corrosive turpentine and more. It’s out on April 16th and promises 12 to 20 hours of gameplay for $30.

Pragmata

Moon’s haunted, but instead of ghosts, there are homicidal robots out to get you. Launching on April 17th, Pragmata isn’t a Resident Evil-style survival horror – it’s the journey of Hugh, investigating a lunar base after lost contact and becoming swept up in the robot uprising. Together with the android Diana, he seeks a way out, providing the firepower while she hacks through an enemy’s defenses. The twist is that you have to do both simultaneously, creating a mix of puzzle-solving and tense shooting. It’s unlike anything we’ve seen before, and after the demo, we only want more.

Saros

Death is only the first step in Housemarque’s latest, and protagonist Arjun Devraj has miles to go before he can sleep. Investigating Carcosa for any sign of previous Soltari expeditions, he and his crew are caught up in the Eclipse, which twists the planet’s surface, culminating in the sun’s death. And yet, death won’t let them escape. Cue close encounters with tentacled monstrosities, discovering new weapons and clues that could help. And while Saros leans much further into rogue-lite progression than Returnal, it’s also expanded on the bullet dodging with a new shield that lets you absorb some damage and send it back with a vengeance. Saros arrives on April 30th, and even if you haven’t played its predecessor, it’s looking like another killer PS5 exclusive.

Invincible VS

Seemingly addressing the lack of 3v3 fighters, Quarter Up’s take on the brutal superhero epic packs 18 playable characters – including favorites such as Invincible, Omni-Man, BattleBeast, and of course, Conquest. And if the prospect of different classes, active and counter tags, and rollback netcode for online play doesn’t interest you, there’s a story mode to experience every bloody skirmish. It’s available on April 30th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Spark in the Dark (Early Access)

As typical of a dungeon crawler as Stellar Fish’s latest title appears, there’s an inherent charm and grittiness to Spark in the Dark. Maybe it’s the isometric perspective or more methodical pacing, coupled with how inherently dark the endless Dungeon appears (which makes it all the more scary when monsters show up). It’s available on April 7th via early access and only includes the initial tiers of the Dungeon, but we’re keen on plundering its depths.

MotoGP 26

Credit where it’s due to Milestone, as this will be its third consecutive racing game in three months. MotoGP 26 is all about the thrill of competitive bike racing at the highest level, although you can opt between Arcade and Pro Experiences to determine the difficulty. With an in-depth career mode, cross-play between all platforms (Nintendo not included, sadly), and new disciplines like Minibikes, Flat Tracks, Production Bikes, and more, this could be the series’ most feature-packed entry yet.

WILL: Follow the Light

Cropping up more than once during Steam Next Fest and impressing with its visuals, WILL: Follow the Light is a hard-hitting adventure focused on a seemingly simple goal: Returning home. It’s far from easy, however, as Will must brave islands, mountains and even the sea to reach his hometown and save his son. Puzzles and environmental storytelling abound, but it’s all about the atmosphere and how deep you’ll go to learn the truth. WILL: Follow the Light launches on April 28th for PC.

Kiln

Listen, I’m not saying this is exactly what I expected from Double Fine, which has delivered some of the finest platforms to date. But Kiln is…curious in a way that fits the developer’s profile. After all, what other multiplayer title invites you to become a pot, finely sculpted by your hands and scuttling off into an arena for some ceramic destruction? The fact that a pot’s design influences its playstyle is even more intriguing. Whether it figuratively blows up or not, Kiln is out on April 23rd for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Physical copies will be available on July 10th for PS5 and Switch 2, with the Standard Edition retailing for $29.99 and $39.99, respectively. You can also pick up the Mouseburg Edition for $49.99 on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC for $49.99 and on the Nintendo Switch 2 for $59.99.

Among the physical goodies included in this edition are a seven-inch vinyl record with four tracks, a map of Mouseburg (with a pistol schematic on the back), the aforementioned comic book, 33 baseball trading cards, three postcards, and two sticker sheets. And regardless of which edition you pick up on Switch 2, it comes with a game card.

MOUSE: P.I. For Hire will offer 12 to 20 hours of gameplay, depending on one’s playstyle. Check out some boss battle gameplay here or glimpse a deeper showcase here.

Whether that includes dialogue exchanges or not is unknown, but it sounds about right for this kind of adventure. According to its Steam page, MOUSE: P.I. For Hire offers 20 different levels and “Metroidvania-inspired” level traversal, where unlocking abilities will open up new paths.

Inspired by the rubberhose animation of 1930s cartoons, the story follows P.I. Jack Pepper in Mouseburg, who takes on what seems to be a straightforward case. Of course, this spirals into an investigation of the town’s underbelly with corrupt cops and officials seemingly hiding a massive conspiracy. While Jack conducts a fair amount of investigation, there’s more than enough action to go around.

Wielding everything from Tommy Guns and revolvers to futuristic weaponry like a turpentine gun with corrosive properties and the MIND-D Conscious Gun for turning enemies against each other. You’ll need all of it for some of the more out-there bosses, including the Betty Mark III.

MOUSE: P.I. For Hire will be available for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2 at launch. Check out some more extensive gameplay here.

“As we approach the final stages of development, we want to ensure we are taking the extra time and care needed to make MOUSE: P.I. for Hire an experience to remember. We remain unwavering in our goal to deliver you the best game we can, and that will take just an extra few weeks,” it said alongside publisher PlaySide Studios.

Naturally, this isn’t the first delay – it was originally meant to arrive last year before being pushed to early 2026. MOUSE: P.I. For Hire focuses on Jack Pepper, a private investigator in Mouseburg, as he takes on a request from a mysterious woman. As with most detective noir, it leads to uncovering corruption and other underhanded dealings in the city.

Of course, Jack has an extensive arsenal of weaponry to even the odds, from pistols and Tommy guns to experimental weaponry like a freeze gun and corrosive ray. Alongside putting down enemies, he’ll spend an extensive amount of time investigating and solving mysteries in Mouseburg, as highlighted in this showcase.

MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2. More details will be revealed before launch, but you can check out some gameplay against one of the bosses, Betty Mark III, here.

The Robo-Betty Mark III is quite a nasty creation, requiring that you get past its previous iterations, each of which has its own challenges, before it unleashes all of its deadly force. It has drones that keep you occupied while it lays down traps and laser beams that look quite painful to the touch, and has a massive health pool. Indeed, Jack empties nearly every weapon from his arsenal into the darn thing.

Per the developers, this is among the more unique bosses you’re going to find in Mouseburg, and is probably going to be a late-game appearance, considering all the weapons Jack apparently needs to take it down. Interestingly, this doesn’t seem to be the last we’ll hear of it, as developer Fumi Games promised to reveal more about the fight and the level ahead of release.

“Robo-Betty dwells in the pits of a secret laboratory and must be taken down in an epic three-stage battle. Expect more to be revealed soon about this boss fight and level, as part of an upcoming early hands-on preview for the game.”

You can check out the fight with Robo-Betty Mark III in the trailer below. MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is out on March 19th and will be available for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.

From the stables of Fumi Games, this one’s shaping up to be as campy as it is satirical, with its protagonist, Jack, dropping very droll quips even as he maintains a deadpan tone – a perfect throwback to the detective stories of old. The new gameplay shows off his investigative chops – like wandering into a crime scene with a false ID – along with a better look at the hand-drawn rubberhose-style visuals.

It’s all quite well put-together, complete with a soundtrack that sounds like there’s a vinyl record player constantly following you around as you make your way through a theater in search of your quarry. Of course, there are more than a few mice hell-bent on hampering the investigation, and they’re summarily dispatched by a blend of Jack’s capable fists and his trusty pistol.

While we would have liked to see some of the title’s more quirky weapons in action, the showcase does inspire a lot of confidence in a title that could be among the finer ones to grace a year that’s filled with solid releases. It’s slated for a March 19, 2026, release on the PS4, PS5, PC, Switch, Switch 2, and Xbox Series X|S.