Combining traditional Nineteen Thirties “rubber hose” animation, explosive gunplay and an unrelenting cartoon world, MOUSE: P.I. For Rent is shaping as much as be a really distinctive deal with – however there’s far more to this sport than first meets the attention.
Shortly after asserting a March 19, 2026 launch date, we had been handled to a deep dive into the sport on the ID@Xbox Showcase, instantly from the builders at Fumi Video games in Warsaw, Poland. You’ll be able to watch the total deep dive beneath, or learn on to seek out out all the brand new particulars we discovered alongside the way in which:
“Extra Than Simply an Previous-school Shooter”
If there’s one factor to remove from immediately’s documentary, it’s that MOUSE: P.I. For Rent is excess of only a retro shooter in much more retro clothes. Whereas at its core the sport is a first-person shooter (extra on that later), there are extra layers of gameplay than you may suppose.
For a begin, the principle character – conflict veteran-turned-private investigator, Jack Pepper – isn’t just working and gunning by the entire sport. From the start, Jack is offered with not only one, however three separate instances to resolve, every of which can take him throughout town of Mouseburg to unravel their secrets and techniques.
Every case requires you to each take down enemies in your method and in addition to seek out clues – whether or not these are bodily objects, info discovered by speaking to NPCs, and even pictures you may take. Clues can then be taken to a traditional string-adorned corkboard in Jack Pepper’s workplace, situated within the HUB, the place every bit of proof should be positioned within the right place to unlock new revelations and locations.
With a spread of ranges to discover, this sport isn’t just a easy Level A-to-Level B shooter.
The Hub
On the core of all that sleuthing and exploration is the sport’s hub world, which is about roughly in the course of town of Mouseburg. The hub incorporates three key areas: Jack’s workplace, the native pub, and Tammy’s workshop. However there’s extra right here than only a sequence of menus. NPCs supply conversations with tidbits and clues, weapons could be upgraded on the workshop, and minigames present gamers with extra gameplay experiences. When you’re prepared to go away, heading to the following degree is as straightforward as leaping into Jack’s automobile and driving throughout the gorgeous overworld map of Mouseburg to your subsequent firefight.
Cartoon Fight
MOUSE: P.I. For Rent’s fight attracts on traditional shooters like DOOM and BioShock, with some added touches to make sure gunplay stays contemporary all through. With a philosophy of “difficult however enjoyable”, you’ll be pitted in opposition to waves of enemies and gather a whole arsenal of cartoon weapons, from the anticipated (like a Tommy Gun) to far more “experimental” firearms (image a mind in a jar that fires psychic waves, with devastating penalties).
Most weapons additionally include an upgradable alt-fire mode, requiring you to gather weapon schematics over the course of the sport. However beware – enemies will see adjustments too, with further sorts and variants being launched as you dive deeper into the world.
And as well, bosses may even throw in complete new mechanics of their very own! We even noticed a ghost-like creature named the Third Spouse, which requires you to weaken her with a flashlight earlier than you can begin pumping lead.
Making the Previous the Future
And, after all, the cheese within the room – we have to speak about how this sport seems. Whereas environments are rendered in 3D, each single character, enemy, UI factor and weapon has been painstakingly hand-drawn in 2D and animated to resemble the traditional Nineteen Thirties “rubber hose” animation. The best way all the things on this planet bounces, stretches, and bends is a tribute to that particular cartoon artwork type (even weapons proceed to bop and wiggle when Jack stays stationary). As you could possibly think about, this has taken an infinite quantity of labor from Fumi Video games, reinforcing how a lot of a labor of affection each single body of this sport is for the staff.
So as to add to the problem, MOUSE: P.I. For Rent is totally in black-and-white, which needed to change how Fumi approached conventional sport and degree design. Whereas most video games can use color to assist information gamers, Fumi wanted to attain that aim by use of sunshine and animation, giving the whole sport a really distinctive look from a participant’s perspective. Even right here, we’re seeing a tribute to traditional cartoons, with interactable objects dancing in place, ready so that you can discover them.
And to finish that tribute to the previous, we even discovered that Fumi has added customizable audio filters to the sport! You’ll be able to select to play with extra crisp and “clear” music, or add degradation and different filters to assist all the things sound as if it’s being performed from an old-school phonograph cylinder. This consideration to element – and to how gamers may wish to expertise the sport – is evident throughout all the things Fumi has touched.
Mouse: P.I for Rent involves Xbox Collection X|S on March 19, 2026.
MOUSE: P.I. For Rent
PlaySide
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
MOUSE: P.I. For Rent is an action-packed first-person shooter that pulls inspiration from the traditional cartoons of the Nineteen Thirties. Its black and white rubber hose visuals are drawn by hand, body by body, delivering a placing classic aesthetic. Unravel layers of corruption with an exhilarating noir-fueled detective story, vigorous environments to discover, an unique massive band jazz soundtrack, and a fully-loaded arsenal of cartoon weapons and devastating power-ups.
DEADLY INVESTIGATIONS
Meet Non-public Investigator Jack Pepper, a former conflict hero-turned-detective in a world the place hazard lurks even within the smallest mouse gap. Uncover the reality when a easy lacking individuals case shortly escalates into a fancy internet of intrigue, with corruption, kidnapping and homicide all on the docket. Examine the seedy underbelly of Mouseburg, battle closely armed gangs and crooked cops, and uncover clues to disclose the conspiracy buried beneath the floor.
LOCK, LOAD & LAUGH
From crackling machine weapons to explosive firepower, every weapon in Pepper’s arsenal is designed to deploy continuous cartoon chaos. Arm your self with an array of traditional, creatively twisted and experimental firearms, and devour highly effective upgrades whenever you want that additional spinach-loaded punch! Deadly encounters and manic boss battles await on this boomer shooter-inspired, retro-vibed journey – and the denizens of Mouseburg by no means go down with no combat.
A CITY OF SECRETS
Discover a various metropolis playground, from darkish streets to traditional movie studios, opulent opera buildings, toxic swamps and underground sewers. With a myriad of instances to resolve and collectibles to seek out, Mouseburg is really a detective’s delight! Use each instrument at your disposal to wall-run, grapple-hook and double-jump by this unrelenting cartoon world.
FEATURES
– Black and white, hand-drawn rubber hose animation, impressed by cartoons of the Nineteen Thirties
– Quick-paced FPS fight, the place fixed motion is essential
– An exhilarating single-player marketing campaign that unravels a fancy internet of crime and corruption
– Over 20 noir-infused ranges, teeming with mice, rats and shrews
– Absolutely-loaded arsenal of over a dozen distinctive weapons and gear – with a cartoon twist
– Devastating consumable power-ups, able to turning the tide of any battle
– Unlockable motion talents and Metroidvania-inspired degree traversal
– Unique jazz soundtrack, that includes a giant band orchestral ensemble
