Drafted with AI from our own data; passed automated quality checks and spot-checked by the editor
About the Game
MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is a fast, black-and-white rubber-hose noir shooter that blends 1930s cartoon style with run-and-gun action.
MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is a first-person shooter with a strong sense of motion, built around hand-drawn, black-and-white rubber-hose animation inspired by 1930s classic cartoons. You play as Jack Pepper, a former war hero who has become a private detective. A missing-person case grows into a tangle of corruption, kidnapping and murder, and you dig through the city's underworld to find out who is pulling the strings.
The core loop mixes fast, noisy combat with investigation. Keep moving, because standing still is the quickest way to get hurt. The arsenal ranges from machine guns to explosives, plus a set of odd and experimental weapons. When a fight turns against you, you can swallow consumable power-ups for a burst of Popeye-style strength. Deadly showdowns and wild boss battles are part of the mix as well.
The setting is Rat City, a grim town of shadowy alleys, a film studio, an opera house, a poison-fogged swamp and damp sewers. The campaign spans more than twenty noir-style levels packed with rats, mice and shrews. Cases to solve and collectibles to find reward exploration. Your movement tools include wall-running, grappling hook climbing and double jumping, and unlockable abilities open up Metroidvania-style exploration.
What stands out most is the presentation. The original big-band jazz score, with orchestral arrangements, gives the game a classic mood, and the pairing of a retro cartoon look with tight shooting is the main hook.
Feature Highlights
- The entire game uses frame-by-frame, hand-drawn black-and-white rubber-hose animation inspired by 1930s classic cartoons.
- Fast first-person combat rewards constant movement, and the game supports play without requiring quick reactions.
- More than twenty noir-style levels include locations such as a film studio, an opera house, a swamp and sewers.
- A dozen-plus unique weapons and gadgets come with cartoon-style designs, and consumable power-ups can turn the tide of a fight.
- Unlockable movement abilities open up Metroidvania-style exploration across the city stages.
- An original jazz soundtrack with big-band performance and orchestral arrangements sets a classic retro mood.
Who It Is (and Is Not) For
Recommended For
Fans of retro cartoon style and noir detective stories will likely enjoy the look and atmosphere. Players who like run-and-gun shooters with a bit of exploration and unlockable movement will find plenty to work with. Controller players get full support, and the game can be played on a TV through Remote Play.
Not Recommended For
Anyone expecting a slow, dialogue-heavy mystery will be surprised by how much of the game is shooting and movement. If the old rubber-hose look or fast first-person combat puts you off, this one is probably not for you.
What the Steam Reviews Say
MOUSE: P.I. For Hire holds a Very Positive rating on Steam, with 94 percent of its reviews positive across tens of thousands of reviews. A high positive share combined with a large review volume is a strong signal that the game lands well with the people who play it.
Steam's labels are calculated from the share of positive reviews and the number of reviews, so a Very Positive label generally means most reviewers were happy with the game. It does not guarantee the game matches your taste, though. Because the sample is large, the percentage is more stable than it would be for a small release. Still, reading recent reviews can help you see whether opinions on the combat or the length match what you enjoy.
Price History & Historical Low
Show price changes as a table
| Date | Price | Discount |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-30 | NT$488 | — |
| 2026-07-10 | NT$488 | — |
| 2026-06-24 | NT$390 | -20% |
All prices here are Taiwan Steam store prices in NT$. The current price is NT$ 488, which matches the regular price, so the game is not on sale right now. Our lowest recorded paid price is NT$ 390, logged on June 24, 2026, the first day we tracked it.
The game has been discounted often in our records, with a deepest discount of 20 percent. It has not been free to keep on any day we recorded, and there is no free-to-keep offer at the moment. Our highest recorded price is NT$ 488, so the current price sits at the top of our range.
Our price record is still short, so this verdict is tentative. Since the game has gone on sale fairly often, wishlisting it and waiting for a discount could pay off, but at the current NT$ 488 you are paying full price.
Analysis written 10/27/2026 from our recorded prices; the chart above is live. Taiwan-region Steam prices.
How to Buy
- Sign in to your Steam account on the website or in the desktop client before you buy.
- Open the MOUSE: P.I. For Hire store page and check the current Taiwan price shown there.
- Click the purchase option to buy it now, or add it to your wishlist if you would rather wait for a lower price.
- Turn on Steam's wishlist sale notifications so you hear about discounts as soon as they start.
- Once it is in your library, you can install it and start playing right away.
- Check back here for the price trend before you decide, since our price record is still short.
Things to Know
Traditional Chinese is listed among the supported languages, and English is listed with full audio support. The game also supports Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean and several European languages. Prices here are Taiwan-region Steam prices in NT$ and may differ in other regions. Free and discount promotions can end at any time, so check the official Steam page before you buy.
