Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 81 | 200 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 94% | 88 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 85 | 288 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 90% | 84 | 937 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Jul 27, 2026) · 300 reviews sampled · 937 total reviews in window · weighted 233.2 up / 21.2 down · computed 1h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (194)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 70
“P.I. For Hire is an exhilarating, vibes-thick shooter shaped by the developer’s love for classic animation. Its sleek rubber hose animation and Steamboat Willie-inspired illustration makes it a stunner, and this is coupled with frenetic gun fights. Its noir tale, however, is reduced to basic tropes, and you won’t really be doing much investigation as a detective.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“While the core gunplay could have benefited from a wider variety of enemy archetypes, and the detective mechanics are far too streamlined, the sheer joy of blasting your way through Mouseburg carries the experience easily across the finish line. If you are looking for a shooter bursting with style, soul, and jazz, this is a case worth taking.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Mouse: P.I. for Hire is a very strong debut from Fumi Games. Despite a few issues with pacing and combat, it offers a solid story, phenomenal visuals, and a highly atmospheric soundtrack. If you enjoy noir-style games and boomer shooters, you’re sure to love this game.”
read full review ↗ - 98
“Just when I thought the first-person shooter genre had gone stale on me, MOUSE: P.I. For Hire walked in, tipped its hat, and changed my mind. This game won me over with its endless charm, its witty and genuinely cheesy dialogue, the cheese puns never stop, and I didn’t want them to, and a level of aesthetic commitment that extends to every corner of Mouseburg. A few structural quirks in the case sequencing keep it from a perfect score, but MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is a triumph, as close to perfect as it gets. Fumi Games has built a world that deserves to be explored, a story that earns its weight, and a combat system that keeps you coming back for one more run. At $29.99, this game is worth every cent.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is considered an exceptional experience that succeeded in providing a unique blend between nostalgia and modern gameplay mechanics. The developer was able to craft a fun and addictive gameplay style, supported by excellent variety in weapons and deep upgrade systems that give the experience additional value. The game's greatest achievement lies in its stunning artistic direction; as it revived the aesthetics of 1930s classic cartoons with superb craftsmanship and merged them with dark Noir atmospheres to create a world unlike anything else. It is not just a shooter game, but a hand-drawn work of art that reflects great passion in execution, making it one of the most distinctive games in its category.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Mouse: P.I. For Hire is a stylish shooter that blends noir storytelling with fast, frenetic combat. Its varied levels, memorable boss fights and striking aesthetic make it easy to get swept up in the experience. However, rigid level design, unbalanced weapons and some questionable gameplay mechanics hold it back. It’s messy, creative, and occasionally frustrating, but when it clicks, Mouse: P.I. For Hire feels genuinely special.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“MOUSE: P.I. for Hire turned out to be a fresh take on the shooter genre with adventure elements. Despite a number of rough edges, fans of detectives and cheese will not be disappointed.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Mouse: P.I. For Hire is a very beautiful game whose gameplay unfortunately doesn't live up to that visual design. Gamers who are already a fan of this type of game or can overlook the repetition of its level design may enjoy this title, but it offers very little beyond that.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“A great boomer shooter which is inspired by a lot of popular games of the past, but at the same time feels unique thanks to its wonderful visual style.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Fumi Games' title is effective and very satisfying, with stunning visuals and gameplay that delivers as a shooter but not quite as much as a noir novel. I had a great time shooting and uncovering the mystery hidden within its plot. I consider it a remarkable and enjoyable title, straightforward and effective, especially for those who love retro action and cartoons.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Imitating cartoons from the early 20th century, even with all our current technology, is no easy feat. (Ask the makers of Cuphead about that struggle.) But Mouse: P.I.’s strengths as a piece of hyperreal noir are a breathtaking wallpaper over a fairly linear, basic FPS that still demands that we take everything about it seriously. It’s a game trying to have its cheese and eat it too.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“MOUSE: P.I. For Hire doesn’t reinvent the genre, but it perfectly understands its roots and executes its proposal with personality, delivering a memorable, charming, and surprisingly solid adventure from start to finish.”
read full review ↗
TheBigBois
ZdobywcyGier.eu
The Punished Backlog
Eternal Games
TheReviewGeek
GameMAG
Raider King
3DNews
La Orden del Pixel
Slant Magazine
GameFM…and 182 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- MOUSE: P.I. For Hire - Patch v1.2.2Jul 27, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- MOUSE: P.I. For Hire - Update v1.2.1 (Steam)Jul 9, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- MOUSE: P.I. For Hire - Patch v1.1.0Jun 2, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- MOUSE: P.I. For Hire - Hotfix v1.0.6Apr 25, 2026
- MOUSE: P.I. For Hire - Hotfix v1.0.5Apr 20, 2026
- MOUSE: P.I. For Hire - Hotfix v1.0.4Apr 19, 2026
- MOUSE: P.I. For Hire - Hotfix v1.0.3Apr 18, 2026
- MOUSE: P.I. For Hire - Hotfix v1.0.1Apr 16, 2026
- MOUSE: P.I. For Hire will be $29.99 USD.Mar 5, 2026