Mouse: P.I. For Hire blends rapid-fire first person shooting with a daring rubber-hose cartoon look, plunging players into a noir-esque world of shady characters, frenetic run-ins and undeniable personality. It’s a strange mix of old-school animation, modern gunplay and stylish detective setting.
If you like that mix of off-beat visuals, inventive gameplay, and quirky storytelling, here are ten games that tickle a similar itch – whether it’s through their art direction, mechanics or atmosphere.
Deathloop.
Deathloop is a stylish FPS about time loop. You are Colt, an assassin who needs to take out multiple targets before the day resets. The game is set on the island of Blackreef and combines tight gunplay with strong world-building.
The greatest strength is experimentation. You can take different approaches to each situation, using different weapons and powers. You learn the loop, slowly, optimizing your runs such that each one is more efficient than the last.
BioShock
BioShock is a first-person shooter that features a gripping story and a lush setting in the underwater city of Rapture. Explore this fallen utopia and discover a story of ambition, ideology, and collapse.
Combat is a mix of traditional weapons and plasmid abilities, allowing for creative and strategic encounters. Its haunting atmospheres and unforgettable moments make it a must-play.
Cuphead.
Cuphead is a run-and-gun action game inspired by cartoons from the 1930s, featuring hand-drawn animation and a classic rubber-hose style. You play as Cuphead who needs to defeat a series of difficult bosses to pay back a bad deal.
Gameplay is quick, precise and relentless. Success is learning the patterns of the enemy and reacting quickly, often by trial and error.
Dishonored
Dishonored is a stealth action game that takes place in the plague-ridden city of Dunwall. You’ll play as Corvo Attano, a bodyguard framed for murder, in a world of political intrigue and supernatural forces.
The game focuses on player choice, with missions able to be approached through stealth, combat, or environmental manipulation. It’s dark and immersive and that’s what makes it different.
L.A. Noire
L.A. Noire is not an action game, it’s an investigation game. You play as detective Cole Phelps and solve cases in 1940s Los Angeles through gathering evidence and interrogations.
The facial animation system of the game is key in identifying truth and deception. It gives you a more measured, slower paced experience that captures the feel of classic detective stories.
Fallen Aces
Fallen Aces is set in the crime-ridden streets of Switchblade City, where a lone detective uncovers a conspiracy as the city’s guardians are murdered one by one.
This is a bold comic book style noir FPS with non-linear gameplay. Players will be free to approach situations however they want, and anything in the environment can be used as a weapon.
Bendy and the Ink Machine
Bendy and the Ink Machine is a first-person horror adventure game set in a forgotten animation studio. But as you play through the game, you realize that the cartoon graphics hide a dark tale.
The game is all about exploration and puzzle-solving, wrapped in an eerie atmosphere of nostalgia and horror.
TimeSplitters: A Future Perfect
TimeSplitters: Future Perfect is a fast-paced FPS, known for its chaotic gameplay and humor. The tale involves Sergeant Cortez as he traverses through various time periods, each with their own weapons and foes.
It stands out from other classic shooters due to its arcade style, variety and fast-paced, energetic gameplay.
We Happy Few
We Happy Few takes place in an alternate 1960s England, in the town of Wellington Wells, where society depends on a drug called Joy to keep everyone happy.
You play as three distinct characters who are all trying to break free from a controlled and unsettling world. The game blends stealth, survival and exploration with a strong narrative focus.
Space Bears
Bears in Space is a chaotic FPS that thrives on absurdity and humor. You are a space hero with a bear fused inside you battling weird enemies in weird worlds.
The fast-paced combat, unique weapons, and lighthearted tone make this a fun and unpredictable experience.
If you’re a fan of Mouse: P.I. For Hire, here are ten games with stylized visuals, inventive gameplay, and unique storytelling that should appeal. It’s got noir aesthetics, experimental mechanics, and bold art styles to explore if you’re into those things.
What do you think of these choices? Are there any games that you would add to the list?