Jack Pepper doesn't take cases out of civic duty. He takes them because the bills don't pay themselves. Mouse: P.I. For Hire drops you into Mouseburg, a city drowning in gang violence, crooked cops, and conspiracies that run deeper than any single assignment. Developed by Fumi Games and published by PlaySide, this rubber-hose noir shooter launched April 16, 2026 across PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. Whether you're here to blast through every case or track down every hidden collectible, this guide covers it all.
What kind of game is Mouse: P.I. For Hire?
Don't let the hand-drawn cartoon style fool you. Mouse: P.I. For Hire is a shooter game with genuine bite. You play as Jack Pepper, a well-connected ex-cop turned private investigator who gets dragged into missions far more dangerous than your average missing-persons job. Gangs, corrupt law enforcement, and city-wide conspiracies are the norm here. Jack brings an arsenal of weapons to every assignment, and knowing when to use each one matters.
The game sits in a sweet spot between detective fiction and action shooter. You're following clues and uncovering the truth, but you're also fighting your way through enemies to get there. Think less slow-burn mystery, more trenchcoat-wearing chaos.
Mouse: P.I. For Hire is rated Teen by the ESRB, developed by Fumi Games, and published by PlaySide. It launched simultaneously across seven platforms on April 16, 2026.
Jack Pepper's arsenal
Case walkthroughs: every assignment in order
Mouse: P.I. For Hire structures its story across a series of distinct cases. Each one escalates the danger and peels back another layer of what's really going on in Mouseburg. Here's the full list in order:
For players who want step-by-step help from the very start, the Big Mouse, Little Hope opening chapter walkthrough covers every comic location, safe combination, and the blimp chase sequence in full detail. If you're stuck early, that's where to go first.
Play through each case in order rather than skipping ahead. The story context makes later missions significantly easier to follow, and some collectibles are case-specific and missable.
All cases in order
How do weapons work in Mouse: P.I. For Hire?
Jack Pepper's effectiveness in the field depends heavily on matching the right weapon to the right situation. The game features a variety of weapons, and each has a context where it performs best. Spraying bullets at every enemy type with the same loadout will get you killed faster than the story demands.
After spending time with the full roster, the pattern becomes clear: some weapons are built for crowd control in tight corridors, while others are better suited for picking off targets at range or dealing with armored enemies. Pay attention to enemy behavior before committing to an approach.
Don't hoard ammo for a "perfect moment." Resources respawn and replenish at predictable intervals across missions. Running dry mid-fight because you were saving your best weapon is a common mistake in early playthroughs.
Weapon selection interface
What collectibles are there, and are any missable?
Mouse: P.I. For Hire has two categories of collectibles: tracked and untracked (secret). Both are worth chasing if you care about full completion or achievements.
The tracked collectibles include comics and newspapers, spread across every mission. The untracked secret collectibles include Jack Pepper figurines, which require more active searching and puzzle-solving to find.
Here's a quick breakdown of what's available:
For the newspapers, the all newspaper locations guide has every single one mapped out by mission. Comics have their own dedicated guide as well, covering all 29 across the full game and the achievement tied to finding them all.
Hidden figurine location
How do you find all the Jack Pepper figurines?
The 10 Jack Pepper figurines are the game's secret collectibles, meaning the in-game tracker won't hold your hand here. They're hidden across missions with varying degrees of obscurity, and some require solving small environmental puzzles to reach.
The full Jack Pepper figurine locations guide covers every single one with exact placement details and puzzle solutions. If you're going for 100% completion, that guide will save you significant backtracking.
The figurines don't appear on any in-game map or checklist, so it's worth consulting a dedicated guide before finishing each mission rather than replaying levels later.
Tips for getting started in Mouseburg
A few things make the early hours considerably smoother:
- Explore before engaging. Most areas reward thorough investigation with collectibles, ammo, or story context before enemies force your hand.
- Read the environment. Mouse: P.I. For Hire's hand-drawn aesthetic isn't just visual flair. Interactive objects and collectibles are often placed in spots that reward players who look carefully at the art direction rather than rushing forward.
- Check every case for secret collectibles. The untracked figurines in particular won't remind you they exist. Build the habit of searching thoroughly from the first mission.
- Match your weapon to the encounter. The game gives you options for a reason. Experiment early so you understand your toolkit before the difficulty ramps up.
- Achievements are tied to specific collectibles. Finding all 29 comics unlocks a dedicated achievement. The newspapers have their own as well. If you care about completion, track both simultaneously rather than doing separate cleanup runs.
For everything else, the full Mouse: P.I. For Hire guide collection has walkthroughs, collectible guides, and puzzle solutions for every mission in the game.