Mousebusters Review

Mousebusters is one of those games that I didn’t expect to like. I thought it would be another indie title that lacked originality while trying to take a small slice of the pie. Instead, it ends up being an amusing and heartfelt story that cleverly builds a bigger picture. Furthermore, it touches upon some tough subject matter as you try to complete your quest. This leads to some unexpected moments that’ll make you laugh while tugging at your heartstrings.

Odencat has developed this single-player puzzle adventure experience. It has some stealth mechanics, interesting and witty dialogue, and some sombre elements. Furthermore, there are ghosts to battle as well as plenty of twists and turns to deal with. The result is an indie game that does a great job of standing out from its peers.

Mousebusters combines odd moments with witty language.

Mousebusters does a great job of delivering some interesting and heartfelt moments. On the surface, it is a silly title where exploration, puzzle solving, and ghostly battles take centre stage. However, if you dig a little deeper, you realise that each apartment hides an array of secrets. Additionally, as you piece together each story, you start to see the bigger picture. It is this jigsaw approach that keeps you guessing as you piece together the mystery.

You’ve moved into your apartment as you look to rebuild your life. However, when you wake up, your world has been turned upside down. A curse has turned you into a mouse, and a veteran rodent known as Chief is there to help you out. You are told to help the residents of the building remove the ghostly links. If you do this, the curse will be lifted, and you’ll return to your old life. However, this is easier said than done, as you must find the hidden link and exorcise each ghost.

Straightforward action.

Mousebusters does a great job of keeping you guessing. However, at its core, the action is relatively straightforward. Each apartment is haunted by a ghost. You must complete an array of environmental puzzles while remaining in the shadows. Furthermore, you must listen to the residents to find out what makes them tick. If you can do this, you’ll find the ghost and exorcise it from each apartment.

The puzzles are simple but fun to complete. Additionally, finding out each of the residents’ problems was fascinating. Whether you were moving objects, turning on electrical goods, or exploring an array of rooms, it was great. If you then consider the fun, but easy ghost fights, this offers plenty of unique moments. The ghost battles ask you to identify the weakness of each spirit. Once this happens, you can release them from the link they have with each apartment.

Mousebusters is a pixelated affair.

Mousebusters doesn’t offer modern visuals, but I didn’t care. The dated pixelated action was fantastic, and I loved the colour palette and the rough but effective sprites. Each apartment was unique, and exploring them was fun. Although things are relatively rudimentary, I liked each ghost battle and the OTT and vibrant encounters. The audio has a dated appeal as well. The sound effects are basic but effective. Moreover, the soundtrack is lively, fun, and dramatic. This supports the energetic and secretive plot.

The controls lack complexity and were easy to master. The opening moments work as a tutorial, and this sets you up for the rest of the action. With simple controls and plenty of time to explore, you never feel under pressure. Consequently, this can be enjoyed by inexperienced gamers. If you wish to unlock everything, you’ll need to invest around 10 hours. However, if you don’t care about achievements, you’ll have this done in around 6 hours. Sadly, there are limited reasons to return, and this reduces replay value and longevity.

Mousebusters is fun and touching.

This manages to blend amusing moments with sombre elements to great effect. The result is an interesting game that keeps you guessing. The puzzles are fun, and searching each apartment unlocks a new piece to the puzzle. Therefore, there is a genuine eureka moment as you uncover the bigger picture mystery. Accordingly, despite its short playtime, it is great, and I recommend grabbing a copy from the Xbox store!