Summary
2025’s Summer Game Fest main event just wrapped up. Once again, the annual showcase featured a bevy of exciting new game announcements and world reveals from indie to AAA titles, including the long-awaited nextResident Evilentry to cap it all off. Among the numerous games seen, though, two titles in particular—Mouse: P.I. For Hire,developed by Fumi Games, andInto The Unwellfrom She Was Such A Good Horse—stood out for their striking resemblance to one of 2017’s most recognized and well-received games:Cuphead. BothMouse: P.I. For HireandInto The Unwell’s artistic designs call to mindCuphead’s trademarkSteamboat Willy-style animation direction.
Cuphead’s signature art stylealong with its nail-biting and demanding gameplay made it a big hit for many players. Now, it looks likeInto The UnwellandMouse: P.I. For Hireare taking heavy inspiration fromCupheadby following in its footsteps and utilizing a similar juxtaposition of charmingly retro art with intense gameplay action across two different genres.
Mouse: P.I. For Hirehas a 2025 release window, although it does not have a firm date as yet.Into The Unwellwill beentering Early Accesslater in the year, with closed beta sign-ups now open for its forthcoming playtest.
Into The Unwell and Mouse: P.I. For Hire Look to Capture the Retro Cartoon Style and Chaotic Action Popularized by Cuphead
While many games have sought to deliver increasingly realistic and lifelike graphics as the generations have advanced,Cupheadcleverly bucked this trend and captivated audiences with its bold take on the “rubber hose” animation that hearkens back to the1930’s American period of cartoons. The same is immediately apparent upon viewing the latest trailers forMouse: P.I. For HireandInto The Unwell, as both titles highlight their use of this amusingly exaggerated style. It seems as if perhaps “Cuphead-likes” may soon be a thing, with these two games incorporating similar artistic visions along with their own unique spins and mechanics.
As described on its official Steam page,Mouse: P.I. For Hireis “a noir-fueled, action-packed first-person shooter. Private Eye Jack Pepper will discover that the city of Mouseburg has become corrupt, teeming with heavily armed gangs of crooks, mobs, and other shady characters. The monochromatic hand-drawn visual style and retro jazz soundtrack were also created with the same techniques of the era.” One other notable aspect announced at SGF was thatMouse: P.I. For Hirewill feature Troy Baker as the voicebehind its hard-boiled detective protagonist. The prolific voice actor lending his talent toMousegives it another enticing layer on top of entertainingly bombastic shooting within its wacky world.
Into The Unwell’s satirical premise and framework likely bring to minddeveloper Double Fine’s beloved classic series,Psychonauts.Into The Unwellwill see fans play as an assortment of “heavily medicated misfits in a delightfully despondent fever dream of a third-person action roguelite.” Featuring single-player as well as up to three-person co-op, gamers will “embark on a spirit quest to seek self-control and find victory through their vices. They’ll encounter bizarre bosses and quirky characters as they fight their way through the surreal surroundings of The Unwell.“Into The Unwellwill also give players an array of strange and hilarious weapons, including a giant ice cream cone and a lobotomized lollipop, as well as a progressive system to unlock upgrades and other powers.
With a mix of stylized violence and comedic presentation centered around unique art direction and respective takes on their genres, fans ofCupheadand this style in general should be sure to keep their eyes onMouse: P.I. For HireandInto The Unwell,as they promise to deliver great new adjacent experiences.
