If the idea of taking on the supernatural as a group of average dudes in Ghostbusters seems a bit outdated to you, then perhaps fighting them as a mouse might be more interesting. Mousebusters, a point-and-click adventure game by Japanese indie studio Odencat, starts with you, once an ordinary human, waking up in your new apartment as a mouse. After coming into contact with a fellow rodent known as the “Chief,” you discover that you are cursed, and that the only way to become human again is to clear the entire building of ghosts.
Gameplay revolves around exploring your neighbors’ apartments, finding the ghost that dwells within, and exorcizing it with your ray gun.
Each room starts with a bit of investigation. With the Chief communicating with you through a mouse-sized headset, you explore and interact with objects to discover the source of the tenant’s negative emotions, which the ghost is attracted to. Though the Chief gives helpful hints regarding interactable items, puzzles, and minigames, he also provides plenty of comic relief (it’s worth noting that the Chief’s Japanese lines are spoken with a heavy Kansai dialect).
Once you’ve found the source, it’s time to bust out your ray gun and take part in what the game calls “EEB” (Exciting Exorcism Battles). You’ll engage in 2D battles where the goal is to deplete a ghost’s health while making sure to destroy and parry their attacks. Those looking for a challenge will be happy to know that there are several difficulty modes available.
As you bust more ghosts and explore more of the building, you soon discover that there is more to this curse than meets the eye. The final moments of the trailer show eerie scenes featuring a cat with a human-like face, tenants being haunted by ghosts, and a mouse coming out of a weird, flesh-like orifice.
Initially released on iOS and Android devices, Mousebusters is set to release on June 11 for Windows, macOS, and SteamOS + Linux via Steam. A free demo is available.
Related: Meg’s Monster developer Odencat discusses the indie gem’s early success
