Squirrel With A Gun is less a polished gaming experience and more an interactive meme with guns
When a squirrel gets their tiny paws on firearms, chaos is bound to ensue. That's the basic premise behind Squirrel With A Gun, a physics-based sandbox game that embraces absurdity at every turn. This quirky title puts you in control of a small but determined rodent with access to an arsenal that would make John Wick jealous.
The game opens in an underground government facility, where our furry protagonist discovers their first weapon after a clumsy agent drops it. From there, you're thrust into a suburban neighborhood filled with secret agents, civilians, and most importantly, acorns to collect. There's barely any story to speak of – you're simply a squirrel with guns causing mayhem because... well, why not?
The sandbox environment serves as your playground, offering various opportunities for mischief and exploration. Regular and golden acorns function as the game's currency and progression system, unlocking new areas and weapons. The neighborhood might seem ordinary at first glance, but each house essentially acts as its own mini-level, complete with puzzles and platforming challenges.
Some of the most entertaining moments come from the physics-based puzzles required to obtain golden acorns. One memorable sequence involves exploding a barbecue to cook burgers for hungry party guests. Another has you using kettlebells to weigh yourself down underwater. These scenarios showcase the game's creative potential, even if the execution isn't always perfect.
The game's signature feature – using guns as both weapons and mobility tools – presents an interesting mechanic. The recoil from firing sends your tiny squirrel flying backward, which can be used strategically for platforming. Need to reach a high ledge? Simply point your weapon at the ground and fire away. It's a clever system that unfortunately suffers from imprecise controls, especially with a controller.
Combat itself is fairly basic. Government agents populate the neighborhood, serving as the primary antagonists. They don't pose much of a challenge, mostly standing around waiting to be dispatched. Each weapon has a unique takedown animation – like spinning a revolver or using a sniper rifle as a club – but these become repetitive after seeing them a few times.
The boss fights against mysterious agents known as "Father" and "Mother" inject some variety into the proceedings. These encounters are appropriately over-the-top, including an absurd battle involving a tank. The bombastic music during these sequences feels pulled straight from a spy movie, adding to the ridiculous atmosphere.
However, the game's charm can't fully overcome its technical limitations. The controls feel floaty and imprecise, making simple platforming sections frustratingly difficult. You'll often miss jumps or fall to your death due to the awkward camera and movement system. Collecting acorns becomes a chore, especially when you need specific amounts to progress.
Visually, Squirrel With A Gun won't win any awards. The graphics are serviceable but unremarkable, with basic textures and animations. The physics engine provides some entertainment when things go wrong, though this often feels more like bugs than features. The soundtrack is limited, with music tracks repeating frequently enough to become grating.
Customization adds another layer of silly charm to the experience. As you explore the suburban sandbox, you'll discover various outfits and accessories that let you dress up your gun-toting rodent in increasingly absurd ways. The outfits range from simple dresses that give your squirrel a dainty walking animation to more practical gear. Some costumes aren't just cosmetic – they actually provide gameplay benefits. For instance, certain outfits can reduce blast damage from your own weapons or enhance your ability to perform neck-snapping takedowns on unsuspecting agents.
You can find these clothing items scattered throughout the map, often hidden as rewards for completing specific tasks or puzzles. The game helpfully tracks collectibles by area, displaying a counter at the top of the screen so you know how many items you still need to find in each section. Climbing flagpoles gives you a better view of where collectibles might be hiding, though figuring out how to actually reach them is another matter entirely.
The game lasts about 4-6 hours, depending on how thoroughly you explore the neighborhood and collect acorns. While this might seem short, it's probably for the best – the core gameplay loop doesn't have enough depth to sustain a longer experience.
Squirrel With A Gun feels like a game built around a Twitter joke that somehow became real. Sure, it has its moments of charm and creativity, but the frustrating controls and repetitive gameplay make it hard to recommend at full price. Consider it only if you're in the mood for some mindless chaos and don't mind fighting with the controls to achieve it. Just remember – this is less a polished gaming experience and more an interactive meme with guns. Thanks for reading!
The game was reviewed on a PS5 via a promo copy provided by PR. Squirrel With A Gun is available on PlayStation, Xbox and PC.
