Squirrel with a Gun

Squirrel with a Gun is an indie action-adventure game developed by Dee Dee Creations^[2] and published by Maximum Entertainment. It was released on August 29, 2024, on Windows, and on October 15, 2024 for the Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5.^[3][4][5][6] The player controls a squirrel that wields a gun as it escapes a secret underground facility and pesters the residents of a neighborhood. The game takes inspiration from the Yakuza franchise and Shadow of the Colossus and has been compared to games such as Untitled Goose Game and Goat Simulator.^[7][8]

Squirrel with a Gun
Developer(s)	Dee Dee Creations LLC
Publisher(s)	Maximum Entertainment
Engine	Unreal Engine 5[1]
Platform(s)	PlayStation 5 Windows Xbox Series X/S
Release	Windows August 29, 2024 PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S October 15, 2024
Genre(s)	Action-adventure
Mode(s)	Single-player

Gameplay

In Squirrel with a Gun, players take control of an ordinary squirrel that wields various firearms to navigate a suburban environment.^[9] The game is primarily a sandbox experience, where players can explore the world, interact with objects, and engage in combat with NPCs, including local residents and agents attempting to capture the squirrel.^[9] The squirrel's primary ability is using guns, of which it has a multitude of weapons that it can use ranging from pistols, shotguns, sniper rifles, and a RPG.^[10] These weapons can be used to kill the enemy "agents" that pursue the squirrel throughout the game or can be used to clear platforming puzzles that reward a collectable item, a golden acorn.^[11][12]

In addition to fighting enemies, players can engage in non-violent activities such as stealing food from residents or helping NPCs complete tasks.^[13] While the game's tone is humorous and chaotic, it also includes stealth elements, allowing the squirrel to sneak past enemies or set up ambushes. The squirrel also has a range of costumes it can wear.^[13][14][15]

Plot

A gray squirrel breaks into a top-secret lab and mistakenly eats a special hard drive that is shaped like an acorn, enhancing its intelligence. This triggers a lockdown, prompting agents to pursue it. Upon seeing a handgun dropped nearby it, the squirrel takes it and uses it to escape the secret underground facility and cause havoc in a residential neighborhood.^[8]

As the squirrel wreaks destructive chaos, it battles against the endless agents attempting to capture it, including their leaders, Father and Mother.

Reception

Travis Northup for IGN rated the game 6/10, praising the gameplay as a squirrel, but condemns a few technical issues faced when played. He also stated that the squirrel is "like a furry John Wick."^[16]