Squirrel with a Gun
| Squirrel with a Gun | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer | Dee Dee Creations LLC |
| Publisher | Maximum Entertainment |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 5[2] |
| Platforms | |
| Release | Windows August 29, 2024 PS5, Xbox Series X/S October 15, 2024 Nintendo Switch 2 November 18, 2025[1] |
| Genre | Action-adventure |
| Mode | Single-player |
Squirrel with a Gun is an indie action-adventure game developed by Dee Dee Creations[3] 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.[4][5][6][7] 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.[8][9]
Gameplay
[edit]In Squirrel with a Gun, players take control of an ordinary squirrel that wields various firearms to navigate a suburban environment.[10] 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.[10] 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.[11] 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.[12][13]
In addition to fighting enemies, players can engage in non-violent activities such as stealing food from residents or helping NPCs complete tasks.[14] 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.[14][15][16]
Plot
[edit]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.[9]
As the squirrel wreaks destructive chaos, it battles against the endless agents attempting to capture it, including their leaders, Father and Mother.
Reception
[edit]| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | (PC) 63/100[17] (Xbox) 70/100[18] (PS5) 64/100[19] |
| OpenCritic | 33% recommend[20] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| GameSpot | 4/10[21] |
| IGN | 6/10[22] |
| Push Square | 7/10[23] |
The PC, Xbox Series X, and PlayStation 5 version of Squirrel with a Gun all received "mixed or average" reviews from critics, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[17][18][19] Fellow review aggregator OpenCritic assessed that the game received weak approval, being recommended by only 33% of critics.[20]
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."[22]
References
[edit]- ^ Romano, Sal (October 15, 2025). "Squirrel with a Gun coming to Switch 2 on November 18". Gematsu. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
- ^ Woods, Sam (August 29, 2024). "The Squirrel With A Gun Devs Are Streaming Actual Squirrels With Actual Guns". TheGamer.
- ^ Federico, Philip (March 16, 2024). "Squirrel with a Gun Brings a Weapon-Wielding Rodent to your Nature Walk on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S Later This Year". Capsule Computers. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
- ^ McCaffrey, Ryan (April 25, 2024). "Squirrel with a Gun Might Be This Year's Cuphead or Untitled Goose Game - IGN Next". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
- ^ Beeler-Beistad, Lauren (March 16, 2024). "Squirrel With a Gun Confirms More Platforms". Game Rant. Valnet. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ Squirrel With a Gun - Official Release Date Trailer | IGN Live 2024. June 7, 2024. Retrieved June 8, 2024 – via IGN.
- ^ Janca, Ben (May 10, 2024). "Squirrel With A Gun - Official Announcement Gameplay Trailer". GameSpot. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ Kerry, Ben (March 18, 2024). "'Squirrel With A Gun' Is One Of The Weirdest Xbox Games We've Seen In A While". Pure Xbox. Gamer Network. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ a b Plant, Logan (August 19, 2022). "Squirrel with a Gun Is Inspired by Yakuza and Shadow of the Colossus". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
- ^ a b Parijat, Shubhankar (April 19, 2024). "Squirrel with a Gun Interview – Weapons, Open World, Progression, and More". GamingBolt. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
- ^ Rai, Priye (June 8, 2024). "Squirrel With a Gun Confirms Release Date and Shows Off New Weapons". Game Rant. Valnet. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ Kent, Thomas (March 16, 2024). "Squirrel with a Gun Takes Aim at PS5 with Maximum Entertainment". Hardcore Gamer. Valnet. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ Stedman, Alex (June 12, 2023). "Squirrel With a Gun Gets a Surprisingly Dramatic New Trailer". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
- ^ a b Bolding, Jonathan (August 14, 2022). "Squirrel with a Gun is a game about exactly what it sounds like". PC Gamer. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
- ^ Romano, Sal (March 15, 2024). "Squirrel with a Gun launches this fall for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC". Gematsu. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
- ^ Bonthuys, Darryn (April 18, 2024). "Does Squirrel With A Gun, A Real Video Game, Have The Best Cover Art Ever?". GameSpot. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
- ^ a b "Squirrel with a Gun PC Critic Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
- ^ a b "Squirrel with a Gun Xbox Series X Critic Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
- ^ a b "Squirrel with a Gun PlayStation 5 Critic Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
- ^ a b "Squirrel with a Gun". OpenCritic. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
- ^ Wakeling, Richard (September 12, 2024). "Squirrel With A Gun Review - Insert Acorn-y Joke". GameSpot. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
- ^ a b Northup, Travis (August 30, 2024). "Squirrel with a Gun Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
- ^ Hansen, John (October 22, 2024). "Mini Review: Squirrel with a Gun (PS5) - Forage for Chaos in This Silly Sandbox Adventure". Push Square. Retrieved October 27, 2025.