Squirrel with a Gun: A Nutty Mix of Platforming and Chaos

When you first hear the title Squirrel with a Gun, it might seem like a joke or another viral meme that wouldn’t make it to an actual game. But that’s where you’d be wrong. Developed as a quirky and surreal indie title, Squirrel with a Gun has turned into something more than just an internet gag. It’s a full-fledged, open-world action-platformer with puzzles, combat, and an undeniable charm that feels both ridiculous and refreshingly fun.

In this game, you play as an armed squirrel navigating a bizarre sandbox world filled with challenges, enemies, and absurd scenarios. The game cleverly combines action, platforming, and humor, while wrapping it all in an unpredictable, hilarious narrative. But what makes Squirrel with a Gun stand out from other indie titles? Let’s break it down.

A World of Chaos at Your Paws

At its core, Squirrel with a Gun is a sandbox game. You’re dropped into a sprawling environment, and your primary objective is to survive and thrive as a squirrel, albeit one packing some serious heat. What sets this game apart is how it takes a seemingly ordinary scenario—being a squirrel—and amplifies it into chaos.

Armed with a wide variety of firearms, the squirrel isn’t just foraging for nuts; instead, you’re battling secret agents, pulling off daring heists, and causing mayhem. One of the standout mechanics is the ability to use weapon recoil to propel yourself across the map. It’s a hilarious and clever feature that adds a layer of strategy and absurdity to movement. Do you run from enemies or shoot at the ground to rocket yourself into the air? The choice is yours.

Exploration is key in this game, and the open-world design encourages you to explore every corner, find hidden items, solve puzzles, and collect goodies. The various guns, costumes, and items scattered across the map ensure that there’s always something new to discover.

Gameplay Mechanics: Chaos Meets Precision

What makes Squirrel with a Gun more than just a gimmick is the variety of gameplay mechanics. The platforming feels like a nostalgic throwback to older action games, offering plenty of collectibles and puzzles that make you think. Despite its wacky premise, the game is quite polished in terms of level design, allowing for fluid transitions between combat, exploration, and puzzle-solving.

Combat, though humorous, is surprisingly satisfying. From machine guns to shotguns, the game offers a variety of firearms, each with its own quirks and recoil effects. The execution-style takedowns are oddly satisfying as well, and while the game never takes itself too seriously, there’s enough depth in the combat to keep things interesting.

That said, Squirrel with a Gun does have a few rough edges visually. The graphics can feel a bit unpolished, which is something you’d expect from many indie games. However, this roughness somehow adds to the absurdity of the world. It’s a game about a squirrel wielding guns, after all—polished realism is not the goal.

Absurd Storyline Meets Engaging Gameplay

The narrative in Squirrel with a Gun is simple but effective. You start out as an average rodent, but quickly find yourself in the crosshairs of mysterious agents. As you collect more weapons and unravel the strange goings-on, you begin to unlock a variety of costumes, complete bizarre missions, and even battle bosses in comically over-the-top showdowns. The humor is a driving force, blending slapstick moments with tongue-in-cheek dialogue.

The open world offers plenty of opportunities for players to take a break from combat and engage in light-hearted activities. You can steal RC cars, eat birthday cake, or even just mess around with the physics engine for the sheer joy of causing chaos.

While the game isn’t terribly long—most players report finishing it in under 20 hours—it offers just the right balance of exploration, combat, and puzzles to keep things engaging. Plus, the developers have confirmed future content updates, adding replayability beyond the initial playthrough.

Performance and Platform Compatibility

One of the standout features is how well Squirrel with a Gun runs on portable systems like the Steam Deck. Players report a steady 40 frames per second (fps) on the device, making it a great pick for gaming on the go. However, performance on more demanding platforms can be hit-or-miss, with occasional frame drops and hiccups, a common issue for games built on Unreal Engine 5. While the visual glitches don’t ruin the experience, they can be a minor annoyance.

Future Potential: Squirrel Multiplayer?

Perhaps one of the most exciting ideas surrounding Squirrel with a Gun is the potential for multiplayer. Imagine team deathmatches where you and your friends play as gun-wielding squirrels in chaotic combat. While multiplayer hasn’t been confirmed, the community has expressed a strong desire for this feature, which could give the game endless replayability.

Nuts About It (Pros)

• Hilarious Premise: The concept of a squirrel armed with guns never gets old, and the humor is woven throughout every aspect of the game.
• Engaging Gameplay: The mix of combat, exploration, and puzzles provides a balanced and enjoyable experience.
• Open World Freedom: There’s plenty of room to explore, with secrets, items, and collectibles scattered throughout the world.
• Variety of Weapons and Costumes: Collecting different guns and costumes adds variety and replay value, without the worry of microtransactions.
• Optimized for Portable Play: It runs smoothly on devices like the Steam Deck, making it a great option for on-the-go gaming.

Nuts to Crack (Cons)

• Visual Roughness: The game isn’t the most polished in terms of graphics, which can detract from the overall experience for some players.
• Performance Hiccups: As with many UE5 games, Squirrel with a Gun can suffer from frame drops and minor glitches on certain platforms.
• Lack of Multiplayer: While the game is fun on its own, the absence of a multiplayer mode is a missed opportunity for even more chaos.
• Limited Replayability After Completion: With a relatively short campaign, players may find themselves wanting more after finishing the main content.