Squirrel with a Gun Review
Image Credit: Dee Dee Creations LLC
Squirrel with a Gun is a game that fully embraces absurdity, and in doing so, it offers players a unique and hilariously chaotic experience. Developed by Daniel DeEntremont, the game has gained considerable attention for its outlandish premise—playing as a squirrel armed with a variety of firearms, causing havoc in a neighborhood filled with unsuspecting humans. From the very moment you step into the game’s world, it’s clear that Squirrel with a Gun is all about creating chaos, humor, and mayhem in the most delightful ways possible.
Gameplay: Simple, Yet Chaotically Satisfying
At its core, Squirrel with a Gun is a sandbox game where players take control of a squirrel who, for reasons never really explained, gains access to an arsenal of guns. The mechanics are simple: players navigate the environment, interacting with NPCs, objects, and the world in various ways, mostly revolving around stealing items or shooting things. There’s a joy in this kind of simplicity—unlike many games that bog players down with complex mechanics, Squirrel with a Gun focuses on fun above all else. The lack of intricate objectives and missions gives players the freedom to explore at their own pace and come up with increasingly ridiculous ways to use their newfound firepower.
With that being noted the squirrel’s mobility plays a big part in the fun. You’re able to scurry up trees, leap across rooftops, and—of course—hold a gun. This combination of typical squirrel behavior with the ability to wield powerful weapons creates a funny kind of dynamic where that is both mundane and absurd at the same time. Shooting at humans, stealing their phones, or even demanding cash with your tiny paws holding a gun just adds to it.
One of the game’s more impressive mechanics involves how the recoil from the guns affects the squirrel. A light pistol might send you stumbling backward, while firing a shotgun will launch the squirrel across the map. This adds an additional layer of unpredictability and, dare I say, strategy to combat—you need to account for the fact that each weapon has a different impact on how your character moves.
Interacting with the environment is also a big part of the game’s charm. You can steal items, take selfies, or even pull off little heists on humans. Imagine a squirrel holding a human at gunpoint for their smartphone—it’s these moments that make Squirrel with a Gun such a standout experience. The game’s sandbox structure allows for plenty of these spontaneous, laugh-out-loud moments, and they rarely feel scripted. It’s the player’s creativity that drives the experience, and that’s where the game shines.
Image Credit: Dee Dee Creations LLC
Graphically, Squirrel with a Gun is not trying to compete with AAA titles in terms of realism, but it doesn’t need to. The game’s art style strikes a pretty solid balance between realistic environments and cartoonish character design, especially with the squirrel itself. The contrast between the somewhat realistic suburban environment and the outlandish antics of a gun-toting rodent is abundantly clear. NPCs are designed to look like typical suburban dwellers, and this ordinary world helps make the squirrel’s chaos stand out even more.
The neighborhood where the game takes place is well-designed for the sandbox style of gameplay. There are plenty of opportunities for vertical movement—trees to climb, rooftops to leap across, and objects to interact with. It’s not a massive world, but it’s packed with enough detail to keep players engaged. The environments serve as the perfect playground for the squirrel’s shenanigans, and the game does a great job of making everything feel interactive.
Combat and Weapons are Delightfully Ridiculous
One of the highlights of Squirrel with a Gun is the combat. The squirrel can wield a surprising array of firearms, from pistols and shotguns to heavier weapons like rocket launchers. The combat isn’t complex, but it’s not meant to be. Instead, it’s quite literally all about the pure absurdity of watching a tiny squirrel fire off rounds with guns that are often larger than the squirrel itself. The gunplay is hilariously exaggerated, and the squirrel’s size means that even a small recoil can send it flying.
The range of weapons available keeps things fresh. You can start small, with a basic pistol, and work your way up to heavier weapons. Part of the fun is figuring out which gun will cause the most chaos in any given situation. Want to blow up a car? Sure, grab a rocket launcher. Want to send a human flying across the screen? A shotgun will do the trick.
Each weapon has a different impact not only on the environment but also on how the squirrel moves. The heavier the weapon, the more it will throw the squirrel around with its recoil, creating moments where you’re accidentally (or purposefully, depending on what you are going for) sending yourself airborne as you fire.
What truly sets Squirrel with a Gun apart is its fun-focused gameplay. There are no rigid objectives or missions guiding your actions; instead, the game gives players a toolkit of weapons and abilities and sets them loose in the world. Whether you want to terrorize the neighborhood’s residents or engage in small acts of thievery, the choice is yours, with some similarities to other games like Goat Simulator that I had played in the past.
The freedom to create your own fun is what gives Squirrel with a Gun its longevity. One moment, you’re holding up a human for their wallet, the next, you’re launching yourself across the map with a well-placed shotgun blast. The game thrives on these spontaneous moments, where your actions lead to unpredictable and often hilarious outcomes. You’re free to approach each situation however you see fit, whether it’s going guns-blazing or simply messing with NPCs in non-violent ways, like stealing phones or food.
The Verdict: A Hilarious Sandbox with Limitless Potential
Squirrel with a Gun is not a game for those seeking deep narrative or intensive mechanics. Instead, it’s a game that fully embraces chaos and humor, offering players a sandbox filled with opportunities to create their own fun. To reiterate, its appeal lies entirely in its absurdity—the sheer joy of playing as a gun-wielding squirrel who can interact with the world in ways that constantly surprise and delight.
For players who enjoy open-ended, relatively unique gameplay with plenty of room for experimentation, Squirrel with a Gun is a must-try. The solid blend of simple mechanics, combat, and an interactive world creates an experience that stands out from more traditional games. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most memorable gaming experiences are the ones that don’t take themselves too seriously.
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