Mouse Work
| Mouse Work | |
|---|---|
 Key artwork | |
| Developer | Nitrome |
| Publisher | Nitrome |
| Engine | Unity |
| Platform | Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Release | TBA |
| Genre | Party |
| Mode | Multiplayer |
Mouse Work is an upcoming party video game developed and published by Nitrome for the Nintendo Switch 2. It features a variety of minigames utilizing the mouse functionality of the Joy-Con 2 controller, in which each player controls a pointer-shaped mouse interacting with the environment in different manners.
Gameplay
[edit]Mouse Work is a party game[1] in which players assume the role of a mouse undertaking a variety of jobs, each represented by a distinct minigame built around the Joy-Con 2's mouse control functionality.[2] Confirmed jobs include 'Hairdresser', 'Archer', 'Tour Guide', 'Cargo Hauler', and 'IT Support'.[2] Activities in these jobs involve, for example, closing pop-up ads or guiding mountain climbers.[1]
Development
[edit]Nitrome began developing Mouse Work before the Nintendo Switch 2's mouse feature was officially revealed, and based the game's concept on industry rumors and a tease of that feature present in the system's announcement video on 16 January 2025. They did not formally receive a software development kit from Nintendo, and used Joy-Con controllers duct taped to computer mouses to prototype and develop the game.[3] According to Nitrome founder Mat Annal, they used their experience in creating browser games to make the game very rapidly.[4] The game uses the Unity game engine.[1]
Nitrome cited Pico Park (2016) and Part Time UFO (2017) as inspirations for the game.[1] Several outlets also drew similarities to Snipperclips (2017), another indie game with a multiplayer focus that was released as a launch game for the original Nintendo Switch.[5][4][6][7][8]
Release
[edit]The game was revealed on 7 April 2025, a few days after the console's unveiling during a Nintendo Direct on 2 April 2025 showcasing the console. While no release date was revealed, Nitrome expressed their desire to release it "shortly" after the Switch 2's launch on 5 June 2025.[5][9]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 Franzese, Tomas (16 April 2025). "This Switch 2 Game Was Announced Before Its Developers Even Had A Dev Kit". GameSpot. Retrieved 18 June 2026.
- 1 2 O'Reilly, PJ (23 July 2025). "'Mouse Work' Gets Second Trailer, But Can't Release Until Creators Get Switch 2 Dev Kit". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 18 June 2026.
- ↑ Doolan, Liam (11 April 2025). "Random: Mouse Work Dev Nitrome Shows Off Its "Frankenstein Joy-Con 2 Alternative"". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 11 April 2025. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
- 1 2 Phillips, Tom (8 April 2025). "Switch 2 developer reveals game it gambled on making after hearing whispers of mouse controls". Eurogamer. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
- 1 2 Reynolds, Ollie (7 April 2025). "Mouse Work Looks Like It Might Be The Switch 2 Equivalent Of Snipperclips". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
- ↑ Guner, Ediz (15 April 2025). "One Nintendo Switch 2 Game Feels Like History Repeating Itself". GameRant. Retrieved 18 June 2026.
- ↑ Key, Brandon (18 April 2025). "This Switch 2 Mouse-Based Indie Game Is Trying To Squeak Into The Console's Launch Lineup". ScreenRant. Retrieved 18 June 2026.
- ↑ Franzese, Tomas (8 April 2025). "This Switch 2 Party Game About Mice Is Built Around, You Guessed It, Mouse Controls". GameSpot. Retrieved 18 June 2026.
- ↑ Hannah, Zoë (8 April 2025). "Mouse Work is the newest Switch 2 mouse control game". Polygon. Archived from the original on 10 April 2025. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
