Squirrel Stapler , developed by David Szymanski (creator of ), is a short-form psychological horror hunting simulator that masterfully blends pitch-black humor with a deeply unsettling atmosphere. Originally featured in The Dread X Collection 2
, the standalone 1.0 version expands on its surreal premise: a man living in a remote cabin attempts to restore the "beauty" of his deceased, skinless wife by hunting squirrels and stapling their pelts to her remains. Gameplay & Narrative Structure
The game unfolds over five days, during which you explore a nonlinear forest map with a single-shot bolt-action rifle. The Daily Loop
: Each day, you must collect a specific quota of squirrels (typically five plus one "big squirrel" in later stages) and return to the cabin to "beautify" your wife. The Countdown : A recurring message inside the cabin warns that "In 5 days God is coming," creating a ticking clock for your grim work. Hunting Mechanics
: Success requires stealth; you must manage visibility and noise meters to avoid startling your prey. The Uncanny
: The forest is littered with bizarre "squirrel facts" that range from educational to nonsensical and threatening, along with mysterious locations like the "Shady Shack" where you can "commit sins" for points. Technical Setup: Linux & Wine Compatibility
While Squirrel Stapler is natively a Windows application, it runs effectively on using compatibility layers like Launcher & Prefix
: It is recommended to use a dedicated 64-bit Wine prefix to avoid conflicts with other software. Dependencies
: The game is built on Unity; ensure your prefix includes the necessary libraries (like dotnet7) and DirectX 10 components, which can be managed via Winetricks Performance Squirrel Stapler - 1.0 - ENG - GNU Linux Wine -...
: Due to its low-poly, PS1-style aesthetic, the game has minimal hardware requirements, though its modern lighting effects may require a GPU with DX10 (Shader Model 4.0) capabilities. Squirrel Stapler Explained
This guide outlines how to run the surreal horror game Squirrel Stapler on GNU/Linux using Wine
. Developed by David Szymanski, the game involves hunting squirrels to "beautify" a corpse and find God. 1. System Requirements & Software Operating System: Any 64-bit GNU/Linux distribution. Compatibility Layer:
(version 9.6 or newer recommended for optimal playback of FMV sequences). The game’s FMVs require the WMV9 codec
, which can typically be installed via the game's included installer or through winetricks 2. Installation Guide (Using Wine)
To run the Windows executable (.exe) on Linux, follow these steps: Step 1: Install Wine
Ensure Wine is installed on your system. For Debian/Ubuntu-based systems, use: sudo apt update && sudo apt install wine64 wine32 Step 2: Prepare a Wine Prefix (Recommended)
It is best practice to install games in separate "prefixes" (virtual Windows environments) to avoid software conflicts. WINEPREFIX=~/.squirrel_stapler winecfg Step 3: Install Required Dependencies winetricks Squirrel Stapler , developed by David Szymanski (creator
to install essential components if the game fails to launch or play videos:
WINEPREFIX=~/.squirrel_stapler winetricks wmp9 quartz vcrun2015 Step 4: Run the Game Navigate to the game folder and execute: WINEPREFIX=~/.squirrel_stapler wine SquirrelStapler.exe 3. Optimization & Troubleshooting Video Playback:
If cutscenes are choppy or black, ensure you are using a runner based on and have the codec installed. Custom Resolutions:
You can manually modify the game's resolution and settings by editing the MINIGUN.ini file located in the game directory. Controller Support:
While the game has full controller support, running it through
as a "Non-Steam Game" is the easiest way to ensure your gamepad is recognized via Proton. 4. User Recommendations Use a Graphical Frontend: For a "no-fuss" experience, use tools like to manage the installation and dependencies automatically. Steam Version: If you own the game on Steam, simply enable Steam Play (Proton)
in settings to run it natively without manual Wine configuration. Are you planning to install this on a specific Linux distribution like Ubuntu, Mint, or Arch?
Squirrel Stapler is a satirical horror hunting simulator developed by David Szymanski (known for Iron Lung and DUSK). Originally a part of the Dread X Collection II (2020), it received a standalone release in September 2023 with graphical improvements and new features. Core Premise and Lore The "GNU Linux Wine" Advantage Why use GNU
The Narrative: You play as a hunter living in a remote cabin with the decaying, skinned corpse of your wife. Driven by the belief that she has become "ugly," you venture into the woods to hunt squirrels and staple their remains to her to restore her beauty.
The Five-Day Cycle: The game spans five days. Each day, you must meet a specific squirrel quota.
"God is Coming": An ominous countdown warns that "God is coming" on the fifth day. The game culminates in a meeting with a surreal, giant, mutilated squirrel deity. Gameplay Mechanics Squirrel Stapler
Why use GNU Linux for Squirrel Stapler specifically? Several reasons:
Before we dive into the technicals, let's appreciate the art. Squirrel Stapler is more than a meme; it's a masterclass in atmospheric horror. You play as a lonely figure in a dark, foggy forest, tasked with hunting squirrels. But you don't just collect them. You must use a rusty stapler to reattach their heads.
The game’s genius lies in its oppressive audio design and the psychological descent of the protagonist. The 1.0 version of the game polishes the original experience, adding refined controls, improved stability, and a slightly expanded narrative. The "ENG" tag simply confirms full English text and audio, ensuring the haunting monologue and journal entries are fully accessible.
Solution: This is a classic Wine issue. Run winecfg, go to the Audio tab, and uncheck "Driver Emulation". Set ALSA (or PulseAudio) as the default. Restart the game.
Navigate to the game folder and run:
cd ~/Games/SquirrelStapler
wine "Squirrel Stapler.exe"