Mutant Year Zero - Review Roundup

Mutant Year Zero: Return to Eden has received generally positive reviews all round.

GameWatcher - 7.5/10

CogConnected - 85/100

People are so used to specific styles of turn-based strategy that the way Mutant Year Zero approaches things may seem too different, potentially scaring off fans of the genre as well as newcomers. That being said, there is a lot to like between the polish of the game’s world-building, the genuinely unique approach to encounters, and the flexibility of each character’s skills. If you’re not afraid of a little challenge and are looking for a strategy title that oozes charm, then you may want to dip a toe in the Zone with Dux and Bormin.

Twinfinite - 2.5/5

This game was a title with real potential. The unique setting, combat framework, and general artistic direction laid a robust foundation for unique gameplay. However, that potential vanished following the shallow narrative, tactical, and progression design. The numerous bugs, glitches, and technical issues only soured what fun remained.

Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden feels entirely spread too thin. Without much depth to its name, it remains a unique setting devoid of personality.

CulturedVultures - 8/10

That said, Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden is a fantastic game that anyone who likes tough as nails tactics should really check out. Everything from the combat to the stealth to the world itself is masterfully implemented and works together to create a truly great experience.

WorthPlaying - 8.5/10

Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden is a charming, fun and well-made game with plenty of humor and excellent gameplay. It's an example of how you can expand on a tried-and-true formula in a way that makes it distinctive and exciting. The only thing that drags it down are some bugs and occasional difficulty spikes that feel more frustrating than fun. If you're a fan of XCOM-style games but want a new approach, you should absolutely try MYZ, which is one of the best surprises of the year.

IGN - 7.9/10

The Verdict

By blending real-time stealth with tried-and-true tactics gameplay, Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden breaks exciting new ground for the turn-based strategy game. Even with some mechanics that don’t mesh perfectly with the gameplay, it teases your brain in interesting, insightful ways.

PCInvasion - 3.5/5

Mutant Year Zero’s biggest flaw is its length. While the harder difficulties will surely slow down even the most brilliant tactician, I can’t imagine a play-through taking longer than 20 hours. As of the writing of this review, Mutant Year Zero is available for $35 US. Whether or not this is enough content for that price is up to you.

NoisyPixel - 7.3/10

When I think about an important characteristic that video games should have to be “good”, I can always judge it for the fun it provides and Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden is a very fun video game. Players that enjoy the SRPG genre will most likely have the same sentiment, but I can’t help but warn that this game will not play as expected to those who come in new to the genre. Instead of Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden being a combat game with choices, it plays more like a puzzle game that demands to be played in the way the given situation calls for.

Due to the high amounts of AI aggression and rate of damage, experimenting with tactics almost never rewards the risk. In the end, the game does have a Duck named Dux and I simply wanted to get past all the battles just to hear what sassy thing he has to say next.

RockPaperShotgun - No Score

Again, I’m greedy. I want a bigger, beefier, more flexible Mutant Year Zero. But that’s because the small, linear but smart, powerful and atmospheric Mutant Year Zero I got grabbed hold of me so completely.

Thanks Farflame!