Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden

About Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden

Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden drops you into a ruined world reclaimed by nature after humanity vanished. The Bearded Ladies developed this title and Funcom published it back in December 2018. You can play it on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, or PC. This game blends turn-based tactical combat with real-time stealth exploration. You control a squad of anthropomorphic animals like a duck named Dux and a boar called Bormin. They navigate overgrown highways and abandoned cities while you manage their gear and dialogue choices. It feels like a modern strategy RPG where every step matters in a world full of scavengers and strange mutants.

Gameplay

You move your squad through the map in real-time until enemies spot you or you trigger an event. This allows for careful positioning before combat starts. Once engagement begins, the game switches to a grid-based turn system similar to XCOM but faster. You have actions points for each mutant to shoot, throw grenades, or use special abilities. Stealth is key since sneaking past patrols lets you pick off stragglers without starting a fight. You visit the Ark hub between missions to buy weapons, repair armor, and chat with locals. Each character has unique stats and traits that affect their performance in specific situations. Combat feels tense when you realize one wrong move wipes out your whole party.

What Players Think

Critics and players seem to agree this is a solid effort from the team behind HITMAN and PAYDAY. Metacritic holds it at 78/100 while IGDB lists an average score of 81.1 based on 105 ratings. PlayPile data shows the community mood leans positive with an 82% recommendation rate among users who finished the campaign. Average playtime sits around 14 hours for a main story run, though completionists spend closer to 22 hours chasing all achievements. Review snippets frequently mention the tactical depth and character writing as standout features. Only 35% of players reported hitting 100% completion, suggesting the difficulty spikes or side quests feel optional for some.

PlayPile's Take

This title is worth your time if you like deep tactical planning and enjoy controlling a team with distinct personalities. The current price on GOG drops to $10.50, which is a steep discount from its historical low of $10.50. You will earn 45 achievements during a full playthrough, including one for finding every hidden stash. It does not hold your hand through complex mechanics, so expect to die often if you rush. The story ends on a cliffhanger that leaves many questions unanswered. Buy this only if you want a specific kind of strategy experience rather than an action shooter.

Storyline

Journey through a post-human world of abandoned cities, crumbling highways, and overgrown countryside. Nature has invaded ruined cities. Wind sweeps through empty streets, turned into graveyards. Check back at the Ark, a neon-bathed oasis of ill repute and questionable characters, to restock your supplies and plan out your next adventure. From makeshift slingshots to high-powered rifles and top hats to police vests, make sure you equip your Mutants for the dangers ahead. A duck with an attitude problem and a boar with anger issues; these aren’t your typical heroes. Get to know Dux, Bormin, Selma, and many other characters each with their own unique personality and deranged perspective on the world and their situation.