“Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden” (MYZ) is a single-player, tactical role-playing video game based on the “Mutant” series of Swedish table-top roleplaying games from the 1980s. MYZ stays true to its story-based roleplaying roots while also utilizing the strategic in-depth, realistic physics and engaging visuals made possible by modern game design.

It’s the future. In a world where humanity has been wiped out by nuclear war and global pandemics, you, the player, control a squad of “Stalkers” — a specialized group of mutants capable of surviving the radioactive wasteland outside humanity’s last known safe haven, “The Ark.” Your squad members include a humanoid boar named Bormin, and a humanoid duck named Dux.

The story begins. Bormin and Dux return from a routine salvage mission to find that the leader of the Stalkers has gone missing. Bormin and Dux embark on a rescue mission and meet new companions and uncover exciting mysteries along the way. The game’s story (one of my favorite parts of the game) kept me on the edge of my seat. The satisfying ending left me excited for future entries in the series.

The gameplay is a satisfying mix of turn-based, tactical combat and squad-based stealth maneuvering. It was wholly enjoyable to set up the perfect ambush with my squad, using their unique abilities to complement each other. As you progress through the game, your characters can level up and find new weapons and accessories. As characters level up, they can specialize their mutations and unlock powerful new skills (i.e. the ability to fly or run through walls).

MYZ features a challenging difficulty curve, requiring players to improve their characters in order to progress. The game keeps your interest as you improve your characters, but it isn’t so difficult that you become frustrated.

MYZ’s setting feels realistic because the setting is based on the developers’ surroundings in Sweden. The game’s visuals are fantastic, featuring exciting explosions during the combat and well-drawn and voice-acted cut scenes during the story.

Overall, “Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden” is a fantastic gameplay experience; not only would I highly recommend it, but it was my favorite video game in 2018.

Peer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars