Mutazione
A musical gardening adventure on a mysterious island.
Mutazione, an adventure game from 2019, was created and published by Die Gute Fabrik. It first arrived on September 19, 2019, for iOS via Apple Arcade, plus Linux, Windows, macOS, and PlayStation 4 through Akupara Games. A later Atari VCS version came on December 11, 2020, with Nintendo Switch and Xbox One releases following on May 26, 2021. Players explore an island, nurture its gardens, and uncover the stories of its residents.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Die Gute Fabrik
- Publisher
- Akupara Games; Die Gute Fabrik (iOS)
- Engine
- Unity
- Writer
- Hannah Nicklin
- Director
- Nils Deneken
- Artist
- Leonardo D'Almeida
- Composer
- Alessandro Coronas
- Genre
- Adventure
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
Mutazione is an adventure game in which the player explores various areas and interacts with the surroundings. The protagonist, Kai, travels to an island one summer to visit her dying grandfather. The story is structured across the days of her week-long stay, with each chapter featuring distinct events. In dialogue, the player picks from different responses that shape the conversation. Gardening involves planting seeds collected from the island, from bushes to trees. Each plant needs the right amount of space and a specific soil type, and they produce sounds that, when combined with other plants, form music.
Development
The ideas that started Mutazione emerged over a decade before release, when the creative director was sketching in university. Full production began around 2016. The developers cited community and an in-depth world as inspirations, aiming to reward meandering and respect the player's time, which led to the musical gardening system. The game was built in Unity, with art and animation created in Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Animate. Custom tools were used for narrative design and music. The small-town setting reduced workload and helped convey community without feeling like a lecture. The structure was inspired by soap operas, focusing on ensemble storytelling.
Reception
Critics generally liked Mutazione, giving it a Metacritic score of 76. Polygon’s Ana Diaz highlighted the absence of unnecessary side quests and the gardening system. The Verge’s D. M. Moore praised the character writing and the game’s calm pace. Eurogamer’s Christian Donlan appreciated the conversations and the main area’s lived-in atmosphere. At the 2020 Independent Game Festival, Mutazione was a finalist for the Seumas McNally Grand Prize and won the Excellence in Audio award.
Frequently Asked Questions
What platforms is Mutazione available on?
Mutazione was released for Linux, macOS, iOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Atari VCS, Nintendo Switch and Xbox One.
Who directed Mutazione?
Mutazione was directed by Nils Deneken.
Who composed the music for Mutazione?
The music for Mutazione was composed by Alessandro Coronas.
Is Mutazione single-player or multiplayer?
Mutazione offers single-player play.
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