Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden

Lore & Background

The game is set after a deadly Red Plague and global nuclear war, where most humans have become extinct or mutated. The Elder, the only person with knowledge of the past, resides in the Ark, a fortified settlement. Stalkers—special mutants—scavenge resources in the surrounding wasteland known as the Zone, which is also home to violent Ghouls who worship the old world as the Ancients. The story follows Stalkers Bormin and Dux as they search for the missing technical genius Hammon, leading them to confront the Nova Sect, a fanatical Ghoul group seeking ancient weapons. The journey culminates in the discovery of Eden, a secret Ancient facility, and the revelation that the Elder was once a scientist involved in mutant experiments.

Reader's Guide

Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden is notable for adapting a Swedish tabletop RPG into a video game with a focus on environmental storytelling and tactical gameplay. The game offers three difficulty levels and a party of up to three characters, each with unique abilities and mutation attacks. Players explore interconnected maps in real-time, using flashlights to spot objects while managing enemy attention, and can split the party to set up ambushes before combat shifts to turn-based mode. The skill tree and branching story provide customization and replay value. The Seed of Evil expansion extends the story and play area, adding a new character and skill upgrades without significantly altering core gameplay. The game was part of the Xbox Game Pass subscription program and was released in standard and Deluxe editions.

Did You Know?

• The game was developed by The Bearded Ladies, a studio founded by former IO Interactive developers.
• Ulf Andersson, designer of the Payday franchise, served as creative consultant.
• Permadeath and recruitable soldiers were planned but removed to preserve the story.
• The Seed of Evil expansion introduces a new mutant character, Big Khan, a humanoid moose.