Summary
Mutants have been used far and wide across fiction,predominantly in superhero films, comics, and games. From theToxic Avenger(1984) toThe X-Menas a whole, there’s plenty to enjoy for fans of mutated creatures and characters. Games are no exception, and although many of them are adaptations of superhero films such asThe X-Men, only one such game will be included on this list.
Outside the adaptations of popular IPs, video games have managed to bring audiences all kinds of unique games themed around mutant characters. These games are arguably at their best when they use the act of mutating as a core mechanic. For gamers who want the experience of playing as a mutant character, check out the titles below.
Reminiscent ofturn-based tactics gamessuch asXCOMwith its grid-based movement and cover-based combat,Mutant Year Zero: Road To Edenstands out with its evocative post-apocalypse setting and colorful, charismatic mutant characters. The run-down, overgrown environments of the Zone are consistently atmospheric, making exploration a joy. What’s more, the mutant characters make perfect sense in the game’s messed-up world.
Combat inMutant Year Zero: Road To Edenisn’t entirely by-the-book, however, featuring a heavy element of stealth that keeps the gameplay fresh. Players explore the game’s environments in real time, which allows them to sneak around enemies and set up a strategic ambush before entering a turn-based gunfight.
This title is considered one of the bestX-Mengames ever made, but isunfortunately hard to come by.X-Men Legendsis an action-packed, 3D beat-em-up that can be played single-player or in local co-op. The game is also an action-RPG, allowing players to level up their mutants over the course of their playthrough.
X-Men Legendsgives players the opportunity to play many of thenotoriousX-Menmutants, from the iconic Wolverine to the lesser-known Rogue. Each one has their own strengths and weaknesses.X-Men Legendsalso received a sequel in the form ofX-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse, and the team would later go on to develop the somewhat similarMarvel: Ultimate Alliance.
TheTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtleshave been the subject of everything from cartoons and comics to live-action films and, of course, video games. Many games, predominantly the arcade variety, have attempted to adapt the charm of the iconic ninja turtles to the video game format. Among them, 1991’sTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles In Timewas perhaps the most successful.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revengeis anold-school side-scrolling beat ‘em upthat’s oozing with charm, paying loving homage to the beloved IP and the aforementionedTurtles In Timein equal measure. It’s a short experience, butTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:Shredder’s Revengeis a non-stop, joyful adventure with a lovable cast of characters and memorable boss fights, headed up by talented voice-work and a stand-out soundtrack.
Developed by the talented Vlambeer,Nuclear Thronebegan life as a game jam project(Wasteland Kings) and grew into a popular action rogue-like about scrappy mutant characters. Each mutant is unique, from the Crystal, a crystalline character able to transform into a rock-steady formation, to the Fish, who can roll. This results in a design space full of possibilities. Vlambeer explored that space to its very core, offering players an ensemble cast of fun mutants to experiment with in its brutal wasteland crucible.
Nuclear Throneis an intense, non-stop experience that can often be stress-inducing. Enemies hit hard and hazards are aplenty, resulting in runs that can end in the blink of an eye. Bosses can be devastating, especially when players are forced to fight them amid the chaos. One ofNuclear Throne’smost ingenious additions is the mutation choices at the end of each level, allowing players to further mutate their character to develop new strategies.
Inspired by traditional rogue-likes with its focus on RPG mechanics and turn-based combat,Caves of Qudis a tremendously deep open-world rogue-like RPG set in aunique sci-fi fantasy world. In the game, players take on either the role of a True Kin, a cybernetically enhanced “pure” human, or a weird and wonderful Mutant. The latter is arguably more fun, with a wide array of wacky mutations available that allow players to create all manner of unique characters.
The detailed world is brought to life through a combination of hand-crafted and procedural content, with diverse underground caves that are as fun to explore as they are dangerous. The careful management of resources and ability cooldowns makes up much of the game’s combat scenarios, along with more generic elements such as target priority, keeping the otherwise basic combat intense. AlthoughCaves of Qudis a rogue-like at heart, the game features a role-play mode that allows players to enjoy the game like a regular RPG, making it much more accessible.
