Tabletop RPG · since 2014 · #84 most discussed

Mutant: Year Zero

Mutants scavenge a ruined Earth and defend a fragile settlement, balancing survival, strange powers and growing risk.

Year Zero EnginePost apocdice poolpush your luckfaction playhexcrawlhigh lethalityCampaignsNeeds a GM

6.9

Geek rating

From 13 firsthand play reports in 3 r/rpg threads. The threads alone average 8.1.

Player rating— / 10

No visitor ratings yet.

Discussion5.6 / 10

105 r/rpg posts named it, October 2023 to October 2026.

Rules weight

Medium. Hype 3.6 for its age.

Have you played it?

Rate Mutant: Year Zero from 1 to 10. One rating per browser and device; you can change it any time.

Didn't work for usOne of our best

What players say

At the table

Mutant: Year Zero is a post-apocalyptic sandbox about exploring the Zone and running a shared base, the Ark. Tables describe fast, lightweight rules and a lot of faction drama. Firsthand reports come from 13 players and GMs across three threads, and several of them run long campaigns.

What works

Exploration and base management supply years of emergent sandbox play, and the core book, dice and cards are enough to run it. (thread)
The Ark was one poster's favorite part of any TTRPG they've played. PCs tie into the community, and different ties to the same NPCs create tension. (thread)
The rules are lean, so combat and sessions move quickly. One campaign has run 80+ sessions since 2019. (thread)
Base building and the random sector tables support low-prep, high-improv play. A GM called it some of the most character-driven play they've run. (thread)
Mutations and the risk of death give it a gritty tone. (thread)

What tables struggle with

The game is punishing. Expect hardship and character loss, possibly more than once. (thread)
Combat is more brutal than 5e, and losing one character can swing a fight. (thread)
Larger groups slow down, because pushed rolls mean many dice and longer turns. (thread)
More players means more individual agendas, so faction and base drama gets harder to manage and takes more GM prep. (thread)
Tables disagree about exploration. One player loved the Ark but didn't like that half of the game. (thread)

Who it suits

Groups of about 3-5 who want a character-driven sandbox with community and faction conflict.
Players who accept loss and a serious tone closer to Gamma World, Stalker or Mad Max than to Borderlands.
GMs who prefer improvising from random tables to prepping a plotted campaign.

In players' words

"Yes, the game is extremely fun, though it is punishing" (thread)
"The Ark in MYZ was my favorite part of any TTRPGs I played so far." (thread)
"With just five we wound up with a full scale civil war at our base that took two sessions to resolve" (thread)

The threads behind it

Each thread is rated for the play it describes, from the firsthand reports in it. Load one here or read it on Reddit.

8.0

Mutant: Year Zero seems fun

GMs who ran Mutant: Year Zero describe a fast, lightweight, character-driven sandbox of exploration, base building and faction drama. It is deadlier than 5e and best with about 3-5 players. The main caveats are slower turns from pushed rolls with bigger groups, and a tone closer to Gamma World, Stalker or Mad Max than to Borderlands. 8 firsthand · 13 comments

Open on Reddit

8.4

Mutant year zero

The few people who describe actually playing Mutant: Year Zero call it extremely fun and a favorite post-apocalyptic system. One group has run sandbox play off and on for about five years, and a commenter warns the game is punishing, with real hardship and character loss. Most of the thread is purchase advice about expansions and sibling games (Genlab Alpha, Mechatron, Elysium), which I ignored. 4 firsthand · 13 comments

Open on Reddit

7.5

Mutant Year Zero - The Ark style gameplay system?

Only the original poster describes playing Mutant: Year Zero. They loved the Ark, with its community drama and shared NPC ties, but disliked the exploration half. The rest of the thread recommends other games (Forbidden Lands, Coriolis, Vaesen, Legacy: Life Among the Ruins), which are not rated here. 1 firsthand · 10 comments

Open on Reddit