Anno: Mutationem
Review

ANNO: Mutationem (2022) is an action adventure in a dark and bizarre cyberpunk world. You play a combat-trained young woman on a personal mission to find out the truth about her missing brother with the help of her digital sidekick. It's a familiar setting and common play style but stands out for super visuals and a dense bubbling cauldron of a city to explore.

Play involves exploring the world, talking to people and taking on a range of enemies. The giant Metropolis is full of sinister mega-corporations, mysterious fringe groups and strange creatures. You progress not only with combat and exploration but by engaging with the world. Chat with a Cyborg corgi, take on a part-time bartender job, hunt down vicious criminals or reveal the true face of a trending Video-streamer.

As you dig into this world and its inhabitants you uncover a larger story than your missing brother. Getting to the bottom of this requires more abilities than you start with. As you learn new skills, craft items and gain upgrades, more of the world opens up.

The result is a game that draws on old video games like Flashback and films like Blade Runner. These influences are put to work to create an intriguing world full of life and stories to discover. It's beautifully drawn but equally rich in things to do.

Our examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked Anno: Mutationem 17 months ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 10 months ago.