Mutant Football League

80%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,219 reviews
  • humor
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Mutant Football League Game Cover
A retro revival given a modern coat of paint, Mutant Football League sticks to its 16-bit roots and showcases the funnier, gorier, side of American football.
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In "Mutant Football League," engage in brutal arcade-style football with mutants and monsters in a setting filled with deadly traps and ruthless fans. Use dirty tricks, like bribing refs or growing ginormous, to defeat your opponents, either by score or elimination. This game is a spiritual successor to NFL Blitz and Mutant League Football, offering strategic gameplay and dark humor.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,219 reviews
humor201 positive mentions
stability10 negative mentions
  • Captures the spirit of the original Mutant League Football with modern graphics and gameplay.
  • Hilarious commentary and clever team/player name puns add to the fun and humor of the game.
  • Fast-paced, arcade-style football action with unique dirty tricks and environmental hazards.
  • AI can be frustratingly unbalanced, leading to moments where the player feels cheated.
  • Limited single-player content and depth, particularly in Dynasty mode, which lacks customization options.
  • Repetitive commentary and some bugs can detract from the overall experience.
  • humor203 mentions

    The humor in "Mutant Football League" is a standout feature, characterized by its dark, crass, and often juvenile comedic style that resonates well with fans of the genre. Players appreciate the hilarious commentary from Tim Kitzrow and the clever parody of NFL teams and players, which adds a layer of entertainment to the gameplay. While some may find the humor repetitive or off-putting, many agree that it enhances the overall fun and chaotic experience of the game, making it a memorable and enjoyable arcade football title.

    • “With the original NFL Blitz/NBA Jam announcer Tim Kitzrow himself providing color commentary with his hilarious calls, and cheeky references to the old Mutant League games (no joke, I found Mo and Spew Puke on the roster!), don't let this game go without giving it a spin!”
    • “My stomach hurts from laughing so much.”
    • “The announcer commentary is hilarious and so are the penalties when you bribe the ref.”
    • “The joke writing has a few flat notes designed more to make boomers laugh about 'non-politically correct' things, which can be okay if done well, but man, they're unfunny when they're not.”
  • gameplay177 mentions

    The gameplay of "Mutant Football League" is a chaotic blend of arcade-style football and brutal combat, reminiscent of classic titles like NFL Blitz, featuring interactive arenas filled with hazards that add strategic depth. While the mechanics are easy to learn and provide a fun, fast-paced experience, some players find the reliance on "dirty tricks" and certain balancing issues frustrating. Overall, the game offers an entertaining and humorous take on football, though it may lack depth and variety for some players.

    • “Best of all, the gameplay is clean and smooth.”
    • “The game's difficulty is well-balanced, and the game's mechanics are easy to learn but difficult to master.”
    • “Gameplay wise it's a perfect mix between brutal arcade violence and strategic decisions, both in offense and defense.”
    • “Criticism: 'Mutant Football League' has been criticized for its repetitive gameplay and lack of depth.”
    • “Just play the demo, the game doesn't get much more in-depth after you buy the full version, no player or team customization, 0 online players, repetitive gameplay and voiceover, the players talk in a made-up mumbling 'language' with super cheesy captions.”
    • “Frustrating gameplay and technical issues mar this football game’s switch debut.”
  • graphics90 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their modern enhancements, with many reviewers noting the beautiful and detailed 3D models and environments that elevate the nostalgic experience of the original Sega Genesis title. Players appreciate the solid visuals, vibrant art style, and the overall aesthetic that complements the game's chaotic themes, although some mention minor issues with clarity and player selection. Overall, the graphics are considered a significant improvement, contributing to the game's fun and engaging gameplay.

    • “The game's graphics are excellent, with beautiful and detailed 3D models and environments.”
    • “The graphics are amazing, the announcers are funny and vulgar in a very fun way, and you can still bribe the ref.”
    • “The mutant football league is a revival of a classic from the Sega Mega Drive, but thanks to the modern gaming experience of today, it lets us have more in-depth graphics, vocal commentary, and detailed playing fields which were the things of dreams back in the day.”
    • “Due to the muddiness of the graphics and the various sizes of the character models, it can be very difficult to select your player or determine what player you have selected.”
    • “There are not a lot of display options currently other than resolution and graphics quality, but that may change in the future.”
    • “Tight gameplay, decent graphics, most of all?”
  • music24 mentions

    The music in the game features a mix of alternative rock and indie metal tracks, with some standout songs that enhance the atmosphere. However, the quality is inconsistent, with many tracks from amateur bands ranging from poor to mediocre, leading to a hit-or-miss experience. While some players appreciate the thematic sound design and team-specific songs, others express frustration over the lack of control over the music selection.

    • “The game's sound design is also effective, with a great soundtrack and sound effects that add to the game's atmosphere.”
    • “On sound, each team has their own theme song, which is a nice touch, and the in-game music is generally pretty appropriate for football; all horns, guitars, and bombast -- very NFL films.”
    • “The music track includes great alternative rock songs.”
    • “Some of the songs are truly horrible and there is no way to change or control in any way what plays besides turning off the music.”
    • “There are a ton of teams and I kind of wished they stuck with football parody teams instead of the full metal mayhem, which is a musician parody.”
    • “The music is indie metal, which I also love.”
  • replayability20 mentions

    The game boasts high replayability, allowing players to engage in multiple seasons and tournaments with a diverse array of teams and characters, encouraging varied strategies and play styles. While some players note a lack of depth and repetitive gameplay, features like Dynasty mode and responsive controls enhance the overall experience, making it a worthwhile endeavor. Overall, the replay value is rated positively, with many players expressing a desire for additional content to further enrich replayability.

    • “The game's variety of teams and characters also adds to the game's replayability, as players can try different strategies and play styles.”
    • “The play designs are very in-depth, the controls are responsive, the game modes offer almost endless replay value, and the color commentary is absolutely hilarious.”
    • “Dynasty mode was a great free add-on that brought a lot more depth and replayability to the game.”
    • “While the game's lack of depth and repetitive gameplay may limit its appeal to some players, its excellent graphics and sound, as well as its strong replayability, make it a worthwhile experience.”
    • “Only wish it was still in an early access phase, as a few pieces could be added to improve replayability.”
    • “I like that you unlock teams as you play, but the better overall stat teams should be locked to increase replayability.”
  • story18 mentions

    The game's story is largely minimal, prioritizing gameplay and unique characters over a deep narrative. Players express a desire for a more substantial story mode, particularly given the colorful cast and post-apocalyptic setting, suggesting that a richer mythology could enhance the experience. There is optimism about future updates that may introduce a more developed story or franchise mode.

    • “There seems to be a commitment by the devs to continue improving the game, adding new races and possibly a franchise/story mode, and I'm excited to see how the game progresses from here.”
    • “A story mode of sorts would be great, considering the colorful cast of characters and post-apocalyptic setting, and obviously the remaining 15 NFL teams seem like an almost mandatory future addition.”
    • “Gather round children, it's time for a story.”
    • “The game's story is minimal, focusing solely on the gameplay and the unique characters and settings of the game.”
    • “Because, based on the story, you start as a loser team.”
    • “I really think this could be an awesome game if they moved away from making everything an NFL pun and made it into a real intellectual property with a serious story and mythology.”
  • stability14 mentions

    The game's stability is marked by occasional bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, particularly in certain plays that do not function as intended. While some players find these issues frustrating, many still enjoy the game overall, noting that it runs well on platforms like Linux and remains a worthwhile purchase despite its current beta state.

    • “Runs great on Linux; very fun game.”
    • “Other than that, the game runs great!”
    • “I know that I could just put it in practice mode and button mash until I figure things out, but quite frankly I'm done trying to wrestle with this intuitive buggy mess.”
    • “Some plays just don't work well and seem buggy (most option plays show the RB running to a side, starting the play, RB doesn't move. Some plays are shown incorrectly. Goal line blitz right is blitz left and blitz left is actually blitz right).”
    • “In its current beta, it is a bit buggy, but still worth the purchase.”
  • monetization8 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game features microtransactions for cosmetic items, which some players view as a negative, feeling it detracts from a fully unlocked experience. While not considered overly aggressive, these microtransactions are often seen as unnecessary cash grabs, with many players expressing a preference for a game that does not include them.

    • “I unlocked something in the game without loot boxes, microtransactions, and DLC. 10/10 must buy.”
    • “While not necessarily egregious, the presence of microtransactions for cosmetic items may be a downside for players seeking a fully unlocked experience.”
    • “Microtransaction pressure: while not necessarily egregious, the presence of microtransactions for cosmetic items may be a downside for players seeking a fully unlocked experience.”
    • “Most of the time, it's a cash grab.”
    • “Just don't put microtransactions into this game, and it will sell like hotcakes!”
  • atmosphere8 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised, featuring effective sound design, a captivating soundtrack, and strong art direction that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the blend of nostalgic arcade football elements with a unique, gritty vibe reminiscent of games like Blood Bowl, contributing to an engaging and immersive environment. Overall, the atmosphere is described as well-crafted and enjoyable, encouraging players to return for more.

    • “The game's sound design is also effective, with a great soundtrack and sound effects that add to the game's atmosphere.”
    • “Really well done, very good game feel and atmosphere!”
    • “Great game, great art direction - love the atmosphere and look forward to playing a lot more.”
    • “It's a simple arcade football game reminiscent of NFL Blitz from the 90s, with an atmosphere similar to Blood Bowl games, featuring monsters, gore, and weird playing fields. The game mechanics are thankfully not like Blood Bowl.”
    • “The game's sound design is effective, with a great soundtrack and sound effects that contribute to the overall atmosphere.”
  • optimization6 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization on PC is considered less effective compared to consoles, particularly the PS4, though it still performs well on older hardware like a GTX 850m and i7 core. Despite some discrepancies, many users report a smooth experience, with one reviewer giving it a perfect score of 10/10 for optimization.

    • “Optimization: 10/10 it runs extremely smooth”
    • “Performance is good on a somewhat outdated machine (running GTX 850m, i7 core).”
    • “The game isn't as optimized on PC as it is on consoles (at least PS4 where I also have the game), but as someone who spent countless hours on the original Mutant League Football on Sega Genesis, this is an absolute dream of a sequel.”
    • “The game isn't as optimized on PC as it is on consoles (at least PS4, where I also have the game).”
    • “The game isn't as optimized on PC as it is on consoles (at least PS4, where I also have the game).”
  • grinding4 mentions

    The grinding aspect in MFL is minimal, as players only need to invest a bit of time to unlock certain teams, with some requiring specific scenarios to be completed. The game avoids traditional grindy mechanics like lootboxes or currency systems, making the unlocking process feel more rewarding and less tedious.

    • “Not all teams are unlocked at the start, so a bit of grinding needs to be done to unlock a few teams; for others, it's just a matter of time or fulfilling a scenario.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in the game is praised for its engaging design and the incorporation of dynamic elements, such as violence and interactions with referees, which enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the depth and creativity in character portrayal, contributing to a more immersive football gaming experience.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

70% average critic score

Buy Mutant Football League

Play time

7hMedian play time
7hAverage play time
6-7hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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