Mutant Football League

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.

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Play Modes

Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 605 reviews

humor100 positive mentions

stability5 negative mentions

Captures the spirit of the original Mutant League Football with modern graphics and gameplay.
Hilarious commentary and clever team/player names add to the fun and humor of the game.
Fast-paced, arcade-style football with chaotic elements like dirty tricks and environmental hazards.

AI can be unbalanced, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences, especially in Dynasty mode.
Limited single-player content and customization options, such as no create-a-team feature.
Repetitive commentary and some bugs that affect gameplay experience.

humor
101 mentions
99 % positive mentions
-2 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The humor in "Mutant Football League" is a standout feature, characterized by its dark, irreverent comedy and clever commentary from Tim Kitzrow, which often references classic games and current NFL players in a humorous light. Players appreciate the game's ability to blend absurdity with sports, featuring hilarious team and player names, as well as entertaining cutscenes and banter that keep the experience lively, though some find the humor can become repetitive. Overall, the game successfully delivers a fun, chaotic, and laugh-out-loud experience that appeals to fans of both sports and comedy.
- “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!”
- “The announcer commentary is hilarious, and so are the penalties when you bribe the ref.”
- “If you want an insanely silly, hilarious game, where you will have just as much (or more) fun 'killing' the opposing team and making them forfeit because you have killed all their quarterbacks while the announcers embrace your inner 14-year-old's sense of humor, welcome to your new favorite game.”
- “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 they're just unfunny when they're not.”
- “The humor feels outdated and relies too heavily on clichés that fail to land.”
- “Many of the jokes fall flat and seem to miss the mark entirely, leaving me more confused than amused.”
gameplay
87 mentions
34 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Mutant Football League" is a chaotic blend of arcade-style football and brutal combat, featuring interactive arenas filled with hazards that enhance strategic depth. While the mechanics are easy to learn and provide a fun, fast-paced experience, some players note issues with balance and repetitive gameplay. Overall, it successfully captures the spirit of classic titles like NFL Blitz, offering a humorous and engaging experience for fans of the genre.
- “Best of all, the gameplay is clean and smooth.”
- “Gameplay wise it's a perfect mix between brutal arcade violence and strategic decisions, both in offense and defense.”
- “The gameplay is fun and addicting, and the announcers are hilarious.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
graphics
45 mentions
49 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
7 % negative 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 titles. Players appreciate the solid visuals that maintain the charm of the classic games while introducing updated effects and a vibrant art style. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making it visually engaging and enjoyable.
- “The game's graphics are excellent, with beautiful and detailed 3D models and environments.”
- “The graphics are amazing, announcers are funny and vulgar in a very fun way, and you can still bribe the ref.”
- “Mutant Football League has some really cool graphics from the stadiums, fans, and players.”
- “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?”
music
12 mentions
50 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The music in the game features a mix of alternative rock and indie metal tracks, with some players praising the energetic sound design that enhances the atmosphere. However, opinions are divided, as some songs are considered subpar and repetitive, leading to frustration over the lack of control over the playlist. Overall, while the soundtrack has its highlights, it also includes a range of quality that may not appeal to all players.
- “The game's sound design is also effective, with a great soundtrack and sound effects that add to the game's atmosphere.”
- “The music is indie metal, which I also love.”
- “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.”
- “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 kinda wished they stuck with football parody teams vs say the full metal mayhem which is a musician parody.”
replayability
10 mentions
30 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its high replayability, offering multiple seasons and tournaments, a variety of teams and characters, and diverse gameplay strategies. While some players note a lack of depth and repetitive elements, features like Dynasty mode and engaging commentary enhance the overall experience. Overall, it is considered extremely replayable, with a solid rating of 8.5/10 for replay value.
- “The game's variety of teams and characters also adds to its 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.”
story
9 mentions
33 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal, primarily emphasizing gameplay and its unique characters and settings, which some players feel detracts from its potential. There is a desire among users for a more developed narrative, with suggestions for a franchise or story mode that could enhance the experience, especially given the game's colorful cast and post-apocalyptic backdrop. Overall, while the current story is lacking, there is optimism for future improvements and expansions.
- “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.”
stability
7 mentions
29 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
71 % negative mentions
The game's stability is generally good, with most players reporting that it runs well, particularly on Linux. However, some users have encountered occasional bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, particularly with specific plays not functioning correctly. Despite these issues, many still find the game enjoyable and worth purchasing.
- “Runs great on Linux; it's a 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.”
monetization
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-25 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy in the game includes microtransactions for cosmetic items, which some players view as unnecessary and a potential cash grab, detracting from the overall experience. However, others appreciate the absence of loot boxes and additional paid content, suggesting that a fully unlocked experience could enhance the game's appeal.
- “While not necessarily egregious, the presence of microtransactions for cosmetic items may be a downside for players seeking a fully unlocked experience.”
- “I unlocked something in-game without loot boxes, microtransactions, and DLC. 10/10 must buy!”
- “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!”
atmosphere
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its effective sound design, including a compelling soundtrack and sound effects that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the unique blend of arcade football and a quirky, vibrant aesthetic reminiscent of classic games like Blood Bowl, contributing to an engaging and enjoyable 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, but the atmosphere feels more like that of Blood Bowl, with monsters, gore, and bizarre playing fields. Thankfully, the game mechanics are not like Blood Bowl.”
- “The game's sound design is also effective, with a great soundtrack and sound effects that add to the game's atmosphere.”
optimization
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization on PC is noted to be less impressive compared to consoles, particularly the PS4, though it still performs well on older hardware, such as a GTX 850m and i7 core. Overall, 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 performance issues on PC are frustrating, especially compared to the smoother experience on consoles.”
- “I expected better optimization for PC; the frame drops and stuttering really detract from the gameplay.”
grinding
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
While Mfl features some grinding to unlock certain teams, players appreciate the absence of lootboxes and grindy currency systems, making the process feel more rewarding and straightforward. Overall, the grinding aspect is manageable and tied to fulfilling specific scenarios rather than excessive effort.
- “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 development
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is praised for its engaging design and the incorporation of intense elements like violence and technical play, which enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the depth and personality of the characters, contributing to a more immersive football gaming experience.