Launching on Kickstarter in May—Mutants From the Archives: Pet Shop Blues
Dogs, cats, and pets of all types take the spotlight for this retro-modern, mutant-animal, role-playing game!
In 2001 and 2003, Mutants in the Now and Mutants in the Next revived mutant animal role-playing for role-playing tables. A homage to the classic game Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Other Strangeness, Mutants in the Now was built from the the ground up with modern mechanics and a modern ethos, but with old-school vibes.
Hundreds of mutant species and breeds, hundreds of backstories, dozens of fighting styles, and numerous other character options ensure that you don't just build a character; you discover a truly unique and exciting anthropomorphic adventurer you never foresaw. One player says: "I [...] created a thoughtful, scholarly otter doctor and he's everything to me now." Graeme "POCgamer" declared: "... making characters can be addictive!" In Mutants in the Now, your new star character will surprise you!
And now, Mutants From the Archives: Pet Shop Blues expands pets in the party, launching on 5/5/25!
With over 140 homegrown new species and breeds, domestics of all kinds become available to players, including:
- Over 60 new breeds of dog, from Chihuahuas to Cane Corsos, and extinct breeds like the Molossian Hound.
- Over 20 new breeds of cat, like the Pixie-Bob, Norwegian Forest Cat, and fantastical strangeness like Schrödinger’s Cat!
- A special mixed-breed randomizer that generates unique mutts and kits.
- And over 60 new species; new rodents, parrots, fish, lizards, snakes, insects, arachnids, and more!
But there's more than just species; fighting styles like Cat-and-Mouse Games or Gǒuquán ("Dog Style Boxing") open up new moves, skill packages like Courser or Warden help fill out the expertise of animals, new psionic powers, and new gimmicks mean that existing characters can have a crack at the material within. Even an old dog can learn new tricks.
The material within also serves gamemasters; new villains from the corrupt Invasive Species Service play dogcatcher with fascist thugs at their beck and call. Mercenary mutant dogs called "Alpha Squad" take their cues from toxic Internet chauvinists. And hybrids, mutated animal mashups, invade ecology with bizarre new forms. New details on genetically modified species also provide flavor and sparks to inspire your next session.
Lastly, the Kickstarter gives you the opportunity for community contribution; add a species at certain tiers, contribute community copies for those in need, and unlocks stretch goals to expand the book with added species, an adventure, and more! Mutants in the Now is indie, human-crafted, anti-fascist, and ready to hit your table with animal action! Will you take it home with you?
