"Mutant soap opera" is an odd phrase to describe an adventure game, but it does a good job of summing up Mutazione. You play as a young girl named Kai who travels to the titular island to help her grandfather, who has fallen gravely ill. However, once you arrive in the sleepy setting, it's not long before you're introduced to each and every resident. This is an adventure very much led by its characters, and fortunately, each member of the community is as memorable as the last.

This is one of those games that's hard to talk about, because a huge part of what makes it special is its story. You'll spend most of your time running around looking for people to chat to, and while there's no pressure to see every optional conversation, you'll find yourself wanting to stay up to date with everyone's business. The dialogue is wonderful, and almost every character goes through an interesting arc that runs parallel to the main thread.

In addition to soaking in all you can from your new friends, you'll be growing gardens in various locations across the island. Using seeds you'll gather from your travels, you're able to plant all kinds of interesting flora, and doing so is an extremely easy, laid back process. It all ties neatly into the narrative, too, although you're free to plant whatever you like.

There's not much more that can be said without getting into spoilers. Mutazione is simple, but achieves what it sets out to do: tell an emotional story about community, family, and forgiveness among a memorable ensemble cast. It's relaxing, compelling, and unique. That it also looks and sounds magnificent is just the icing on the cake.