M.U.L.E. Returns was a strategy mobile game by Toronto-based developer Comma 8 Studios. It was a licensed iOS remake of the 1983 classic M.U.L.E.

The gameplay of M.U.L.E. Returns closely follows that of the original M.U.L.E., though the controls are adapted for mobile device touchscreens.^[1] Improvements over the original include a pause feature, three difficulty modes, social media integration, and the ability to apply custom skins.^[1][2][3]

In 2012, Electronic Arts was in licensing negotiations with M.U.L.E.'s original developers, Ozark Softscape, though these were unsuccessful and Ozark ultimately awarded mobile platform rights to Comma 8 Studios.^[1] Comma 8 began developing the game simultaneously for iOS and Android, using C++ and a framework middleware.^[1] To create as faithful a reproduction as possible, the developers traced and reimplemented the original 8-bit code.^[1]

Comma 8 released an official trailer for the game on 27 June 2012,^[4][5] and discussed the game's development at World of Commodore 2012 in December.^[1] The game was originally slated to be released in mid-2012,^[3] though this was pushed back repeatedly, first to the end of the year,^[6] then to early 2013,^[1] and finally to late 2013. The game was eventually released for iOS on 25 November 2013^[7] and was presented the following week at the 2013 World of Commodore in Toronto.^[8] However, as of 16 February 2019^[update] further development on the game has been discontinued.^[9]

More information Publication, Score ...

Review score

Publication	Score
148Apps	[11]

Close

Reviewers' attitudes to M.U.L.E. Returns were split.^[10] Matt Thrower of Gamezebo appreciated the game's "unique and enthralling mixture of strategic concerns propelled forward by real-time pressures" but criticized its patchy tutorial, sloppy artificial intelligence, and showstopping bugs.^[12] Pocket Gamer's Harry Slater, who is not a fan of the original M.U.L.E., criticized the remake as "outdated, with sloppy touch controls and far-from impressive backdrops".^[13] 148Apps had a more positive opinion of the game, awarding it four out of five stars and praising its sophisticated supply-and-demand economics. Like Gamezebo, however, they bemoaned its failure to implement the original's multiplayer mode.^[11]