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M.U.L.E. NES cartridge, Mindscape’s 1990 port of Danielle Bunten Berry’s 1983 strategy classic. Settle the planet Irata, put robot M.U.L.E.s to work on Energy, Food, Smithore and Crystite, with up to four players. Loose cartridge only, no box or manual. Ships within 2 business days.
| Platform | NES |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Mindscape Software |
| Condition | Loose Cartridge |
| Availability | In stock |
M.U.L.E. NES is the 1990 Nintendo version of the classic 1983 economic strategy game, published in North America by Mindscape in September 1990. Players colonize the planet Irata and put robot workers to use harvesting resources. This listing is the loose cartridge only, with no box or manual.
M.U.L.E. was designed by Danielle Bunten Berry (credited as Dan Bunten) and written by Ozark Softscape for Atari 8-bit computers in 1983. The NES port was developed by Eastridge Technology. The planet's name, Irata, is Atari spelled backward.
Each colonist claims plots of land and outfits M.U.L.E.s, the robot workers of the title, to harvest resources. The four resources are Energy, Food, Smithore and Crystite. Crystite is the special case: it is only available at the Tournament level.
The design also pushed fairness. The developers replaced land auctions with a land authority that gives each player a free plot each turn, because auctions let the richest player grab the most land and money.
The MULE NES cartridge supports up to four human players. Wikipedia notes that none of the ports, the NES version included, let four players use four separate joysticks. Plan to share controllers when four people play.
The NES version kept the original's core ideas: the planet Irata, the M.U.L.E. robots and the four resources. Mindscape released it in September 1990, seven years after the Atari 8-bit original.
See our full range of NES games. For another board-game style night, try Monopoly, and for more Mindscape, see Infiltrator. Background on the original is on M.U.L.E. on Wikipedia.
Who made M.U.L.E.?
Danielle Bunten Berry designed it with Ozark Softscape in 1983. Eastridge Technology developed the NES port, and Mindscape published it.
What resources do you harvest?
Energy, Food and Smithore, plus Crystite at the Tournament level. Your M.U.L.E. robots do the harvesting on the plots you own.
Where does the planet name Irata come from?
It is Atari spelled backward, a nod to the Atari 8-bit computers the game first appeared on.
How many people can play?
Up to four human players.
When was the NES version released?
September 1990 in North America.
Is this M.U.L.E. Nintendo game complete in box?
No. It is the loose cartridge only, with no box or manual.
Orders are dispatched within 2 business days. Standard US shipping is $4.99, and orders over $50 ship free. Every order is covered by our 30-day return policy.
Standard shipping is $4.99. Orders over $50 ship free.
Loose is the game cartridge only. Complete (CIB) includes the cartridge, the original box and the manual. Brand New is factory sealed. Choose one above; options shown in grey are not in stock right now.
BAM501 –
Originally posted on Amazon.com · not a MarioShroomed purchase
Always loved this one. Glad to have it again.
Not a super well known game from the NES era but a great one. Kind of an economy based almost board game type of game.
Robert S. –
Originally posted on Amazon.com · not a MarioShroomed purchase
Great quality product
Great game. Game to me is in very good shape.fast shipping got a day early
Gordon Graham –
Originally posted on Amazon.com · not a MarioShroomed purchase
Underrated classic game.
Great and addictive game.
The original version was for the
Atari 800 by Electronic arts which
I am fortunate enough to have.
The planet is called IRATA (Atari in reverse).
The computer version is much better because
it has more detail, like more sounds.
However the graphics on the NES version are
better than the Atari or Commodore computers.
I continue to get addicted to this game just like
I did back in 1984.
B. Gallaway –
Originally posted on Amazon.com · not a MarioShroomed purchase
Best classic game of all time!!
I spent so many hours playing this game as a kid…. It still ranks as probably the best game of all time. It had everything, competition, economics, strategy and even a bit of twitch when trying to get your plot of land each round!! Just an amazing game… Wish they would remake it for PC.
FL Enks –
Originally posted on Amazon.com · not a MarioShroomed purchase
One of 5 best old school games of all time
MULE is a fun single or multi player strategy game. It is only available for the NES Nintendo console and the outdated Commodore 64 PC Console, or as a modified version on a modified console. The game involves the interstellar colonization of a planet using mules to cultivate the land for food, energy, and mining. Commodities are bought and sold based on planetary conditions or supply and demand. Extremely basic game that provides hours of multi player fun.