Having recently landed on Xbox, Mr. Prepper: Anniversary Edition is the most recent game by the quite aptly-named studio, Rejected Games. With a previous release on Steam, it seems that the powers that be thought that Xbox gamers also deserved to suffer.

Mr. Prepper places you in the sturdy boots of an American doomsday prepper, living under house arrest and the watchful eye of a government official.

Mr. Prepper: Anniversary Edition – A Game Confused on Terms

Where you or I would associate a doomsday prepper with the hording of tins of food, non-perishable goods and various types of weaponry, it seems that Rejected Games have a different interpretation of the word entirely.

I went into Mr. Prepper with an excitement-laced curiosity. Preferring to write from an unbiased point of view I always avoid reading about games that I’m set to review, so I had no idea what the game would offer. However, the details that I had anticipated were lacking in this uninspiring title.

I optimistically imagined I was going to be hording the aforementioned essentials and surviving a post-apocalyptic world, torn by looting and civil unrest as people fight to endure the world in an every-man-for-himself fight for survival. However, my initial excitement happened to be misplaced as I was met with the task of planning an escape, as opposed to my predicted premise.

Mr. Prepper: Anniversary Edition – Actual Gameplay

The reality of Mr. Prepper: Anniversary Edition surrounded the title character being placed under house arrest for a previous escape attempt, only to once again plot a great escape – this time by means of a hand-built rocket.

During your days of planning, you are met with regular (and sometimes impromptu) visits from a government official, who inspects your home to ensure that you are living the life of a model “Murricaville” citizen and not once again up to old tricks. During these visits, you will need to hide any evidence of wrong-doings to keep your plan well and truly under wraps. It’s not long before you realize that in order to carry out your escape plan in secrecy, you’re going to have to build an underground bunker.

To give Mr. Prepper: Anniversary credit where it’s due, there’s something satisfying about the moment the inspector leaves, giving you a shining report on how you’re adhering to all the rules, while knowing the masterplan was being carried out under his very feet. On the flip-side, however, it can be frustrating when a tiny oversight ruins your outwardly credible image but, hey, this is the aim of the game.

Mr. Prepper: Anniversary Edition – Animal Farm DLC

Suspiciously, the agency has placed the responsibility of bringing Murricaville’s farm back to its working glory and you’re tasked with caring for the farm animals; undertaking the repair work on the farm and taking up fishing. Additionally, you will open up new areas to explore and even adopt a dog. All the while, trying to get to the bottom of why the Agency is so interested in the previously dilapidated farmstead.

While “only” DLC content, the added storyline and features give Mr. Prepper a much-needed depth and ample variety.

Mr. Prepper: Anniversary Edition – Summary

Mr. Prepper: Anniversary Edition carries with it a decent concept but sadly falls flat on what’s perceived as a “doomsday prepper”. The frequent visits by the Agency are enough to keep you on your toes but menu navigation has been lost in translation, making using the vital inventory and crafting systems a chore to use and a game in itself (not in a good way either).

With some console-specific improvements, Mr. Prepper: Anniversary Edition could be an enjoyable experience. As it stands, however, it needs a lot of improvement in a lot of areas.