Hela: Of Mice & Magic Brewing System Drives Exploration and Co-op Puzzle-Solving

Hela: Of Mice & Magic will launch on Xbox Game Pass on day one, December 1, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S. The adventure focuses on an interactive brewing system that serves as the core progression mechanic, tying exploration directly to crafting.

Players control tiny mouse familiars helping a witch restore harmony to a Northern Sweden-inspired world. As they explore forests, meadows, and wetlands, they gather native plants and magical ingredients scattered throughout the landscape. These materials return to the witch's cottage, where brewing begins.

Brewing is not a simple menu-based crafting system. Each recipe follows its own set of instructions, requiring specific sequences of hands-on actions. No two recipes play the same, encouraging players to engage with the brewing process rather than simply collecting resources and pressing a button. This design aims to make brewing feel like an authentic experience in the witch's workshop.

The brewing system drives exploration by giving gathering purpose. Some brews help woodland creatures and communities encountered during the journey. Others improve the player's own abilities. The most important creations are magical tools called Remedies, which expand how players move through the environment, solve puzzles, overcome obstacles, and interact with each other.

Remedies fundamentally change how familiar locations reveal themselves. A previously unreachable path may suddenly become accessible. A puzzle that seemed impossible earlier in the adventure can be approached from an entirely new angle. Rather than making players more powerful, Remedies encourage them to reconsider familiar places in new ways.

Cooperative play amplifies the system's design. While every puzzle can be completed solo, playing with up to four players online or with local split-screen creates opportunities for experimentation. Players combine different tools and approaches in creative ways, often discovering solutions the developers did not explicitly anticipate.

The game also includes a Shade System that allows solo players to create magical copies of themselves to help solve puzzles and interact with the world. This ensures the full adventure remains accessible regardless of play style.

Hela's world is built for free exploration at your own pace. Players can wander off the beaten path, experiment with playful interactions, and uncover story fragments scattered across the landscape. A magical froggy backpack serves as a constant companion, used to interact with the world, collect resources, and discover new ways to navigate the landscape.