Hela: Of Mice & Magic – How the Progression System Works Ahead of Game Pass Launch

Microsoft has published a new deep dive on Xbox Wire for Hela: Of Mice & Magic, detailing for the first time how the game's central progression system works. The focus is on the Brewing & Remedies system: instead of managing progress through a classic skill tree or leveling system, Hela revolves around brewing magical potions that open new paths through the game world.

How Does the Brewing System Work in Hela: Of Mice & Magic?

According to Xbox Wire, players will collect plants and magical ingredients in the open world, which are then processed into "Remedies" in the protagonist's witch's kitchen. Crucially, each recipe features its own unique, handcrafted sequence of interaction steps — ingredients aren't just collected and dropped into a menu, but must be actively processed, for example, by stirring, grinding, or heating in the correct order. No two recipes are identical, according to the official post. Each finished Remedy then unlocks new abilities or paths, making previously inaccessible areas of the world reachable, thus making brewing an integral part of the exploration and puzzle loop rather than just a peripheral collecting mechanism.

When Does Hela: Of Mice & Magic Launch on Game Pass?

Hela: Of Mice & Magic will be released on December 1, 2026 for PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2 — and will be playable directly on Xbox Game Pass from day one. The title is being developed by the Swedish studio Windup Games from Umea, founded in 2022 by Martin Sahlin and Jakob Marklund — both previously instrumental in the “Unravel” series at Coldwood Interactive. The game will be published by Knights Peak, with Jinderman Publishing supporting as a marketing partner.

What Does the Brewing System Mean for Genre Fans?

Compared to classic crafting systems found in survival or open-world titles, Hela promises a distinctly more physical and hands-on approach: instead of simply selecting Ingredient A plus Ingredient B equals Result C from a menu, brewing itself becomes a gameplay challenge — an approach that is more reminiscent of puzzle adventures with environmental riddles than pure collecting and crafting titles. For genre fans who appreciate games like “A Short Hike” or cooperative exploration adventures, this mix of exploration, connection to nature, and handcrafted puzzles could be appealing. Editorially, the Day One launch on Game Pass is also noteworthy: subscribers can try out the title on December 1 without additional costs — a clear advantage for anyone unsure if Hela's rather calm, cooperative pace suits them. Also important for context is the studio's origin: Windup Games was founded by industry veterans of the “Unravel” series, which, given the handcrafted presentation of the Remedies, certainly aligns with the team's previous strengths.

An official trailer for Hela: Of Mice & Magic is already available, offering further impressions of the game world inspired by Northern Swedish folklore:

Source: Xbox Wire

Further information:

• Xbox Wire: How Remedies Shape Progression in Hela: Of Mice & Magic
• Hela: Of Mice & Magic on Xbox Store
• Xbox Game Pass — Overview
• Hela: Of Mice & Magic on Steam

We're keeping a close eye on Hela: Of Mice & Magic and will provide further insights, including a potential guide to the Brewing system, by the December 1 release at the latest, once the title is available on Game Pass. Is this cooperative mouse adventure already on your radar? Let us know in the comments.

What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments and stay tuned to Scene Gamers for more updates!