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

Microsoft has published a new deep dive on Xbox Wire for Hela: Of Mice & Magic, offering the first detailed look at how the game's central progression system works. The core of it is the Brewing & Remedies system: instead of advancing through a classic skill tree or leveling system, Hela revolves around brewing magical potions that open up 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 handcrafted sequence of interaction steps — ingredients aren't just collected and dropped into a menu, but must be actively processed, such as by stirring, crushing, or heating in the correct order. No two recipes, according to the official post, play out identically. Each finished Remedy then unlocks new abilities or paths, making previously inaccessible areas of the world reachable, which makes 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 launches 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 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 is published by Knights Peak, with Jinderman Publishing providing marketing support.

What Does the Brewing System Mean for Genre Fans?

Compared to classic crafting systems found in survival or open-world titles, Hela promises a significantly more physical and artisanal approach: instead of simply selecting Ingredient A plus Ingredient B equals Result C from a menu, the brewing itself becomes a gameplay challenge — an approach that is more reminiscent of puzzle adventures with environmental puzzles than pure collecting and crafting games. 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 the title on December 1 without additional cost — a clear advantage for anyone unsure if Hela's rather calm, cooperative pace suits them. The studio's background is also important for context: Windup Games was founded by industry veterans of the “Unravel” series, which, given the artisanal presentation of the Remedies, certainly aligns with the team's past strengths.

An official trailer for Hela: Of Mice & Magic is already available, offering further glimpses into 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 the Xbox Store
• Xbox Game Pass — Overview
• Hela: Of Mice & Magic on Steam

We'll be keeping a close eye on Hela: Of Mice & Magic and will report back with more insights by the December 1 release at the latest — including a potential guide to the Brewing system once the title is available on Game Pass. Do you have this cooperative mouse adventure on your radar yet? Let us know in the comments.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments and stay tuned to Scene Gamers for more updates!