Summary
- Cozy co-op adventure in a magical world inspired by northern Sweden.
- Innovative Shade System lets solo players tackle puzzles and traversal challenges designed for multiple characters
- Launching in 2026 on Xbox Series X|S.
Hela is a cozy co-op adventure where you play as a tiny mouse on a heartfelt mission to help a kind witch and the land she cares for. Explore freely, solve creative puzzles, and use teamwork—or the clever Shade System—to find the small wonders tucked throughout the world.
Welcome to the World of Hela
Somewhere in the far north of Sweden, beyond the fjords, lies the tranquil world of Hela, a place inspired by the untamed beauty of Norrland. Here, you’ll wander through lush woodlands, flower-dotted meadows, and quiet wetlands, all watched over by an old and kind witch who has long cared for every living thing—plants, animals, and people alike.
But even witches grow weary. After so many years of caring for others, her strength has begun to fade. To continue looking after the land and its tiny (and not-so-tiny) inhabitants, she now turns to her most loyal helpers: brave, curious field mice, each carrying a small, magical frog-shaped backpack gifted by the witch herself.
These little familiars are full of heart and wonder, eager to lend a paw to anyone in need.
A Big World for a Small Hero
In Hela, you’ll play as one of these tiny familiars — a small hero in a big, enchanting world. You’ll explore far and wide, from the forest floor to treetop canopies and underground burrows, listening to the needs of the local folk and helping them in small but meaningful ways.
As the witch’s trusted emissary, you’ll learn to brew potions in her cozy cottage, following each recipe step by step to bring the magic to life.
Throughout your journey, you’ll have access to a range of abilities — some fittingly mouse-like, such as running and climbing, and others tied to your magical backpack: gliding, swinging, plunging, pulling, and even creating Shades.
The world of Hela is designed as a giant playground filled with interactive objects just waiting for you to experiment with and explore. You can enjoy the full adventure on your own or team up with friends through two-player split-screen co-op or online multiplayer for up to four players.
The Shade System: Solo, But Never Alone
While many puzzles and challenges in Hela are built for teamwork, solo players will never have to face challenges by themselves. Thanks to the unique Shade System, you can create up to three spectral copies of your character, each one repeating the exact action you were performing when it was created.
If you’re playing solo, you can summon three Shades. If you’re playing with one friend, you can create two more — always up to a total of four characters.
These Shades aren’t AI companions. They act as extensions of yourself, repeating the action you imprinted onto them. You can switch between all characters freely, allowing you to tackle puzzles and traversal challenges designed for multiple players, even when playing alone.
Let’s Work Together
When playing solo, you can summon up to three Shades to assist you with multipart puzzles or platforming challenges. They’ll stay where you placed them for as long as you need, allowing you to orchestrate complex interactions that would otherwise require multiple players.
Building Bridges
Use your lasso to connect to a Shade just like you would to another player, and create a bridge you can walk or bounce across. Perfect for reaching high ledges and hidden paths.
I’ll Be Your Anchor
If a Shade is positioned higher up, it can serve as an anchor. Grab onto its lasso to pull yourself upward, or swing from it to reach new areas.
Let Me Hold That for You
Need to move an item onto a ledge or branch? Place one Shade, so the item hangs from their lasso, then grab it from another angle to guide it around obstacles.
Go Even Further
Your magical backpack lets you glide through the air. Mid-flight, you can create a Shade that continues gliding forward — then latch onto them to carry your journey even farther. It’s a clever trick for reaching hidden corners of the world and uncovering new discoveries.
A Helping Paw
Shades can also serve as makeshift checkpoints. If you fall or miss a jump, simply switch to a Shade you left behind and keep going, no restart required.
Tools of the Forest
Across the forests and farms of Hela, you’ll find tools meant for teamwork — like catapults. Typically, one player sits in the scoop while another pulls the rope and launches them into the air. With Shades, you can run the entire sequence yourself: place a Shade in the scoop, pull the rope, release, then quickly switch control and enjoy the flight yourself.
Made for Every Kind of Player
These moments are just a glimpse of how the Shade System opens up the world of Hela. Designed for creativity, flexibility, and teamwork, it gives every player the tools to explore and experiment freely.
Whether you’re navigating the forest in quiet solitude or teaming up with friends, Hela invites you to follow your curiosity, take things at your own pace, and enjoy the simple magic of helping others.
Hela is set to launch in 2026 as a multiplatform title, including Xbox Series X|S.
Wislhist Hela today!
Hela: of Mice & Magic
Knights Peak
