Hela mixes co-op and solo play with Shades, set for 2026 launch

Table of Content

Hela, a cozy co-op adventure inspired by the far north of Sweden, is slated to arrive in 2026 as a multiplatform release that includes Xbox Series X|S. Players become tiny mouse familiars tasked with helping a kind yet weary witch care for her lands. The world invites freeform exploration, potion brewing, and problem-solving across forests, meadows, and wetlands. Its standout feature – the Shade System – allows solo players to tackle puzzles designed for multiple characters by conjuring spectral copies that repeat recorded actions.

A northern world built for a small hero

Set beyond fjords in a land shaped by the wild beauty of Norrland, Hela casts you as one of the witch’s mouse assistants, each carrying a frog-shaped magical backpack. You will roam from forest floors to treetops and burrows, listening to local needs and lending a paw where it counts. Back at the witch’s cottage, potion brewing follows step-by-step recipes, anchoring the game’s gentle loop of exploration and crafting.

Co-op or solo – how the Shade System works

Many of Hela’s traversal and puzzle sequences are engineered for teamwork, but playing alone does not mean missing out. Solo players can summon up to three Shades – spectral copies that repeat the exact action performed at the moment they were created. These Shades are not AI companions; they act as extensions of your inputs, and you can switch between all active characters freely. In multiplayer, the system scales – for example, with one friend you can create two additional Shades, maintaining a total of up to four characters.

Traversal and puzzle examples

The Shade System supports a wide range of interactions, turning complex, multi-step sequences into manageable solo solutions while preserving the spirit of cooperation. Examples highlighted by the developers include:

• Building bridges – Lasso a Shade as you would another player to form a walkable or bouncy line to new ledges.
• Anchoring and swinging – Position a Shade on higher ground to pull yourself up or swing into hard-to-reach areas.
• Guiding objects – Hang an item from one Shade’s lasso, then reposition it from another angle to navigate obstacles.
• Extended gliding – Create a Shade mid-flight that continues gliding forward, then latch on to stretch your aerial path.
• Makeshift checkpoints – Leave a Shade behind and swap to it after a fall, avoiding restarts.
• Team tools, solo – Operate devices like catapults alone by placing a Shade in the scoop, pulling the rope, and switching at the right moment.

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Shade interactions at a glance – quick reference

The table below summarizes typical Shade-enabled actions and how many characters they commonly involve. It is a snapshot of examples described by the studio and illustrates the system’s flexibility.

Abilities, modes, and scale

Your mouse has familiar platforming abilities – running and climbing – supported by the magical backpack for gliding, swinging, plunging, pulling, and creating Shades. The world is framed as a large, interactive playground, encouraging experimentation with objects and systems. You can play alone, in 2-player split-screen, or via online multiplayer for up to four players.

Release timing and platforms

Hela is planned for release in 2026 as a multiplatform title, including Xbox Series X|S. Further platform specifics and exact dates have not been detailed in the official announcement.

Why it matters for players

Hela’s Shade System reframes co-op design so that solo players can still enjoy multi-character puzzles without compromise. For anyone who likes serene exploration with systemic depth, it suggests a flexible approach – play at your pace, alone or with friends – while keeping traversal and problem-solving at the heart of the adventure.