Hela Is at Steam Next Fest!
Windup
Steam Next Fest: October 2026 is live from October 19 to October 26, and Hela: of Mice & Magic is joining the celebration!
Step into a self-contained little adventure created especially for the demo. Explore a playful corner of Hela’s Northern Sweden-inspired world, restore the witch’s protective magic, solve puzzles with your Froggy backpack, and find your way home.
Play solo or share the journey with a friend in local split-screen co-op. The demo is also playable on Steam Deck.
Watch a Special Demo Playthrough
Want a few ideas before setting out or need a gentle nudge toward something you may have missed?
Yulia, Community Manager at Windup Games, has put together a special demo playthrough that you can watch on our Steam page throughout the festival.
Follow along as she explores, experiments, solves puzzles, and uncovers some of the demo’s smaller surprises.
Think You've Seen Everything?
Finding your way home is only one part of the adventure. Hela rewards curiosity, experimentation, and the occasional goofy idea.
If you hurried along the main path, consider this your invitation to wander back in. Here are a few little hints:
- A Ritual for One? Who says you need a friend to complete a ritual?
- Shades in Mid-Air: What happens if you create a Shade while gliding?
- Chain That Glimmer: Sometimes a little coordination is all it takes.
- Hitch a Ride: Some of the forest’s residents can help you reach unexpected places.
- The Trinket Hunt: How many hidden trinkets have you found?
- Every Corner Has a Story: Six story pieces are hidden throughout the demo. Have you uncovered them all?
Take your time, look a little closer, and don’t be afraid to experiment. There may still be more waiting just off the beaten path.
Playing with a Controller? Check Out the Button Mapping!
The Hela Demo currently supports the Xbox controller layout, but if you're playing with a PlayStation 5 DualSense controller, you can enjoy the adventure too!
To help you find your way around, we've prepared a handy button mapping guide for both Xbox and PS5 controllers. Check out the images below to see which buttons to use!
Play the demo during Steam Next Fest and add Hela: of Mice & Magic to your wishlist ahead of its December 1, 2026 release.
[Share your demo feedback]
[Report a bug]
Happy exploring, little mice!
This announcement was originally published by Windup on Steam on Oct 19, 2026.
Open the original on Steam