MBC Game Studio has announced 1001 Threads of Mizan, an action-adventure fantasy game set to explore the rich folklore of One Thousand and One Nights. The title aims to bring a distinct Middle-Eastern flavor to a gaming landscape often dominated by Western and Japanese influences. Players will step into the role of one of three distinct heroes tasked with thwarting an ancient Jinn's plan to merge the physical and spiritual realms.
The core gameplay loop involves battling supernatural forces and gargantuan bosses, either solo or in co-op. While drawing inspiration from established titles, 1001 Threads of Mizan seeks to forge its own identity. Elements reminiscent of Borderlands' cooperative structure and character progression with unique skill trees are present, alongside boss encounters that echo the scale of Shadow of the Colossus and Destiny raid bosses. The game's aesthetic blends a "magical technology" feel, akin to Final Fantasy, with a Middle-Eastern visual design.
Central to the game's unique approach is the magic carpet, which fundamentally alters the moment-to-moment gameplay. This mechanic allows players to seamlessly transition between ground and aerial combat, offering new tactical possibilities for evading enemy attacks and positioning for offense. The developers emphasize that utilizing the magic carpet is as integral to the experience as walking.
Boss battles are designed as multi-phase encounters against colossal foes. One preview featured a fight against the Jinn Nazjush, which involved destroying the boss's armor while dodging environmental hazards using the magic carpet. A subsequent phase required players to target specific weak points, in this case, eleven eyes on the boss's crown, within a time limit. While the mechanics themselves are not entirely novel, the verticality and mobility afforded by the magic carpet reportedly transform these encounters into a more engaging experience. Game Director Scott Lussier cited Destiny's raid bosses as a "north star" for the desired complexity in 1001 Threads' major boss fights, though with a smaller player count of three compared to Destiny's six, requiring less intense coordination.
Lussier indicated that the game will feature adjustable difficulty settings, though their exact implementation is still under development. Creative Director Lars Bonde suggested that higher difficulties might reduce in-game guidance, forcing players to deduce mechanics independently. The preview focused on the three-player co-op experience, but the developers confirmed that 1001 Threads of Mizan can be played solo, with battles scaling in complexity and enemy count based on the number of players. Lussier stated that the solo experience serves as the baseline for difficulty.
1001 Threads of Mizan is slated for release on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. A specific release date has not yet been announced.