At Gamescom 2026, a secret was unveiled that sent shockwaves through the gaming world. “The greatest secret ever kept,” as game director Scott Lussier put it in our exclusive interview. The reveal trailer for 1001: Threads of Mizan during Opening Night Live left everyone stunned. An AAA action-adventure game inspired by Arabian Nights, a setting rarely explored in video games? We were instantly hooked.
A Glimpse into the World of Mizan
While the initial trailer offered a tantalizing glimpse, it revealed little about the game’s genre or structure. Fortunately, we had the opportunity to play a 15-minute demo behind closed doors, and Lussier generously explained the core gameplay loop. What emerged was a vision of a single-player action adventure that truly shines with cooperative play.
“We’re building an action adventure game that gets better with your friends,” Lussier explained. “We’re weaving the world of Arabian Nights into our own creation, offering flying carpets, colossal enemies, and shared stories.”
In our demo, we leaped from a cliff on magic carpets, soaring through a rocky desert while battling waves of enemies. The combat system is reminiscent of the Arkham series: fast-paced, auto-targeting, with options for light and heavy attacks, blocks, and well-timed parries. It’s familiar territory, but with a unique twist: flight combat.
Image: MBC Game Studios
Image: MBC Game Studios
Image: MBC Game Studios
Image: MBC Game Studios
Image: MBC Game Studios
Image: MBC Game Studios
Image: MBC Game Studios
Image: MBC Game StudiosAfter taking down a mini-boss known as the Sand Knight, requiring coordinated teamwork to dodge his attacks and exploit openings, we were thrust into a boss fight against a Jinn named Nazjush. Lussier wasn’t kidding when he said Mizan features colossal enemies. Nazjush was a four-armed god, dwarfing us in size, adorned with a headpiece featuring 11 blinking eyeballs. She unleashed projectiles that we dodged mid-air, before using cursed magic to weaken her stamina. Eventually, she slumped against the edge of our platform, revealing vulnerable eyeballs ripe for destruction. It was an unforgettable spectacle, and if every main boss fight in Mizan is half as memorable, this will be a must-play title.
Non-Linear Exploration and Hidden Realms
While each mission or level in Mizan follows a linear path, the order in which you tackle them is entirely up to you. “You can tackle bosses in whatever order you prefer,” Lussier explained. “Besides the main boss, of course; there are prerequisites you need to fulfill before facing him. But when it comes to exploration, feel free to spend hours racing, solving puzzles, or delving into tombs.”
Mizan isn’t an open-world game in the traditional sense, but it offers plenty of optional activities spun off from its central hub world. Lussier also spoke about a fascinating concept: the Djinn Realm, described as an “unseen world” accessible through a “spiritual journey.” This realm contains vaults similar to trials found in Breath of the Wild: puzzle-based challenges and combat encounters that contribute to overall progression.
Lussier also highlighted the games that inspired Mizan’s movement system. “When it comes to the feel of movement, it’s hard not to mention Insomniac’s Spider-Man and how they nailed the feeling of swinging through the city. We wanted to ensure our carpets delivered a similar sense of freedom, even though the mechanics are fundamentally different.”
Image: MBC Game Studios
Image: MBC Game Studios
Image: MBC Game StudiosDrawing Inspiration from Folklore
Beyond movement, Mizan’s inspiration extends to its regional influences. Lussier emphasized the importance of games that have successfully captured the essence of specific cultures. “Games like The Witcher really put Eastern European folklore on the map, showcasing what that region is all about. Then there’s Black Myth: Wukong, which enriched Chinese mythology for a new generation. Even Ghost of Tsushima, despite not being strictly folklore, offered such a beautiful and immersive experience that you truly felt the heart of what it means to be a samurai.”
Image: MBC Game Studios
Image: MBC Game Studios
Image: MBC Game Studios
Image: MBC Game Studios
Image: MBC Game Studios
1001: Threads of Mizan doesn’t have a release date yet, but our brief demo left us incredibly excited. Lussier mentioned that the team is still “actively building the world” and needs time to tell the story they envision. They plan to explore diverse environments, including lost cities, thriving civilizations, and even “corrupted cities overtaken by darkness.” We eagerly await further updates on this promising title.
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