1001 Threads of Mizan Soars (And Not Just Because Of The Flying Carpets)

Published Sep 1, 2026, 5:00 PM EDT Brandon Zachary is a Lead Writer for Screen Rant's New Movie Team. He also writes or has written for Comicbook.com, CBR, That Hashtag Show, Just Watch, and TVBrittanyF. Brandon is an Emerging Screenwriters Semi-Finalist, co-writer of a Screencraft Quarter-Finalist, a seasoned on-screen interviewer, and a MASSIVE nerd. You can reach him at bs.zachary@gmail.com The world of gaming can often feel dominated by established franchises, especially in the RPG space. The likes of Super Mario Bros., Call of Duty, or Halo have dominated the industry for decades. That's what makes new titles in the AAA space so inherently exciting, especially when they take a genuine risk in presentation or execution, or enhance the scope of what RPGs can be. Take 1001 Threads of Mizan, for example. A new world crafted by a team of experienced developers from across the industry, the game takes cues from other action games but carves out its own path forward thanks to a massive world, strong character design, and a thematic focus that recalls some of the world's most famous folklore. Screen Rant got the chance to attend an early preview of 1001 Threads of Mizan before it was revealed at Gamescom 2026, where we got to get some hands-on time with the game. We left very impressed with the experience, and not just because it finally fulfilled all those carpet ride dreams we've had since we saw Aladdin as a kid. 1001 Threads Of Mizan Is A Beautiful (And A Faraway) Place The brainchild of dozens of experienced game developers from across the industry, 1001 Threads of Mizan is an impressive first showing from the newly minted developer MBC Game Studio. Inspired by the mythology and folk tales of the immortal One Thousand and One Nights, 1001 Threads of Mizan imagines a setting where the Jinn and humanity once lived side by side. Together, they created amazing wonders and phenomenal technology. However, terrified of the destructive potential of their magical brethren, the humans of old sealed the Jinn away in another plane of existence. Now, it's up to three heroes -- Yusra the Relic Hunter Malik the Warrior, and Sufyan the Pirate -- to hold the line and fight back against the corrupted Jinn breaking back into the world. The landscapes of 10001 Threads of Mizan are gorgeously rendered, a desert of possibility that feels constantly on the edge of opening up to a whole new world. While the hordes of mystical soldiers can feel repetitive, that expansive sense of natural growth comes to life with the mini-bosses and bosses, who are massive, creatively designed, and deeply memorable. Stick And Move Has Never Been So Much Fun The gameplay for 1001 is a fast-paced approach to third-person combat that benefits from its unique elements. Designed as a game that can easily shift from a solo experience to multiplayer, 1001 Threads features three distinct approaches that share enough fundamentals to be easily adaptable if players want to hop between the three player types. Yusra uses a bow for ranged attacks, Malik is an up-close brawler, and Sufyan uses a distinctive whip/blade to string together flashy moves. The combat is honestly similar to Control: Resonant​​​​​, with a fluidity that serves the action well while keeping players on their toes thanks to a focus on dodging, counters, and maneuverability. The latter is especially prevalent in the game's approach to traversal. The game quickly introduces the idea of Jinn technology such as magic carpets, which allow people to soar through the sky and move at breakneck speeds. The carpet is the key draw of the game, with an emphasis on use and a flexibility in capability that recalls the web-swinging from Marvel's Spider-Man. It's a natural means of exploration and adventure, giving players plenty of reason to venture into the unknown. It's also a key aspect of combat, providing players with means of evading danger, readjusting around enemies, or staging a sudden attack. Especially when enemies become massive, the carpet becomes a crucial tool that keeps players shifting strategies. When It's Pushing The Player, 1001 Threads of Mizan Soars 1001 Threads of Mizan is a lot of fun to play, even if it does sometimes feel like it's messing around with established formulas instead of necessarily innovating something new. The actual combat is quick-paced and entertaining, even when the individual minions begin to blend together. The scope and scale of the surrounding world lends itself well to facing off with hordes of monsters, especially once massive bosses come into play. During a gameplay presentation that Screen Rant attended, these fights against corrupted mystical figures provided terrific challenges and engaging duels that push players to approach the duels from different angles. Simply moving around enemies and trying to take them down isn't enough, with an emphasis on quick changes in attack and a focus on adaptive strategies serving as the key to victory. Actually adjusting and adapting to the challenges as they emerge is key, as there is no easy win condition for players to utilize if they want to survive. The carpet is the best example of this, providing players a means of retreat and advance that flows naturally with long strings of attacks, quick flurries of dodges, or even just trying to race around the world. If 1001 Threads of Mizan can fill out its massive world with enough engrossing challenges to match the boss battles, then MBC Game Studio might be onto something truly great.