Kernel Hearts Wiki

Kernel Hearts

Kernel Hearts is a 2026 co-op action RPG roguelike developed by Ephemera Games and published by Whitethorn Games. Playing as the android magical girls of the M.A.H.O.U. Unit, Fernet, Spika, Laika and Dolce, players climb the Tower of Babel, eliminate the Angels who rule a world drowning in ashes, and ultimately confront the god at its summit. Each run blends fast hack-and-slash combat with roguelike progression driven by the Sin Meter, which constantly raises enemy levels and introduces tougher foes, and MAHOU.OS chips that customize builds between runs. Its signature feature is the magical girl transformation, in which a unit harnesses the Kernel Hearts to assume an empowered form. It released worldwide on September 17, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store.

• M.A.H.O.U. Unit and Four Magical Girls: play as the android magical girls Fernet, Spika, Laika and Dolce of the M.A.H.O.U. Unit, a squad of super-powered agents acting to save a world drowning in ashes.
• Climbing the Tower of Babel: the roguelike run structure sends the unit up the Tower of Babel each cycle, eliminating Angels and ultimately seeking to dethrone and slay the god at its summit.
• Sin Meter: the signature risk system that climbs over time, steadily raising enemy levels and introducing tougher elite foes, forcing escalating pace, danger, and reward in every run.
• MAHOU.OS Chip Builds: roguelike customization in which players slot MAHOU.OS chips to tailor damage, survivability, and play style between runs, letting each member of the co-op team specialize.
• Magical Girl Transformation: by harnessing the Kernel Hearts, a unit can transform into a more powerful magical girl form, unlocking enhanced abilities at a key moment of a run.
• Elemental Weakness System: enemies and loadouts carry elemental affinities (such as fire-weak and ice-weak), rewarding players who match element against the opposition.
• Four-Player Co-op Roguelike Loop: a cooperative multiplayer loop that combines the escalating odds of Risk of Rain-style runs with the structure and build crafting of a Hades-like action game.