If you have ever dreamed of flying around on a broomstick and delivering packages to quirky island residents, Mika and The Witch’s Mountain is the game for you.
This cozy adventure from developer Chibig puts you in the shoes of Mika, an aspiring witch who gets tossed off the top of a mountain and has to work her way back up.
The game draws heavy inspiration from Kiki’s Delivery Service, and the vibes are just as charming as you would expect.
But even cozy games have their tricky moments. These Mika and The Witch’s Mountain tips will help you get the most out of your time on Mont Gaun.
Get Comfortable With the Broom Controls Early
The first thing you need to know is that flying in Mika and The Witch’s Mountain takes some getting used to. Your starting broom is basically held together with hopes and prayers, so do not expect to be soaring through the skies right away.
In the beginning, your broom only lets you glide close to the ground or water. You can gain a little extra height by pressing the jump button while airborne, which is surprisingly useful for clearing small obstacles.
The controls feel a bit floaty at first, but stick with it.
Once you get the hang of it, flying becomes genuinely relaxing.
Remember that you can dismount your broom at any time and run around on foot, which is sometimes easier than nailing a precise landing.
Be careful with the dive button. Pressing it while flying over water will dip your broom below the surface, which can damage water-sensitive packages.
Simply gliding over the surface of the ocean will not get your packages wet, so only dive when you actually need to.
Understand the Delivery Rating System
Deliveries are the core of the game, so understanding the rating system is essential. Every package you deliver gets rated with a colored stamp.
A green stamp means you delivered the package in perfect condition and earns you a coin.
A yellow stamp means the package took some damage but is still acceptable.
A red stamp means you failed the delivery.
Each package has hearts representing its health. Different packages have different conditions. Some cannot get wet, some cannot take physical damage, and some need to be delivered within a time limit.
Here is a tip that will save you a lot of frustration. If you mess up a delivery, hold the drop button to reset the package back to its original pickup location. This lets you start fresh instead of turning in a busted package.
Do not stress about getting a perfect score on every delivery.
The electricity bill and the spark plug are two deliveries where it is impossible to get a green stamp no matter what you do. That is completely normal.
Use Airstreams and Wind Currents to Your Advantage
Airstreams are your best friend in this game. These wind currents are scattered across Mont Gaun and act as a highway system for getting around the island.
Horizontal airstreams give you a burst of speed and momentum in the direction they are flowing.
Vertical airstreams launch you upward and are essential for reaching higher ground and elevated areas of the island.
Once you unlock the ability to ride airstreams with your second broom upgrade, take some time to learn where the major currents are.
Memorizing the airstream routes will make your deliveries significantly faster.
Later in the game, you will also discover magic orbs hidden around the island.
These orbs can be placed into ancient ruins, transforming them into catapults that launch Mika high into the air. Always be on the lookout for glowing orbs as you explore.
Upgrade Your Broom as Soon as You Can
Broom upgrades are tied to story progression. Each new “day” in the game brings a new broom from Allegra, the local craftswoman.
Each broom upgrade unlocks new abilities that expand where you can go.
The second broom lets you ride airstreams. The third broom gives you a boost ability for both speed and height, which is a game changer for reaching tricky spots.
Later brooms let you interact with ancient technology on the island and ride powerful wind currents that were previously too strong. Your carrying capacity also increases with each upgrade.
The key takeaway is to keep progressing through the main story to unlock new brooms.
The island progressively opens up as your broom improves, so do not waste time trying to reach places your current broom cannot get to.
Collect Napopo Statuettes While You Explore
As you fly around Mont Gaun, keep your eyes peeled for Napopo statuettes. These small colorful statues are hidden all over the island, with 100 of them in total.
You will find them on rooftops, cliff edges, towers, and all sorts of hard-to-reach spots. Some are easy to grab while others require upgraded brooms and creative flying.
Collecting Napopo statuettes is worth your time because you can trade them at the Offering Fountain for cosmetic rewards.
Edgar, Olagari’s crow, lets you purchase outfits, charms, and other customization options for Mika.
The best strategy is to grab statuettes while you are already out making deliveries.
If you spot one nearby while flying to a drop-off, take the quick detour. This way you build up your collection naturally.
Do not worry about finding all 100 before finishing the story.
You are free to keep exploring after the credits roll, and some statuettes require later broom upgrades to reach anyway.
Don’t Sleep on Side Deliveries and Lost Items
The main story deliveries are just the beginning. Mika and The Witch’s Mountain is packed with optional content that adds hours to your playtime and gives you more reasons to explore the island.
As you fly around, you will come across sparkling items lying on the ground.
These are lost belongings like kites, an ocarina, baby ostriches, and even a CRT television that can be picked up and returned to their rightful owners.
The game does not tell you exactly who each item belongs to.
You need to use context clues and talk to NPCs to figure out where each item should go.
There is also a mailbox terminal outside the delivery office that accepts four-digit codes.
Entering the code 0102 unlocks a new costume for Mika.
Entering 5505 reveals cat food and starts a side quest where you feed five cats around town.
The code 0403 unlocks a special Kickstarter skin and broom trail.
These side deliveries and hidden quests flesh out the characters and stories, so they are well worth pursuing for the full experience.
Pay Attention to NPCs and Check Your Map Often
One thing that can catch beginners off guard is that NPCs move around the island as the story progresses.
Someone who was standing in the town square yesterday might be hanging out at the beach today.
Your delivery card gives you a general area for each delivery, but no exact marker. Check the map frequently and sometimes fly around a highlighted area to find the person you need.
Make a habit of talking to every NPC you come across. Many side quests and optional deliveries only trigger after specific conversations.
Throughout the story, you will be given choices about giving away Mika’s witchy belongings. If you want the “Mika the Teenage Witch” achievement, always choose to give away the witchy items whenever the option appears.
Take Your Time and Explore Everything
Here is the most important tip for beginners: there is no rush.
The game is designed to be relaxing, and most deliveries have no time pressure at all.
Even the timed deliveries are generous. A 45-second ice cream delivery gives you more than enough time to reach your destination if you know where you are going.
The main story takes roughly five to six hours to complete, but there is plenty of post-game content. After rolling credits, you can continue exploring to find every collectible and finish any side quests you missed.
While exploring, keep an eye out for Simiente Jars.
To break them open, fly high above them and drop down on top with enough force.
Dismounting your broom while airborne and falling onto the jar does the trick. Each jar contains a tarot card featuring one of the island’s characters.
There are also broom trail statues hidden in hard-to-reach spots. Interacting with these statues unlocks new visual trails for your broom, adding effects like rainbows and flowers to your flight path.
And do not forget to pet the dog in Orilla Town for the “Good Boy” achievement.
You can also land on the hay bale at the farm for “Leap of Faith” and run over the kid’s sand castle on the beach for another hidden achievement.
Go Have Fun on Mont Gaun
Mika and The Witch’s Mountain is the kind of game that rewards curiosity and patience. The island of Mont Gaun is bursting with secrets and charming characters waiting to be discovered.
Do not stress about doing everything perfectly.
Enjoy the broom flying, soak in the gorgeous scenery, and let the cozy vibes carry you through.
Now grab your broom and get delivering!
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Images in this article are from the Mika and The Witch’s Mountain page on Steam and used under Fair Use.