Mina the Hollower

An action-adventure RPG where you burrow through terrain to ambush monsters, lash foes with your trusty whip Nightstar, and gear up with sidearms and trinkets.

Updated 19m ago

Released May 2026 Adventure / RPG

Mina’s burrowing hook and tight level design earn it a buy for retro Zelda fans craving a modern classic.

For you if

You loved top-down Zelda dungeons and want more tight, secret-filled explorations.
You enjoy tough but fair difficulty that rewards learning enemy patterns and tool use.
You appreciate 8-bit pixel art with smooth 60fps and a gothic atmosphere.

Not for you if

You dislike pixelated aesthetics or find retro visuals a barrier to immersion.
You need clear tutorials and objective markers to guide your path.
You expect a deep narrative with character development like Shovel Knight.

What players love

Level design and secret-hunting are the draw for long-time players, each area hiding trinkets that reward thorough exploration.

What frustrates them

Early-game enemy knockback punishes recklessness until players master burrowing and the hammer tool.

See the reviews behind this →

What critics say

5/5Eurogamer
Explore every inch of a cursed island in an adventure that takes inspiration from the greats.
Christian Donlan Read review →
9/10GameSpot
Shovel Knight was a well-deserved successful debut for Yacht Club. Mina the Hollower may be its masterpiece.
Steve Watts Read review →
90/100PC Gamer
Mina is a gloriously gothic combination of ferocious combat and beautiful scenery, with enough secrets and modifiers to keep the game fresh and fun for a very long time.
Kerry Brunskill Read review →

Community pulse

Sentiment trending downUpdated 18h ago

Loved8

Retro design channels Zelda and Castlevania

World density keeps exploration engaging

Mina the Hollower [REVIEW] - Digging Up a Masterpiece - Use a Potion!useapotion.com6d ago

Mixed1

Secret ending demands extreme patience

Mina the Hollower has a secret ending, but getting there is a brutal exercise…X2d ago

Frustrated1

Combat disappoints relative to rest of game

finished Mina the Hollower! overall, 7.5 to 8/10. the game's biggest…X2d ago

What's happening now

Updated 19m ago

Mina the Hollower sells 500k copies in under two weeks, Yacht Club Games celebrates.

Sold 500k copies in less than two weeks
Yacht Club Games teases more content
Launch success after long development silence

Jun 9, 2026NewsEurogamer
Mina the Hollower sells 500,000 copies in less than two weeks

Before You Play

Refreshed 2 days ago

Is Mina the Hollower beginner-friendly for someone new to this kind of game?

Mina the Hollower is hard but fair, designed for everyone to enjoy despite its brutality. It offers a retro open-world with all tools available from the start, but no drawn-out tutorial—you learn by dying. Key beginner tips: burrowing is your real defense (not health), bones serve as both currency and XP, and plasma vials only heal as much as you've earned. Numerous beginner guides are available to help new players.

Source: Mobalytics Beginner Guide

Can you play Mina the Hollower with friends, or is it a solo game?

Mina the Hollower is a single-player action-adventure game with no co-op or multiplayer modes. It's designed for solo play, focusing on exploration, combat, and Souls-like mechanics. There is no option to play with friends.

Source: The Gaming Outsider PC Review

Does Mina the Hollower have a lot of content after beating the main story?

Yes. After the main story, Mina the Hollower offers New Game Plus (NG+) cycles up to NG+7, which change enemy placement and reduce save points, creating a fresh challenge. Completionists can also aim for 100% completion, including all secrets and optional bosses, which adds 10–20 extra hours. Combined, post-story gameplay can total over 100 hours.

Source: NerdSchalk Guide

What do players appreciate in Mina the Hollower that reviews often overlook?

Players love that despite its souls-like difficulty, the game remains accessible thanks to forgiving checkpoint placement and clear telegraphing of enemy attacks (GameSpot). The sense of discovery is genuine, not just nostalgic—the world feels mysterious and rewards curiosity instead of relying on retro callbacks (Kotaku). Ars Technica highlights how mobility upgrades like the Pegasus Boots and Roc's Feather make exploration feel kinetic and meaningful, a detail some reviews skip.

Source: GameSpot

What are the most important tips for starting Mina the Hollower?

Treat bones as both money and experience—dying loses them, so spend often at the Emporium. Your burrow is your primary defense; use it to dodge and reposition rather than tanking hits. Upgrade your starting whip instead of buying new weapons, and always carry kears (consumables) for healing or buffs. Visit the Hollowers' Guild early to get the map, which reveals collectible locations.

Source: GameSpot Beginner's Guide