Mina the Hollower

Burrow through dirt, whip foes, and equip trinkets to survive the cursed island's ever-darkening depths.

Last reviewed: July 12, 2026 Patched 3w ago

Released May 2026 Adventure / RPG

Mina's burrow-and-whip combat dethrones its Game Boy inspirations — essential for retro action fans.

9.1 /10

Mighty

Previously an Editor's pick

For you if

You enjoy a front-loaded difficulty that rewards persistence.
You appreciate pixel-art authenticity with modern smoothness.
You're a Yacht Club fan anxious for their next hit.

Not for you if

You hate games that don't explain mechanics upfront.
You need a hand-holding tutorial for the first few hours.
You dislike the Game Boy Color color palette.

What players love

The burrow-and-whip combat loop is the hook that genre veterans keep returning to.

What frustrates them

The initial difficulty spike is the biggest friction point for new players.

See the reviews behind this →

Latest patch

Patched 3 weeks ago

Version 1.0.6 [r148805]

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 →

Before You Play

Refreshed monthly

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

Mina the Hollower can be very unforgiving for newcomers, but you can ease the difficulty by studying the in-game manual from the options menu rather than relying on tutorials. Master the burrow as your primary defense—it's more reliable than your health bar. Collect bones (both currency and XP) from enemies, but be careful not to die with a full pocket or you'll lose progress. Plasma vials only heal as much as you've earned by fighting, so engage enemies regularly to refill.

Source: Polygon Beginner's Tips

Is Mina the Hollower fun solo, or is it better with friends?

Mina the Hollower is a single-player action-adventure game with no co-op or multiplayer. The entire experience is designed for one player, focusing on exploration, dungeons, and challenging combat. It plays like a retro Zelda title, so it's best enjoyed solo.

Source: Console Creatures Review

What is there to do after finishing Mina the Hollower?

Yes, Mina the Hollower has significant post-game content. New Game Plus offers seven cycles with increasingly difficult modifiers, and you can continue playing beyond NG+7 at maximum difficulty. This allows you to replay the entire game with new challenges and experiment with different builds.

Source: ScreenRant New Game Plus Guide

What do players love about Mina the Hollower that reviews underplayed?

Players rave about the sidequests, calling them the best of 2026 — they offer surprising depth, meaningful choices, and fleshed-out characters that go beyond typical retro homages. The game also excels at evoking genuine mystery and discovery, not just shallow nostalgia, which many reviews overlook in favor of its Zelda-inspired surface.

Source: Yahoo Tech Gaming

What should I know before starting Mina the Hollower?

Study the in-game manual in the options menu for essential tutorials instead of relying on pop-ups. Get the map early by going to the Hollowers' Guild after reaching Ossex; it can be upgraded to show collectibles. You can tackle the six generators in any order, so explore freely without worrying about a set path.

Source: Polygon beginner's guide