Mina the Hollower

I cant say I can recommend this game. There is a lot of good in it and some very good moments but overall I don't think the design is well executed. No map, I know what they were going for but the suboptimal and annoying level/area design is not good enough to not have a map. The combat of this game is not very polished, it is clunky to fight at close range I am not sure how to dodge/position/escape hits. Some people will like the game but make sure you are fine with sometimes overly punishing scenarios/level design/combat. I am looking forward to what Yacht Club does next, they are a good developer, Mina is just not one of their best work imo.

Mina the Hollower is one of the best games I’ve played in 2026. This game has it all: retro-inspired graphics, exploration, challenging combat, and a fantastic soundtrack. I also thoroughly enjoyed the story. The game will NOT hold your hand. You’ll have to work hard to map its enormous world in your head, as there’s no map provided. In a way, it reminded me of Dark Souls, as you navigate across multiple screens, unlock shortcuts, and gradually learn the layout of each area. Each zone feels very distinct, with its own enemies, soundtrack, and challenges. The final few zones are absolutely brutal and require very precise platforming, as well as good target prioritization during combat. Some bosses required me to die and restart multiple times, and I really enjoy games with a fair level of difficulty. Mina the Hollower definitely delivers on that front. The game also encourages you to find your own playstyle by giving you a wide variety of trinkets to experiment with during combat. If there’s one thing I enjoyed less, it’s the way New Game+ is handled. One of the main changes is that it reduces the number of checkpoints, making death much more punishing by forcing you to spend …

there is a bat chasing a mouse in my balcony right now

I feel like this developer understands how to make video games complex and challenging in the sense of classic gaming but I'm not sure they understand how to make them fun in the modern sense that respects your time. To be fair I haven't gotten far but everything about this game puts me off of it, and it doesn't feel rewarding in the way that a brutal soulslike is, for example. I'm going to give it some more time to gel with me but for all its novel ideas (and there are many) I don't really feel like I enjoy the game loop or the combat yet. That said, this game is made with some intention and craft. Positively, I can only say so far that this is a game for people who enjoy top-down Zelda/StarTropics-like combat+puzzles a lot and would like to see that concept pushed to an extreme. I honestly thought that would be me, but the result feels more masochistic than in any way satisfying so far.

is good

While initially similar to Link's Awakening, sharing similarities in concept and style, Mina the Hollower breaks away from the comparison by delivering an ever evolving experience that is deeply packed with secrets and oddities. This alone gives it a lot of personality as each new area is laid out with themes and challenges that make them stand out drastically from the others. To talk about this more would be to rob people of the surprise, fear and joy that comes with these discoveries. I am really glad I went in blind as finding these secrets or suddenly being faced with these challenges really cemented the game in my mind as a game that requires discussion. Multiple weapon types and trinkets lend to different playstyles but the host of modifiers offered lends to different play experiences, allowing you to make the game harder, easier or just make the game look and play in different ways. There is a lot of replayability here. Yacht Club games once again created a game that, much like Shovel Knight, is brimming with personality and charm that makes Mina stand out from it's peers. It may not come into the GOTY conversation but if you enjoyed Shovel Knight or a fan of the genre…