Mina the Hollower
Most streamers rate Mina the Hollower a must-play.
4 streamer verdicts· Released 2026-05-29Independent creators only · sponsored coverage never counts
Streamer Verdicts
4 displayed
Our analysis
Yacht Club Games successfully delivers a retro-styled masterpiece blending Zelda and Castlevania influences. An intricate, challenging yet accessible adventure with excellent music, strong handheld performance, and robust accessibility options.
Our analysis
An expertly crafted old-school Zelda-style game with modern sensibilities, featuring brilliant level design, engaging combat mechanics that blend Zelda and Souls influences, and countless optional secrets that reward exploration and player agency.
Our analysis
Mina the Hollower is a polished and confident action-adventure game that, despite not being a true Metroidvania, offers excellent combat, tight platforming, and enjoyable exploration that will appeal to Metroidvania fans and action-adventure enthusiasts alike.
Our analysis
An excellent Game Boy-style action-adventure that successfully merges Metroidvania exploration with intense Souls-inspired combat. The reviewer praises its unique mechanics, thoughtful pixel art design, and clever level design, strongly recommending it to retro game fans despite some early difficulty balance issues.
About
- Released
- 2026-05-29
- Genre
- Platform, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Creator Mentions · 10
Arlo😐 mixed
WatchOur analysis
Arlo praises Mina the Hollower as an exceptional indie game that successfully blends classic 2D Zelda gameplay with Soulslike mechanics. He considers it a must-have for fans of the genre and a worthy follow-up to Shovel Knight, highlighting its dense world design, excellent level design, and thoughtful implementation.
Second Wind👍 positive
WatchOur analysis
Nick enthusiastically praises the game's map design and gameplay loop, with no explicit numeric score stated. The game impresses with its level design and he plans to write design essays about it.
Game Informer😐 mixed
WatchOur analysis
Mina the Hollower is a refined throwback that successfully blends classic game design inspiration (Zelda and Dark Souls) with thoughtful contemporary game design. The dense world, compelling hollowing mechanic, strategic trinket system, and excellent story create an engaging experience, despite some combat and platforming frustrations.
- GGamingBolt👍 positiveWatch
Our analysis
A mostly well-designed retro action adventure with excellent presentation, charming moments, and fun bosses, but held back by tedious level design, an annoying healing system, and excessive grinding requirements.
- II Dream of Indie Games😐 mixedWatch
Our analysis
A beautifully crafted retro action-adventure with great value and content, but plagued by overly difficult combat, imprecise platforming mechanics, and cryptic exploration that frustrated the creator multiple times.
- 깐깐👍 positiveWatch
Our analysis
Mina the Hollower successfully blends classic game design foundations with unique identity through its innovative digging mechanics and charming presentation. The game offers impressive visuals, excellent music, engaging combat, and generous accessibility options that make it accessible to players of all skill levels.
- BBacklog Battle😐 mixedWatch
Our analysis
Mina the Hollower is one of the best games of 2026, seamlessly blending Souls-like, Zelda-like, and Castlevania influences through clever weapon-choice mechanics and the innovative burrowing system that defines its gameplay.
- TThe Singleplayer Squad😐 mixedWatch
Our analysis
Mina the Hollower is a masterfully crafted indie game by Yacht Club Games that brings retro Game Boy Color aesthetics and Castlevania-inspired gameplay to life with exceptional polish and creative mechanics like burrowing that fundamentally change how players approach combat and exploration.
- Aarhn.eu😐 mixedWatch
Our analysis
A masterfully crafted retro-inspired game that perfectly idealizes classic Zelda gameplay with modern polish, deep customization systems, and rewarding exploration. The reviewer considers it the defining retro game of its generation despite a challenging difficulty curve.
- NNautilus😐 mixedWatch
Our analysis
An absolutely fantastic and magical game that blends Zelda and Souls-like mechanics into a unique, exploration-focused experience. One of the best games of 2026 so far.
