With the large platformer “Shovel Knight,” developer Yacht Membership Video games cemented itself as a legendary indie studio. Its second sport, “Mina the Hollower,” is lastly right here after years of “Shovel Knight” expansions and spin-offs. What I actually admire about “Mina the Hollower” is that it’s an extremely totally different sport than “Shovel Knight”. Whereas the latter was a platformer impressed by the NES period, the previous is an action-adventure that seems like a “Zelda” sport on the Sport Boy Coloration.
“Mina the Hollower” follows our eponymous protagonist, Mina, a genius mouse whose innovations have introduced prosperity to Ossex, the lone main metropolis in Tanebrous Isle. Certainly one of her creations, the Spark Turbines, have shut down and he or she goes on a journey to revive the seven mills scattered all through the island. Whereas well-intentioned, she slowly learns that her mills could be used for nefarious functions that she should uncover. The story is simple and units a strong basis and incentive for Mina to discover Tanebrous Isle.
The assorted totally different areas across the island are splendidly numerous, from the sandy shores of Bone Seaside to the icy tundras of Coltrane Peak, every setting is graphically pushed to its limits whereas nonetheless strictly sticking with the pixel design. The best way the sport makes use of colours retains the journey visually attention-grabbing.
Exploration in Tanebrous is a little more open-ended too. True to its retro roots, the sport doesn’t have any goal markers like fashionable video games do, so that you’ll have to depend on your instincts to determine what to do subsequent or how one can attain a sure area. I want there was a bit extra hand-holding on this regard, however actually I applaud “Mina the Hollower” for sticking with its weapons right here. Exploration is rewarding too, as you’ll be capable to discover upgrades resembling with the ability to maintain extra therapeutic vials, which may enhance your survivability.
What actually makes the world of “Mina the Hollower” actually alive is the hustle and bustle of Ossex, which acts as your central hub. Its residents continually transfer round, finishing up their days by working outlets or just simply kicking objects down the road. It makes Mina’s solo journey much less lonely.
You’ll be able to decide from a number of totally different weapons, resembling her whip, in addition to daggers and hammers. All of them really feel radically totally different. The whip lets Mina hit enemies safely from a distance, however can take a bit longer to return out versus the daggers, that are close to instantaneous however require her to be shut up. There’s at all times a commerce off to utilizing sure weapons over others, so decide one that most closely fits your personal playstyle.
Moreover, you’ll be able to customise Mina additional by equipping totally different trinkets, which increase her with passive skills. The Proto Spark offers Mina a second lease on life ought to she fall, whereas Regular Sneakers lets her transfer usually on terrain—she gained’t slip on ice and shallow water gained’t gradual her down. It’s a good way so as to add some mild RPG parts to boost the gameplay.
Whereas many motion journey video games let gamers roll or dodge assaults, Mina takes a novel method. She will be able to burrow underground for a short while to keep away from enemies and their strikes. Nonetheless, Mina has to first do a brief soar earlier than going underground, so that you’ll need to take that under consideration when timing your burrows. The commerce off right here is that Mina’s invincibility frames final significantly longer. This lets you reposition Mina with a higher diploma of freedom than a easy dodge would do. Admittedly, this took me some time to get used to, however as soon as I acquired the grasp of burrowing, I cherished how briskly and agile it made Mina really feel.
Nonetheless, one draw back to the 2D-inspired graphics is that it’s typically onerous to evaluate distances. Throughout boss fights, I might burrow underground, and attempt to pop up behind the boss. As an alternative, I would seem proper on high of them, and it’s a irritating situation since merely touching enemies inflicts injury onto you.
Platforming is a bit tough too, however there are many quality-of-life mechanics that make judging soar distances simpler. For instance, Mina’s shadow will at all times seem, visually guiding your eyes on the place to land.
“Mina the Hollower” isn’t a simple sport by any stretch of the creativeness. The bosses hit onerous as in the event that they had been in a Soulslike sport and also you’ll need to be taught their assault patterns with a purpose to succeed. You may also gather Bones which can be used as each forex to purchase objects like vials to heal or new trinkets, in addition to act as EXP to degree up Mina’s parameters resembling assault and protection.
The Soulslike comparisons don’t finish there! Dying will trigger Mina to drop a “Spark” and he or she has to get well it earlier than dying once more, in any other case she’ll lose the entire Bones presently in her possession. So there’s a relentless stability of attempting to remain alive whereas gathering sufficient Bones. This pressure forces you to be extra cautious when exploring and fascinating with enemies, however in the end results in an intensely satisfying feeling if you do succeed or attain the following checkpoint to regroup and take a breather.
The sport additionally has a bevy of modifiers you’ll be able to activate and off if the default expertise is just too onerous. You’ll be able to activate settings like infinite well being so that you by no means die, and even crank up the problem with Mina taking 3 times as a lot injury as standard. It additionally tells you whether or not enabling a sure modifier will disable the power to unlock Achievements/Trophies in your platform. That approach, you gained’t be capable to cheat your technique to 100% completion.
“Mina the Hollower” is one other daring retro-inspired journey with rewarding exploration, difficult fight, and a trendy presentation. Regardless of just a few frustrations with depth notion and a few aimlessness with story development, its creative gameplay mechanics and thrilling world makes it among the best video games of 2026.
Yacht Membership Video games supplied a PC overview copy of this title. It launches on Could 29 for PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Swap, Swap 2, and Xbox Collection X|S.
