Mina the Hollower Reviews
The game offers one of the best exploration systems I've experienced in 2D action-adventure games.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Mina the Hollower is a chilling action-adventure game that combines classic gameplay with an 8-bit aesthetic in the style of the Game Boy Color, adapted to modern times.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Mina the Hollower is the whole Game Boy Color experience, perfected, modernized, and elevated.
Mina the Hollower is a splendid tribute not only to a specific era of the past, but also to an approach to video games that is becoming increasingly rare these days. Ossex and its surroundings exude character from every pore thanks to a mix of absurd personalities, bizarre dialogue and unexpected situations, presented to the player through a truly remarkable layering of quests, activities and events. The gameplay follows this same formula, offering a combat system that is mechanically simple yet effective, and a platforming element that evolves over time with an endless array of ideas and movement mechanics that are varied and increasingly unique.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Mina the Hollower blends gothic atmosphere, expressive movement, clever customisation, and meaningful player freedom into one of the most rewarding indie adventures in years. Its minor frictions are easily outweighed by its charm, craft, and replayable design, ingredients that make for a modern masterpiece.
An almost perfect retro adventure with a compelling story, cute characters, and incredibly captivating gameplay.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Mina the Hollower is a sharp, stylish adventure that blends retro charm with modern precision, delivering a journey that feels both familiar and fresh. Its tight combat, clever progression and gothic atmosphere kept me hooked from start to finish, and even with a few navigation frustrations, the overall experience shines far brighter than its 8‑bit roots suggest.
Mina the Hollower delivers a standout indie experience, blending classic Zelda-style exploration with challenging Souls-inspired combat. Packed with secrets and striking retro-inspired visuals, it marks another strong release from Yacht Club Games and a serious contender in this year's awards.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Mina the Hollower brings together a comprehensive collection of mechanical influences and visual styles to craft an engrossing, singular 8-bit adventure that delights as much as it innovates.
Having moved from 2D platformer to top-down adventure game, Yacht Club Games has gone from strength to strength to deliver a game that has completely taken over my spare time, and keeps dragging me back to explore more of The Tenebrous Isle. Make no mistake, Mina The Hollower is no hollow victory, it's something truly special.
Mina the Hollower is an absolute triumph, with the brilliant world design, exciting combat, and fun burrowing mechanic ensuring it stands out as a distinct, old-school treat. It can be tough (and the lack of a map and a restrictive fast-travel can be a pain), but it really is as another astounding success for the team at Yacht Club Games. It might have taken a while to launch, but Mina the Hollower was absolutely worth the wait.
Overall, Mina the Hollower is a well-designed, retro-inspired game. It demonstrates that Yacht Club Games is about more than just Shovel Knight. It looks more like Zelda than it actually plays, making it a tough outing. Plus, there's no map (by default). However, the exploration, lore, graphics, and soundtrack make this a fun journey nonetheless. It'll be interesting to see what's next for the team, though I imagine that's a long way off.
It's been thirty-three years since The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening came out on the Game Boy. It was a shock, then, to see the world of Ze...
This brilliant adventure creates a whole world from one character with a unique ability
After Shovel Knight, Yacht Club Games strikes again: Mina the Hollower is a dense, inspired and surprising action-adventure.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Yacht Club Games somehow successfully marries old school Zelda and Castlevania...with a Souls-like dynamic. It's a beautiful challenge with great retro appeal.
Mina the Hollower is one of the best and most challenging games to come out in 2026. It brings great level design, balanced backend gameplay, and delivers plenty of ways to enjoy it.
If modern-day AAAs have left a hole in your life that’s longing to be filled by a retro-revival, Mina The Hollower is for you. It’s also for those who are craving their next gruelling gaming challenge.
Mina the Hollower has the weight of expectation upon it, and it's a game that meets many of them. The retro aesthetic is lovely, the world is well made, the boss fights are varied, and there is a lot to find, but it also has its frustrations. Poor navigation is the main factor that sucked some of the enjoyment out, with the game really wanting a better map to aid you. Still, Yacht Club Games has made a good game overall with Mina the Hollower.
Mina the Hollower beautifully merges classic Game Boy Color aesthetics with punishing, Soulsborne-inspired action. While a steep difficulty curve, deliberate pacing, and vague Metroidvania progression may alienate casual players, its brilliant burrowing mechanics, rich build customization, and nostalgic atmosphere deliver a deeply rewarding top-down adventure.