Mina the Hollower - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition

Mina the Hollower is another masterpiece from Yacht Club Games. It’s one of those games that only gets better the more you play it, and considering how enjoyable it is off the hop, that’s really saying something. There is so much to do here, and yet it never feels overwhelming or like it’s stretching the soup too thin. I think the most important thing, something it really nails, is in how satisfying the game feels on a fundamental level. Always a joy, constantly shaking things up, and ever finding new ways to surprise you, Mina the Hollower is a genuine must-play.

A tribute to 8-bit gaming that fuels adventure through frustration and delivers immense fun. It has excellent map design and tons of secrets. Fair combat, and a penalty for failure. Mina expects you to adapt and gives you nothing for free. This is a beauty that is becoming extinct in gaming. It's where Souls-like meets Zelda-like with the effect of becoming one of the best games in 2026.

Mina the Hollower shows that the Yacht Club Games formula can still create a modern retro-tinged masterpiece, as Mina the Hollower stands up there with some of the best 2D Zelda-like games out there. The areas are vibrant and densely populated with secrets. The puzzles are inventive and challenging. The combat stays varied, especially as you discover different weapons, sidearms, and trinkets to make your preferred build. This is a special game that was well worth the long wait. Hopefully Yacht Club Games gets to take this mentality to even more new frontiers in the future.

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.

Yacht Club Games’ return bridges the gap between souls-like games and their 2D action-adventure ancestry with enough confidence and energy to instantly become a new indie classic.