Comparison: Mina the Hollower is Yacht Club Games' instant new classic
The creators of Shovel Knight strike again with an 8-bit Metroidvania that digs, whips, and charms flawlessly — for just $20.
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Yacht Club Games didn’t sidestep after Shovel Knight — the studio aimed straight for the top of the genre, and Mina the Hollower gets there without breaking a sweat.
A perfect marriage of Zelda and Castlevania
Whipping enemies, burrowing under traps, resurfacing to ambush a boss: every one of Mina’s mechanics interlocks with a rare elegance inside a Game Boy Color-inspired pixel-art world elevated by thoroughly modern animation and pacing. Progression never frustrates, respecting the player’s intelligence from the first dungeon to the last.
Generosity that’s hard to put a price on
At $20, the game delivers a density of content and a level of polish that would embarrass much pricier productions. Jake Kaufman’s score, a longtime studio collaborator, seals the deal for anyone who loves the genre.
Verdict
An instant classic with no filler: Yacht Club Games once again proves it understands this genre better than anyone.
