Mina the Hollower Preview — Has Yacht Club Games Made Their Castlevania?
Yacht Club Games: From Shovel Knight to Something Darker
In 2014, Yacht Club Games released Shovel Knight — one of the best indie platformers ever made. Since then, the studio focused on DLC, ports, and collections. Twelve years later comes Mina the Hollower, their first fully original game since.
The 2022 crowdfunding campaign hit its target in record time. The wait has been long, but unlike many crowdfunded projects, Mina hasn't been cancelled or significantly delayed. Release: May 29, 2026.
Gameplay: Between Castlevania and Something New
Mina the Hollower is a Gothic action-adventure with a Metroidvania structure. The protagonist — monster hunter Mina — arrives on the cursed island of Talamor. Core traversal mechanic: the "Hollower" tool, which lets you burrow underground to discover hidden routes and secrets.
Combat features weapon modifiers: base weapons are enhanced through discovered items and upgrades, creating distinct playstyles. Yacht Club promises non-linear exploration — multiple ability acquisition routes depending on which areas you tackle first.
The pixel art is highly detailed — animations, lighting effects, and enemy design clearly draw from Symphony of the Night without copying it. This is Yacht Club's visual language: recognizable, but applied to a completely different mood.
Atmosphere: Gothic Without Compromise
Unlike the playful tone of Shovel Knight, Mina the Hollower is a dark game. Talamor Island is a place of death and curses. The narrative runs through environmental storytelling: ruins, notes, and monster design tell the story without lengthy cutscenes.
Soundtrack by Jake Kaufman — the same composer behind Shovel Knight. In Mina, he works with darker, more atmospheric themes while maintaining his signature quality.
Preliminary Verdict
Mina the Hollower looks like exactly what Yacht Club promised: a serious second project from a studio that has already proven its craft. Gothic horror Metroidvania with mechanical depth, a distinctive visual identity, and a soundtrack from one of indie gaming's best composers.
Full review after the May 29 release. Expectations: high.