Mina the Hollower Review: Yacht Club's Masterpiece Scores 92 on Metacritic

Yacht Club Games Just Made Its Masterpiece

It has been more than ten years since Shovel Knight made Yacht Club Games a household name in indie gaming. On May 29, 2026, the studio returned with its first entirely new IP — and the response has been extraordinary.

Mina the Hollower launched to a Metacritic score of 92 (Universal Acclaim, 48 critics), earning the title of highest-rated game of 2026 so far. On OpenCritic, the score sits at 93/100 with a staggering 98% of critics recommending the game.

The price? $19.99. At that figure, this is the strongest case for a blind buy in recent memory.

Game Overview

Developer: Yacht Club Games

Yacht Club Games was founded in 2011 by former WayForward developers.

• ▶2011 — Studio founded by veterans including Sean D'Angelo
• ▶2014 — Shovel Knight launched to Metacritic 90; became one of the best-selling indie games ever
• ▶2014–2024 — Ten years of free DLC and expansions for Shovel Knight
• ▶2026 — First entirely new franchise

The studio's commitment to quality over speed has defined its reputation. That same patience is evident in Mina the Hollower, which spent years in development before arriving polished and confident.

Story & Setting

The cursed island of Hollow Furnace is losing its people. They vanish one by one, and nobody knows why.

Mina is a renowned Hollower — someone with the rare ability to burrow through the earth itself. Hired to investigate, she discovers that the darkness runs far deeper than anyone suspected.

The game draws from Victorian Gothic horror, but critics have been quick to note that beneath its eerie exterior lies a genuinely warm, character-driven story. Game Informer called it a "bone-chilling, yet heartwarming tale."

Platform Availability

The game is Steam Deck Verified, making it an excellent portable option for PC players.

Gameplay: Zelda + Castlevania + Dark Souls, Done Right

What earns Mina the Hollower its 92? The fusion of three beloved design philosophies, executed without compromise.

1. Exploration (Zelda-style)

• ▶An expansive, interconnected island to explore freely
• ▶Keys and tools unlock new areas, encouraging backtracking
• ▶Secrets and hidden routes reward thoroughness

2. Combat (Castlevania-style)

• ▶Primary weapon: Nightstar, a whip with distinct movement
• ▶Dozens of weapons, each with a completely different move set
• ▶Boss fights that each demand learning and adaptation

3. Risk System (Souls-like)

• ▶Death costs gold and progress, recoverable on retry
• ▶Persistent tension without frustrating punishment
• ▶Difficulty that feels fair rather than arbitrary

4. The Burrow Ability

Mina's unique power — burrowing through the ground — is not just a traversal trick. It dodges attacks, bypasses terrain obstacles, solves puzzles, and changes how combat unfolds. The mechanic is deeply integrated into every system.

5. Progression

• ▶Trinkets: Equippable items with exotic status effects
• ▶Sidearms: Secondary weapons that complement your playstyle
• ▶Level Up: Invest points into stats that suit how you play

Critic Score Breakdown

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"Shovel Knight was a well-deserved successful debut for Yacht Club. Mina the Hollower may be its masterpiece." — OpenCritic critic

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"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." — OpenCritic, 92/100

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"Mina is not without its frustrations, but its density of discoveries, sense of place, and heartfelt story and characters all deliver an experience I was thinking about often whenever I wasn't playing." — Game Informer, 8.75/10

Visuals & Audio

Visual Style

An 8-bit Game Boy Color aesthetic, refined for the modern era:

• ▶Detailed, fluid animation that defies its pixel art constraints
• ▶Widescreen support for contemporary displays
• ▶Victorian Gothic atmosphere in every environment

Soundtrack

Composed by chiptune virtuoso Jake Kaufman, whose work on Shovel Knight set the gold standard for indie game music. The Mina the Hollower soundtrack continues that legacy with an electrifying score that perfectly matches the gothic tone. The OST is available separately for $9.99.

Community Reaction

Steam user reviews are currently sitting at 100% Positive across all reviews. The reaction on Reddit communities including r/NintendoSwitch, r/patientgamers, and r/games has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic.

Common sentiments: "best indie game of 2026," "Yacht Club has outdone Shovel Knight," "this quality at $19.99 is absurd value."

Sequel Already Being Discussed

In an interview with Kotaku, Yacht Club's Sean D'Angelo confirmed that a sequel is already on the team's mind:

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"We've got pretty clear ideas, and we've put hints in Mina about where it could go a little bit. No one's going to pick those up. But if we did make Mina 2, it'd be like, 'Oh, they put that in there on purpose, right?'" — Sean D'Angelo, Yacht Club Games

The studio also has quality-of-life updates and a randomizer mode planned. Given Shovel Knight's decade-long supported run, Mina looks set to become another long-term franchise.

Buying Guide

At $19.99, Mina the Hollower is priced well below its value. Even if the genre is new to you, this is a game worth trying.

GamePeak Verdict

Metacritic 92. OpenCritic 93. Recommended by 98% of critics.

The numbers say it plainly: Mina the Hollower is not just a good indie game. It is a masterclass in understanding why classic games were great, and rebuilding that greatness with modern craft.

Yacht Club Games waited ten years to release something new. The wait was worth every day.

GamePeak Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)