The next game from developer Yacht Club Studio, the studio known for its indie breakout hit Shovel Knight, which launched originally as a Nintendo exclusive, has finally announced a release date for its next game, Mina The Hollower. Originally announced alongside its Kickstarter back in 2022, this is the first new IP for the studio since Shovel Knight was released in 2014, with several expansions and rereleases being developed since then.
Originally slated to release late last year, Mina The Hollower was delayed into 2026 without a release date until now, following a similar trend to games like Subnautica 2, which confirmed its release with only weeks to go. The game will release on May 29 and will be available for $19.99, and is available to wishlist now.
The title features players taking the role of the titular Mina, an inventor and “Hollower” who travels to the Tenebrous Isle, intending to fix sabotaged Spark Generators that power these lands. The game plays top down, paying homage to action titles of the Game Boy era, in particular classics like The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, though some comparisons to Castlevania have been drawn, with the character using a whip to attack enemies.
An official blurb for the game states:
Descend into a frightful world of action-adventure in Mina the Hollower. Take control of Mina, a renowned Hollower hurtled into a desperate mission to rescue a cursed island. Burrow beneath hazards and monsters, whip foes into oblivion, and gear up with an arsenal of sidearms and trinkets.
Explore a vast world filled with pixel-perfect graphics, masterful gameplay, beastly bosses, and infectious music. Encounter a cast of bizarre characters, search out secrets in an array of exotic locales, and illuminate the omnipresent darkness in Mina the Hollower, a brand new game from the developers who brought you Shovel Knight!
Key features include:
- Hauntingly authentic 8-bit visuals in the style of Game Boy Color, refined for the modern era.
- Modern touches abound: detailed animation, widescreen visuals, and rock-solid controls!
- Leap, dodge, and burrow through the ground to battle monsters or navigate the world.
- Lash at foes with your trusty whip, Nightstarâor choose from an arsenal of weapons, each with a totally different move set.
- Discover and utilize a reliquaryâs worth of unusual Sidearms to gain the advantage in combat.
- Collect and equip Trinkets to acquire a variety of exotic effects. Level Mina up to suit your unique playstyle.
- Electrifying MSX-style soundtrack by chiptune virtuoso, Jake Kaufman.
- Descend into the depths of madness with a bone-chilling, yet heartwarming tale inspired by Victorian Gothic horror.
- Explore a huge, dark world brimming with secrets, challenging battles, and interconnected level design.
For fans of retro titles and indie games, Mina the Hollower has been looking like a must-play, and it looks like we do not have much longer to wait. It will be available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC
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