Mina the Hollower Review

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Some of the best games create a set of rules and then cleverly break them at a key moment to surprise players. A classic example is the original Resident Evil 2 (playing as Claire). For most of the game, opening a door is a safe action – the animation shows the door opening, and enemies from the previous area can’t follow you. You only have to deal with threats in the new room. However, during Claire’s storyline, there’s a moment where opening a door triggers a small group of zombies to pour into the room, breaking this established safety rule.

As a fan, I can tell you what really got to me about this moment – it wasn’t just scary, it was that the game changed the rules on us. Before this, doors were always safe, a simple way to move forward. But after it happened once, everything felt different. You couldn’t help but be on edge, wondering if it would happen again. The brilliant part is, it doesn’t. It’s a one-time scare, and that’s what makes it so unforgettable. Just when you start to feel safe and comfortable, BAM! It gets you.

I’m sure that entire opening I wrote will have nothing to do with Mina the Hollower.

Mina the Hollower is a 2D action-adventure game played from a top-down perspective, inspired by classic Game Boy Zelda titles like Link’s Awakening and Oracle of Ages/Seasons. Players control Mina, a skilled engineer and ‘Hollower’ – someone who specializes in digging. This ability is central to gameplay, letting Mina tunnel to dodge attacks, bypass obstacles, and reach a safe haven called the Underlab.

The story immediately throws you into the action when Mina’s ship is wrecked by a monstrous creature. Betrayed by a former friend, she flees to the city of Ossex and discovers a growing rebellion. Mina then embarks on a quest to restore power to six ancient Towers. Throughout her journey, she’ll face numerous enemies, overcome challenging puzzles, and rely on a diverse arsenal of weapons and items to stay alive.

If this description seems a bit brief, I apologize. A lot of what makes the game Mina so good is discovering things for yourself as you play. It’s one of those games where I have to ask you to trust me – explaining too much would ruin the experience. I don’t want to spoil any surprises, but there were several moments where I was genuinely impressed by the cleverness of the developers and their creative twists.

The game gives you a lot of freedom right from the start. You can choose how you want to progress, and while the game gently guides you with new leads from the newspaper vendor, you’re not locked into any specific order. You can even head to the more challenging areas early on. Helpful items can make these tougher zones easier – like an item that lets you burrow longer in the swamp area – but skillful players can tackle any area they choose, whenever they want.

Honestly, the different areas in this game are amazing. One minute I’m creeping through a spooky graveyard crypt, the next I’m wading through a creepy bayou, and then I’m suddenly exploring this huge, fancy castle right in the middle of Ossex. Each zone feels totally different and throws its own challenges at you, so you have to explore. It’s not just about wandering around though – I often found stuff in earlier areas that helped me out in later, tougher zones. Plus, the worlds are packed with secrets! Seriously, almost every screen has something hidden on it, which is awesome.

Don’t expect to just power through this game. Mina is vulnerable, especially on normal difficulty, and you’ll need to learn to avoid attacks by burrowing and then strike when you have a clear opening. Like Dark Souls, precise timing is crucial in Mina the Hollower, and it really makes you think on your feet and adjust to each encounter.

The game isn’t just about fighting; the puzzles are cleverly designed and really stand out. Some require fast reactions, while others involve figuring out the right sequence to pull levers or even changing the environment to get an object where it needs to go. There’s a great mix of puzzle types and ways to solve them, so I never felt stuck or lost interest. I did get held up on one part for a bit, but that was my fault – I didn’t realize you could dig underneath to move the Bouncy Pods. Think of that as a hint, completely spoiler-free, from me to you!

The game’s combat can be challenging, and players who dislike losing progress upon death might find it frustrating. However, the developers have included an incredibly comprehensive set of accessibility options, called “Modifiers,” to help. These range from simple stat boosts and speed adjustments to more unique features like automatic jumping over gaps, unlimited burrowing, one-hit kills, reduced or no damage, extra checkpoints, and more healing items – even infinite ones. Keep in mind that using these modifiers will disable achievement unlocks.

Seriously, once you finish the game, you unlock a huge number of options – 239 modifiers, to be exact – that let you customize almost anything. You can even remove the RPG elements and play it like a classic Zelda game. Or, if you’re feeling silly, you can activate all 239 modifiers simultaneously! Just be warned: some of them, like inverting the controls and the screen, can make things… interesting. Good luck!

I was completely hooked on Mina the Hollower from beginning to end – a huge accomplishment for a game I spent around 18 hours playing through for the first time (with about 54% of the world explored). The game design is truly exceptional, paired with fantastic pixel art and sound. It’s a standout title that I’d recommend to just about anyone who enjoys video games. What really impressed me was the level of difficulty customization – I haven’t seen anything quite like it, making the game enjoyable for players of all skill levels. The exploration is superb, the story is captivating, the art style is beautiful, and the developers consistently surprise you with clever and well-executed ideas. I wholeheartedly recommend Mina the Hollower.

10

We tested Mina the Hollower on PC. It’s also available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and both Nintendo Switch models.

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2026-05-27 16:28