Mina the Hollower is the best old-school action adventure I've played in a while
Game details Developer: Yacht Club Games Publisher: Yacht Club Games Platform: Windows (reviewed), Mac, Linux, Switch 2, Switch, PS5, Xbox Series Release Date: May 29
Game details Developer: Yacht Club Games Publisher: Yacht Club Games Platform: Windows (reviewed), Mac, Linux, Switch 2, Switch, PS5, Xbox Series Release Date: May 29, 2026 ESRB Rating: E-10+ for Everyone 10 and older Price: $20 Links: Steam | Official Website Modern Legend of Zelda games like Breath of the Wild are built around Link’s ability to run, climb, and jump with the best of them. In old-school, top-down Zelda titles, though, the ability to increase Link’s sad starting mobility was a banner event. Finding items like the speed-enhancing Pegasus Boots in Link to the Past or the jump-granting Roc’s Feather in Link’s Awakening made the methodical exploration in these games feel that much more kinetic and akin to a top-down platform game.
This kind of kinetic feeling is built into Mina the Hollower from the start. As the titular, mouse-like Hollower, you’re armed with the ability to jump up and burrow into soft soil, zipping under obstacles and past enemies with satisfying pep as you do. After a short sojourn underground, you pop out with an extended jump that quickly becomes second nature. The sense of energy and verve built in to this simple movement system makes Mina a joy to control. You feel that joy when you burrow away from an enemy attack only to quickly circle back to pop out for a quick counter. You feel it burrowing underneath the scenery through a small hole to uncover a labyrinthine secret corridor.
You feel it hopping and bouncing across a series of gaps on inflatable, balloon-like pads. Credit: Yacht Club Games Navigating maze-like rooms like this is sheer joy thanks to the game’s smooth control scheme. Navigating maze-like rooms like this is sheer joy thanks to the game’s smooth control scheme. Credit: Yacht Club Games Add in an intricate upgrade system, a sprawling, well-designed map, compelling combat, and a huge variety of secrets to uncover, and you’ve got one of the best homages to and expansions on the classic Zelda formula that I’ve ever played (with elements of games like Castlevania thrown in for good measure). Mina the Hollower stands out from the crowded field of Zelda clones to be an instant contender for one of the best games of 2026.
Characters and combat The core narrative of Mina the Hollower focuses on Mina’s efforts to restore six broken, towering spark generators across the island that she designed to bring electricity and prosperity to the world of Tenebrous Isle. As the game progresses, Mina slowly becomes aware of some negative side effects from these generators and the sinister actions being taken to cover up those effects. What starts as a relatively straightforward and predictable climate change allegory leads up to a touching and surprisingly (though not entirely) bleak ending that I’m wary to say too much about.
The BriefWire