Mina the Hollower Full Breakdown: Release Date, Platforms, Gameplay Expectations

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Mina the Hollower is an upcoming action-adventure game from Yacht Club Games, the studio best known for the beloved Shovel Knight series. It blends retro pixel-art with modern gameplay polish, drawing heavy inspiration from classic Game Boy Color titles while adding gothic horror vibes and expansive exploration.

Release Date and Platforms

The game launches on May 29, 2026. This date was recently confirmed following an earlier spring 2026 window announcement. It will be available on a wide range of platforms, including:

• Nintendo Switch
• Nintendo Switch 2
• PlayStation 5
• Xbox Series X/S
• PC via Steam, with Linux and macOS support as well

The price will be $19.99 or €19.50 at launch on the mentioned platforms, excluding any discounts.

Short History of the Game

Mina the Hollower began as a personal side project by Yacht Club Games designer Alec Faulkner, initially called something like “Gothic.” It was not originally planned for a full commercial release, but the studio’s leadership saw its potential as a spiritual successor or companion to Shovel Knight. The project evolved into the studio’s first major new IP in years.

A Kickstarter campaign launched in February 2022 raised over $1.2 million from more than 21,000 backers (with additional funding pushing totals above $1.4 million). This crowdfunding helped expand the game’s scope significantly. Development has taken over six years, involving delays from an initial October 31, 2025 target to allow for final polishing, balancing, and added content.

Gameplay Expectations

Players control Mina, a clever mouse inventor and “Hollower” skilled in burrowing technology. The core loop combines whip-based combat, underground tunneling to bypass obstacles or ambush enemies, precise platforming, and deep exploration of a large, interconnected world.

Expect a dense, pixel-perfect map with dozens of distinct regions, reportedly containing more screens than the entire Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove collection. The game features over 25 bosses and mini-bosses, weapon upgrades, a full leveling system, around 60 collectible Trinkets, New Game Plus, and hundreds of gameplay modifiers for replayability. Additional touches include a fishing mini-game, secrets, bizarre characters, and plenty of puns.