The gothic retro adventure is finally ready to crawl out of the shadows.
After years of waiting, delays, and plenty of curiosity surrounding Yacht Club Games’ next big project after Shovel Knight, Mina the Hollower finally has a firm release date. The retro-inspired action-adventure game is heading to Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on 29 May for US$19.99.
The announcement was made through Yacht Club Games’ official social media accounts on 7 May, 2026, confirming that the game will hit its previously-announced spring launch window.
“TRUE FINAL RELEASE DATE!! Mina the Hollower launches 29 May for only US$19.99!” the announcement read. “Prepare yourself for one of the greatest top-down adventures ever to be delivered directly to your soul for less than 20 bucks.”
The studio also shared a new trailer alongside the reveal, giving players another look at the game’s gothic aesthetic, fast-paced combat, and several intimidating boss fights.
Mina the Hollower
Release date: 29 May, 2026
Price: US$19.99
Platform: PC (Steam/GOG/Humble), Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation, PlayStation 5, and Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Developer: Yacht Club Games
What is Mina the Hollower?
Mina the Hollower is an action-adventure game with a distinct 8-bit visual style inspired by Game Boy Color-era classics. Yacht Club Games has previously cited series such as The Legend of Zelda and Castlevania as major inspirations behind the project, though the game leans heavily into darker Victorian horror themes.
Players take control of Mina, a mouse adventurer armed primarily with a whip called Nightstar. Throughout the game, players will unlock additional weapons and sidearms that significantly change combat styles and strategies.
According to Yacht Club Games, every weapon comes with unique move sets, allowing players to experiment with different approaches during encounters. Trinkets and Sidearms also provide extra effects and abilities, adding more room for customisation as players progress through the adventure.
The game runs at 60fps and features a “world full of mystery and horror,” blending exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat across interconnected environments.
What is Mina the Hollower’s gameplay like?
One of the game’s standout mechanics is Mina’s ability to burrow underground. Players can tunnel beneath hazards, avoid enemy attacks, cross gaps, and quickly reposition during combat sequences. The mechanic also grants temporary invincibility, making it a key tool for both traversal and survival during tougher fights.
Recent gameplay footage showcased how the burrowing system ties directly into boss encounters, with several enemies requiring careful timing and movement to avoid devastating attacks.
The latest trailer also highlighted large-scale boss fights that further emphasise the game’s gothic horror inspirations, featuring grotesque creatures, dark environments, and fast-paced combat encounters.
Mina the Hollower release date delays
The game has been in development for six years, making it Yacht Club Games’ most ambitious project since Shovel Knight. Originally, the studio planned to launch Mina the Hollower around Halloween last year, or “Hollow-een,” as fans jokingly called it. However, the developer later delayed the title “to apply some final polish and balancing to make the game truly shine.”
Development has not been entirely smooth behind the scenes either. During production, Yacht Club Games reportedly downsized after burning through much of its capital while working on the project. Studio head and cofounder Sean Velasco previously described Mina the Hollower as a “make-or-break” release for the company during an interview with Bloomberg in December 2025.
“If we sold 500,000 copies, then we would be golden,” Velasco said. “If we sold even 200,000, that would be really, really great. If we sold, like, 100,000, that's not so good.”
Despite the pressure surrounding the release, anticipation for Mina the Hollower has remained high thanks to Yacht Club Games’ reputation following the success of Shovel Knight, along with the game’s nostalgic presentation and combat-heavy gameplay. With the launch date now locked in, players will not have to wait much longer to see whether Yacht Club Games’ biggest gamble pays off.
