31 Hours with the Spit-Shined Mina the Hollower

The review evaluates Yacht Club Games’ latest title, Mina the Hollower, a Super Nintendo‑style platformer that debuted in 2026 after six years of development. The author, Stephen Totilo, frames the assessment by first playing the studio’s four preceding releases—Shovel Knight, Specter of Torment, King of Cards, and the Treasure Trove compilation—to contextualize design evolution. Totilo notes that each earlier game progressively refined core mechanics, with Specter of Torment cited as the most approachable and King of Cards offering polished, Mario‑style courses that closely resemble Mina’s aesthetic.

Mina the Hollower centers on a single, versatile move: the protagonist’s “hollowing,” which allows the character to dig into the ground, retrieve buried items, and traverse walls by emerging on the opposite side. This mechanic parallels classic platforming tropes—such as Mario’s aerial power‑up collection and enemy defeat by landing on them—but reinterprets them through subterranean traversal. Totilo highlights the fluidity of the hollowing motion and its impact on level design, noting that the game’s 31‑hour playtime (34 hours including the four prior titles) reflects a substantial, well-paced experience.

The review emphasizes Yacht Club’s iterative design process, suggesting that the studio’s cumulative expertise directly informs Mina’s polished execution. Totilo concludes that the game delivers a satisfying blend of nostalgic homage and fresh mechanics, positioning it as a standout entry in contemporary retro‑styled platformers.