Nintendo’s Indie World showcase on August 7 kicked off with the release of a Mina the Hollower demo on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.
It’s the next release from Yacht Club Games, the developer behind the adored retro-inspired platformer Shovel Knight, and well worth your time if you are a fan of The Legend of Zelda games made for Game Boy.
Mina the Hollower follows its titular mouse as she returns to the spooky, Halloween-themed land of Tenebrous Isle after the spark generators she set up there have gone out. Shortly after she arrives, she sees that the island is under siege.
Those opening moments are what this free pre-release demo of the game covers, offering up gameplay clearly inspired by some classic Zelda games.
I’m specifically referencing the likes of Link’s Awakening, Oracle of Ages, and Oracle of Seasons.
Those beloved games are the titles that Mina the Hollower’s Halloween-inspired adventure feels like a spiritual successor to.
Now that a free demo is available for Mina the Hollower, it’s absolutely something that Link’s Awakening fans should be checking out this weekend.
Mina the Hollower is clearly a Game Boy Color throwback
Game Boy nostalgia is currently at its peak
There’s something eternally endearing about the chunky, chibi-like characters and 8-bit environments in Game Boy games like Link’s Awakening, and Mina the Hollower is keen to emulate that look while adding some visual flourishes also available on modern platforms.
Mina the Hollower’s gameplay also feels like that of an old-school Zelda game, although this demo emphasizes combat more than exploration.
Mina’s moveset is simple, and players only have a main weapon and sub-weapon to worry about, but that feels like a perfect scope for a game calling back to the Game Boy era.
Generally, it feels like there’s a lot of love for Game Boy right now in the indie scene.
Games like Petal Runners and Isles of Sea and Sky are keeping the aesthetic alive on console, while the ModRetro Chromatic is a new handheld that plays Game Boy games and exclusive Game Boy-like games of its own.
It’s clearly an aesthetic and era of gaming that people are very much into right now, and it feels like Mina the Hollower is arriving at the perfect time to capitalize on that.
It’s the indie game of 2025 to keep an eye on if you’re a Game Boy or classic The Legend of Zelda fan.
Mina the Hollower feels modern in some ways
There’s even some Dark Souls influence
Although Mina the Hollower is inspired by Game Boy classics in many ways, Yacht Club Games has introduced enough new elements that it doesn’t make Mina the Hollower feel derivative.
One unique mechanic is that Mina can burrow under the ground to dodge attacks or reach certain areas, giving the game a sense of depth that most top-down adventures don’t have.
Mina the Hollower also seems to be more combat-focused than exploration-focused, and it is quite tough.
While it’s far from what I would call a Soulslike, FromSoftware’s influence can still be felt a little bit with how players have to collect bones to level up Mina’s stats, but risk losing them all upon death.
The two boss fights featured in the demo were also difficult until I learned their attack patterns and got comfortable with the attack cadence of my own weapon.
Add in the distinct Halloween aesthetic that Mina the Hollower has, and you have a game that feels inspired by the classics but isn’t living in the shadow of them.
Mina the Hollower’s demo is worth a download
It’s free, so there’s little reason not to
Mina the Hollower’s demo is short and sweet. It can be completed in under an hour and replayed a couple of times if you want to use different weapons.
That makes it the perfect free download ahead of a weekend where you have some spare time to play video games.
With so many games vying for our time and attention nowadays, it can be tough to decide which ones to check out.
By capitalizing on Game Boy nostalgia, Mina the Hollower has an instant appeal that some other indie games don’t.
From there, it’s able to offer up a challenging, memorable experience that leaves you wanting more.
I know I’m eager to dive into the full game when it launches this Halloween, and you probably will be too if you check out Mina the Hollower’s demo.
Images
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Mina the Hollower
- Developer(s)
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Yacht Club Games
- Publisher(s)
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Yacht Club Games
Descend into a frightful world of action-adventure in Mina the Hollower. Take control of Mina, a renowned Hollower hurtled into a desperate mission to rescue a cursed island. Burrow beneath hazards and monsters, whip foes into oblivion, and gear up with an arsenal of sidearms and trinkets.
Explore a vast world filled with pixel-perfect graphics, masterful gameplay, beastly bosses, and infectious music. Encounter a cast of bizarre characters, search out secrets in an array of exotic locales, and illuminate the omnipresent darkness in Mina the Hollower, a brand new game from the developers who brought you Shovel Knight!
Features
Hauntingly authentic 8-bit visuals in the style of Game Boy Color, refined for the modern era.
Modern touches abound: detailed animation, widescreen visuals, and rock-solid controls!
Leap, dodge, and burrow through the ground to battle monsters or navigate the world.
Lash at foes with your trusty whip, Nightstar- or choose from an arsenal of weapons, each with a totally different move set.
Discover and utilize a reliquary’s worth of unusual Sidearms to gain the advantage in combat.
Collect and equip Trinkets to acquire a variety of exotic effects. Level Mina up to suit your unique playstyle.
Electrifying MSX-style soundtrack by chiptune virtuoso, Jake Kaufman.
Descend into the depths of madness with a bone-chilling, yet heartwarming tale inspired by Victorian Gothic horror.
Explore a huge, dark world brimming with secrets, challenging battles, and interconnected level design.
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