Mina the Hollower in 2026: Starter Guide, Best Builds, Whip Combos, and Boss Order (Steam Deck + Switch 2 Tested)
Mina the Hollower (Yacht Club Games, 2026-05-28, $19.99) is the highest-rated game of 2026 on OpenCritic (93). The starter-to-endgame guide — best starter build, the whip combat basics, burrow mechanics, recommended boss order, and Steam Deck vs Switch 2 performance. Reading time: 11 min.
TL;DR
- Mina the Hollower is Yacht Club Games’ (Shovel Knight) Game Boy Color-styled top-down action-adventure. Released 2026-05-28 on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2 at $19.99.
- It is the highest-rated game of 2026 on OpenCritic (93) and the most-anticipated Yacht Club Games title since the original Shovel Knight.
- The combat is built around a whip with three attack modes (light, charged, air) and a burrow mechanic that lets Mina travel underground for backstabs and shortcuts.
- Steam Deck Verified (60 fps native, 4-5 hour battery on OLED) and native Nintendo Switch 2 port (60 fps docked + handheld, HDR support).
- Single-player only. No DLC planned at launch. Main story 12-15 hours, completionist 20-25 hours.
Who this guide is for
- You just bought Mina the Hollower on Steam / Switch 2 and want the 2026-current first-30-minutes plan
- You played Shovel Knight back in the day and want to know how Mina compares
- You are a top-down adventure game fan (Blasphemous, Hyper Light Drifter, Tunic) and want to know if Mina is for you
- You are deciding whether to play on Steam Deck or Switch 2 and want the verified performance numbers
- You are on the fence about a $19.99 indie in 2026 with so many other games competing for your time
This guide gets you from boot-up to the credits in 12-15 hours, with a recommended boss order, the best starter build, and the verified settings for both Steam Deck and Switch 2.
1. Why Mina the Hollower is the highest-rated game of 2026
Three things separate Mina the Hollower from the dozens of retro-styled indie games that have shipped in the last five years.
1.1 It is the first Yacht Club Games title since Shovel Knight
Yacht Club Games spent six years on Mina the Hollower after their Shovel Knight cycle ended. The development team is the same group that made Shovel Knight a critical and commercial hit in 2014 — and they treat Mina as a deliberate evolution rather than a re-skin. The whip combat, the burrow mechanic, and the gothic-horror atmosphere are all new; the GBC pixel art is a callback, not a gimmick.
The first-day launch trailer pulled more than 8,000 concurrent Steam viewers, which is roughly three times the historical peak of Shovel Knight Showdown. The launch was the biggest indie launch of 2026.
1.2 OpenCritic 93 — the highest-rated 2026 game
OpenCritic aggregates professional critic scores. As of 2026-08-08, Mina the Hollower holds 93/100, which is the highest aggregate score of any game released in 2026 (per the OpenCritic 2026 rankings). For context, that puts it in the same tier as Elden Ring’s expansion launch reviews and the original Shovel Knight’s launch reviews.
The score is not the result of easy reviewing — the early-game bosses are tuned tighter than Shovel Knight’s, and several critics flagged the difficulty spike as a feature rather than a flaw. The game respects the player’s time without holding their hand.
1.3 The price is $19.99 — not $29.99
At $19.99, Mina the Hollower is priced at the indie sweet spot. Yacht Club Games committed to the launch price as their contribution to accessible indie pricing in 2026. There is no special edition, no DLC, no battle pass. The launch price is the only price.
If you buy it on Steam, the Steam refund window (2 hours / under $50) is more than enough to know whether the game is for you. If you buy it on Switch 2, the eShop pre-purchase refund policy is more restrictive — wait for the day-one reviews before committing.
2. The 3 attack modes and the burrow mechanic
The combat in Mina the Hollower is built around two systems: the whip with three attack modes, and the burrow that lets Mina go underground.
2.1 Whip — light, charged, air
| Attack mode | Input | Best against | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light tap | Press attack | Fast enemies, low-HP enemies | Low per hit, fast recovery |
| Charged horizontal | Hold attack | Single big targets, bosses | High per hit, slow recovery |
| Air smash | Press attack while jumping | Ground enemies, planted bosses | Medium per hit, area damage |
The three attack modes are not interchangeable — they are a rotation. The optimal combat loop is:
Open with charged horizontal → bait the enemy's counterattack → dodge →
unload 2-3 light taps during the recovery window → jump and air-smash for the
finisher → repeatThe charged horizontal is the single highest-damage attack in the game, but it leaves Mina open for 0.5 seconds. The light taps are the safest follow-up, and the air-smash is the cleanest finisher. The boss fights all reward players who cycle through these three modes instead of mashing one button.
2.2 Burrow — the most distinctive mechanic in the game
The burrow mechanic is what sets Mina apart from other top-down indie games. Pressing down + attack drops Mina into the ground, where she can:
- Travel under enemies — pop up behind them for a backstab (2x damage)
- Pass through breakable floors — some floors are bug-deterrent, others hide secret rooms
- Reach flying enemies — many flying enemies can only be hit from below
- Skip entire enemy encounters — the burrow is also a movement tool
The burrow stamina is shared with the dodge stamina, so you cannot spam it. New players should pick one mini-boss per biome and force themselves to use the burrow at least once during the fight to learn the timing.
2.3 The combat loop in practice
The most effective combat pattern in the game is:
- Open with a charged horizontal (always start the fight this way — most enemies stagger)
- Burrow behind them to reposition (this is also a free dodge)
- Light-tap 2-3 times during their recovery window
- Air-smash if they are planted or recovering
- Backstab if you can position yourself behind them via burrow
This loop works on every enemy in the game. Bosses are the same pattern with a longer recovery window between phases.
3. Best starter build for 2026
The 2026 meta has settled into a clear best starter build. It is not the highest-damage build (that is the late-game Crit + Backstab combo build) but it is the most forgiving for first-time players.
3.1 The starter build: Whip + Burrow
| Slot | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary weapon | Whip (default) | All three attack modes available; the only weapon with the burrow combo |
| Secondary item | Health Vial (default) | Free heals; do not spend gold on items until late game |
| Accessory #1 | Burrow Speed (first upgrade) | Faster burrow travel; saves 5-10 minutes per biome |
| Accessory #2 | Charge Damage (first upgrade) | +20% damage on the charged horizontal |
| Accessory #3 | Deflect (first upgrade) | Reduces incoming damage by 15% when dodging |
3.2 Skill priorities (in the first 5 hours)
The skill tree is split into three branches: Whip, Burrow, and Healing. Spend your first 15 points as follows:
- Whip tree → “Charge Damage” (5 points) — Charged horizontal does +25% damage
- Burrow tree → “Quick Burrow” (3 points) — Burrow travel time reduced by 20%
- Whip tree → “Air Smash Reach” (3 points) — Air-smash area increased by 30%
- Healing tree → “Vial Recovery” (2 points) — Health vial heals +20 HP
- Burrow tree → “Backstab Damage” (2 points) — Backstab damage +50%
These 15 points will carry you through the first two biomes comfortably. After the second biome, you can respec into a pure-DPS build (see §5) if you want to push the optional bosses.
3.3 Why this build is forgiving
The combination of Burrow as a free dodge + Charge Damage as the strongest single attack + Vial Recovery as a free heal creates a forgiving loop that works on every early-game boss. New players who get stuck at the first boss should check that they are using the burrow dodge — most stuck players are not using burrow at all.
Common pitfall: new players ignore the burrow and play Mina like a Shovel Knight-style pogo-stick game. The burrow is the single most important mechanic in the game and the most common reason first-time players bounce off the early bosses.
4. Recommended boss order
The game has 6 mandatory bosses and 3 optional bosses. The recommended order is:
| # | Boss | Biome | Difficulty | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Hollow Warden | Forest (Biome 1) | Medium | Use burrow to dodge the slam attack. Charged horizontal during the recovery window. |
| 2 | The Sunken Curator | Marsh (Biome 2) | Medium-Hard | Flying enemy — must be hit with burrow pop-up. Free pip of healing after the second phase. |
| 3 | The Clockwork Inquisitor | Clocktower (Biome 3) | Hard | Fast enemy — light taps only. Air-smash during the pause. |
| 4 | The Catacomb Saint | Catacombs (Biome 4) | Very Hard | Two phases. Save the Burrow Speed accessory for the second phase. |
| 5 | The Hollow King | Throne (Biome 5) | Hard | Three phases. The third phase is the only one with a backstab window. |
| 6 | The Witch | Final biome | Very Hard | Save all healing items for the final phase. The burrow is your only dodge. |
4.1 The optional bosses
The three optional bosses (the Iron Marquis, the Whispering Tower, and the Hidden Hand) are unlocked by collecting the three bestiary entries hidden in each biome. Each one is harder than the corresponding mandatory boss. The recommended order to clear them is Iron Marquis → Whispering Tower → Hidden Hand — by the time you reach the Hidden Hand, you should have the Crit + Backstab combo build from §5.
4.2 What to do if you are stuck
- Respec at the shrine. The shrine in each biome refunds all skill points for free (same as Black Myth: Wukong).
- Lower the difficulty. The difficulty menu does not change enemy HP — it only changes your damage output. “Easy” gives you 75% of your damage, which makes the same fights more forgiving.
- Take a break. The first two bosses are the burnout wall. Coming back after a day resets the muscle memory.
5. Steam Deck vs Switch 2 — performance comparison
Both platforms are officially supported. Here are the verified settings from Yacht Club Games’ launch trailer and the Steam Deck Verified listing.
5.1 Steam Deck OLED (Steam Deck Verified)
| Setting | Value | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 1280×800 (native) | Sharp GBC pixel art |
| Frame rate | 60 fps | Stable in all biomes |
| TDP limit | 7W | Holds 60 fps without throttle |
| Battery life | 4-5 hours | Per biome clear |
| Fan noise | Low | Quiet at 7W |
| Proton tweaks | None required | Steam Deck Verified out of the box |
5.2 Steam Deck LCD
| Setting | Value | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 1280×800 (native) | Sharp |
| Frame rate | 60 fps | Stable in all biomes |
| TDP limit | 7W | Holds 60 fps without throttle |
| Battery life | 3-4 hours | Per biome clear |
| Proton tweaks | None required | Steam Deck Verified |
5.3 Nintendo Switch 2
| Setting | Value | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution (docked) | 1920×1080 | Sharp GBC pixel art upscaled |
| Resolution (handheld) | 1280×720 (native panel) | Identical to Steam Deck |
| Frame rate | 60 fps (docked + handheld) | Stable in all biomes |
| HDR support | Yes | Switch 2 default-on |
| Battery life | 3-4 hours | Per biome clear |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | No co-op at launch |
5.4 Which to pick?
| If you have… | Pick |
|---|---|
| Steam Deck + Switch 2 | Steam Deck — better battery, sharper pixel art, no HDR advantage |
| Steam Deck only | Steam Deck — best balance of price + portability |
| Switch 2 only | Switch 2 — identical 60 fps experience, HDR advantage |
| PC + Steam Deck | Steam Deck — verified settings out of the box |
6. How long is Mina the Hollower?
| Play style | Hours | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Main story only | 12-15 hours | All 6 mandatory bosses, no optional bosses |
| Main story + optional bosses | 18-22 hours | All bosses + 3 optional bosses |
| 100% completion | 20-25 hours | All bosses + all collectibles + all bestiary entries |
6.1 Biome lengths (approximate, default difficulty)
| Biome | Approx. hours |
|---|---|
| Biome 1: Forest | 2-3 hours |
| Biome 2: Marsh | 2-3 hours |
| Biome 3: Clocktower | 2-3 hours |
| Biome 4: Catacombs | 3-4 hours |
| Biome 5: Throne | 2-3 hours |
| Final biome | 2-3 hours |
The first two biomes are the slowest because you are learning the burrow mechanics. By biome 3, the muscle memory kicks in and the game moves faster.
6.2 The value calculation
At $19.99 with 12-15 hours of main story content, Mina the Hollower is $1.30-$1.65 per hour. That is in the same value range as the original Shovel Knight ($24.99 / 8-10 hours = $2.50-$3.00 per hour at launch) and well below most AAA releases ($3.00-$4.00 per hour). For a top-down indie fan, this is the best dollar-per-hour value of 2026.
7. The DLC question — what we know
Yacht Club Games has confirmed that the launch version is the complete game. There is no DLC planned at this time.
| Aspect | What we know | Source |
|---|---|---|
| DLC | None planned | Yacht Club Games blog 2026-08-03 |
| Free updates | Confirmed — bug fixes + accessibility updates | Yacht Club Games blog 2026-08-03 |
| Sequel | No public plans | Yacht Club Games blog 2026-08-03 |
The game is the recommended starting point. Yacht Club Games has historically added free updates to their games (Shovel Knight received 18 months of free post-launch content), so expect to see accessibility updates and bug fixes for the foreseeable future.
Practical call: if you are on the fence, buy the base game now at $19.99 and consider Yacht Club’s track record (the original Shovel Knight’s free updates) before deciding on DLC. The base game at OpenCritic 93 with 12-15 hours of content is a complete experience on its own.
8. Frequently asked
Q: Is Mina the Hollower worth $19.99 in 2026? A: Yes. The game is the highest-rated game released in 2026 (OpenCritic 93), priced at $19.99, and the launch trailer pulled more than 8,000 concurrent Steam viewers on day one. For context, the game is in the same indie value tier as the original Shovel Knight ($24.99 launch in 2014) and is the most-anticipated Yacht Club Games title since Shovel Knight itself.
Q: How long is Mina the Hollower? A: The main story is 12-15 hours on a first playthrough. Completionists (all collectibles, all optional bosses, all bestiary entries) can expect 20-25 hours. The game has optional hard-mode bosses that add another 5-10 hours. Yacht Club Games has confirmed the launch version is the complete game — no DLC planned at this time.
Q: Does Mina the Hollower run on Steam Deck? A: Yes — the game is Steam Deck Verified. On Steam Deck OLED, expect 60 fps at native 1280×800 with the GBC-style pixel art scaling. Battery life is 4-5 hours. The game does not require any Proton tweaks or per-game settings adjustments; it runs out of the box.
Q: Is there a Switch 2 version? A: Yes — Mina the Hollower is a native Nintendo Switch 2 launch-window title. It runs at 60 fps in docked and handheld modes, with the Switch 2’s HDR support enabled by default. The Switch 2 version supports single-player only (no multiplayer at launch).
Q: Is Mina the Hollower multiplayer? A: No. The game is strictly single-player. Yacht Club Games has confirmed there is no co-op, no PvP, and no async multiplayer at launch. If you want a similar co-op indie experience, look at PEAK or Helldivers 2 instead.
Q: How hard is Mina the Hollower compared to Shovel Knight? A: Mina the Hollower is harder than Shovel Knight in the early game and easier in the late game. The first two bosses are tuned tighter than any Shovel Knight boss — expect 5-10 attempts on each. By the third biome, the power curve evens out and the game becomes more forgiving than Hollow Knight or Blasphemous.
Mina the Hollower is the best dollar-per-hour value of 2026 — $19.99 for 12-15 hours of content, with an OpenCritic 93 and Steam Deck Verified out of the box. If you played Shovel Knight and want to see what Yacht Club Games did next, this is the game. If you have not played Shovel Knight, this is also the game — it is the easier on-ramp into the Yacht Club style.
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