Yacht Club Games
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Saving the studio, Mina the Hollower sells 300,000 copies in 3 days as head wonders "how come the best-reviewed game of 2026 is not the fastest-selling game"
Mina the Hollower, the new action game from Yacht Club Games, has sold 300,000 copies in its first three days, a crucial success for the studio. Despite receiving critical acclaim and being tied for the highest-rated game of the year, director Sean Velasco expressed a desire for higher sales numbers to match the critical reception. The game is priced at $20 and has seen strong performance on Steam, contributing to the studio's financial stability.
Mina The Hollower Is Selling Much Faster Than Shovel Knight
Mina The Hollower has sold 300,000 copies in its first three days, significantly outperforming Shovel Knight's initial sales. Developer Yacht Club Games stated these strong sales ensure the studio can continue operations without layoffs or seeking external investment. The game's success is attributed partly to positive reviews, with Mina The Hollower currently tied as the best-reviewed game of 2026.
Mina the Hollower sales surpass 300,000 copies in three days
Yacht Club Games announced that Mina the Hollower has sold over three million copies across all platforms worldwide within its first three days of release. The game is available on Nintendo Switch and its eShop.
Mina The Hollower’s 11th-Hour Delay Was To Eliminate “The Worst Room In The Game”
Yacht Club Games delayed the release of Mina the Hollower to address player feedback and refine specific in-game areas, including eliminating what was considered "the worst room in the game." The studio also focused on balancing the game's open-world structure to accommodate various player progression paths.
Mina the Hollower is another absolute gem from Yacht Club Games
Mina the Hollower is a retro-styled pixel-art action-adventure game from Yacht Club Games, known for the Shovel Knight series. The game features challenging gameplay inspired by classics like Zelda and Castlevania, with modern touches and extensive accessibility options. It was successfully funded on Kickstarter and includes native Linux support.
Mina the Hollower tunnels into our hearts! Pure Nintendo Podcast E164
The Pure Nintendo Podcast episode 164 covers Yacht Club Games' Mina the Hollower, upcoming Switch 2 announcements including Dragon Quest XI S and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, and Donkey Kong 64's arrival on Switch Online. The hosts also discuss demos for The Adventures of Elliot and Pictonico, physical releases, and local gaming events in Brisbane.
Mina The Hollower Traps You In The Bayou (To Teach You That You Can Get Out)
Yacht Club Games intentionally designed an area in Mina the Hollower to trap players, teaching them that progression relies on the burrowing mechanic rather than traditional Zelda-like equipment. This approach aims to prevent players from encountering insurmountable difficulty spikes by wandering into areas beyond their current abilities, while still retaining an old-school sense of challenge and discovery.
The best-rated game of 2026 is $20 because the devs "don't want people to wait" for a discount: "We…
Indie developer Yacht Club Games has priced its upcoming title, Mina the Hollower, at $20, a decision co-founder Sean Velasco states was made to ensure players wouldn't hesitate to purchase it. This pricing strategy contrasts with the industry trend of $70 games and has contributed to Mina the Hollower receiving high praise and strong initial sales, with Velasco aiming for over a million copies sold.
Mina The Hollower Was Inspired By Pokemon And Final Fantasy Adventure
Yacht Club Games' upcoming title, Mina the Hollower, draws inspiration from a variety of classic games, including Pokemon and Final Fantasy Adventure, in addition to its clear Zelda and souls-like influences. David D'Angelo of Yacht Club Games highlighted the appeal of packing extensive content into small packages, a hallmark of Game Boy-era titles.
How Shovel Knight’s Kickstarter Resulted In Mina The Hollower’s Massive Modifier System
Yacht Club Games' latest title, Mina the Hollower, features a robust modifier system that allows players to customize difficulty, a concept that originated from the Kickstarter campaign for their debut game, Shovel Knight. Originally conceived as a way to fulfill a backer tier promising unique secrets, the idea evolved from a cheat code system into the expansive, menu-driven modifier system seen in Mina the Hollower, offering players meticulous control over their gameplay experience.
The Surprising Factors That Made Mina The Hollower A Game Of The Year Contender
David D’Angelo, lead programmer at Yacht Club Games, discusses the development and design of Mina the Hollower, a game that blends Souls-like challenge with Zelda-inspired exploration. The interview highlights the studio's approach to difficulty options, inspired by cheat codes and player freedom, and their passion for retro game design limitations. D'Angelo also touches on the game's reception and the studio's philosophy on making games accessible while retaining their core identity.
Is Mina the Hollower too hard? The debate is on, as players discuss the challenge of Yacht Club's smash hit
Players are debating the difficulty of Yacht Club Games' Mina the Hollower, with some finding it too challenging and others defending its design. The discussion highlights the game's intricate mechanics and the availability of extensive accessibility options that can be adjusted to suit player preferences.
Mina the Hollower Review
Mina the Hollower is a retro-style action-adventure game from Yacht Club Games that blends classic 8-bit aesthetics with Zelda-like exploration and combat. While it offers engaging gameplay and a detailed world, the review notes some frustrating design choices, including punishing difficulty spikes, inconvenient weapon switching, and a lack of a detailed in-game map that can hinder progression.
Before Mina the Hollower, Yacht Club paused a 3D Shovel Knight game that's 'not far from being showable'…
Yacht Club Games co-founder Sean Velasco revealed that a 3D Shovel Knight game was halfway through development before being paused to focus on Mina the Hollower. The studio plans to return to the 3D Shovel Knight project after supporting Mina the Hollower, emphasizing a preference for developing games one at a time.
Mina the Hollower and Call of Duty join this week’s eShop roundup
The Nintendo eShop is featuring several new releases, including Yacht Club Games' retro-inspired action-RPG Mina the Hollower and the latest Call of Duty title, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, for the Nintendo Switch 2. A new mobile game, Pictonico!, which uses phone photos for minigames, is also available on Android and iOS devices.
Inspired by Silksong, Mina the Hollower dev says its $20 price was an easy decision
Yacht Club Games has priced its new action-platformer, Mina the Hollower, at $20, a decision influenced by the success of Hollow Knight Silksong at the same price point. Studio co-founder Sean Velasco stated the team unanimously agreed on the price to ensure accessibility for players. The game is available on PC via Steam and GOG.
Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (30th May)
Several Nintendo Life staff members share their weekend gaming plans, with titles like Mina The Hollower, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and Star Fox 64 being prominent. Recent news includes Dragon Quest announcements, a Resident Evil 4 demo, and new mobile app and NSO additions.
Mina The Hollower Is Now Metacritic's Highest-Rated Game Of 2026
Mina The Hollower has become Metacritic's highest-rated game of 2026, with the PC version holding a critic score of 92/100. Developed by Yacht Club Games, the Zelda-style adventure has surpassed other major releases like Forza Horizon 6 and Resident Evil Requiem. The studio is optimistic about sales, aiming for one million copies sold.
Full Mina the Hollower Soundtrack Debuts on Bandcamp
The full 96-track official soundtrack for Yacht Club Games' Mina the Hollower is now available on Bandcamp as a "name your price" release, with an option to download for free. Composed primarily by Jake Kaufman, with two tracks by Yuzo Koshiro, the soundtrack utilizes Game Boy and Konami MSX sound chips. The game is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC.
Review: Mina the Hollower (PS5) - Masterpiece for Many, But Not for Me
Yacht Club Games' Mina the Hollower blends Zelda-like exploration with Souls-like mechanics, offering a challenging experience for fans of both genres. While the game is crafted with care, its demanding combat and punishing death mechanics may not appeal to all players. The title features extensive customization options, allowing players to tailor the difficulty and gameplay to their preferences.
