For those not in the loop, Mina the Hollower is a 2D action platformer that was released earlier this month, and it was created by Yacht Club Games. And since its release, it has resonated very well amongst critics and rightfully so. The game has been doing so well, in fact, that it suddenly became the odds-on favorite to take home the Game of the Year award within the indie category.
High Marks for Mina!
Reviews for Mina the Hollower have been glowing across the board. Looking at the game’s Metacritic page, you will note that it is now the highest-rated game on the site with an overall score of 92. And given that this game is beating out some heavy hitters that released earlier this year, such as Forza Horizon 6, Pokemon Pokopia, and Resident Evil Requiem, this is a truly great achievement for Yacht Club Games.
The success of this game should come as no surprise, seeing how Yacht Club games have a history of making gems like Shovel Knight. And by turning back the clock to the days of old by using Game Boy era 8-bit visuals and an expansive world for you to explore, Mina the Hollower is a game that truly stands out in the crowd.
Mina Saves the Day
When you dig deeper into the story that surrounds Mina the Hollower, you’ll quickly find a feel-good story amongst all the gaming industry horrors. Back in December, a report was released by Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier that indicated Mina the Hollower was a “make or break” title for Yacht Club Games to remain independent. The developers faced tons of downsizing and low funding that put even more pressure on this release.
The co-founder of Yacht Club Games, Sean Velasco, put it all into perspective when he claimed that the game needed to sell well for the team to correct course and dig itself out of the hole they resided in for so long. Fast forward to now, with the glowing reviews and praise Mina the Hollower has gotten thus far, it is safe to say the seas might be a little calmer for Yacht Club Games to sail on as an amazing indie game studio.
