Mina The Hollower Is The First Souls-Like I've Actually Finished; Here's Why

Mina the Hollower delivers souls-like challenge through limited healing, runbacks between safe zones, and losing currency when defeated until it is recovered by defeating the threat. The game wraps these mechanics in a classic Zelda-like presentation, with familiar platforming and combat structures. Movement and combat rely on burrowing and releasing to time jumps and attacks, adding a dexterity-focused twist to known mechanics. The world is open, allowing players to explore and find ways to progress without being locked into a single linear path. The overall result is a game that can feel intimidating at first but becomes manageable through its accessible, Zelda-inspired systems.

"Mina the Hollower is inspired by souls-like challenge, and it carries forward some elements like limited healing, runbacks between your safe zones, and the penalty of losing your currency if you can't earn it back by defeating the threat that felled you. But this is all presented in a wrapper that is familiar for fans of classic Zelda games. Mina is much more dextrous than Link ever was. Learning when and how to burrow and release into a jump is an important skill for both platforming and combat challenges."

"I'm speaking from experience here. I love the Game Boy era of Zelda games. Link's Awakening may be one of my most-played games of all time. But I've never really gotten into souls-likes, and their notorious difficulty has always pushed me away. I've dabbled in some, and put a few dozen hours into Elden Ring since its more open structure felt more inviting. But I eventually hit a wall with it too, and so to this day I haven't actually finished a souls-like game."

"Having reviewed the game, I am here to tell you: It is fine; you can do this. If you're anything like me, you may lament that its combat is very difficult and inspired by the souls-like genre. If you aren't especially keen on souls-like games, that may feel intimidating, even if you're otherwise attracted to its Game Boy Zelda aesthetic and general vibe. Despite all this, I loved Mina the Hollower, and I think there's a good chance that you will too."

Read at GameSpot