Minna the Hollower blends Link’s Awakening charm with Bloodborne

Yacht Club Games’ Minna the Hollower is scheduled for release on May 29. Previewers who tested the game before launch described a mix of classic top-down adventure and deliberate, challenge-focused combat.

Preview coverage noted the game’s top-down exploration, puzzle elements and colorful environments similar to Link’s Awakening, combined with melee-focused combat that borrows pacing and recovery elements from modern action titles.

A central bone system functions as an in-game resource that influences risk and reward. Previewers noted the bone economy scales with player progress, which alters how losses and gains affect each session compared with other Souls-inspired systems.

The preview highlighted a range of weapons that change how players approach fights and exploration, rather than promoting a single dominant tactic. Combat encounters and boss fights were described as tougher than the general exploration areas.

Previewers observed the game’s aesthetic and pacing as cozy and colorful during exploration, with darker enemy design and more intense boss battles layered on top. The coverage suggested the title is well suited for the Nintendo Switch.

A preview described it as ‘The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening crossed with Bloodborne’ and wrote that the game ‘has cooked up something special.’

Minna the Hollower is developed by Yacht Club Games and will be available May 29. Early impressions focus on the combination of top-down adventure design with a distinct bone mechanic and weapon-driven combat.