Mina the Hollower Beginner Guide (Tips and Tricks)

Underneath Mina the Hollower's cute and colorful design is a brutal and mechanical game.

Even if you're familiar with Soulslikes, the 2D Zelda-styled perspective will provide a unique challenge in comparison to the usual camera angles you're used to within the genre.

That being said, Mina the Hollower is designed for everyone to enjoy. While it is hard, it is always fair. And if the base game isn't what you're looking for, there is a lot you can do to make it more your pace.

Stick around for our beginner tips and tricks to help you get a strong start to one of the best games of 2026.

Soon after booting up your file, you'll be able to choose from three different weapons.

Take your time here and really get a feel for what you feel comfortable with because it'll be a while before you get your next one.

The Shops are quite expensive in the early game and lootable weapons are found within difficult dungeons.

Rushing this choice might cause you to get stuck with an uncomfortable playstyle for a few hours.

Mina the Hollower pays respects to the era of old school adventure games by rewarding players who read through the manual.

Within it, you'll find in-depth explanations of mechanics, details about the world, and overall, just hints that make your life easier.

There's a lot to take in, so feel free to read in batches, but you're bound to be a smarter and better player with each look.

Similar to Breath of the WIld and Elden Ring, you're free to go pretty much any direction in Mina the Hollower as long as your skill can handle it.

If you're looking for the next "recommended" direction to go in terms of difficulty, take a look at the newspaper.

It will update with a new edition every time you beat a major boss and hint at where you can consider going next.

In addition, NPCs will often give additional context about points and people of interest. If you have a notepad nearby, put it to use!

In an ideal world, you'd kill every enemy on sight as you explore the map to maximize your bone income.

However, looking to take every fight, especially early on, is bound to have you die quickly and often.

If you find yourself against new enemies or in a dangerous position (whether due to obstacles or awkward spacing), take it slow or even just bypassing combat entirely if you aren't well equipped with health and Sidearms.

Not sure what to save up Bones for?

Focus on Sparks first and foremost because they represent more active lives before you lose Bones AND they grant you access to locked doors that require a minimum number of Spark orbs.

Next, prioritize Trinket slots because they give you powerful passive effects that are more impactful than simply increasing your health, damage, or defenses.

Having Sidearms at your disposal really expands your toolset as they often have useful applications whether in combat or exploring.

As you play the game, take note of where different Sidearms spawn and remember to come back to them later.

Have a long chasm to get across?

Remember that you can find the Parasol here at the bottom right where the four candles are.

As we mentioned earlier in the "Fight on Your Terms" section, you should always be considering the game state before acting.

If you're stacked on Bones and close to your next upgrade, avoid losing Sparks and facing any unknown or unfavorable situations.

However, if you recently cashed in or lost all your Bones, use it as a clean slate where you can push your limits freely. This is when you can attempt a difficult puzzle room covered in hazards or try killing an enemy you have no business trying to beat.

By doing this, you can improve your skills and expand your known territory without fear of losing well-earned Bones.

One of the best aspects of Mina the Hollower is that you can really tailor it to being the experience you want it to be with its wide range of customizable options.

For example, if you're a fan of Game Boy Color-era Zelda games but don't really vibe with Soulslikes, consider turning on "No Bone Loss" and/or "Weak Boss" to remove those gameplay dynamics.

Ultimately it's up to you if you want to try to beat the default setup but it's totally valid to make adjustments if you feel like you're wasting time or really just want to get to the next segment. You can always turn the modifiers back off when you're getting into the groove and building confidence.