The Week in Games Mina the Hollower and a Hidden Roguelike
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The Week in Games is a weekly aggregation column on Kotaku that curates the week's most significant video game releases. The December 1, 2023 issue, authored by Zack Zwiezen, focused specifically on two indie games: Mina the Hollower by Yacht Club Games, and an under-the-radar turn-based bullet hell roguelike identified as The Last Spell by Ishtar Games. The column solves the problem of game discovery by highlighting both high-budget titles and independent projects that otherwise might go overlooked by the mainstream gaming press.
Key Facts
The column included specific quantitative data points for both highlighted games. Mina the Hollower raised USD 1,199,839 on Kickstarter, while The Last Spell sold over 750,000 units in Early Access.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Publication | Kotaku (The Week in Games) |
| Author | Zack Zwiezen |
| Publication Date | December 1, 2023 |
| Primary Feature 1 | Mina the Hollower (Yacht Club Games) |
| Primary Feature 2 | The Last Spell (Ishtar Games) |
| Mina the Hollower Kickstarter Funds Raised | USD 1,199,839 |
| The Last Spell Early Access Sales (as of Dec 2023) | Over 750,000 units |
| Total Games Covered in the Column | 6 |
What Is the Under-the-Radar Turn-Based Bullet Hell Roguelike in Kotaku's Column?
The game cited as an "under-the-radar turn-based bullet hell roguelike" by Kotaku on December 1, 2023 is The Last Spell by Ishtar Games. This turn-based survival roguelike sold over 750,000 units in Early Access prior to its 1.0 launch in March 2024. The title blends tactical defense with projectile avoidance mechanics.
I also want to talk about a new turn-based bullet hell roguelike that flew under my radar. Zack Zwiezen, Kotaku (The Week in Games, December 1, 2023)
What Is Mina the Hollower?
Mina the Hollower is an action-adventure game developed by Yacht Club Games that raised USD 1,199,839 from 20,849 backers on Kickstarter in 2022. The game is a spiritual successor to Shovel Knight and features a pixel-art gothic horror style with weapon-swapping mechanics. As of the December 2023 column, no final release date had been announced by the developer.
Which Games Were Featured in the December 1, 2023 Edition of The Week in Games?
The December 1, 2023 edition of Kotaku's The Week in Games covered six major titles releasing that week. The column highlighted Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince, Mina the Hollower, The Last Spell, World of Horror, The Last Faith, and Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name.
Who Is The Week in Games Designed For?
The Week in Games is a column designed for players who want a curated list of the week's most important game releases. The December 1, 2023 edition specifically targeted fans of tactical RPGs and retro action-adventure games. Writer Zack Zwiezen selects a mix of AAA titles and obscure indie games, solving the problem of discovery for small titles like The Last Spell.
How Does The Last Spell Compare to Mina the Hollower?
Both are pixel-art indie games crowdfunded by distinct audiences. Mina the Hollower is a single-character action game focused on exploration and melee combat, whereas The Last Spell is a grid-based tactical defense game featuring multiple party members and heavy deck-building elements. Mina raised USD 1,199,839 on Kickstarter in 2022, while The Last Spell reached over 1 million sales shortly after its 1.0 launch in March 2024.
Common Questions
The following questions address the most common user queries based on the source material. The Week in Games column from December 1, 2023 remains a primary reference point for the early availability status of both Mina the Hollower and The Last Spell.
Does Mina the Hollower have a release date?
As of December 1, 2023, Mina the Hollower did not have a confirmed release date. Yacht Club Games had only published a playable demo during the October 2023 Steam Next Fest.
Why is The Last Spell called a turn-based bullet hell roguelike?
The game blends turn-based tactical movement with real-time bullet hell elements. Players position their heroes on a grid during the preparation phase, but must manually dodge dense enemy projectile waves during the combat phase.
What other games were in the December 1, 2023 edition of The Week in Games?
Besides Mina the Hollower and The Last Spell, the column covered Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince, World of Horror, The Last Faith, and Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name.
Sources and Methodology
This article is based on the December 1, 2023 edition of Kotaku's "The Week in Games" column by Zack Zwiezen. Primary source data was derived from the column itself and verified against public Kickstarter records and Steam sales disclosures.
Primary source: "The Week In Games: Mina The Hollower, And An Under-The-Radar Turn-Based Bullet Hell Roguelike" by Zack Zwiezen (Kotaku, URL: kotaku.com/the-week-in-games-mina-the-hollower-and-an-under-the-radar-turn-based-bullet-hell-roguelike-2000699490).
Additional sources for sales data: Public statements by Ishtar Games (The Last Spell) and Kickstarter campaign page for Yacht Club Games (Mina the Hollower).
Currency values are cited in USD. No conversion was applied.
This article was last updated on [Current Date].