Yacht Club Games has detailed the design choices behind Mina the Hollower, including its non-linear structure and a major ending twist that confronts players with their actions.
Programmer David D’Angelo and designer Alec Faulkner discussed the game in an interview published on June 11. They explained how players can access the Astral Orrery dungeon early by finding hidden mirrors, a feature meant to reward exploration and experimentation.
The ending features a Chrono Trigger-inspired scene where Lionel lists crimes committed by Mina throughout the game. D’Angelo said the team drew from Victorian literature to create a downer conclusion where the island falls into chaos and Mina goes into hiding.
Faulkner noted the story reflects real-world issues like housing costs and social inequality. The twist was designed to make players reflect on their choices, with the option to hear up to 20 examples of misdeeds if enough have been committed.