Mina the Hollower vs Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
Retro top-down burrow-and-whip versus sleek 2.5D time-manipulation — both demand reflexes, but one rewards grit over grace.
Updated 23d ago
Mina's burrow-and-whip combat dethrones its Game Boy inspirations — essential for retro action fans.
The best Ubisoft release in years — Lost Crown nails 2.5D metroidvania flow with Hollow-Knight comparisons, but Ubisoft canceled the sequel after sales disappointed.
By the numbers
Prices checked Aug 7; they move faster than we refresh, so confirm on the store page.
Recent-review figures are Steam's own last-30-days window, read Aug 7.
| Measure | Mina the Hollower | Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown |
|---|---|---|
| Value Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown wins on value | ||
| Price now | $19.99 Steam | $14.99 −50% · Steam |
| All-time low | $19.99 | $8.99 |
| Cost / hour | $1.09/hr $19.99 · 18 h main story | $0.90/hr $14.99 · 17 h main story |
| Off its low | At its low vs $19.99 low | +67% vs $8.99 low |
| Main story | 18 h | 17 h |
| Health Mina the Hollower wins on player health | ||
| Steam reviews | 89% 8k reviews | 84% 7k reviews |
| Recent reviews | 88% 577 votes · vs 89% lifetime | 82% 279 votes · vs 84% lifetime |
| Peak players | 1,564 Jul 2026 · ↓ 82% MoM | 651 Jul 2026 · ↑ 27% MoM |
| All-time peak | — | 1,446 Aug 2024 · now at 45% |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | 4 weeks ago | 23 months ago |
| Patch cadence | 18 in last 90 days | 0 in last 90 days |
| Steam Deck | Platinum | Platinum |
Shared scale — same months across the bottom, same player-count axis up the side, so the two lines are directly comparable. A shorter line means a younger game.
What players say
Patterns from long-haul reviewers, taken from each game's verdict. Not live sentiment — each side is dated below.
Mina the Hollower
The burrow-and-whip combat loop is the hook that genre veterans keep returning to.
The initial difficulty spike is the biggest friction point for new players.
from our July 2026 verdict
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
The fluid platforming and responsive combat make this one of the best Metroidvanias, with a rewarding difficulty curve.
from our May 2026 verdict
Key differences
Which one is for you?
Pick Mina the Hollower if
- You loved Castlevania and Link's Awakening on Game Boy and want that exact feel.
- You enjoy a steep challenge without tutorials — Mina throws you in with minimal instruction.
- You are a Yacht Club fan who trusts them after Shovel Knight.
Pick Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown if
- You want a polished metroidvania with tight platforming and combat akin to Hollow Knight.
- You prefer a 15-hour playtime with clear story beats and puzzle-platformers.
- You don't mind that the developer was disbanded — the game itself is complete.
Bottom line
Choose Mina if you crave authentic 8-bit retro action with no hand-holding; pick Prince if you want a modern metroidvania with time-bending combat and exploration.