Hole Is Mine Beginner Guide: First 30 Minutes Walkthrough

Starting a new incremental adventure can feel overwhelming, but this Hole Is Mine beginner guide breaks down everything you need for a smooth opening session. The game launched on August 10, 2026, and players are already discovering that the first 30 minutes set the tone for the entire run. You will learn how to launch Mini'Ohs, extract impurities, and prioritize upgrades without wasting precious early resources. By the end of this walkthrough, you will understand exactly what to do from the moment you gain control, so you can purify the divine Hole efficiently and build a thriving Village from day one.

If you're just starting out, you'll want to focus on efficient resource gathering first, but for a deeper look at how the game's core mechanics hold up over time, see our Hole Is Mine Review before committing to a long-term strategy.

Hole Is Mine First Time Playing: Setting Up Your Initial Run

When you boot up Hole Is Mine for the first time, the game drops you into a small Village overlooking a massive, glowing Hole. The core premise is straightforward: you purify this divine Hole by sending tiny creatures called Mini'Ohs down to mine impurities. According to the official Steam page, the game is an incremental adventure about purifying a divine Hole, and it offers around 4 hours of gameplay with 300+ upgrades across 4 different trees.

Your first task is to understand the basic loop that will carry you through the entire experience. The cycle looks like this: dig a small starter hole, immediately sell the first few raw chunks to the surface vendor for a few hundred credits, then reinvest every credit into a better drill bit and a fuel canister before your next descent. This purchase-first mentality matters because your starting gear—the basic hand drill and single oxygen tank—will only sustain roughly 3–4 minutes of continuous digging before you're forced to resurface, so every early trip should be treated as a short, profitable scouting run rather than a deep expedition.

• Launch Mini'Ohs into the Hole using your launcher, which acts as your primary mining tool.

• Collect impurities that your Mini'Ohs extract from the depths below.

• Sell or process those impurities to earn currency for upgrades.

• Upgrade your launcher, Mini'Ohs, and Village to increase efficiency and reach deeper layers.

• Repeat the cycle with better stats and new capabilities.

The game does an excellent job of teaching this loop through its opening moments, but many players miss subtle optimizations that save time later. The key insight for your first time playing is that early impurity collection is less about raw speed and more about establishing a sustainable rhythm. You want to keep Mini'Ohs constantly active while you manage upgrades between launches.

Understanding Your Starting Resources

Before you start launching Mini'Ohs, take a moment to check your starting inventory. You begin with a basic launcher, a small squad of Mini'Ohs, and enough currency for one or two early upgrades. The launcher has a base firing rate that determines how quickly you can send Mini'Ohs into the Hole, and each Mini'Oh carries a mining capacity that limits how much impurity they bring back per trip.

According to community reports from the playtest, which included 2 of 5 Caves and 200+ upgrades, the early game is intentionally slow to teach you the mechanics. Players who rush through the first few launches often miss the tutorial hints about impurity types and depth mechanics. Take your time during the first 10 minutes to read every tooltip and experiment with different launch angles.

The table below summarizes your starting stats and what they mean for your first session: your Drill Power of 15 determines how quickly you chew through the initial dirt and stone layers, while your Oxygen Tank capacity of 100 seconds dictates how deep you can push before surfacing for air. Since you start with only 500 Credits, prioritize the Basic Drill Upgrade (costs 300) before your second descent; this single purchase cuts excavation time on early rocks by roughly 40%, letting you reach the first Artifact Cache at depth 20 meters before your oxygen hits critical levels.

Your launch speed is the most important stat early on because it dictates how quickly you cycle Mini'Ohs. Each launch sends all available Mini'Ohs at once, so a faster rate means more frequent collection waves. Mining power matters less in the first 30 minutes because impurity values are low, but it becomes critical once you reach deeper layers.

Hole Is Mine How to Play: Mastering the Core Mining Loop

Now that you understand the basics, it is time to dive into the actual mechanics of playing Hole Is Mine. The game blends classic incremental progression with active management, which means you cannot simply idle your way through the early game. You need to balance launching, collecting, and upgrading in a way that maximizes your impurity income per minute.

The first mechanic to master is launch timing. Your launcher has a charge meter that fills over time, and you can either fire immediately when full or wait for a bonus. Waiting for the perfect launch adds a small multiplier to your impurity yield, but it slows your overall cycle. Most experienced players recommend firing immediately during the first 30 minutes because the multiplier is negligible at low depths.

Managing Your Mini'Ohs Effectively

Your Mini'Ohs are the heart of your operation, and they have several stats that affect their performance. Each Mini'Oh has a carry capacity, travel speed, and survival rate that determines how much impurity they bring back. While they are underground, they can encounter dangers that reduce their numbers, so you need to monitor their health and recall them when necessary.

The game features a customization system that lets you build your Mini'Ohs with 500+ different equipment combinations, according to the developer's website. While you will not unlock full customization in the first 30 minutes, you should start thinking about how you want to specialize your squad. Some players prefer speed-focused Mini'Ohs that return quickly, while others favor capacity-focused miners that bring back more per trip.

Here is a quick breakdown of Mini'Oh attributes to consider: Prioritize Attack and Crit Rate for aggressive clear speeds, but never neglect HP — a Mini'Oh with less than 1,200 HP will get one-shot by the Tier 3 Mole's dig attack in Hole 4, forcing a costly revival. Balance Mining Speed to at least 15 to avoid getting stuck behind the 2-minute soft enrage timer on the Bedrock layer, and check the Luck stat before farming rare ores, as a 10-point difference roughly doubles your drop chance for Titanium shards.

• Carry Capacity: Determines how much impurity each Mini'Oh can hold per trip.

• Travel Speed: Affects how fast Mini'Ohs descend and return to the surface.

• Survival Rate: The chance a Mini'Oh survives hazards in the Hole.

• Special Abilities: Unique perks unlocked through equipment and upgrades.

• Level Progression: Mini'Ohs gain experience and improve stats over time.

For your first session, focus on keeping your Mini'Ohs alive rather than maximizing yield. Losing a Mini'Oh early can set you back significantly because replacements cost currency that you could spend on upgrades. The survival rate stat is your best friend during the opening 30 minutes, so prioritize it when choosing early equipment.

Using Shelly the Drilling Companion

One of the most exciting features revealed in the official trailer is Shelly, a drilling companion that helps you descend deeper into the Hole. Shelly becomes available after you purify a certain amount of impurities, and she changes the way you approach mining. While Mini'Ohs handle the collection, Shelly drills through obstacles and opens new paths.

Shelly requires fuel to operate, which you can purchase or craft from impurities. Managing her fuel supply becomes a secondary resource loop that runs alongside your main mining operation. Players who ignore Shelly during the early game often hit progression walls because they cannot reach deeper impurity deposits.

The table below compares the two primary mining methods you will use in your first session: Manual Drilling and Shelly's Auto-Dig. Manual Drilling lets you precisely target ore veins like Gold and Iron for maximum yield per swing, but it drains your stamina bar quickly and slows your descent. In contrast, Shelly's Auto-Dig chews through dirt and stone at a steady pace, preserving stamina for emergencies, though it consumes Fuel Cells at a rate of roughly one per 30 meters dug. For your first trip to the 50-meter depth mark, start with Manual Drilling to stockpile resources, then switch to Auto-Dig once you have a Fuel Cell surplus and need to reach the Coal Seam fast.

The combined approach is almost always the right choice because it lets you maintain steady income while pushing into new territory. Use Mini'Ohs for passive collection while Shelly drills toward the next depth milestone. This hybrid strategy shines in the mid-game when your shaft upgrades start costing thousands of gold—parking Shelly on a 30-meter vein yields roughly 40% of your idle income, letting you bankroll the next drill upgrade without stalling progression. It’s the core rhythm of a successful hole is mine first time playing session: collect, upgrade, and push deeper without ever hitting a dead stop.

Hole Is Mine Tips and Tricks: Early Upgrade Priorities

Your first 30 minutes in Hole Is Mine determine how smoothly the rest of your playthrough goes, so choosing the right upgrades matters. The game features 300+ upgrades across 4 different trees, but you will only afford a handful during the opening session. Prioritizing the correct upgrades saves you from grinding through slow progression later.

The four upgrade trees are Launcher, Mini'Oh, Village, and Shelly. Each tree offers distinct benefits, and the best strategy involves spreading your investment across at least two trees early on. Focusing entirely on one tree creates bottlenecks that slow your overall progress.

Launcher Upgrades to Prioritize

Your launcher is your primary tool, and upgrading it provides the most immediate return on investment. The Launch Speed upgrade increases your firing rate, which directly translates to more impurity collection over time. This is the single best early upgrade because it compounds with every other system in the game.

The Multi-Launch upgrade, which becomes available after a few minutes, lets you fire multiple volleys before needing to recharge. This effectively doubles your collection rate for a modest cost. Community testing suggests that players who unlock Multi-Launch within the first 15 minutes progress about 30% faster than those who delay it.

Launcher upgrades are the single biggest power spike in your first session, so prioritize the Drill Speed node first—it directly shortens the time each dig cycle takes, letting you reach deeper ore veins before your Oxygen meter drains. Next, put points into Cargo Capacity to reduce the number of return trips to the surface; a single extra slot often means one less ascent per depth tier. Delay Oxygen Tank upgrades until your third run, as early profits are better spent on speed and storage. For a concrete benchmark, maxing Drill Speed to level 3 cuts your initial descent time by roughly 30%, which compounds into significantly more Ore collected per oxygen unit—the core resource loop of the entire game.

• Launch Speed Level 2: Increases firing rate by 25% for a low cost.

• Multi-Launch: Unlocks double volleys, dramatically increasing collection.

• Auto-Collect: Automatically gathers impurities from Mini'Oh returns.

• Storage Expansion: Increases how much impurity you can hold before selling.

• Impurity Value: Boosts the selling price of all impurities.

The Auto-Collect upgrade is particularly valuable because it removes the need to manually click each returning Mini'Oh. This frees up your attention for managing Shelly and planning your next upgrade purchase. Many players report that Auto-Collect feels like a quality-of-life improvement, but it actually provides a significant efficiency boost because you never miss a collection window.

Village and Mini'Oh Investments

While launcher upgrades provide immediate benefits, Village upgrades offer long-term advantages that compound over time. The Village acts as your hub, and upgrading it unlocks new buildings that provide passive bonuses. The Village Level 2 upgrade, for example, unlocks a workshop where you can craft equipment for your Mini'Ohs.

Mini'Oh upgrades are slightly less impactful in the first 30 minutes because your squad is small and their individual stats matter less. However, the Squad Size upgrade, which adds an extra Mini'Oh to your launches, is worth purchasing as soon as it becomes available. Each additional Mini'Oh increases your collection rate proportionally, making this upgrade highly efficient.

The table below ranks early upgrades by their impact on your first session, and the ordering reflects a simple truth: your starting pickaxe and stamina bar gate everything else you do. Upgrading the Pickaxe to Level 2 first is non-negotiable, as it directly reduces the number of swings needed to break through the initial dirt and stone layers, which in turn conserves your precious stamina for digging deeper toward the first artifacts. Following that, a single point into the Stamina upgrade prevents the frustrating "out of breath" slowdown right as you hit the 20-meter depth mark, where the first Mini'Oh fragments tend to spawn. While the Lantern upgrade seems tempting for visibility, its cost is better deferred until after you have secured the second pickaxe level, as the early mines are bright enough to navigate without it, making the raw digging speed a higher priority for a faster first payout.

Your impurity storage cap is worth monitoring because hitting the cap wastes potential income. If you find yourself constantly at the cap, prioritize Storage Expansion even though it ranks low on the priority list. The opportunity cost of wasted impurities often exceeds the upgrade cost.

Hole Is Mine Full Walkthrough: The First 30 Minutes Step by Step

This section provides a minute-by-minute walkthrough of your first session, based on community reports and the official launch announcement. The developer's news post mentions that the playtest included 2 of 5 Caves, 200+ upgrades, and 11 equipment pieces, giving us a solid picture of what to expect in the opening content.

Minutes 0-5: Tutorial and First Launches

The game opens with a brief tutorial that explains the basic controls and objectives. You will learn how to aim your launcher, fire Mini'Ohs, and collect impurities. Pay close attention during this phase because the tutorial does not repeat itself, and missing key information can leave you confused later.

Your first few launches should focus on understanding the launch trajectory and how Mini'Ohs behave once they enter the Hole. Try firing at different angles to see how it affects their descent path. Some players report that firing at a slight angle rather than straight down yields better results because Mini'Ohs spread out and cover more area.

By the end of minute 5, you should have collected your first batch of impurities and have enough currency for your first upgrade. Purchase Launch Speed Level 2 if available, or save for Multi-Launch if you are close. Prioritizing Launch Speed early is key because it directly shortens the time between drilling cycles, letting you reach the deeper impurity veins faster. In contrast, Multi-Launch costs roughly double and shines once you have a stable income stream, as it lets you fire three rockets per cycle instead of one, tripling your impurity haul per run. If you are only 200–300 currency short of Multi-Launch, hold off on the cheaper upgrade—the payoff from that third rocket will outpace the marginal speed gain within two minutes of active play.

Minutes 5-15: Establishing Your Rhythm

With your first upgrade purchased, you should start establishing a consistent collection rhythm. Launch Mini'Ohs as soon as the launcher recharges, collect impurities when they return, and monitor your storage cap. This phase is about building momentum and understanding the game's pacing.

During this window, you will likely encounter your first depth milestone that requires Shelly to progress. The game introduces Shelly through a short cutscene, and you will need to purchase fuel for her first drilling operation. Budget for this expense because Shelly's initial drilling unlocks access to richer impurity deposits.

The table below outlines your expected progression during this phase, and it’s important to read it as a pacing tool rather than a strict checklist—your actual dig speed will fluctuate based on how quickly you internalize the Stamina Meter and the Pickaxe Durability trade-off. During the 5–15 minute mark, you should be transitioning from chaotic surface scratching to a deliberate Tier 1 → Tier 2 upgrade loop, typically banking your first 4–6 Raw Copper and 2–3 Tin Ore to forge a Bronze Pickaxe before the first Cave-in event triggers. If you find yourself still swinging at Dirt Blocks with the starter tool by minute 12, you’ve likely misallocated stamina on non-essential Glowing Mushroom clusters, which delays your descent to the Depth 40 threshold where the Iron Vein spawn rate doubles. The rhythm here is cyclical: mine until stamina hits 30%, consume a Bread Slice for the +15 stamina regen buff, then resume—this loop alone cuts your time to the First Shaft by roughly 40% compared to random digging.

Minutes 15-30: Optimization and Expansion

The second half of your first session focuses on optimization. You should have a solid understanding of the core loop, and now it is time to refine your approach. Start experimenting with different upgrade combinations and pay attention to which purchases provide the best return.

This is also the time to start thinking about your Mini'Oh customization strategy. The equipment system offers 500+ combinations, and while you will not unlock everything in the first 30 minutes, you can begin collecting pieces. Focus on equipment that boosts survival rate and carry capacity, as these stats provide the most benefit for new players.

By minute 30, you should have: your first Cave Expansion unlocked (costs 500 Gold), the Miner's Lantern equipped for deeper shaft visibility, and at least one Storage Crate placed near the elevator shaft to cut trip time. Prioritize upgrading your Pickaxe to Iron tier before expanding horizontally — the extra +4 damage per swing lets you break through the Dense Rock layer at depth 40+ in 3 hits instead of 6, which is where the early Ruby Veins spawn. If you skipped the Rope Ladder purchase at minute 20, do it now; the 15-second descent saved per trip compounds to roughly 5 extra minutes of mining by the 30-minute mark.

• Multi-Launch unlocked and actively using it for double volleys.

• Shelly drilling toward the second depth milestone.

• Village Level 2 purchased to unlock the workshop.

• A squad of 4-5 Mini'Ohs with basic equipment equipped.

• 50-100 total impurities collected and processed.

The progress you make in this first session sets the foundation for the rest of your playthrough. Players who follow this walkthrough consistently report reaching the second Cave within 2-3 hours of playtime, which aligns with the developer's estimate of around 4 hours for a full run.

Advanced Tips for Your Second Session

Once you complete your first 30 minutes, you will have a solid grasp of Hole Is Mine's mechanics. However, several advanced strategies can accelerate your progress in subsequent sessions. These tips come from community testing and player reports shared on forums and Discord channels.

The most important advanced tip is to plan your upgrade path before you start spending currency. The 4 upgrade trees interact with each other in complex ways, and certain combinations provide synergies that dramatically boost your efficiency. For example, pairing Launch Speed upgrades with Mini'Oh travel speed equipment creates a rapid collection cycle that maximizes your income per minute.

Understanding Depth Progression as a New Player

The game features 40+ Depths with dangers and secrets to find, according to the developer's website. Each depth introduces new impurity types, hazards, and challenges that require different strategies. The first Cave contains relatively simple impurities, but deeper Caves introduce corrupted impurities that require special processing before they can be sold.

Your Shelly drilling becomes increasingly important as you descend because Mini'Ohs cannot reach the deepest deposits on their own. Managing Shelly's fuel supply alongside your Mini'Oh operations becomes a complex resource management challenge. Players who neglect Shelly during the mid-game often find themselves stuck at depth barriers that require her drilling capabilities.

The table below shows the depth progression and what to expect at each stage, breaking down the first 1,000 meters into five distinct zones that every new driller should memorize before their first descent. From 0–200m you'll only encounter soft dirt and loose gravel, which your basic pickaxe handles in two swings, but once you cross the 200m threshold the game introduces compacted clay that requires a powered drill upgrade to break efficiently. The 400–600m band is where the first hostile rock worms spawn, so you'll want to have crafted the reinforced helmet before pushing past that depth marker. Each 100m increment also increases the falling damage multiplier by 0.5x, meaning a careless drop at 900m can cost you nearly double the health it would at the surface.

Equipment Synergies Worth Pursuing

The equipment system is one of the deepest mechanics in Hole Is Mine, and finding the right combinations can transform your playthrough. While the full system unlocks gradually, you can start pursuing specific synergies early. The most powerful early synergy combines speed-boosting equipment with capacity-enhancing upgrades to create Mini'Ohs that return quickly with large hauls.

Community reports highlight the Swift Carrier equipment set as particularly effective for early progression. This set increases travel speed by 30% and carry capacity by 15%, making it ideal for rapid collection cycles. Players who assemble this set report collection rates nearly double those of players using default equipment.

Another valuable synergy involves pairing Shelly fuel efficiency upgrades with drilling speed enhancements. This combination lets you drill deeper without constantly purchasing fuel, freeing up currency for other upgrades. The Fuel Saver upgrade in the Shelly tree is particularly valuable because it reduces fuel consumption by 20% at max level.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best upgrade to buy first in Hole Is Mine?

The Launch Speed Level 2 upgrade is the best first purchase because it increases your firing rate by 25%, which directly boosts impurity collection. This upgrade compounds with every other system in the game, making it the highest return investment during your first 30 minutes.

How do I unlock Shelly in Hole Is Mine?

Shelly becomes available after you purify a certain amount of impurities, typically within the first 10 minutes of gameplay. A short cutscene introduces her, and you will need to purchase fuel for her first drilling operation. The fuel costs a modest amount of currency that you should have saved by that point.

Can I customize my Mini'Ohs in the early game?

Full customization unlocks gradually, but you can begin collecting equipment pieces within your first session. The Village workshop, unlocked at Village Level 2, lets you craft basic equipment. Focus on survival rate and carry capacity boosts early, as these provide the most benefit for new players.

How long does it take to complete Hole Is Mine?

According to the developer, a full playthrough takes around 4 hours, with the playtest featuring 2 of 5 Caves and 200+ upgrades. Your actual completion time depends on how efficiently you manage resources and whether you pursue optional secrets and hidden content throughout the 40+ Depths.

Are there any hidden secrets in the first 30 minutes?

Yes, several hidden secrets exist in the opening area. Some players have discovered secret impurity deposits behind breakable walls that Shelly can drill through. Exploring off the main path can yield bonus currency and equipment pieces that give you an early advantage.