Key Takeaways
- Mina the Hollower has earned a 92 on Metacritic and a 93 on OpenCritic ahead of its May 29 launch
- The score beats Forza Horizon 6 (91), Pokémon Pokopia (89), Resident Evil Requiem (89), 007 First Light (88), and Saros (87)
- It arrives from Yacht Club Games, the studio behind Shovel Knight, and is their first new IP outside that franchise in over a decade
- The game launches on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC for just $19.99 on May 29, 2026
Nobody saw this coming, and that is exactly what makes it special.
Mina the Hollower, the next game from Shovel Knight developer Yacht Club Games, has arrived with a Metacritic score of 92 based on 42 reviews, making it the highest-rated game of 2026 and unseating Forza Horizon 6, whose metascore sits at 91.
Other major releases round out behind it: Pokémon Pokopia and Resident Evil Requiem both sit at 89, while Mewgenics and 007 First Light share an 88.
For a studio whose founder, Sean Velasco, openly described this game as “make-or-break for sure,” the early returns could not have landed better.
What Critics Are Saying, and Why the Score Hits Differently
Mina the Hollower received strong critical acclaim as its review embargo lifted, earning multiple perfect scores from major publications.
IGN praised its blend of classic Zelda and Castlevania influences with tight, FromSoftware-style combat, while some called it a standout retro-style achievement.
One reviewer highlighted an 18-hour first playthrough at 54% completion as one of the most engaging experiences they’ve had, praising Yacht Club Games’ flexible difficulty system as something genuinely unique.
The game marks Yacht Club Games’ first new IP outside the Shovel Knight franchise, which began in 2014 and last expanded in 2022.
With a Metacritic average of 92–93, it surpasses Shovel Knight’s 85, becoming the studio’s most critically acclaimed release to date.
Players control Mina, a “Hollower” tasked with rescuing a cursed island, featuring whip combat, underground traversal, and pixel-dense dungeon design.
Critics have widely praised its spritework, audio design, exploration, and especially its accessible yet deep difficulty customization system.
$19.99 at Launch, Context That Makes This Even More Remarkable
Mina the Hollower launches May 29, 2026, across PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC for $19.99, a disruptive price point that throws the current gaming cost landscape into sharp relief.
At a time of rising platform costs and Sony’s PlayStation Plus price hikes, a low-cost indie outperforming major AAA releases signals a notable market shift.
The value strategy extends to the ecosystem level: Mina the Hollower is confirmed for Xbox Game Pass on day one, directly capitalizing on Microsoft’s recent price cuts by granting millions of subscribers immediate access to the year’s best-reviewed game at no additional cost.
With Grand Theft Auto VI scheduled for November as the only remaining title on the calendar likely to challenge its critical standing, Yacht Club Games’ high-stakes venture has officially cemented itself as the definitive Game of the Year frontrunner.
Source: The Highest Metacritic Review-Scored Game Of 2026 Is ‘Mina The Hollower’
