It is 2026 and a game that looks like it was ripped from the NES era has become the top-rated title of the year.
Mina the Hollower, the newest title from Shovel Knight developer Yacht Club Games, launches in a few days across multiple platforms, and it has already dethroned Forza Horizon 6 on Metacritic as the most critically-acclaimed title of the year.
The 2D platformer starring a mouse named Mina currently has a 93 aggregate score on Metacritic after 38 reviews, including 11 perfect scores. This puts it ahead of other highly-rated games of the year like Pokémon Pokopia, Resident Evil Requiem, 007 First Light, and SAROS.
This number feels likely to change over the coming days, as 38 reviews is a pretty small number when compared to some of the other games on the list. That average will be tough to maintain, but if the game is as good as many are saying, then some more 10s are possible.
Destructoid did not receive an early access code for the game, so our potential review is not included in the list. I do think it’s awesome to see such a niche title up there with some triple-A juggernauts, and this year’s game of the year discussion will be quite a varied one, if nothing else.
It was safe to expect a solid game from the makers of Shovel Knight, but praise is coming in across the board for its clear classic Zelda inspirations, expert game design, and expansive world to explore in a first playthrough and New Game-Plus, to boot.
“Mina the Hollower is another masterpiece from Yacht Club Games, a Zelda style game that manages not only to equal the series that inspired it, but in some ways surpasses it,” said GamingTrend in its 10/10 scored review.
Mina the Hollower launches on May 29 for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and Nintendo Switch for $19.99.
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