Brand New 2026 Release is Officially the Highest Rated Game of the Year

While the Forza Horizon series has always been stellar, seeing an Xbox-published video game in FH6 take the title of highest-rated game of the year on OpenCritic just a week or so ago is no doubt surprising to some, but now it’s been passed. A brand new release has surpassed the likes of 007 First Light, Mewgenics, Pokemon Pokopia, Resident Evil Requiem, and Forza Horizon 6, and that game is Mina the Hollower.

Over on OpenCritic, reviews for Mina the Hollower have just gone live ahead of its May 28 release date. OpenCritic lists Forza Horizon 6 as having a 91 Top Critic Average, which makes it an incredible game for the year, but Mina the Hollower tops it. After 27 reviews, it currently sits at a 92 Top Critic Average.

Mina the Hollower Review Roundup

For those unfamiliar, Mina the Hollower is the latest game from Yacht Club Games of Shovel Knight fame. In it, players take on the titular Hollower in an action-adventure game with Game Boy Color-era graphics. Players have plenty of gear, from sidearms to trinkets, to explore the game to music that is simply infectious. Along the way, players explore exotic locales and meet bizarre characters. It focuses on tight controls, a tight story inspired by Victorian Gothic horror, and face-challenging combat within an interconnected level design. And where it shines, it truly shines, it’s clear.

Jason Schreier of Bloomberg calls it a “masterpiece” that is a blend of 2D Zelda games, Castlevania, and Bloodborne “with loads of clever mechanics and delightful secrets.” He continued, “I love it so much that I played through it all, got 100%, and then replayed it with the built-in item randomizer. GOTY”

Hayes Madsen, writing for The Outerhaven Productions, calls it a brilliant game inspired by classic Zelda “while building something that feels fresh, challenging, and uniquely its own….instant classic.” Tay Garcia of DualShockers called it the “gothic Zelda with touches of Castlevania and Dark Souls that I never knew I needed.” Daire Behan of Gamer Social Club says that it is an example of Yacht Club Games “in full form” and that Mina the Hollower is a “joyously ambitious modern take on classic action-adventure games, blending carefully executed mechanics with a world that isn’t afraid to bite back, making for an experience that continuously empowers the player and rewards curiosity at every turn.”

Samuel Claiborn, writing for IGN, said that the game “will burrow into your brain and set up a cozy little house there. I couldn’t let it go.” Joshua Robertson, writing for TheGamer, called it an “almost faultless game that combines elements of nostalgic classics we know and love with a healthy dose of Yacht Club’s flair and expertise to make it something that truly stands out as a retro-inspired masterpiece.” Mick Abrahamson, writing for But Why Tho, summarized it simply: “A blast to play.”

What’s That Weapon?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Easy (7.5s)
Medium (5.0s)
Hard (2.5s)
Permadeath (2.5s)

Start

Restart
Back

Results

0

High Score: 0

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What’s That Weapon?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)Start

RestartBack

Results

0

High Score: 0
—

It remains to be seen how Mina the Hollower is received by the wider, general audience, but it’s clearly off to a strong start. Yacht Club Games clearly has something special here, and fans of retro games (and beyond) ought to pay attention.