Mina the Hollower Hits Metacritic 92, Tops 2026 Games List
The high review scores and provisional number-one Metacritic ranking signal that a small studio known for a single franchise can deliver a genre-shift hit, but the studio has publicly framed the game as a make-or-break financial challenge, making sales the next critical test.
Key Facts
- Mina the Hollower holds a Metacritic score of 92 on PC across 44 reviews and 92 on PS5 across 5 reviews.
- IGN and TheGamer each gave the PC version a perfect 100 score.
- The game surpassed Forza Horizon 6 and Pokémon Legends: Z-A to become the provisional top-ranked 2026 release on Metacritic.
- Yacht Club Games described the project as a make-or-break financial challenge, with one outlet noting the studio could go bankrupt if sales are poor.
- The game was released on May 29, 2026, for PC, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Reporting from 4 sources: 4Gamer.net, Automaton, Denfaminicogamer, Game Spark.
Yacht Club Games released its new action adventure title "Mina the Hollower" on May 29, 2026, for PC, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. The game, developed by the team behind "Shovel Knight," follows protagonist Mina as she investigates a cursed island using a whip called Nightstar, sidearms, and accessories. On Metacritic, the PC version holds a score of 92 across 44 reviews, with the PS5 version also at 92 across 5 reviews. The Switch 2 version scored 86 across 13 reviews. IGN and TheGamer each gave the PC version a perfect 100. IGN praised the burrowing combat system and the recovery mechanic that uses plasma accumulated by attacking enemies. TheGamer highlighted the game's unique world design, which avoids standard settings like volcanoes and deserts in favor of swamps with killer fish and wickerwork-themed stages. The game surpassed "Forza Horizon 6" and "Pokémon Legends: Z-A" to claim the provisional top spot among 2026 releases on the aggregation site. The game is priced at 2,480 yen for Nintendo platforms and 2,450 yen for Xbox versions.
The game features 8-bit visuals that recall the Game Boy Color, paired with modern widescreen support and detailed animations. Yacht Club Games has described the project as a make-or-break financial challenge for the studio, with one outlet noting that "if sales aren't good, the studio will go bankrupt." Hobby Consolas gave the PC version a 90 out of 100, writing, "If this game doesn't succeed and sell millions, I will completely lose faith in humanity."
Multiple reviews compared the game favorably to the Zelda series. One critic called it "a Zelda-like game" that "not only rivals the Zelda series that inspired it but in some ways surpasses it." GameSpot and Nintendo Life each gave the game a 90 out of 100. Nintendo Life praised the "meticulously crafted, challenging yet accessible adventure set in a beautiful 8-bit gothic world."
IGN Spain awarded the Switch 2 version a perfect 100, calling it "one of the best games of the year" and "a standout among indie titles of this generation." Video Chums gave the PS5 version a 93 out of 100, describing it as "undoubtedly one of the greatest games you will ever play." PC Gamer gave the PC version a 90 out of 100, calling the game "a gothic work that masterfully blends intense combat with beautiful landscapes."
The game was developed over six years. Yacht Club Games previously faced reports of release delays, funding shortages, and staff burnout from multiple projects running simultaneously. At the time of writing, the Xbox Series X|S version had not yet received enough reviews for a Metacritic rating. The PS Store listing for the Japanese market was not yet live at launch.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 4 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- 4Gamer.net 「Mina the Hollower」，本日リリース。ショベルナイトの開発陣が手掛ける，レトロなビジュアルとモダンなシステムを楽しめるアクションADV
- Automaton ドット絵ネズミアクション『Mina the Hollower』、“今年のメタスコア暫定1位”の追い風で人気爆発。『ショベルナイト』開発元の“決死の新作”が好調滑り出し
- Denfaminicogamer 【大絶賛】GBカラー風のゲーム『Mina the Hollower』が海外レビューでメタクリ「92/100」記録、2026年の平均スコア1位に。「地面に潜る戦闘システム」などが高く評価され、2026年ベストゲームの座に躍り出る
- Game Spark 「数百万本売れなければ、人類への信頼を失うだろう」海外レビューハイスコア『Mina the Hollower』