Did a pixel-art indie just outscore the biggest games of the year?
Mina the Hollower
Release Date: May 29, 2026
Genres: Platform, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Mina the Hollower, the latest title from Yacht Club Games, is quickly becoming one of the biggest surprises of 2026 – and a serious Indie Game of the Year contender.
TL;DR
- Mina the Hollower is one of the highest-rated games of 2026
- Outperforming major AAA titles on review aggregators
- Developed by the creators of Shovel Knight
- Features Game Boy-style visuals + modern gameplay
- Strong contender for Indie GOTY
Table of content
Mina the Hollower Is Crushing Reviews
It doesn’t happen often – but when it does, it gets everyone’s attention.
Right now, Mina the Hollower is sitting at the top of review charts, outperforming:
- Forza Horizon 6
- Resident Evil Requiem
- 007: First Light
- Pokémon Pokopia
That’s not just impressive – that’s rare territory for an indie game.
Worth knowing: Indie games topping AAA releases usually signals something special – not just hype.
From Shovel Knight to a New Classic?
If the developer name sounds familiar, it should.
Yacht Club Games previously delivered Shovel Knight, one of the most beloved indie titles ever.
With Mina, they’re building on that legacy – but going even bigger.
- More expansive world design
- Deeper combat systems
- Stronger narrative focus
This isn’t just a follow-up – it’s a major step forward.
Retro Style, Modern Gameplay
At first glance, Mina the Hollower looks like a blast from the past.
The game features:
- Game Boy Color-inspired visuals
- Pixel-perfect animation
- Classic top-down perspective
But underneath that nostalgic layer is a modern system:
- Fast-paced combat with multiple weapons
- Unique burrowing mechanic for traversal
- Exploration-heavy level design
Pro tip: The burrow ability isn’t just a gimmick – mastering it is key to both combat and exploration.
What Is Mina the Hollower About?
You play as Mina, an inventor on a mission to save Tenebrous Isle.
Your goal:
- Restore Spark Generators
- Fight cursed enemies
- Explore diverse, dangerous environments
It’s a mix of:
- Zelda-style exploration
- Action-heavy combat
- Classic adventure storytelling
Why It Could Win Indie GOTY
So what’s pushing Mina into GOTY conversations?
Put simply: it checks every box.
Final Thoughts
Mina the Hollower is exactly why indie games matter.
It proves that:
- You don’t need a massive budget to compete with AAA
- Creative gameplay still wins players over
- Nostalgia + innovation is a powerful combo
If this momentum holds, Mina isn’t just an indie GOTY contender – it could be one of the best games of 2026, period.