Mina the Hollower is already looking like one of 2026’s strongest indie games

Mina the Hollower arrives on Xbox this week, and the early reviews suggest Yacht Club Games may have another modern retro classic on its hands. The top down action adventure game, created by the studio behind Shovel Knight, has launched to extremely strong critical reception and is currently sitting at a 93 Metacritic score on PC, making it one of the highest rated games of 2026 so far.

That is a huge achievement for a game that looks small at first glance. Mina the Hollower uses an 8 bit inspired gothic style, but reviewers are making it clear that this is not just a nostalgia project. The praise is focused on its world design, combat, secrets, challenge, and the way it mixes old school presentation with modern game structure.

The comparisons are exactly the kind of names that get attention. Reviews have mentioned Zelda, Dark Souls, Breath of the Wild, Elden Ring, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, not because Mina copies those games directly, but because it appears to capture the same feeling of exploration, danger, and discovery in a much smaller package.

Yacht Club Games may have proved it is more than the Shovel Knight studio

That is the bigger story here. Shovel Knight became one of the defining indie games of its era, but that also created pressure for Yacht Club Games. Any follow up would be judged against that success. Mina the Hollower shows the studio can move into a different genre while keeping the same level of craft.

Reviewers are especially impressed by how dense the game feels. Mina the Hollower is being described as a compact adventure packed with secrets, tools, enemies, and meaningful choices. That matters because many retro inspired games rely heavily on style. This one seems to have the design depth to support the look.

The combat also appears to be a major strength. Early reviews say the game gives players enough tools to experiment while still keeping the challenge sharp. It can be tough, but not unfair, and it includes modifiers and New Game Plus for players who want more reasons to return after finishing it.

The price also helps. Mina the Hollower launches on May 29 for $19.99, which makes the strong review scores feel even more impressive. In a year where many major releases are expensive, a highly praised indie game at that price could stand out quickly.

For Xbox players, this is another strong May release in a month already filled with bigger names. Forza Horizon 6 and 007 First Light have taken much of the spotlight, but Mina the Hollower may end up being one of the most talked about games among critics and indie fans.

It is also the kind of game that could build momentum through word of mouth. Some players may skip it at launch because of the retro visuals or because it is not a huge AAA release. But reviews this strong usually give an indie game a longer life, especially when players start sharing clips, secrets, boss fights, and completion stories.

Mina the Hollower now has the difficult job of living up to the praise. But based on the early verdict, Yacht Club Games has delivered a game that is not only worthy of attention, but potentially one of 2026’s best releases so far.