Mina the Hollower overtakes Forza Horizon 6 as one of the year’s highest rated games

Forza Horizon 6 briefly looked like the highest rated game of the year, but that top spot has already been taken by a smaller release. Mina the Hollower, the new game from Shovel Knight developer Yacht Club Games, has jumped ahead of Playground Games’ racer on Metacritic with a score of 92 at the time of the report. Forza Horizon 6 had reached 91 shortly after launch, which was enough to put it at the top for a short time.

The shift is notable because Forza Horizon 6 is one of Microsoft’s biggest releases of the year. It launched with strong reviews, a large player base, and major attention across Xbox, PC, Steam, and Game Pass. It also had the advantage of being part of one of the most trusted racing series in gaming.

Mina the Hollower comes from a much smaller space, but its early critical response shows how strong indie games remain in 2026. A game does not need a massive budget or realistic visuals to compete at the top of review charts. It needs a clear identity, strong design, and a reason for players to care.

Yacht Club Games is using retro visuals, but Mina the Hollower is not relying only on nostalgia

Mina the Hollower uses 8 bit visuals inspired by the Game Boy Color era, but the game is not being presented as a simple retro throwback. It mixes old style presentation with modern systems, faster combat, and a structure that appears to borrow from action adventure and metroidvania design.

That makes the game interesting for players who enjoy classic visuals but do not want dated mechanics. The report describes it as feeling a little like a mix between metroidvania design and Undertale, while also offering more active combat. That combination may explain why critics are responding so strongly.

Mina the Hollower launches on May 28, 2026, for Steam, Xbox Series X and S, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2. That wide launch should help it reach players across most major platforms from day one.

The timing also gives the game extra visibility. Forza Horizon 6 is still fresh, and its strong review score made it one of the biggest talking points of the month. Mina the Hollower overtaking it so quickly creates a useful reminder that the review race is not reserved for blockbuster releases.

Forza Horizon 6 has not suddenly lost its value because another game scored higher. A 91 still reflects an excellent reception, and the racing game remains one of the strongest Xbox releases of the year. But Mina the Hollower’s 92 shows that indie studios can still surprise the industry with tightly made games that punch far above their size.

Yacht Club Games already earned trust through Shovel Knight, and Mina the Hollower now appears to be another major success for the studio. If the full release matches the early reviews, it could become one of 2026’s standout indie games and one of the strongest examples of how retro inspired design can still feel fresh.