Mina the Hollower: How Yacht Club Games Became 2026's Best-Reviewed Game
On May 29, 2026, Yacht Club Games released Mina the Hollower. Hours later: Metacritic 92, the best score of the year.
Metacritic 92 in 2026: Mina the Hollower proves that small budgets and big craft beat any AAA.
Mina the Hollower is a top-down action-adventure with a burrowing mechanic and Game Boy Color art style. Protagonist Mina is a Hollower — a tunneling specialist — sent to rescue a cursed island.
Core Mechanic: Burrowing
Mina can go underground: not just a dodge, but a full game system. Tunnels solve puzzles, unlock hidden zones (the Underlab), and counter boss patterns.
Metacritic 92
The best score of 2026 across all games on all platforms. Outpaces Forza Horizon 6, Pokémon Pokopia, Resident Evil Requiem. PC Gamer: "The exploration is top-notch, the story is riveting, the art style is striking."
Game Boy Color as Canon
Yacht Club deliberately uses a limited palette. Not nostalgia for its own sake — the pixel aesthetic is functional: combat readability and Gothic Horror atmosphere work together.
Shovel Knight → Mina
Shovel Knight was a love letter to NES. Mina is a love letter to Game Boy Color. Both share flawless game feel that can't be explained — only experienced.