Mina the Hollower and Schrödinger's Call Are the Best Games of 2026

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Published May 30, 2026, 2:47 PM EDT

Jaime Tugayev is the News Editor at DualShockers, where he covers gaming news, reviews, features, guides, and major industry updates. He has been writing professionally since 2013 and covering games since 2015, with a focus on FPS games, tactical shooters, strategy titles, JRPGs, and PC and console gaming.

His work often covers games and franchises such as Escape From Tarkov, Gray Zone Warfare, Battlefield, ARC Raiders, Arma, STALKER 2, and Six Days in Fallujah. Before joining DualShockers, Jaime contributed to IndieGameCulture and Aviator Insider. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Developmental Psychology from the University of Coimbra.

It feels like the making of a generational game requires one of two things: infinite amounts of development and marketing money, or one tiny team and a can-do attitude.

As we approach the halfway point of 2026, we've seen plenty of both, but the indie side of the fence is currently leading the line with two fantastic, original titles that have nothing in common.

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A glance at OpenCritic's Best Games of 2026 shows an indie frontrow lockout, courtesy of Acrobatic Chirimenjako and Yacht Club Games.

A Hollower and a Confidant Walk Into a Bar

Yacht Club's Mina the Hollower had a pretty big reputation to live up to. The studio behind it made its name over a decade ago with Shovel Knight. The retro platformer was one of the biggest indie hits of its generation, selling millions of copies and spawning critically acclaimed spin-offs.

We took Mina the Hollower for a spin, and to say we were impressed would be an understatement. The game earned a perfect 10/10 score in our review, and the only downside we saw with it was that, I quote, "it ends." It currently shares the top of the table with a 93/100 score.

Behind its cuddly retro appearance, Mina the Hollower packs a deep story and gameplay that isn't scared of showcasing its influences, but its references never outshine one of the best indie releases of the decade.

The game takes about ten hours to complete, which coincidentally is also the runtime you'll typically get out of the other indie game leading the 2026 charts.

Acrobatic Chirimenjako has been a bit of a dark horse this year, but we've had our eyes on the small Japanese studio for a few months now.

Mina the Hollower packs a deep story and gameplay that isn't scared of showcasing its influences, but its references never outshine one of the best indie releases of the decade.

The team made a quiet splash with its new visual novel, Schrödinger's Call. The game has also earned a 93 out of 100 aggregate score, and it's easy to see why.

Schrödinger's Call places you twenty-one nanoseconds before the end of the world. Armed only with your empathy and a telephone, you get to hear the final laments and confessions of those on the other end of the line.

Ivanir Ignacchitti of Hardcore Gamer, who gave the game a 4.5 out of 5, explained the game works so well "because it has something to say and a strong vision of how to present it in terms of atmosphere and style."

While the protagonist Mary speaks to those about to die, we got to speak with Acrobatic Chirimenjako earlier this month during Gamescom Latam, right before the game made history with its critical reception.

In an interview by Murillo Zerbinatto, developer Seishi explained that "the act of dialogue is akin to observing and defining existence, which is why the title Schrödinger's Call felt so fitting."

Between Mina's fight against traitors and Mary's journey to help the dying, it's abundantly clear that audiences love a well-crafted story above all, and no amount of millions spent can replace that.

AAA Fights Back, But the Real Test is Yet to Come

The surprising success of Mina the Hollower and Schrödinger's Call is a great sign for indies, but that is not to the detriment of AAA titles. This year has seen fairly strong releases from the big players, and the scores reflect that.

Sitting in third place is Forza Horizon 6 with 91 out of 100, which ended years of begging for a game set in Japan. We gave this bad boy a 9.5/10 score, with reviewer Jake Valentine highlighting an open-world experience that "has never been better" than this. It's not particularly revolutionary business, but that's because Forza Horizon had already perfected its format before that.

Fifth place belongs to Pokémon Pokopia, Nintendo's attempt to sway both Pokémon and Animal Crossing fanatics into dropping money on the Switch 2. The game has an aggregate score of 89/100, though we were a little more generous with 9.5/10 here. The spot is shared with Resident Evil Requiem, which Leon Kennedy fans still swear they play for the plot.

The real test for the AAA camp is yet to come, however. GTA 6 is expected to release on November 19th unless it's hit with another delay. The game has had more development and marketing money pumped into it to feed a small country, and failure is not an option for Rockstar. But if it does, we might just be too busy with great indies to notice it.