Mina the Hollower has the best sidequests of any game in 2026
Mina the Hollower has emerged as one of 2026’s standout titles, praised particularly for its exceptional sidequests. According to PC Gamer’s review, the game has captured such critical acclaim that it has pulled players away from numerous other titles in their backlog.
Developed by Yacht Club Games, the team behind the acclaimed Shovel Knight series, Mina the Hollower was crowdfunded through Kickstarter before its release. The game has received strong critical reception, with reviewer Kerry Brunskill awarding it a 90% score, describing the experience as ‘pure joy.’
What makes Mina the Hollower particularly interesting to commentators is its design philosophy. Rather than relying on cutting-edge technology, the game demonstrates that the concept could have been realized years earlier—it took the specific creative vision and execution of the Yacht Club Games team to bring it to life. The title has drawn comparisons to other standout releases like Balatro, with critics highlighting how both games represent innovative design that prioritizes gameplay mechanics over technological advancement.