The list is based on the Metascore—a weighted average score from professional critics. The racing simulator Forza Horizon 6 and the indie action game Mina the Hollower tied for the top spot with a score of 90. The race for the lead was tight; the two games were neck and neck, and even after dropping a single point, Forza Horizon 6 managed to hold onto first place.
The ranking includes only entirely new games that debuted between January and June 2026. Consequently, the list excludes highly rated ports and remasters—such as Hades II for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S or Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade for Xbox and Nintendo Switch 2. Metacritic notes that it used the Metascore from the platform with the highest number of reviews. The rankings could shift significantly in the second half of the year, culminating with the November debut of Grand Theft Auto VI.
The full top 20 games of the first half of 2026 according to Metacritic:
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Forza Horizon 6 — 90
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Mina the Hollower — 90
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Schrödinger’s Call — 89
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Pokémon Pokopia — 89
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Resident Evil Requiem — 89
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Mewgenics — 88
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007 First Light — 87
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Saros — 87
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Hermit and Pig — 87
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Titanium Court — 87
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Nioh 3 — 86
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OPUS: Prism Peak — 86
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Mixtape — 86
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Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection — 86
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Cairn — 86
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Timberborn — 85
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Esoteric Ebb — 85
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Pragmata — 85
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Wax Heads — 85
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Phonopolis — 84
Table of Contents
Why Forza Horizon 6 scored 90: gameplay, graphics, and critical reception
Forza Horizon 6 by Playground Games is an open-world racing game set in Japan. It launched on May 19 for PC and Xbox Series X. At launch, its Metascore stood at 92, though it later settled at 90.
Critics unanimously agree that Forza Horizon 6 is a joy to play and incredibly hard to put down. Visually, the game is stunning; the developers recreated Japan with photographic precision. It features over 550 cars, improved progression systems, and new customization mechanics. However, the event structure remains familiar to the series, and there was no revolutionary shift in gameplay.
The game has 82 reviews on Metacritic: 75 positive, 3 mixed, and zero negative. User rating: 8.5 based on 782 scores. Despite dropping one point, Forza Horizon 6 remains one of the year’s major AAA titles.
Mina the Hollower — an indie hit that tied for first place with Forza Horizon 6
Mina the Hollower is a 2D adventure from Yacht Club Games, the creators of Shovel Knight. The game launched on May 27, 2026, for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, and Switch 2. Visually, it is an isometric action game featuring a Game Boy Color pixel-art style, yet its atmosphere and difficulty draw comparisons to Bloodborne.
At the time the embargo lifted, the game held a Metacritic score of 93 based on 38 reviews, edging out Forza Horizon 6. On OpenCritic, it scored a 92, with 97% of reviewers recommending the game. IGN awarded it a perfect score, while GameSpot hailed Mina the Hollower as a “masterpiece.” Journalists are already calling the project a “modern classic” and a top contender for Game of the Year. Polygon writes: “The game understands the art of the great video game secret.”
The game features a vast world filled with secrets, challenging combat, and a system of weapons and perks. Completing the main campaign takes about 25 hours, with plenty of content remaining after the finale. It is priced at $20. While high difficulty is cited as a drawback, a modifier system allows players to make the game easier.
Comparing Forza Horizon 6 and Mina the Hollower: Which is better and which should you play?
The choice depends on your preferences. Forza Horizon 6 is a massive racing game with photorealistic graphics, ideal for fans of speed and open worlds. Mina the Hollower is an intimate indie adventure featuring deep gameplay and a nostalgic style—all at a fraction of the price.
Schrödinger’s Call: A surprise hit with a score of 89 worth checking out
Schrödinger’s Call is a visual novel from the Japanese studio Acrobatic Chirimenjako and publisher Shueisha Games. It was released on May 28 for PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch. Within a month of launch, the game reached a Metascore of 90 and earned Metacritic’s “Must Play” status. It holds a score of 92 on OpenCritic, with 95% of reviewers recommending it.
Plot: The Moon is falling toward Earth, and the world is frozen in the final 22 nanoseconds between life and death. The protagonist, Mary—who has lost her memory—wakes up in a strange room containing a rotary phone. As the “Last Confidant,” she answers calls from souls trapped between worlds, records their regrets, and attempts to piece their stories together. Critics have praised the emotional storyline, the storybook-style visuals, and the outstanding musical score. On Steam, the game has 820 reviews, with a 94% positive rating. It is priced at $17.99 and offers a playtime of around eight hours. It is a niche title: peak concurrent players on Steam reached 485, and sales totaled approximately 7,300 copies. Nevertheless, the game received top marks from Niche Gamer, Cubed3, NintendoBoy, and Noisy Pixel.
The Metacritic rankings reflect the landscape of the first half of 2026. Forza Horizon 6 and Mina the Hollower share the top spot, while Schrödinger’s Call proves that visual novels can compete with AAA blockbusters. The second half of the year promises Marvel’s Wolverine and, most notably, Grand Theft Auto VI. Launching in November, GTA 6 has the potential to completely reshape the leaderboard. Yet, one thing is already clear: 2026 has been a year rich in high-quality releases—ranging from photorealistic racing games to pixel-art masterpieces and heart-wrenching visual novels.
