Yoshi has been one of Nintendo's most popular characters since he first debuted Super Mario World On the SNES and now Nintendo has capitalized on Yoshi's popularity by making him the star of their own spin-off series of platformers, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book. Yoshi and the Mysterious Book This could also be one of the better Yoshi games, and another strong exclusive for the Nintendo Switch 2.
going in Yoshi and the Mysterious BookI doubted the game could hold my attention for long. I found a previous attempt by developer Good-Fill, Princess Peach ShowtimeVery repetitive and easy, and it looked like it Yoshi and the Mysterious Book will suffer from the same problem. But I was pleasantly surprised Yoshi and the Mysterious Book; It's not a particularly challenging game by any stretch of the imagination, but its charm and creativity more than make up for it.
Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is a rewarding puzzle-platformer
Instead of a traditional platformer where the goal is to scroll across the screen until you reach the end of the level, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book Levels are like little puzzle boxes. Each is themed after a specific creature with its own unique abilities, and the goal is to discover everything they can. While each level has one main objective that Yoshi must complete, players are rewarded for exploring and using stars that unlock new levels.
Yoshi and the Mysterious Book There's always something new to discover in the levels, and the joy of discovery makes the game hard to put down. Each level is completely different from the previous one, and so it's always exciting to see what's next. One level might have Yoshi zooming around on the back of a skateboard-sized creature, while another might challenge them to save little friendly sentient flowers from spike balls that kill them.
Yoshi can't die, so the stakes are low, but there's still some challenge to finding each secret hidden in the levels. After finishing a level, players are given hints about other ways they can interact with that level's creature, and no matter how well I thought about it, there always was. something I didn't think to do it.
Yoshi has his normal abilities Yoshi and the Mysterious BookWhich means flutter jump and egg throwing.
It gives Yoshi and the Mysterious Book A great deal of replay value, and there are other excuses to dip back into the stages. Other creatures will occasionally cross over to complete levels, opening up new ways to tackle objectives and giving Yoshi a chance to see how the creatures interact.
It all takes place inside a magical, living encyclopedia named Mr. E. Bowser Jr. and Kamek is busy searching for a mysterious creature known as the Bewilder Bird, while Yoshi and his friends are helping Mr. E file and classify the creatures that live inside him. The odd premise is an excuse Yoshi and the Mysterious Book To use the captivating aesthetic that mimics stop-motion animation. It basically looks like a child's picture book come to life.
The game also has a sense of humor, mainly derived from its naming mechanic. As Yoshi investigates the creatures inside Mr. E, players are allowed to name them. These names stick with the creatures throughout the game, which can lead to some hilarious moments.
$70 might be asking too much
Yoshi and the Mysterious Book Good, but its biggest flaw is that there is not enough meat on the bone. It is possible to roll credits on it Yoshi and the Mysterious Book In five hours or less without much friction. Those looking for 100% completion can expect to spend a lot of time with the game, however Yoshi and the Mysterious Book $70 for the physical version ($60 for the digital version), and that's a big ask that you can “lose” so quickly.
There are also some levels that are more annoying than fun to play. Yoshi and the Mysterious BookThe fishing level, for example, is difficult, and some of the other creatures have abilities that aren't particularly exciting. The good thing is that the “bad” levels are as short as the other stages of the game, so players can quickly move on to greener pastures.
I beat Yoshi and the Mysterious BookThe main story of about five hours, but after the credits roll there is a lot to do.
It falters with a few undercooked ideas here and there and a hefty $70 price tag compared to the amount of content available, but Yoshi and the Mysterious Book Otherwise it's a solid puzzle platformer that's fun more often than not. It's full of charm and stands out as one of the best Yoshi-centric adventures Nintendo has released to date. Die-hard Yoshi fans will enjoy it, and Switch 2 owners can claim another high-quality exclusive.
- issued
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May 21, 2026
- ESRB
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Everyone / Mild Fantasy Violence
- developer(s)
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Nintendo
- publisher(s)
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Nintendo
- Attractive storybook art style
- Fun puzzle-platformer gameplay that rewards creativity
- Full levels full of secrets and reasons to revisit
- The $70 price tag seems a bit too steep
- Some layers are duds
Yoshi and the Mysterious Book Out now for Nintendo Switch 2.
