Yoshi and the Mysterious Book

Developer: Good Feel
Publisher: Nintendo
Platforms: Switch 2
Release Date: 21st May, 2026
Price: $59.99 – Available Here

Overview

Everybody loves some Yoshi! It has been far too long since Yoshi’s last independent outing, and Nintendo are making right of that with Yoshi and the Mysterious Book for the Nintendo Switch 2. This title takes a newer, albeit safe, route of offering more puzzle-like mechanics based on discovery. Does that formula work for a genre starved of our favourite lizard from the Mario universe? Let’s find out.

Story

This romp starts with Bowser Jr. causing a bit of mischief before being taken in by a living encyclopedia. The book falls into the hands of a herd of Yoshi, who are then invited by the book to discover species within its pages and get rid of the menacing duo of Bowser Jr. and Kamek, all while filling out entries by discovering more and more interactive creatures as the game progresses. 

It’s a very soft story with a light tone, and that is fine. There is never a sense of challenge, replaced by a sense of wonder as Mr E (the book) guides you from page to page. Sure, I would have liked to see something with a bit more depth, but that isn’t this experience, and that is perfectly fine due to the cozy and inviting atmosphere that simply expands upon the lore of Yoshi’s Island and beyond.

Gameplay

In almost every single way, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book plays like a typical Yoshi’s Island experience. You still swallow and shoot eggs. Yoshi has almost all of his trademark moves, such as his hovering jump and ground pound. What makes it different is that there really isn’t a major challenge. There really are no bosses, instead a list of challenges to complete in 2D-inspired levels. I guess that may be a deal breaker for some, but understanding the concept is only a piece of the journey.

This is a title based on discovery. Mr E will have each level found by discovering a creature. Be it a little flower guy who makes the other flowers around him bloom or frogs that allow you to ride in bubbles upwards, it’s a very tame experience. Once you find a creature, you must then achieve objectives based on the creature’s abilities. This can be something simple, such as making a tree grow, or more complex goals found later that usually have to do with platforming in special ways to reach areas.

The sense of discovery is magical here and makes exploration very rewarding. That said, the puzzles never fully take advantage of the mechanics quite enough to give that true magic of what we would have seen in similar titles in the past. Finding a muddy swamp and noticing how it changes your pal’s techniques is fun, but when it does little more than complete the level, you kind of wish there was a bit more meat on the bone to offer more incentive for hunting around. Sure, it’s fun and delightful, but I can’t help but imagine what this game would be with actual enemies and challenge mixed into the fold.

Audio

The music in the game is fantastic. I know that should go without saying in a Yoshi game, but there have definitely been some odd choices over the years with soundtracks, and it was kind of nice to have a focused and quiet line-up without hearing a group of Yoshi howl to a random tune this time. Yoshi and everyone have their trademark sounds, and I dug the little voicework in the game, as they work well to make this experience feel singular and special on its own.

Visuals

There is definitely something lovely about this title’s aesthetic. The game feels like a storybook, and the 3D models have this interesting filter in play that has their colours animate softly within each model. The result almost seems stop-motion, giving homage to Yoshi’s usual uniqueness, while offering something slightly new in the process. At the end of the day, it’s fun to poke around here, and the visuals are the highlight of the game overall.

Overall

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book brings back simplicity and joy as the primary features of a traditional Nintendo title. While the game lacks depth or challenge in a traditional sense, it offers a vast set of levels that are a joy to explore. I do wish these mechanics had a better payoff for the player that led to something other than production, but you cannot deny how charming the game is as you traverse each stage. Yoshi needed a nice outing, and for longtime fans, this book will be a pleasant side-dish that is sure to give gamers of all ages a true delight.