Yoshi has been one of Nintendo's most popular characters since his first debut 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 platformer series, Yoshi and the mysterious book. Yoshi and the mysterious book is also one of the better Yoshi games and another strong Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive.
go to Yoshi and the mysterious bookI was skeptical that the game could hold my attention for long. I found a previous effort by developer Good-Feel, Princess Peach Showtimetoo repetitive and easy and it looked Yoshi and the mysterious book would suffer from the same problems. But I was pleasantly surprised Yoshi and the Mysterious Book; It's not a particularly challenging fantasy game, 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 one is themed around a specific creature with its own unique abilities, and the goal is to figure out what they can do. While each level has one main objective for Yoshi to complete, players are rewarded for exploring and experimenting with stars that unlock new levels.
Yoshi and the mysterious book The levels always have something new to discover and the joy of discovery makes it hard to put the game down. Each level is something completely different from what came before, so it's always exciting to see what happens next. One level may have Yoshi zooming around on the back of a skateboard-shaped creature, while another may challenge him to rescue little friendly sentient flowers from spiked balls that want to kill them.
Yoshi can't die, so the stakes are low, but there's still some challenge to finding every secret hidden in the levels. After completing a phase, players are given hints as to what other ways they could interact with a creature of that level, and no matter how thorough I thought I was, I always something I didn't think to do that.
Yoshi has his usual abilities Yoshi and the mysterious bookwhich means flutter jump and egg throwing are back.
It gives Yoshi and the mysterious book it has great replay value and there are more excuses to dive back into the stages. Other creatures will sometimes transition into completed levels, opening up new ways to tackle objectives and giving Yoshi a chance to see how the creatures interact.
All this takes place in a magical living encyclopedia called Mr. E. Bowser Jr. and Kamek are busy searching for a mysterious creature known as the Bewilder Bird, while Yoshi and his companions simply help Mr. E sort and categorize the creatures that live within. Bizarre assumption is an excuse Yoshi and the mysterious book use an adorable aesthetic that mimics stop-motion animation. It basically looks like a children's picture book come to life.
The game also has a sense of humor, derived primarily from the naming mechanic. As Yoshi explores the creatures inside Mr. E, players can name them. These names stick with the creature throughout the game, which can lead to some hilarious moments.
$70 may be asking too much
Yoshi and the mysterious book it's great, but its big flaw is that there's just not enough meat on the bone. It is possible to throw in credits Yoshi and the mysterious book in five hours or less without much friction. Those looking to get 100% completion can expect to spend a lot more time with the game, but Yoshi and the mysterious book is $70 for the physical version ($60 for the digital version), and that's a big ask for a game you can “beat” so quickly.
There are also several levels that are more irritating than fun. Yoshi and the mysterious bookFor example, the fishing level is tedious, and several other creatures have abilities that aren't particularly exciting. The good thing is that the “bad” levels are short like all the other stages of the game, so players can quickly move on to greener pastures.
i beat Yoshi and the mysterious bookThe main story in about five hours, but there's a lot more to do after the credits roll.
It falters here and there with a few ill-conceived ideas and a steep $70 price tag for the amount of content available, but Yoshi and the mysterious book is otherwise a solid puzzle platformer that is fun more often than not. Bursting with charm, it stands out as one of the most unique and memorable Yoshi-centric adventures Nintendo has released to date. Hardcore Yoshi fans will find this adorable, and Switch 2 owners can claim another high-quality exclusive.
- Released
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May 21, 2026
- ESRB
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All / Mild fantasy violence
- Developers
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Nintendo
- Publishers
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Nintendo
- Charming storybook art style
- A fun puzzle platform game that rewards creativity
- Full of secrets and reasons to revisit completed levels
- The $70 price tag is a bit too steep
- Some levels are bullshit
Yoshi and the mysterious book out now for Nintendo Switch 2.
