Yoshi and the Mysterious Book: Everything We Know

Could Yoshi’s next adventure be his most mysterious yet? Nintendo’s lovable green dinosaur is back, and this time he’s diving headfirst into a magical book. Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is an upcoming journey that has us buzzing with questions. What secrets hide within those enchanted pages? How will the classic Yoshi gameplay shine on the new Nintendo Switch 2? And when will we finally get our hands on it? Don’t worry – we’ve done the digging, and we’re here to spill everything we know so far about Yoshi and the Mysterious Book.

What is Yoshi and the Mysterious Book?

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is the latest entry in the Yoshi series – a brand-new side-scrolling platformer announced for the Nintendo Switch 2. This isn’t a spin-off or mini game; it’s a full-fledged Yoshi adventure, revealed as part of Nintendo’s celebration of Super Mario’s 40th anniversary. It will launch next year as a Switch 2 exclusive, marking Yoshi’s long-awaited return to the spotlight after Yoshi’s Crafted World (2019). For those familiar with Yoshi’s previous games, expect the same colorful, family-friendly vibe. At its core, it’s shaping up to be a puzzle-platformer with strong discovery elements. Yoshi games are known for being on the easier side, so newcomers and younger players can relax, while completionists still have collectibles to chase.

Story

The setup for Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is classic whimsical Nintendo. One sunny day on Yoshi’s Island, a strange talking book falls from the sky and lands near Yoshi and his friends. This is no ordinary storybook – it’s an encyclopedia named Mr. E (short for Mister Encyclopedia). Mr. E’s pages are filled with information on unusual creatures, but there’s a problem: the book can’t read its own pages. In true Yoshi fashion, our heroic dino decides to jump into the book’s world to help investigate.

Once inside the magical book, Yoshi becomes a storybook explorer. Each chapter or page of Mr. E’s book turns into a level, filled with odd creatures and puzzling situations to solve. Yoshi’s mission is to observe and interact with these creatures, then record his discoveries to complete the book’s missing knowledge. It’s a playful twist on the classic collectathon style – instead of gathering coins or stars, you’re collecting knowledge about quirky critters. In short, the Yoshi and the Mysterious Book story looks lighthearted and fun, with a touch of mystery: what other beings are hiding in those pages, and can Yoshi record them all?

Gameplay

Although Yoshi and the Mysterious Book isn’t out yet, the early footage gives a great idea of how it will play. At its core, it’s a 2D platformer with Yoshi doing what he does best: running, jumping, fluttering, and gobbling up anything he can grab with that sticky tongue. Long-time Yoshi players will feel right at home with the controls. However, the big new change is how Yoshi interacts with the environment through the book’s creatures.

The gameplay seems focused on partnering with creatures to solve puzzles and navigate levels. For example, the reveal trailer shows Yoshi befriending a cute flower-like creature that rides on his back. With its help, Yoshi can touch flower buds in the level to make them bloom. In another scene, Yoshi finds fluffy dandelion creatures and discovers that when he touches them, they absorb nutrients and cause a rock to crack, leaving it fragile enough for Yoshi to smash. Solving these environmental puzzles looks like a key theme – it’s not just about reaching the goal, but how you reach it with the help of your new creature friends.

The main objective of the game, it seems, is to document all these creatures and figure out their quirks. Each time you encounter a new creature or witness a unique interaction, Mr. E’s pages get updated with that information. This loop of discovery and documentation should add a satisfying sense of progress beyond simply clearing levels.

The trailer also hints at a variety of activities sprinkled throughout the journey. From what’s shown, the art style and presentation deserve special mention too. The world inside the book looks hand-drawn and vibrant, almost like an illustrated children’s story brought to life.

Development

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is being developed and published by Nintendo as part of its first-party lineup for the Switch 2. While the reveal did not specify which internal team is handling it, past Yoshi games such as Yoshi’s Woolly World and Yoshi’s Crafted World were created with the help of Good-Feel. The September 2025 Nintendo Direct showed polished gameplay, suggesting the project is already well into production and on track for its planned spring 2026 release.

Trailer

The trailer opens with Yoshi and his friends in a bright world as a talking book falls from the sky. Yoshi enters its pages and explores a storybook world filled with quirky creatures like a flower buddy and fluffy dandelions, each with unique abilities. Scenes show grassy fields, caves, and puzzles solved with creature powers. The trailer teases plenty of unique beings and hints at a fun adventure full of little mysteries to uncover.

Release Date, Platforms and Editions

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is set to launch in spring 2026 as an exclusive title for the Nintendo Switch 2. So, players still using the original Switch will need to upgrade to join Yoshi on this new adventure. Nintendo hasn’t confirmed an exact date yet, though “spring” usually points to a release between March and June 2026. For editions, only the standard version has been announced, with no mention of special or collector’s sets. At this stage, there are no details on pre-order bonuses or deluxe editions, so the expectation is a single version available in both physical and digital formats.