An honest review of Nintendo’s newest Yoshi game

There is no ‘end’ to any level. There is no timer. And there is no danger of damage.

You’d be forgiven for thinking that Nintendo made an “easy game for kids.”

But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Yoshi and the mysterious book is ruthlessly charming, whimsical and has a rare ability to inspire and reward curiosity.

At its best, the game rivals the feeling I get from playing it Super Mario Odyssey And Donkey Kong Bananza.

The levels are entirely unique and layered in discovery, despite all focusing on a single enemy.

The premise is simple; a mysterious book escapes from Bowser’s castle and ends up on Yoshi’s Island.

Bowser Junior is trapped in the pages and it is Yoshi’s job to free him and document everything about the creatures you encounter to fill the empty pages of Mr. E (short for Mr. Encyclopedia).

The art style is beautiful, but it struggles to maintain a sharp resolution while playing on handheld.

Browsing through Mr. E’s chapters is like reading a children’s storybook, and using a magnifying glass to spot and examine creatures is captivating.

Plus, the ability to name every creature you encounter is sure to delight younger players.

The game exudes charm and is packed with content.

The challenge for more experienced players comes in the form of collectibles.

Finding every Smiley Flower and discovering everything there is to discover about each creature will push your platforming skills to the limit and force you to think outside the box.

New mechanics are introduced in literally every level, taking Yoshi’s standard moves of licking, jumping, fluttering and punching to new weird and wonderful heights.

Yoshi games have never been my favorite, but Yoshi and the mysterious book is up there.

Without spoiling anything, there’s plenty to play once the credits roll, and even more to unlock afterward!

If you had asked me at the start of the generation which Nintendo games I was most excited about, Yoshi and the mysterious book would not have rated a listing.

But after spending credits twice, I’d happily recommend it to anyone with a Nintendo Switch 2.

Yoshi and the mysterious book sits right next to it Donkey Kong Bananza And Pokemon Pokopia as my favorite Nintendo published games for the console to date.

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