Review: ‘Yoshi and the Mysterious Book’ is low on challenge, but high on creativity

TORONTO – Nintendo is turning to one of its biggest franchises to beef up its Switch 2 library before the console gets a significant price hike in September.

Or, at least, a supporting character in one of its biggest franchises. Yoshi, the friendly dinosaur with an iron stomach who gained fame as a sidekick in the iconic “Super Mario” series, is set to star in another solo adventure.

“Yoshi and the Mysterious Book,” released this week exclusively for the Switch 2, is the ninth entry in Yoshi’s spinoff series and the first since 2019. A tier below Mario’s adventures in popularity, Yoshi’s exploits tend to strike a chord with gamers looking for a less intense experience.

This time the stakes are non-existent. But what “Yoshi and the Mysterious Book” lacks in challenge, it makes up for in creativity and charm.

Our protagonist is not charged with saving the world or embarking on a daring rescue mission in “Yoshi and the Mysterious Book.” Instead, Yoshi must restore the information in a sentient reference book known as Mr. Encyclopedia (or Mr. E) by interacting with the creatures found on his pages.

There are a number of worlds to explore within the titular tome, each with six creatures to discover. Selecting a creature on a world’s title page will take Yoshi into the book, where he can learn more about the subject through trial-and-error interactions and fill Mr. E with missing knowledge.

The concept is well-executed. Each creature has its own level that feels unique, and with a variety of gameplay mechanics used to keep things fresh. And after Yoshi meets a level’s main objective — using a creature to reach a previously inaccessible area of the map, or saving a critter from a predator, for example — the player can choose to exit the map, or keep exploring at their own pace to earn more stars and uncover more of the creature’s secrets.

One level sees Yoshi bond with a giant sea creature that can destroy, or devour, obstacles in its path. Another features a leafy monstrosity with claws that chases Yoshi through an old ruin, giving the level a kid-friendly survival horror feel.

As Yoshi discovers more about a creature, he is awarded stars that can be used to unlock other levels. Getting the maximum number of stars requires a great deal of experimentation. How does a creature react to food? To other animals? What happens when Yoshi stomps on it, or licks it?

With dozens of different beasts to examine, “Yoshi and the Mysterious Book” has a lot of depth to offer gamers who want to explore every nook and cranny. But that design choice also means interesting concepts don’t really get a chance to develop after they are introduced.

Creatures only occasionally appear on other levels, limiting the chance to use their abilities. So if a monster moves in an interesting way or has a cool ability you want to try in different environments, you are likely out of luck.

The other potentially limiting factor of “Yoshi and the Mysterious Book” is its lack of difficulty. Yoshi can’t be hurt or otherwise incapacitated, and is all but guaranteed clear every level without breaking much of a sweat. This opens the game up for younger players, but the guardrails may be too tight for some serious games.

Still, for those games who appreciate a good puzzle as much as a good fight, earning every star possible will present a test. Those who appreciate what the game has to offer will be able to sink a lot of time restoring all the information to Mr. E’s pages.

Nintendo faces potential affordability headwinds when the price of a Switch 2 increases by $50 to $680 in September, and is no doubt hoping some system sellers will be added to its software lineup before then.

Whether “Yoshi and the Mysterious Book” can be one of those games, or whether it instead finds a niche audience, remains to be seen. But what might seem on the surface to be a breezy but inconsequential adventure starring Mario’s dinosaur sidekick is a game that is bursting with charm and creativity that lets gamers explore at their own pace.

“Yoshi and the Mysterious Book” has a suggested retail price of $100 and has an Entertainment Software Rating Board rating of E, meaning suitable for all ages.

A copy of the game was provided for review purposes.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 20, 2026.