The Nintendo Switch 2 is about to get a colorful new exclusive when Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is released next month, sending Yoshi on an adventure without his plumbing buddy. This is the first *Yoshi *game since 2019’s Yoshi’s Crafted World and has captured the attention of fans of the character, and many who are interested in seeing where this story leads Yoshi and friends.
Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is one of the few games that is a true exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2, rather than appearing on the original Switch as well. Though this will limit the prospective players, it could also serve to sway many who have been debating purchasing the new console.
The game was announced during a Nintendo Direct in September 2025 and is now expected to be released on May 21, 2026. The game is available as either a digital version or as a physical game cartridge.
Once Yoshi jumps inside the pages of the mysterious Mr. E, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book turns into a 2D platformer game with power-up abilities, challenges, and rewards. However, this game is also not your typical Super Mario experience.
Rather than having a clock counting down to hurry you through the level and constant threats of death or injury, here Yoshi is exploring and interacting with creatures in the world. It appears to be taking a lot of inspiration from the unique gameplay elements of Super Mario Wonder, making sure that the game is entertaining even without the typical feeling of conquest.
Of course, given that Bowser Jr. shows up in the trailer, and is reportedly causing some havoc inside the pages of this book, there will probably still be some fighting, or at least creative opposition.
Despite the more peaceful game mechanics, Yoshi should still get his chance to shine. Trailers for the game show some of the moves that players will get to use while playing as Yoshi:
These abilities should be useful for helping Yoshi to solve puzzles, find collectibles, and traverse the levels inside Mr. E’s pages. Each level should have at least one big discovery or objective, like setting a large creature free or finding missing characters.
Since the Nintendo Switch 2’s release, there has been a lot of controversy over the Switch 2 Game Key Cards, which have made it feel to some that owning physical games is relatively pointless. While the debate itself is much too large for this article, at least there is one piece of positive news. While you can purchase the game as a digital-only format, you don’t have to.
Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is not a game key card; rather it contains the game data directly on the game cartridge. There will likely still be patches and other things downloaded on the system, but purchasing the physical copy will actually give you a copy of the game rather than just a key.
Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is listed for $59.99 if you purchase the digital code, or $69.99 for the physical copy. It is already available for pre-order at most game retailers but, sadly, the only pre-order bonuses appear to only be in the UK. The My Nintendo Store in the UK includes a magnetic bookmark and fold-out tote bag, as well as some bundles that offer a special Yoshi plush.
While playing in Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, players can tap a compatible amiibo to get special in-game tokens inside the game. By using one of the amiibo figures once a day, Mr. E will read your fortune for the day, and the rewards gained will correlate to which fortune you receive. These in-game tokens can be used to help unlock hints about discoveries, which could be useful while playing but are not necessary if you don’t have any of the amiibo characters.
It isn’t clear if any Super Mario-related amiibo figure will give some kind of reward or not, but the trailer did show eight that we know will work. These include all amiibo from the Yoshi’s Crafted World set, including the Yarn Yoshi and Poochy, as well as all Yoshi amiibo figures. Additionally, Bowser Jr.’s amiibo from the *Super Smash Bros. *Series, where he is inside his flying machine, will work.
Despite the colorful graphics and more peaceful wildlife documentary vibes that the game puts off, at its heart Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is said to be a puzzle platformer for everyone. Like past Yoshi games, and even Super Mario Wonder, it promises to have plenty of things to uncover in the game, and lots of tasks to be completed. While children will likely enjoy the game, that doesn’t mean that adults should think it’s not worth their time.
I, for one, am excited to see what mysteries the game holds for us once ***Yoshi and the Mysterious Book ***releases on May 21, 2026, for the Nintendo Switch 2.
Everyone / Mild Fantasy Violence
Yoshi’s Crafted World