Yoshi and the Mysterious Book Reviews

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is ranked in the 83rd percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
93%
May 26, 2026

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is a love letter to childhood curiosity, wrapped in one of the most beautiful art directions on the Switch 2. It swaps traditional platforming for an adventure of exploration and discovery that may put off those seeking a challenge, but abundantly rewards those willing to let themselves be carried away. With an addictive cataloging system, creatures full of personality, high replayability, and a top-notch Brazilian localization, it’s the kind of game that makes you smile without even realizing it.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

May 19, 2026

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book might not offer the punishing difficulty seasoned platforming veterans crave, but it excels at exactly what it sets out to be: a stunning, introductory platformer.

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8 / 10
Jun 9, 2026

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is the most beautiful Yoshi game ever made and one of the most unique entries the series has ever attempted. It isn’t a successor to Yoshi’s Island—and it isn’t trying to be. Instead, it’s a low-pressure experience focused on exploration and discovery that prioritizes the joy of interaction over the challenge of progression.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

May 24, 2026

Yoshi & The Mysterious Book trades challenge for curiosity, delivering a charming, stress-free adventure that works best as a childlike celebration of discovery.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

Recommended
Jun 2, 2026

Despite looking, sounding, and playing like a platformer, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is anything but a traditional entry in the genre. Instead, it places a much stronger emphasis on educational elements, small puzzles, and exploration, making it one of the most interesting titles in the Nintendo Switch 2 catalogue.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
Jun 10, 2026

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book puts on a true display of creativity, breaking away from classic platforming genre elements by prioritizing exploration and discovery, making it one of the most unique titles within the platformer genre. The similar structure and lack of challenge in some stages may create a few inconveniences, but they do not take away from the brilliance of its incredibly creative level design or from how fun the experience of playing the game truly is.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

8 / 10.0
Jun 5, 2026

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book isn't a ground breaking experience, but it is a fun one that genuinely wants players to be curious and creative. While it is not very difficult to play, it is still really enjoyable. Good games don't need to be difficult!

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8.5 / 10.0
May 19, 2026

With Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, Nintendo has likely created one of the most creative and contemplative Yoshi games in recent years. While it doesn’t set out to completely revolutionize the formula, the game still manages to constantly surprise players thanks to its focus on exploration, observation, and discovery. Despite a few minor slowdowns and a fairly accessible difficulty level, this colorful adventure is brimming with personality and charm from start to finish.

Review in French | Read full review

7 / 10.0
May 19, 2026

“Yoshi and the Mysterious Book” is an incredibly lovingly crafted adventure that has won our hearts with its presentation, animations, and wealth of ideas. The colorful pages are filled with whimsical creatures, little discoveries, and charming touches. However, the concept doesn't always quite come together in gameplay: Some mechanics feel more like a nice idea than a fully polished implementation, which prevents a natural flow of gameplay from developing consistently. The result is a beautiful, creative, and delightfully curious Yoshi game that captivates with its atmosphere but doesn’t quite bring every one of its ideas to fruition in terms of gameplay. Still, “Yoshi and the Mysterious Book” is definitely worth recommending, especially for young explorers.

Review in German | Read full review

7 / 10.0
Jun 3, 2026

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is a colorful and accessible platformer in which players help restore a living encyclopedia. The game excels in charm, atmosphere and accessibility, but lacks the challenge and depth that many adult Nintendo fans expect. An excellent choice for children and lovers of cozy games, although the €60 price tag feels on the steep side.

Review in Dutch | Read full review

Jun 4, 2026

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book may not be a revolution for the platforming genre, but it definitely has something that makes it difficult to put down. It’s one of those games that focuses above all on the joy of exploration, a relaxing fun, and the simple pleasure of playing.

Review in Polish | Read full review

6 / 10.0
Jun 4, 2026

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is warm, accessible, and occasionally inventive, but its discovery loop grows thin as stages repeat ideas, classic Yoshi mechanics sit underused, and its best moments rarely build into something richer.

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Recommended
Jun 3, 2026

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is a successful puzzle and exploration game with platforming elements. There is a lot to discover and experiment with, and most of the hints also help in trying out new approaches. The encyclopedia is convincingly implemented both as an incentive for research and as an illustrated book. Unfortunately, some outlines do not look particularly appealing in handheld mode. The discoveries themselves contain a great deal of creativity, and only very few creatures feel somewhat weaker than the others. The level of interactivity and the constant stream of new discoveries make Yoshi and the Mysterious Book a worthwhile title.

Review in German | Read full review

Jun 3, 2026

Yoshi and Mysterious Book isn't perfect, but it is a beautiful example of the magic that Nintendo is capable of, unlike any other company out there. It's the kind of game I can give to anyone, regardless of age, and they'll probably love it.

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INVEN
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
May 26, 2026

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book carries Nintendo’s philosophy into the Switch 2 era: games should be simple, approachable, and enjoyable for everyone. Free from the stress of game overs, it draws players in with intuitive controls and countless playful interactions that capture the pure joy of gaming.

Review in Korean | Read full review

Jun 1, 2026

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book trades traditional platforming for curiosity-driven exploration and playful problem‑solving. The result is a surprisingly fresh and delightful journey through a world full of odd creatures and clever mechanics.

Review in Finnish | Read full review

6 / 10.0
Jun 2, 2026

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book tries to take Yoshi platforming in a different direction from his more traditional previous games, opting for a more puzzle-oriented experience. Alas, actually playing its levels resulted in a few exciting flakes sprinkled over an otherwise bland meal. The ideas are there, but the execution is a lot more miss than hit. It’s still a charming game that has its high points, but there are plenty of consistently better platformers to spend your time and money with on the Switch 2 right now.

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7 / 10.0
May 26, 2026

Fans of the past Yoshi games may feel disappointed with the lack of challenging side-scrolling platforming, sense of urgency and feel it plays it too safe, but those who prefer exploration, challenging and creative puzzle solving and collecting or are just in the mood to relax and unwind, will find plenty to enjoy at their own pace and without feeling any pressure. This game may divide the player/fan base, but it all depends on our individual preferences, mindsets and expectations going in. It can be a tough realisation to swallow, even for Yoshi.

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81 / 100
Jun 2, 2026

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is a charming little encyclopedia of unusual creatures, unique mechanics, and colorful levels. It’s just a shame that uncovering all of those wonders rarely asks much from the player.

Review in Unknown | Read full review

8 / 10.0
Jun 2, 2026

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is effortlessly charming, deceptively deep and incredibly playable for the whole family.

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