The September 12, 2025 Nintendo Direct kicked off with a number of big announcements in celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Super Mario Bros. Franchise, including the reveal of a brand-new Yoshi game, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, coming exclusively to Nintendo Switch 2 in Spring 2026. The game will be the latest entry in the beloved Yoshi spin-off series, and audiences got a first look at the graphics, gameplay, and story that await in Yoshi and the Mysterious Book.
Similar to previous Yoshi games, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book will see the adorable green sidekick taking on the lead role and setting off on a colorful adventure. The release of Yoshi's Wooly World for the Nintendo Wii and Yoshi's Crafted World for the Nintendo Switch were met with positive responses from critics and audiences alike, who praised both titles for their unique aesthetics and simple yet satisfying gameplay. Bringing another unique visual style to life, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book will once again transport players to a stunning new world with a brand-new Yoshi adventure.
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Yoshi and the Mysterious Book Story and New Gameplay Features
- Spring 2026
In Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, a curious encyclopedia named Mr. E arrives on Yoshi Island and needs Yoshi's help to reveal the information held within its pages. After diving in, Yoshi enters a storybook world with illustrated visuals and a new flower friend. This flower can be carried on Yoshi's back and helps to change the environment by making plants grow. Carrying on the floral theme, a unique new gameplay mechanic introduces dandelions that can "absorb" and interact with surrounding items, such as weakening rocks until they are breakable by Yoshi. Other exciting features include fishing, surfing, and floating with umbrellas and bubbles. Elements from previous Yoshi video games can also be spotted, such as picking up items and enemies and throwing them at targets.
While the first trailer for Yoshi and the Mysterious Book only briefly shares glimpses at some of the more exciting gameplay elements, audiences can quickly see how this new spin-off title in the larger Super Mario Bros. Franchise will separate itself from its predecessors. The introduction of a companion flower character hearkens back to the original Yoshi's Island, where players had to escort Baby Mario on Yoshi's back, though this new friend seems to offer more assistance in Yoshi's journey. The continued focus on flowers follows a trend heavily featured in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, where Talking Flowers played a major role.
It remains to be seen just how important the new flower companion and the dandelion mechanics will be in Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, but they do offer fun new opportunities for fans of the Yoshi titles and other 2D Super Mario games. Interested fans can stay tuned for more updates on Yoshi and the Mysterious Book ahead of its exclusive launch on Nintendo Switch 2 in Spring 2026.
- Released
- 2026
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date
- 2026
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Puzzle
