"Yoshi and the Mysterious Book": of soap bubble frogs and exploding nuts
19.5.2026
Translation: machine translated
In the latest adventure with the colourful dinosaurs, I slip into the pages of a book for a discovery tour. In a cosy way, the game always has a surprise in store.
The story begins on the cosy island of the Yoshis, where a mysterious book called Enzo appears. It is full of secret creatures - and Enzo is curious to find out which creatures are romping around on its own pages. «Team up!» thinks the talking book means I should slip into it as Yoshi, explore the wondrous world and investigate the creatures. The scurrying flowers on the first page are the most normal thing I encounter on my journey.
Head over heels, I jump into the lovingly illustrated chapters as Yoshi.
Singing ducks and bubble frogs
My first task: to find out what the colourful flowers in the forest chapter are capable of - and what I can do with them. I learn how the gameplay works in a fun way: I can hop with Yoshi, munch the flowers, grab them on my back or throw them.
As soon as I have eaten a flower, a Yoshi egg appears behind me as a projectile. If I carry one of the flowers on my back, I can make the landscape blossom on command. I use these talents to take a relaxed stroll through the level.
Meanwhile, I collect coins and well-hidden grinseflowers. As soon as I have found out everything about a species, a rainbow portal appears. I can then decide whether to continue collecting or complete the chapter. Particularly sweet: Once I have researched a creature, I can give it its own name. I call the yellow flowers «Floralia». I christen a musical snail with a shell «Meloyoni».
New chapters, new friends - and enemies
In each section, new creatures are waiting to be discovered. First, I look for them with the magnifying glass directly on the book pages - these act as a level overview - and decide for myself who I want to take a closer look at.
The simple concept runs through all the missions, although the mechanics change: If I take an umbrella bird on my back, it helps me to float through the air. A soap bubble frog helps me over chasms by jumping into its bubbles. I even dive into the depths of the sea with a spherical fish.
One of my favourites is a chewing gum-like ball that looks amazingly similar to Kirby. However, I do completely different things with it: If I jump on it, it multiplies and becomes huge - perfect for being catapulted into the air.
While I'm busy exploring the creatures, old acquaintances appear in some levels: Kamek and Bowser Junior. I wonder what they're up to? In fact, I have to help them out of a tight spot from time to time, for example when they get stuck in buildings. This is where I grab my new giant buddy to turn the walls into pebbles.
But be careful: not all creatures are peaceful. Stinging bee fruits or pungent hedgehogs make my life difficult.
Smarts are also often required. In a mission with a fishing creature, for example, I first have to catch small fish and then later lure in a large chunk. This blocks the sewer, causing the water to seep out and clear the way. The fact that the basic concept remains the same doesn't bother me, as the tasks vary. At one point, I surf the waves on a mixture of fish and surfboard and have to collect its offspring. I then affectionately call the creature «Brett Pitt».
In the beginning, there are only individual creatures in the levels, but later I can combine their skills: First surfing with «Brett Pitt», then blasting obstacles with an explosive hazelnut and soaring over destruction with the umbrella bird.
Cute graphics and cute characters
This all sounds very action-packed - and it is at times. I'm never under time pressure. I can walk around the level as much as I like and enjoy the sweetly painted details. I can't die either.
The special graphics mix 3D figures with scribbled landscapes and cryptic letters. I never forget that I'm in a book.
The creatures are sometimes innovative, sometimes simpler (as I know it from «Pokémon» ), but always lovingly designed. The cuddly world is emphasised by the equally lovely soundtrack, which I can even influence from time to time: There are several musical characters in the game.
Motivation to play again
Each chapter offers its own fauna - from the forest to the coast to the idyllic valley with human-like creatures. To unlock new areas, I need stars, which I get by solving tasks and fully researching creatures. As the game doesn't explicitly tell me what to do, my spirit of discovery is required.
Thus Nintendo creates a replay reason for the game: If I haven't researched all the characteristics of a creature, and haven't collected all the coins, I get fewer stars. But I need them to unlock future chapters. In addition, there are hidden flowers to collect in the most unlikely places. Here, too, the motivation to find all the flowers for more stars is great. It's worth playing a level several times.
If I get stuck, I can exchange collected glyphs - these are slightly more specialised gold coins - for tips.
The fact that I can't die helps me to be brave and try things out. That's also hugely important in this game because it's not always clear exactly what I have to do. And if I fall into the depths during a daring manoeuvre, I'm simply catapulted back to the scene of the accident and try again.
Sometimes unknown creatures appear in old chapters and even in Enzo's table of contents - so it helps to flick through the pages from time to time.
The book does have an order, but if I unlock two subsequent chapters with the stars, I can choose where I want to continue. It's as if I'm flicking through the book and reading where it grabs me most at the moment.
«Yoshi and the Mysterious Book» was provided to me by Nintendo for testing purposes. It will be available from 21 May for the Nintendo Switch 2.
In a nutshell
Cuddly, entertaining and creative
"Yoshi and the Mysterious Book" is an entertaining game full of cute characters. It's not particularly challenging and if I get stuck, I can unlock hints. I feel right at home in the picturesque landscape from the book and enjoy meeting new creatures in each level.
Even if the game mechanics are sometimes repetitive, the developers play with their possibilities and regularly provide exciting stimuli. I always want to explore yet another new creature in the book (and then another).
Thanks to the collection mechanic with coins, glyphs and grinseflowers, I am also motivated to play through a level several times and really discover everything.
All in all, I find myself in an almost relaxed platform game in which I can't die and yet am constantly challenged - perfect for young gamers too.
"Yoshiiii!"
Pro
- Simple game mechanics with creative variety
- Exciting creatures
- cute doodle graphic
- good mixture of cozy, adventure and logic puzzles
Contra
- Can be underwhelming
- partly repetitive
Ever since I learned how to hold a pen, I've been doodling away in bright colours. Thanks to my iPad, digital art has also become part of my life. That's why I love testing tablets – from the graphic design range to the regular kind. When I feel the urge to express my creativity without lugging lots of equipment, I go for the latest smartphones and start snapping away.
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