Later this year, Yoshi is finally getting a brand-new adventure — Yoshi and the Mysterious Book. It’s the first mainline Yoshi game in nearly a decade, and honestly? It looks very good.

If you’re subscribed to Nintendo Switch Online, you don’t have to wait to get your Yoshi fix. There are actually five classic Yoshi games available to play right now. And some of them? Absolute essentials.

So whether you’re a longtime fan looking to revisit these or you’ve somehow never experienced Yoshi outside of Mario Kart, this is your complete guide to every Yoshi game on Switch Online.

Let’s get into it.

Quick refresher if you’re not familiar — Nintendo Switch Online gives you access to a growing library of classic games spanning NES, Super Nintendo, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, and with the Expansion Pack, Nintendo 64 and more.

For Yoshi fans specifically, that means five games across four different platforms — ranging from a quirky puzzle game to one of the greatest platformers ever made.

I’ll go through each one chronologically, starting where it all began.

YOSHI — NES

First up — simply titled Yoshi — released in 1991 for the NES and developed by Game Freak. Yes, that Game Freak. Before Pokémon took over their entire existence, they made this neat little puzzle game for Nintendo.

And I want to be clear upfront: this isn’t a platformer. If you’re going in expecting to flutter jump across colourful landscapes, you’re going to be confused. Yoshi is a falling-block puzzle game — think Tetris meets character matching.

The setup is simple. You control Mario at the bottom of the screen, swapping columns to match falling enemies. Line up two of the same enemy type, and they disappear. But here’s where Yoshi comes in — eggshell halves also fall from the top. Sandwich enemies between a bottom shell and a top shell, and you hatch a Yoshi. The more enemies you trap inside, the bigger your point bonus.

It’s straightforward, addictive in that classic puzzle-game way, and a genuine piece of Nintendo history. This was actually Yoshi’s first appearance outside of Super Mario World, which had only been released a few months earlier in Japan. Nintendo clearly saw potential in this little green dinosaur and wanted to capitalise on it quickly.

Is it essential in 2026? Honestly, it’s more of a curiosity. A fun time capsule. But if you enjoy retro puzzle games, it holds up better than you might expect. The two-player versus mode is still a good time if you’ve got someone to play with.

YOSHI — GAME BOY

Next up — also called Yoshi — but this time on Game Boy.

Now, I’ll be honest with you. This is essentially the same game. Same mechanics, same concept, same Game Freak development. It was released simultaneously with the NES version in 1991 as a portable companion.

The main differences are exactly what you’d expect from the hardware. You’re looking at a smaller screen, a monochrome palette, and slightly chunkier sprites to compensate for the original Game Boy’s resolution. The core experience is identical.

So why am I including it separately? Because it’s a separate entry on Switch Online, and there’s actually something to be said for the portable format. The Game Boy version feels right for quick sessions — pick it up, play a few rounds, put it down. The simplified visuals have a certain charm, too. Everything’s cleaner, more readable at a glance.

If you’re only going to play one version of Yoshi, go with whichever appeals to you aesthetically. The NES version is more colourful; the Game Boy version is more portable-friendly in spirit, even though you’re playing it on a Switch either way.

Think of this as a palate cleanser between the bigger games on this list. Or skip it entirely if puzzle games aren’t your thing. No judgment.

SUPER MARIO WORLD 2: YOSHI’S ISLAND — SNES

Alright. Now we’re talking.

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island — released in 1995 for the Super Nintendo — is not just the best Yoshi game on Switch Online. It’s one of the best platformers ever made. Full stop.

Let’s set the scene. Nintendo had just released Donkey Kong Country, which blew everyone away with its pre-rendered 3D graphics. The industry was moving toward that visual style. And what did Nintendo’s internal team do in response? They went in the complete opposite direction.

Yoshi’s Island looks like a children’s picture book come to life. Hand-drawn characters, crayon-scribbled backgrounds, pastel colours everywhere. It was a deliberate artistic statement — we don’t need to chase graphical realism to make something beautiful.

And thirty years later? It still looks gorgeous. That art style is timeless in a way that many “cutting-edge” games from the same era simply aren’t.

But Yoshi’s Island isn’t just a pretty face. The gameplay is phenomenal. You play as various Yoshis carrying Baby Mario across the island, and the mechanics build on the Mario formula in really creative ways.

Yoshi’s flutter jump changes everything about how you approach platforming. That extra hang time, that ability to adjust mid-air — it feels completely different from controlling Mario. Then you’ve got the egg-throwing system, which turns every encounter into a light puzzle. Aim your shot, bounce it off walls, hit enemies or collectables at tricky angles. It adds this layer of skill expression that rewards mastery.

The level design is outstanding, too. Each stage introduces new ideas — transformations that turn Yoshi into a helicopter or a mole tank, creative boss fights, and hidden secrets tucked into every corner. Going for 100% completion on every level is a genuine challenge, and one that’s absolutely worth pursuing.

If you only play one game from this list, make it this one. And if you’ve already played it before — play it again. It’s that good.

YOSHI’S ISLAND: SUPER MARIO ADVANCE 3 — GBA

Following that up, we have Yoshi’s Island: Super Mario Advance 3 for the Game Boy Advance — released in 2002.

This is an enhanced port of the SNES game we just talked about. So if you’re wondering whether you need to play both, the answer is no. Pick one. But let me break down the differences so you can decide which version suits you better.

The GBA version includes six brand-new levels — the “Secret Stages” — which were not in the original. If you’ve already 100%’d the SNES version and want more, this is your reason to revisit. These stages are designed for experienced players and offer some of the trickiest platforming in the entire game.

There are also some quality-of-life additions. A few new items, slightly adjusted difficulty in places, and the general polish you’d expect from a remake.

However — and this is important — the GBA version has some drawbacks. The smaller screen resolution means the viewport is cropped compared to the original. You see less of the level around you at any given time. The audio is also compressed, making the soundtrack noticeably muffled compared to the SNES version’s crisp instrumentation. Purists tend to prefer the original for these reasons.

My recommendation? If you’ve never played Yoshi’s Island at all, start with the SNES version for the definitive experience. If you’re coming back for more and want those extra levels, the GBA version is a solid excuse to replay a masterpiece.

YOSHI’S STORY — N64

And finally, we arrive at Yoshi’s Story — released in 1998 for the Nintendo 64, available through the Expansion Pack tier of Switch Online.

Let me be upfront: this is the divisive one.

After Yoshi’s Island set the bar impossibly high, Yoshi’s Story made some… choices. The entire game is designed around the concept of a pop-up storybook. Every level is a page, the aesthetic is fabric and cardboard, and the whole thing oozes charm from every seam.

Visually, it’s delightful. The art direction pushed the N64 hardware in creative ways, and it still has this tactile, handcrafted quality that feels distinct from anything else in the Yoshi series.

But here’s where opinions split. Yoshi’s Story is short. Like, really short. You can finish the main game in a couple of hours, maybe less. There are technically 24 stages, but you only play through six per run — one from each “page” of the storybook. The idea is that you replay the game multiple times, choosing different paths through the levels, uncovering hidden stages, and experimenting with different Yoshis.

The gameplay loop is also different. Instead of reaching a goal, you’re collecting 30 pieces of fruit per level to complete it. It’s more about exploration and collection than traditional platforming.

Critics at the time called it too easy, too short, too childish. And… those criticisms aren’t wrong, exactly. It is easier than Yoshi’s Island. It is aimed at a younger audience.

But here’s my take in 2026: divorced from the expectations of being a sequel to one of the greatest platformers ever, Yoshi’s Story is a cosy, charming little game. It’s comfort food. The Yoshis are adorable, the music is weirdly catchy, and there’s genuine depth if you chase full completion.

Give it a chance with fresh eyes. You might be surprised.

YOSHI AND THE MYSTERIOUS BOOK

So that’s every Yoshi game currently available on Switch Online. Two puzzle games, two versions of an all-time classic, and one underrated gem.

And if you play through all of these, you’ll be perfectly primed for what’s coming next.

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book launches later this year, and from what we’ve seen so far, it looks like the spiritual successor to Yoshi’s Island that fans have been waiting decades for. That handcrafted aesthetic is back, the flutter jump and egg-throwing mechanics are returning, and Good-Feel — the studio behind Yoshi’s Crafted World and Yoshi’s Woolly World — are developing it.

Early footage suggests a focus on tighter level design and more challenging gameplay compared to their previous Yoshi titles. If that holds true, this could be the Yoshi game that finally recaptures that Yoshi’s Island magic.

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Let me know in the comments which of these Yoshi games is your favourite — or if you think I’m being too kind to Yoshi’s Story.

Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you in the next one.