| Yoshi's Island | | First installment | Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (1995) | | Latest installment | Yoshi's New Island (2014) | | Number of installments | 6 (3 main, 1 spin-off, 1 port, and 1 demo) | | Parent franchise | Yoshi |
The Yoshi's Island series[1] is a video-game sub-series of the Yoshi franchise. It is a series of 2D side-scrolling platformers starring Yoshi, who has the unique ability to throw eggs to defeat enemies. The games generally feature a colorful, storybook-like art style. The games function as prequels to the present era of the Mario franchise, as they are set in the infancy of Mario and Luigi, where the Yoshis must work to save Baby Mario and others, including Baby Luigi, from the machinations of Kamek and Baby Bowser. Indeed, the defining trait of the series is that the controlled Yoshi carries a baby character, who ends in a bubble when the former is hurt. When this happens, Yoshi has a set number of seconds to rescue Mario, which can be increased in various ways.[1] The series is primarily developed by Nintendo EAD, with some games being developed by Artoon or other companies. The series began with a console title, but switched to a focus on handheld entries with Yoshi's Island DS. - 1List of games
- 3Major elements of the Yoshi's Island series
List of games[edit]Main games[edit]The following games are part of the Yoshi's Island series:[1] | Title |
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| Cover, original release, and system | Synopsis |
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| Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island |
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1995
Super Nintendo Entertainment System | Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island revolves around the time when Mario and Luigi were babies. When Kamek attempts to kidnap both Baby Mario and Baby Luigi, he succeeds in kidnapping Baby Luigi, but Baby Mario falls to Yoshi's island and Yoshi finds him. Kamek sends his army of Toadies to find and kidnap Baby Mario. Yoshi and his fellow islanders escort Baby Mario to help him rescue his brother. | | Yoshi's Island DS |
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2006
Nintendo DS | The direct sequel to Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Yoshi's Island DS, features Baby Peach, Baby Bowser, Baby Wario, Baby Donkey Kong and of course Baby Mario all on a quest to save all the world's babies (including Baby Luigi). Kamek is the one responsible for the kidnapping of the babies, still being mad after the events of the previous game. The Stork manages to attack some Toadies, who drop the babies they are carrying, the babies being Baby Mario and Baby Peach. The Yoshis set out to rescue the babies, encountering more along the way. | | Yoshi's New Island |
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2014
Nintendo 3DS | Yoshi's New Island is a platform game for the Nintendo 3DS. The game is a midquel between Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island and Yoshi's Island DS, and it uses a similar art style for the game. It is shown that the Stork has delivered the Baby Mario twins to the wrong house and tries to get them to their real parents. Kamek steals Baby Luigi once again and Baby Mario falls on a place called Egg Island, where the Yoshi residents find him and decide to take him to Bowser's Castle. Most gameplay elements are borrowed from the first game. Among new elements are the Mega Eggdozers, Metal Eggdozers and the multiplayer minigame mode. A game released in 2014 on the Play Nintendo website called Yoshi's New Island Match-Up. |
Spin-off games[edit]These games are inspired by the Yoshi's Island series, but are not part of it.[1] | Title |
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| Cover, original release and system | Synopsis |
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| Yoshi Touch & Go |
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2005
Nintendo DS | The first Yoshi's Island game on the Nintendo DS, Yoshi Touch & Go features the same story as Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. The game is more of a puzzle game than a platformer like Yoshi's Island was. The game is entirely touch-sensitive, allowing Yoshi to attack enemies with a tap of the stylus. |
Reissue[edit]| Title |
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| Cover, original release and system | Synopsis |
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| Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 |
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2002
Game Boy Advance | Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 was the Game Boy Advance port of Super Mario World 2. This game was very similar to the original with several differences, such as updated graphics and some new levels. This game also included Mario Bros. as an extra feature, which was a constant theme in the Super Mario Advance series. |
Tech Demos[edit]| Title |
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| Image and system | Synopsis |
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| Balloon Trip |
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Nintendo DS | Balloon Trip was a tech demo for the Nintendo DS, shown off at E3 2004. The game had a very simple storyline, in which Baby Mario is floating in the air being held up by 3 balloons. If any enemies touch these balloons, they pop. The player must use the stylus to stop enemies from touching Mario by drawing various things such as clouds and bubbles. This demo was used as the foundation for Yoshi Touch & Go. |
Gameplay[edit]The basic gameplay of the Yoshi's Island series is that of a 2D side-scrolling platformer. In addition to the basic run and jump actions, the Yoshi being played as is able to use their tongue to manipulate objects and to eat enemies in most of the games. Once an enemy is eaten, it can be ejected or swallowed. If swallowed, the Yoshi will be able to lay an egg which can be thrown at objects or at enemies. The Yoshi can obtain various power-ups to help complete the level, many of which involve transforming into various vehicles. The baby that the Yoshi carries on his back (usually Baby Mario) can also give the Yoshi various abilities to aid it. The defning feature of the series is the fact that, when the Yoshi is hit by an obstacle that does not make him lose immediately a life, the baby he is carrying ends in a bubble and a timer starts to decrease. If the Yoshi does not manage to pop the bubble before the timer reaches 0, some enemies, typically Toadies, kidnap the baby and the Yoshi loses a life. The spin-offs in the series feature somewhat different gameplay. In Yoshi Touch & Go, the player must draw lines of clouds with the Nintendo DS Touch Screen, guiding Yoshi and Baby Mario away from enemies as they float down. Enemies can be defeated by drawing bubbles around them or by throwing eggs obtained from eating fruit at them. Major elements of the Yoshi's Island series[edit]Major characters[edit]Protagonists[edit]| Character |
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| Image | Brief Biography | First Appearance |
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| Yoshi |
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| Yoshi is the main protagonist of the Yoshi's Island series. He is one of the Yoshis who defend the islands whenever they are threatened by evil forces, often carrying Baby Mario and the other babies on his back. He, like the other Yoshis, has various abilities, including flutter jumping in the air, ground pounding, swallowing enemies, and producing Yoshi Eggs. Yoshi is often the one who finds Baby Mario and begins the quests. | Super Mario World | | Baby Mario |
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| Baby Mario is the starring baby of the Yoshi's Island series. Whenever Kamek attempts to kidnap Baby Mario, he fails, leaving Baby Mario in the care of the Yoshis as he sets out to rescue his brother. Baby Mario has the ability to become completely invincible to all attacks in Yoshi's Island DS after collecting a star. Baby Mario also possesses the power to make Yoshis run more swiftly. | Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island | | Baby Luigi |
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| Baby Luigi plays the damsel in each Yoshi's Island game he appears in: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Yoshi's Island DS, Yoshi Touch & Go, and Yoshi's New Island. Each time that he is kidnapped, his brother must team up with the Yoshis to rescue him. In Yoshi's Island DS, Baby Luigi's role is slightly more significant in the fact that he is one of the seven star children. | Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island | | Poochy |
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| Poochy is an ally that has appeared in the Yoshi's Island series twice: in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island and in Yoshi's New Island. He is an odd-looking dog, considering the fact that he doesn't have ears and a nose, and that his lips are protruding. Poochy comes in handy if the Yoshis need to cross certain terrains that are inaccessible to the Yoshis; thus, the Yoshis ride Poochy across said terrain, taking them to a safe environment. | Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island | | Baby Donkey Kong |
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| Baby Donkey Kong, (alternatively referred to as 'Baby DK'), has appeared in only one Yoshi's Island game to date: Yoshi's Island DS. He appeared as an ally who helped the Yoshis rescue Baby Peach back from a group of Ukikis. Baby DK then decides to join the mission to stop Bowser. Baby DK had many useful abilities, including the ability to climb on vines, the ability to make a Yoshi charge through hard rock, and the power to make Yoshi Eggs explode on impact. | Yoshi's Island DS | | Baby Peach |
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| Baby Peach is the infant form of Princess Peach. Her only appearance in the Yoshi's Island series is in Yoshi's Island DS as one of the star children. After Kamek and his army of Toadies attempted to kidnap all children in the Mushroom Kingdom, they failed to nab Baby Peach (along with Baby Mario). Baby Peach teamed up with the Yoshis and Baby Mario to get to Kamek and Bowser and stop his evil plans, freeing the kidnapped babies. She had the ability to help Yoshis float via the use of her parasol. | Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time | | Baby Wario |
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| Baby Wario is one of the seven star children and the baby version of Wario; he has appeared only in Yoshi's Island DS. Even as a baby, he showed a great love for money, as seen in a few cinemas throughout the game. Baby Wario, though kidnapped, was set free due to his greedy, spoiled, and whiny personality. When the Yoshis find him, they allow Baby Wario to accompany them, though it is for a short duration. Baby Wario has a giant magnet which allows him to attract any metallic object—even coins. | Yoshi's Island DS | | Stork |
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| The Stork is yet another ally in the Yoshi's Island series. He has appeared in three games: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Yoshi's Island DS and Yoshi's New Island. He also appeared in Yoshi Touch & Go. His role in the games was relatively basic and short: to deliver the babies, either to their parents or to a Stork Stop. The Stork didn't speak in any games, and implied no complex personality. Not much is known about him, but he has always been there to help the Yoshis take care of the babies. | Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island |
Antagonists[edit]| Character |
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| Image | Brief Biography | First Appearance |
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| Baby Bowser |
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| Baby Bowser is one of the three recurring main antagonists in the Yoshi's Island series. He has appeared in all three Yoshi's Island games to date: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Yoshi's Island DS, and Yoshi's New Island. Baby Bowser is a spoiled infant who generally wants his way. In Yoshi's Island DS, Baby Bowser was an ally (temporarily) for the first time. He had the ability to breathe fireballs that could defeat enemies and melt ice. In Yoshi's New Island, Baby Bowser chose Egg Island to be his resort, but his plans were foiled by the Yoshi clan. | Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island | | Kamek |
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| Kamek is the main antagonist in the Yoshi's Island series. He has appeared in all three Yoshi's Island games to date: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Yoshi's Island DS, and Yoshi's New Island. Like Baby Bowser, he also appeared in Yoshi Touch & Go. He is a blue-cloaked Magikoopa who is notable for stealing the babies of the Mushroom Kingdom. Kamek commonly uses his magic to enhance certain enemies into bosses for the Yoshis to fight. When that fails, he tries again—but alas, the Yoshis always prevail over Kamek, foiling his evil plots. However, Kamek has appeared in other Mario games, (such as Mario Party DS and Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time), as a minor enemy or boss, his largest antagonist role is in the Yoshi's Island series. | Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island | | Bowser |
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| Bowser has appeared in two main Yoshi games: Yoshi's Island DS and Yoshi's New Island. During the events of Yoshi's Island DS, He serves as the main antagonist. Bowser travels back in time to find the seven star children, in hopes of receiving their power; if he were to receive their power, he could conquer the universe. Bowser kidnapped as many children as he possibly could, (including his infant self), in order to get the seven star children. However, the star children eventually foil Bowser's plan, forcing him to return to his original time. He also appears in Yoshi's New Island as the final boss—Bowser, however, can only be fought after the player has completed all of the main levels but does not use the Flutter Wings power-up. | Super Mario Bros. |
Species[edit]| Species |
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| Image | Brief Summary | First Appearance |
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| Yoshi |
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| Yoshis are the main inhabitants of Yoshi's Island. They are dinosaurs who enjoy eating Fruit. The type of fruit that a Yoshi likes depends on that Yoshi's color. Yoshis come in many different colors, including Green, Red, Yellow, Blue, Pink, Light-Blue, Purple, Brown, Black, White, and Orange. Yoshis of many of these colors often accompany Yoshi and the babies on their journeys, carrying the babies on their backs. Yoshis have various abilities, including flutter jumping in the air, ground pounding, swallowing enemies, and producing Yoshi Eggs. | Super Mario World | | Toady |
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| Toadies are minions of Kamek who often kidnap Baby Luigi. They normally travel in groups of four and fly using the propellers on their heads. There is also a variant called Solo Toadies, which travel by themselves and attempt to kidnap the baby on Yoshi's back. | Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island | | Shy Guy |
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| Shy Guys are the most common enemy in the Yoshi's Island series. They are normally quite weak, but have an inordinate amount of alternate versions, including flying ones, stilt-using ones, fat ones, rocket-riding ones, and even pirate-themed ones. | Super Mario Bros. 2 | | Bandit |
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| Bandits are tough, lanky Shy Guys with smug grins that will attempt to steal the baby, sometimes carry coins, and sometimes wear crude Yoshi masks. Sometimes, they replace the baby with a green Shy Guy. They also have two baseball-playing versions called Baseball Boys, a red version with a spiked helmet and yellow hood, and a martial artist variety. | Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island | | Ukiki |
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| Ukikis, formerly Grinders, are monkeys with many different abilities. Some just hop around, others spit watermelon seeds or grab Baby Mario, while others form long swinging chains. They can also throw bombs and yellow Needlenoses; these varieties are known as Short Fuses and Seedy Sallies, respectively. They can also swim slowly. When hit, their color darkens. | Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island | | Raven |
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| Ravens are a species of black, rotund birds. They mostly attack by walking around planet-like objects, though the smaller ones tend to run along walls and ceilings. Raphael the Raven is a Raven enlarged by Kamek's magic. | Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island | | Goonie |
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| Goonies are a bird enemy that have appeared in several Yoshi's Island games. They tend to travel in groups and attack by diving down to hit Yoshi. There are many Goonie derivatives such as Flightless Goonies, Skeleton Goonies and Bowling Goonies. Goonies are also sometimes seen flying in the background. | Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island | | The Blarggs |
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| Red Blarggs, Gargantua Blarggs, and Nep-Enuts, all derivative of the Blargg from Super Mario World, are recurring enemies throughout the Yoshi's Island series. The former two inhabit lava, while the latter inhabits water. Blarggwich, a ghostly variety, actually helps the Yoshis by giving them rides on the Flatbed Ferry atop its head. Yoshi's Island DS has an even larger form of Gargantua Blargg as well. | Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island | | Human |
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| Humans are a race that appear in most Yoshi's Island games—however, most of them only appear as babies. Humans play their most important role in Yoshi's Island DS, where Bowser attempts to kidnap several human babies which he believes are the star children, which will give him the power to take over the world. The Yoshis save several of these babies and join forces to defeat Bowser. | Donkey Kong |
Locations[edit]| Location |
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| Image | Brief Summary | First Appearance |
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| Yoshi's Island |
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| Yoshi's Island is the homeland of the Yoshis and the area where the games in the Yoshi's Island franchise until Yoshi's Island DS take place. The island has been attacked by Baby Bowser and Kamek many times, but Yoshi has always restored peace to the island. | Super Mario World | | Egg Island |
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| Egg Island is the second homeland of the Yoshis which appears in Yoshi's New Island. The island is in front of Yoshi's Island, the main island of the Yoshis. When the Stork drops Baby Mario and Baby Luigi once again, Baby Mario falls down and teams up with the native Yoshis to rescue his brother, who is held captive by Kamek now that Baby Bowser chooses the island to be his resort. When the team defeats Bowser and rescues Baby Luigi, the Stork takes the babies back to their homes, as the Yoshis bid them farewell. | Yoshi's New Island |
Items[edit]| Item |
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| Image | Brief Summary | First Appearance |
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| Yoshi Eggs |
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| Yoshi Eggs are a staple of any Yoshi's Island game. They are not only a weapon for the Yoshis to use against enemies, but they are also tools that can be utilized to solve certain puzzles. By swallowing an enemy, a Yoshi can lay an egg. In addition to the standard green Yoshi Eggs, there are also yellow, red, and even flashing ones. The yellow ones can be received by hitting a yellow Egg Block, the red ones can be received from red Egg Blocks, while the flashing ones can just be found rarely on the ground. A green egg that bounces off walls will become yellow after the first bounce and red after the second bounce, as well. Other types of eggs are found in the series: Giant Eggs are formed by swallowing Fat Guys; Mega Eggdozers are formed by swallowing large enemies like Mega Guys and Mega Kantera; and Metal Eggdozers are formed by swallowing metallic enemies like Metal Guys and Tetu Kantera. | Super Mario World | | Star |
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| Stars are items that appear from red eggs when they hit an enemy, from enemies that are defeated in certain ways, or from Tulips, certain crates, and Winged Clouds. They represent the amount of time the baby can be off of the Yoshi's back before the Toadies kidnap them. Ending a level with 30 Stars left factors into 100% completion of the level. | Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island | | Smiley Flower |
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| Five Smiley Flowers appear in each level. Collecting them all will grant an extra life and factor into the level's 100% completion. The enemy Fooly Flower pretends to be a Smiley Flower, but will attempt to roll over any approaching Yoshi. | Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island | | Red Coin |
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| 20 Red Coins appear in each level. Collecting them all will grant an extra life and factor into the level's 100% completion. They often appear gold, like normal coins, but in some games have a slight orange tint even in this form. | Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island |
Objects[edit]| Item |
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| Image | Brief Summary | First Appearance |
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| Egg Block |
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| Egg Blocks are small white cubes with spots on them; the color of the spots shows what the block does. The green Egg Block, when hit, ejects an unlimited number of Yoshi Eggs for the player to utilize in that level. Up to six Yoshi Eggs will come out of a green Egg Block. The yellow block and red block, however, will only give out 1 yellow egg and 1 red egg, respectively. The magenta block is different from the others, as it expands and acts as a boost for the player rather than ejecting eggs. | Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island | | Flatbed Ferry |
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| The Flatbed Ferry is the Yoshi franchise's version of the Lift, and typically follows a dotted path. They come in numerous colors, typically indicative of their speed or behavior. | Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island | | Winged Cloud |
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| The Winged Cloud is an object that, when hit with an egg or similar object, will typically drop an item, an object, a group of items, or cause some even to occur, such as stairs appearing. They are sometimes invisible, becoming instead transparent when a Yoshi touches them. | Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island | | ! Switch |
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| While specific to Switch Palaces in Super Mario World, ! Switches become much more commonplace in the Yoshi's Island games. They cause Dotted-Line Blocks to turn into red ! Blocks or cause a secret pathway to a bonus area to open up. | Super Mario World |
References[edit]- ^ abcdDescritpion of the Yoshi's Island series on the Super Mario Pia. The main description states A side-scroller action game where Yoshi protects the baby-form [of Mario] Baby Mario as an adventure unfolds. If hit by an enemy's attack, Baby Mario is separated. This heart-pounding system where you must quickly rescue [Baby Mario] is fun!
| Yoshi games |
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| Platformers | Yoshi's Island | Main games | Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (1995, SNES) • Yoshi's Island DS (2006, DS) • Yoshi's New Island (2014, 3DS) |
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| Spin-offs | Yoshi Touch & Go (2005, DS) |
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| Reissues | Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 (2002, GBA) |
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| Other | Main games | Yoshi's Story (1997, N64) • Yoshi's Woolly World (2015, Wii U) • Yoshi's Crafted World (2019, NS) |
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| Spin-offs | Yoshi Topsy-Turvy (2004, GBA) |
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| Reissues | Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World (2017, 3DS) |
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| Puzzles | Yoshi (1991, NES) • Yoshi's Cookie (1992, NES) • Yoshi no Cookie: Kuruppon Oven de Cookie (1994, SNES) • Tetris Attack (1996, SNES) |
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| Spin-offs | Yoshi's Safari (1993, SNES) |
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| Tech demos | Yoshi Demo (GBA) • Balloon Trip (DS) |
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| Canceled games | Yoshi Racing |
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