A 1995 Super Nintendo platformer by Nintendo in which Yoshi must carry baby Mario across a hand-drawn world while battling Kamek and Baby Bowser.
Art
Yoshi’s Island debuted a storybook crayon and watercolor aesthetic, breaking from the photorealistic look popular in 1995. Director Shigeru Miyamoto pushed against pre-rendered trends, favoring expressive hand-drawn visuals.
Gameplay
Yoshi uses his tongue to eat enemies and lay eggs that he can throw at distant targets. Baby Mario rides on his back and cries when knocked off, draining a recovery timer until Yoshi grabs him back.
Legacy
Yoshi’s Island spawned a long-running platformer subseries including Yoshi’s Story, Yoshi’s New Island, and Yoshi’s Crafted World. It is regularly cited among the greatest 2D platformers ever made.