Celebrating Yoshi’s Woolly World Anniversary: A Look Back at Yoshi’s Island Legacy and Wii U’s Final Classic

This week marks a significant moment for fans of Nintendo’s beloved Yoshi franchise, as Yoshi’s Woolly World celebrates its 10th anniversary in the United Kingdom, while the seminal Yoshi’s Island for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) approaches its 30th anniversary this August.

Developed by Good-Feel and published by Nintendo, these games have each made long-lasting impacts within the platforming genre and stand as testaments to the developer’s creative vision and technical innovation. Yoshi’s Woolly World first launched for the Nintendo Wii U in Europe in June 2015 and quickly garnered acclaim for its unique art style, characterized by vibrant, handcrafted visuals resembling wool and yarn.

The game offered a fresh, tactile twist on traditional platform mechanics, earning high praise from critics and players alike for its visual innovation and engaging gameplay.

As one of the last high-profile first-party releases for the Wii U, Yoshi’s Woolly World secured its place in Nintendo history before later receiving an enhanced port, Yoshi’s Woolly World: Poochy & Yoshi’s Woolly World, for the Nintendo 3DS in 2017. While reflecting on the legacy of Yoshi’s Woolly World, many longtime fans still hold Yoshi’s Island (released in Japan as Super Mario: Yoshi Island) in particularly high regard.

Released on August 5, 1995, for the SNES, Yoshi’s Island became celebrated for its hand-drawn art direction and inventive level design, and it remains a staple in Nintendo’s classic library.

Over the years, the game has seen re-releases on platforms such as the Game Boy Advance and the Nintendo Switch Online service, consistently drawing new generations of players. In a statement reminiscent of the enduring passion among Yoshi fans, one enthusiast recently remarked: "While some may not connect with every entry, Yoshi’s Woolly World and the original Yoshi’s Island have left indelible marks on the gaming landscape.

It’s both rewarding and bittersweet to see that Yoshi’s Woolly World remains a defining Wii U classic and has yet to make its way to Nintendo Switch." As the Nintendo Switch library continues to expand, a steady demand persists among the community for a modern port of Yoshi’s Woolly World.

The game’s absence from the eShop and Nintendo’s current-generation hardware remains a notable gap in the Switch’s catalog, especially as Nintendo celebrates the anniversaries of these genre-defining titles.

Until then, Yoshi’s Woolly World stands as a cherished testament to the creative heights achieved by Nintendo and Good-Feel at the twilight of the Wii U era, while Yoshi’s Island continues to inspire nostalgia—and new adventures—three decades after its debut.

Nintendo Switch Yoshi Nintendo Wii Wii U SNES Switch Xbox Series X|S Yoshi’s Island Yoshi’s Woolly World Yoshi’s Good-Feel Nintendo Wii U