Nintendo Confirms Free Mario Download For Switch 1 And 2, Yoshi Is The One

Nintendo has confirmed that a free download is heading to the Nintendo Switch consoles, and it’s one especially for young Yoshi fans.

Nintendo has a good knack for releasing products that its competitors, such as PlayStation and Xbox, might not. It’s why the Japanese company has been a giant in the industry for so many years, outlasting even the likes of SEGA in the console market.

In August this year, Nintendo released the free mobile app, for Android and iOS devices, called Hello, Mario, aimed towards young children.

The app features some cute stop-motion animated short videos, which are also uploaded to Nintendo’s children’s YouTube channel, ‘Play Nintendo’. The app also has a feature that allows you to pull and stretch poor Mario’s face. It kind of reminds me of the title screen from Super Mario 64.

Nintendo

Poor Yoshi!

Now, as brought to our attention by Nintendo Life, Yoshi is also getting his very own app, very similar to Mario’s version. But that’s not all, because it’s also coming to Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.

On both Nintendo Switch consoles, the app will first launch on the Japanese eShop on 18 November 2025, and the mobile version will also go live on the same day.

“Stretch out Yoshi's tongue to eat items, or have different coloured Yoshis appear from eggs. Have fun playing with this mysterious Yoshi, who shows off a variety of expressions,” reads the description of the app. “After playing for a while, Yoshi will fall asleep. You can't play while he's asleep, so use this as a guide for when your child is resting.”

Obviously, this app will have little interest in adult and young teen gamers, but it looks like it could be a lot of fun for our younglings. Well, as long as the mobile phone and tablet aren't glued to their faces 24/7.

Yes, I know, I sound like a nagging parent. To be fair, this is coming from the person who, as soon as I finish work, I’ll be firing up my PlayStation or Xbox at the earliest opportunity.

The new Yoshi app seems to be almost perfect timing to help build up buzz for 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie sequel that arrives in cinemas in April next year.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, inspired by the games that originally released on the Nintendo Wii, will feature Yoshi and his fellow species. That movie can't arrive soon enough! We’ll keep you posted as soon as a solid release date drops.