The Nintendo Museum in Kyoto, Japan, is gearing up for its grand opening, promising an awe-inspiring collection of Nintendo memorabilia. However, it also seems to be an inadvertent arbiter of long-standing internet debates. One such debate that has already found a definitive answer at the museum is: Is Yoshi's Island (also known as Super Mario World 2) a Yoshi game or a Mario game?
According to Dan Ryckert's insights from a special press preview, the museum features exhibition rooms dedicated to specific franchises, each categorized individually. The Mario franchise display is notably the largest, showcasing not only the plumber's solo adventures but also various spin-offs like kart racers and sports games. Interestingly, Ryckert observed that Yoshi's Island is not part of the Mario display but is instead included in a separate Yoshi franchise display.
So, based on Nintendo's official categorization within a space meticulously curated to reflect its history, Yoshi's Island is not classified as a Mario game. If you had placed a $20 bet on this unlikely scenario, now is the time to cash in. However, Ryckert has vowed to persistently pester his Nintendo contacts until this perceived error is corrected, and we shouldn't underestimate his persistence in getting what he wants. Therefore, it's quite possible that Nintendo might reclassify Yoshi's Island or simply include it in both franchises, depending on available space.
Yoshi's Island features Yoshi (or multiple Yoshis) transporting a baby Mario across vibrant islands. The game is available as part of the Super NES library on the Nintendo Switch Online service, allowing you to play and decide for yourself which franchise it truly belongs to.
For more on the Nintendo Museum, be sure to read our comprehensive impressions and check out a gallery of the museum's displays.
