[12] Yoshi's returning abilities include hovering in midair briefly (known as "flutter jumping"),[13] swallowing and spitting out enemies, and throwing eggs to attack foes and solve puzzles.

[10][12] If damage is taken, Yoshi has 10–30 seconds to retrieve Baby Mario from a moving bubble before the infant is taken away by Kamek's underlings, which results in the loss of a life.

[16] If the player loses several lives in a row while attempting to complete a level, Yoshi can obtain the Flutter Wings, a power-up item that enables indefinite hovering.

[19] Certain levels feature a section in which Yoshi transforms into one of six vehicles or objects: a bobsled, a helicopter, a hot air balloon, a jackhammer, a mine cart, or a submarine.

[18][20] Mega Eggdozers, a feature introduced in Yoshi's New Island, are massive eggs that can be thrown to destroy normally indestructible terrain and obstacles in the way, providing access to previously obstructed areas as well as potentially earning the player extra lives.

If the player completes every level without using either of the aforementioned power-ups, adult Bowser suddenly appears after "warping through space and time" to avenge his younger self's defeat.

The use of oil paintings, watercolors, and crayon drawings for the game's aesthetics helped its graphical style retain the "warm and friendly vibe" of the original Yoshi's Island[32] as well as the "handicraft feel" the series had become known for.

[3] Moreover, in the Nintendo Life interview, Tezuka stated that the game's levels were made easier in comparison to those of its predecessor, though the collectibles would be difficult and time-consuming enough to provide "a nice challenge for more experienced players".

[41][42] In early March 2014, it was announced that a special edition Yoshi-themed Nintendo 3DS XL system would be made available for $200 on the game's earliest release date.

[43][44][45] On March 9, five days before Yoshi's New Island was first released, Nintendo promoted the game by having three young actors in California (Benjamin Stockham of About a Boy, Garrett Clayton of Teen Beach Movie, and Bella Thorne of Shake It Up) pose with the special edition 3DS XL system and throw balloons containing green paint at a large egg.

[20] Alex Culafi of Nintendo World Report wrote that the 3D visuals were "among the best 3DS has to offer",[1] with GameSpot's Tom Mc Shea stating that the game had an "enchanting artistic design".

[8] Kyle Orland of Ars Technica added that the art style and animation appeared "a little overdone and lifeless" in comparison to those of prior games in the series.

IGN's Jose Otera, Giant Bomb's Patrick Klepek, and Ars Technica's Kyle Orland praised this aspect, particularly enjoying the variety and placement of collectibles.

[1][6][54] Multiple reviewers also criticized the game for a perceived lack of difficulty in its boss fights,[12][24][50] which were described as "underwhelming",[52] "extremely bland and easy",[1] and "shallow, simple, and uninspired, often ending before they really begin".

[20] Miscellaneous topics of criticism included the underwhelming implementation of the Eggdozer mechanic, the absence of a competitive multiplayer mode, and the use of gyroscope controls in the transformation sections.

[6][21][54][55] Polygon's Danielle Riendeau and Nintendo World Report's Dan Koopman singled out the submarine segments as being tedious, stating that they were "infuriatingly slow"[9] and "required tons of twitch precision that made it a chore to play".

[24] In concluding his own review of the game for Nintendo Life, Dave Letcavage wrote: "It's completely functional and could serve as filler while waiting for the next big 3DS or Wii U release, but there's little denying that it's an underwhelming outing for Yoshi.

[56] Nintendo Life placed the game eighth in its ranking of 13 Yoshi titles, criticizing its failure to introduce new elements and enhance the mechanics established in its predecessors.