Masahiro Sakurai has made some of Nintendo’s greatest games, but his YouTube channel might be his best work.
(Yes, I know I’m super late to the party on this one, but what the hell, consider this a small post of appreciation.)
Masahiro Sakurai is synonymous with some of Nintendo’s most beloved franchises. He’s the creative force behind Kirby, the brains (and nimble fingers) behind Super Smash Bros., and a clear design obsessive.
Many of the titles he directed are considered legendary. But — having taken my own sweet time to work through it — I’d argue his most enduring contribution to gaming will be the Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games YouTube channel.
Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games launched in 2022, and across 300 videos, it peels back the curtain on game design and development with sharp insights and hard-earned lessons from a long and storied career. And it’s all delivered with a generous helping of self-effacing humour.
The channel — which is completely independent from Nintendo — doesn’t focus on any one title. It’s concept-driven and neatly organised, with GDC-style playlists covering everything from developing concepts and UI to animation and programming. By drawing examples not just from his own work but also from games like The Last of Us and Persona 5, Sakurai reveals not only how things are made, but why specific, and often small, decisions matter. And his unassuming style means the videos are accessible whether you’re an indie developer, a student, or just someone like me who is curious about design.
Sakurai’s Career Highlights
- Kirby’s Dream Land (1992) – The pink puffball’s debut, developed when Sakurai was just 19 years old.
- Kirby Super Star (1996) – Cool co-op mechanics and genre-blending gameplay.
- Super Smash Bros. (1999) – The scrappy crossover idea that became a genre-defining series.
- Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001) – A cult classic and still the competitive gold standard.
- Meteos (2005) – A tactile and explosive spin on falling-block puzzlers that shows Sakurai’s ability to design outside his usual genres.
- Kid Icarus: Uprising (2012) – A inventive reboot with challenging but daring control choices.
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018) – One most ambitious fighting games of all time. No wonder he needed a break.
There’s a certain type of movie where the pleasure comes from watching smart people be really good at their jobs. The likes of Moneyball, The Martian, Bridge of Spies, to name a few of my favourites. Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games is like that, but for game development.
You might not be into Kirby (too childish? You’re wrong) or Super Smash Bros. (too chaotic? Also wrong), but if you have a passing interest in how the cake is made, and, I urge you to check out Sakurai’s channel. It’s clear, clever, personal, and packed with tiny revelations. Much like his games, it’s a joy to experience.
Sadly, despite my curiosity, I’m yet to show much talent for making games myself. Still, while watching this series, I’ve dabbled in Godot, GameMaker, even Nintendo’s Game Builder Garage, trying to put Sakurai’s lessons into practice. And while I grasp the concepts, the raw ideas or creative spark to bring them to life continues to elude me.
But with this channel, Sakurai keeps me thinking. He keeps me trying. And that’s what the best teachers do.
Here are three excellent episodes to start with:
