Masahiro Sakurai, the genius behind Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros series, has received a prestigious honor from the Japanese government for his extensive game design tutorial videos. The award recognizes Sakurai’s extraordinary commitment to education in the field of video game development.
The honor specifically acknowledges Sakurai’s YouTube channel “Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games,” which features approximately 250 videos diving deep into the world of AAA game development. These tutorials cover everything from basic design principles to advanced techniques, providing invaluable knowledge to aspiring creators worldwide.
What makes Sakurai’s achievement particularly remarkable is his personal investment in the project. He reportedly spent over $600,000 of his own money on production costs. Despite this massive financial commitment, Sakurai deliberately disabled ads on all videos to ensure the content remains completely free and accessible to everyone interested in game design.
“I wanted to share what I’ve learned over decades of making games without any barriers,” Sakurai explained in a previous video about the series. His tutorials break down complex concepts into digestible segments, often using examples from games he’s worked on to illustrate key points.
Before creating the Smash Bros franchise, Sakurai designed the lovable pink hero Kirby while working at HAL Laboratory. Throughout his career spanning over three decades, he’s earned a reputation for meticulous attention to detail and innovative gameplay mechanics that balance accessibility with depth.
The video series launched after Sakurai completed work on the final DLC fighter for Super Smash Bros Ultimate. Rather than taking a well-deserved break, he channeled his energy into creating what many consider the most comprehensive free resource for game development education available online.
The gaming community has responded with overwhelming appreciation. Professional developers and hobbyists alike have praised the tutorials for offering rare insights into high-level game design thinking. Multiple game development schools have even incorporated segments of his videos into their curriculum.
