Shigeru Miyamoto

Shigeru Miyamoto – Life, Creativity, and the Worlds He Built

Learn about Shigeru Miyamoto (born November 16, 1952), the Japanese game designer behind Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong, and more. Explore his early years, philosophy of design, legacy, and memorable quotes.

Introduction

Shigeru Miyamoto is widely celebrated as one of the most influential video game designers in history. As a longtime creative force at Nintendo, he’s the mind behind some of the most beloved and transformative franchises in gaming: Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong, Star Fox, Pikmin, and many others. His vision of play, his insistence on fun over gimmick, and his respect for intuitive design have shaped how games are built—and how millions of people experience them.

Early Life and Influences

Shigeru Miyamoto was born on November 16, 1952 in Sonobe, Kyoto, Japan.

Growing up in a rural environment, he often explored fields, forests, hills, and caves near his home. These childhood wanderings would later inform the sense of adventure and discovery in Zelda.

He also enjoyed drawing, painting, and creating toys. His early fascination with storytelling, visual imagination, and constructing small objects influenced his later design worldview.

Miyamoto enrolled at the Kanazawa College of Art (industrial design / art college) and graduated in 1977.

Entry into Nintendo & Early Career

In 1977, shortly after finishing his studies, Miyamoto joined Nintendo—then a company largely known for playing cards and toys—as a staff artist in the planning department.

One of his first projects involved designing arcade game artwork (e.g. Sheriff).

During the transition of Nintendo into the video game business, Miyamoto was trusted with developing new game ideas. The pivotal success came with Donkey Kong (1981), which introduced a then-unknown character called “Jumpman” (who later became Mario).

From there, he rose within Nintendo’s development teams, becoming a central figure in Nintendo EAD (Entertainment Analysis & Development) and later serving as a representative director and creative fellow.

Design Philosophy & Creative Approach

Fun First

Miyamoto famously does not rely on focus groups to decide what’s fun. Instead, he plays and judges by his own sense: if he enjoys it, he believes players will too.

He speaks of wanting players to feel kyokan—a shared feeling—so that the emotional impression matches what the developers felt.

Simplicity, Clarity & Surprise

Rather than overwhelming players with complexity, Miyamoto often designs systems with simple, intuitive rules, but leaves room for surprises, exploration, and emergent behaviors.

He values ideas that solve multiple problems at once, not those that address only one narrow need.

Drawing from Nature & Experience

Many of his games reflect his childhood explorations—caves, forests, shifting landscapes, hidden paths. The sense of wonder in The Legend of Zelda is frequently traced back to those early memories.

His love of gardening influenced Pikmin; the mechanics and behaviors of plants and animals show in those games.

Iteration & Patience

He’s known for resisting the pressure to ship prematurely. A common quote attributed to him is:

“A delayed game is eventually good, but a rushed game is forever bad.”

He is also cautious about chasing trends; rather, he looks for what is new, what delights, what surprises.

Major Works & Milestones

• Donkey Kong (1981): Miyamoto’s breakout hit.

• Super Mario series: From side-scrolling Super Mario Bros. to 3D revolution with Super Mario 64.

• The Legend of Zelda: Known for open worlds, hidden dungeons, and non-linear play.

• Star Fox, F-Zero, Pikmin, etc. each bringing distinct mechanics.

In leadership roles, Miyamoto helped shape the creative direction of many Nintendo projects, mentoring younger teams.

In 2015, he became a “Creative Fellow,” reducing direct oversight of major projects but continuing to provide guidance and input.

Legacy & Influence

• “Father of modern video games”
  Many credit him with elevating games to artistic, emotional experiences—not just mechanics.

• Innovation in design paradigms
  His work has influenced level design (e.g. Super Mario 64’s 3D space), open-world exploration (Zelda), and emergent interactivity.

• Mentor & inspiration
  He has nurtured many designers at Nintendo and beyond. His humility and focus on creativity over ego make him a rare figure in a commercial industry.

• Cultural honor
  He’s received awards such as the BAFTA Fellowship, AIAS Hall of Fame induction, and Person of Cultural Merit in Japan.

• Expanding his vision beyond games
  In recent years, his ideas have influenced theme parks, cross-media adaptations, and immersive experiences.

Notable Quotes

Here are several well-known quotations by Miyamoto:

• “A delayed game is eventually good, but a rushed game is forever bad.”

• “As long as I can enjoy something, other people can enjoy it, too.”

• “There’s definitely space for uniqueness in a home console.”

• “Nowadays I think it’s really important that designers are really unique and individual.”

• “If we end up creating a gameplay structure where it makes sense for … we might take that approach.” (on reducing rigid gender roles)

These reflect his belief in enjoyment, individual creativity, patience, and inclusivity.

Lessons from Miyamoto’s Journey

1. Follow what delights you
   His work suggests that creating what you love and find fun often resonates widely.

2. Patience and iteration beat hype
   Taking time to refine design leads to lasting experiences rather than fleeting novelty.

3. Design for wonder, not just challenge
   Surprise, discovery, and emotional resonance matter as much as rules.

4. Stay grounded in experience
   Real-world observations—nature, caves, plants—can inspire even digital worlds.

5. Leadership through guidance
   Even when stepping back from direct control, one can guide and mentor to preserve a creative culture.

Conclusion

Shigeru Miyamoto is more than a legend in the gaming world—he is a designer whose imagination, rigor, humility, and playfulness reshaped interactive entertainment. From humble exploration in rural Kyoto to building worlds that millions inhabit, his story is a reminder that at the heart of technology lies human wonder.