Masahiro Sakurai, known for iconic titles like Kirby and Super Smash Bros, humbly views himself as not a “hit maker” and admires the remarkable work of other developers.

Even after creating iconic titles like Kirby and Super Smash Bros., gaming legend Masahiro Sakurai doesn’t see himself as a hit maker or his games as hits. Instead, he focuses on the work of others, feeling the need to “keep pushing” himself.

In a recent interview, Sakurai reflected on what might have happened if Kirby hadn’t become the global sensation it is today, stating that his life would likely remain unchanged. “It wasn’t really like that,” he explains. “It didn’t matter if the game sold well or not; I think I probably would have still devoted myself to game development. Also, I don’t really think about having made a ‘hit,’ or myself as a ‘hit maker.'”

Despite his monumental success, Sakurai experiences imposter syndrome like many others. “When I look at other games, I think ‘that’s amazing,'” he admits. “They do things that my team and I can’t do. I am constantly thinking about how they managed to create something so incredible, and I feel I have to keep on pushing myself to make something [that good].”

He acknowledges that comparing himself to others isn’t particularly beneficial for game development, given the unique nature of the medium. “The truth is that developing video games is completely different from every other type of media, as technology is constantly improving,” Sakurai notes. “If you compare games made 20 or 30 years ago to games today, they are completely different. Because the medium is always evolving, you can’t really look back and reflect properly on everything you’ve achieved.”

With the vast array of flavors, styles, and genres in gaming, it’s challenging and often unhelpful to compare titles like Balatro to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Sakurai believes “it’s best to just play games, instead of looking at who made them.”