Smash Bros. Title Originates from Beefs Squashed Between Buddies

Celebrating 25 years of Nintendo's iconic crossover fighting game, we finally have the official story behind the name "Super Smash Bros.," directly from its creator, Masahiro Sakurai.

Masahiro Sakurai Reveals the "Smash Bros." Naming Story

Satoru Iwata's Crucial Role in Naming Smash Bros.

Super Smash Bros., Nintendo's celebrated crossover fighting game, features a diverse cast from the company's vast library of games. However, the name is a bit of a misnomer, as few characters are actually brothers, and some aren't even male. So, why "Super Smash Bros."? Until recently, Nintendo hadn't offered an official explanation. Now, Sakurai has shed light on the matter!

In a recent YouTube video, Sakurai revealed that the name originated from the game's core concept: "friends settling minor disputes." He credits the late Satoru Iwata, former Nintendo president, with a significant contribution to the title.

Sakurai explained that numerous name suggestions were brainstormed, culminating in a meeting with Shigesato Itoi (creator of the Mother/EarthBound series) to finalize the title. "Mr. Iwata chose the 'brothers' aspect," Sakurai stated. "His reasoning was that, despite the characters' lack of familial relation, the term implied a friendly rivalry—a playful disagreement rather than outright conflict!"

Beyond the naming anecdote, Sakurai shared personal memories of Iwata, including Iwata's direct involvement in programming the original Super Smash Bros. prototype, then known as "Dragon King: The Fighting Game," for the Nintendo 64.