Smash Bros. Origin: Friendly Rivalry

After 25 years, the origin story behind the name "Super Smash Bros." is finally revealed, courtesy of creator Masahiro Sakurai.

Masahiro Sakurai Explains the "Smash Bros." Name

Satoru Iwata's Influence on the Iconic Title

Super Smash Bros., Nintendo's celebrated crossover fighting game, features a diverse roster of characters from across the company's vast library. Despite the name, few characters are actually brothers. So, how did this iconic title come to be? While Nintendo never officially explained it, Sakurai recently shed light on the origins in a YouTube video.

Sakurai revealed that the name reflects the game's core concept: friends resolving minor conflicts. The late Satoru Iwata, former Nintendo president, played a crucial role in solidifying the name.

Sakurai explained, "Mr. Iwata also contributed to the name 'Super Smash Bros.' We brainstormed many options with team members," before a final meeting with EarthBound creator Shigesato Itoi. He continued, "Mr. Iwata chose 'brothers.' His reasoning was that, even though the characters weren't related, the word conveyed the nuance of friendly disagreement rather than outright fighting."

Beyond the naming, Sakurai shared personal anecdotes about his relationship with Iwata, including Iwata's direct involvement in programming the original Super Smash Bros. prototype, then titled Dragon King: The Fighting Game, for the Nintendo 64.