Smash Bros Got Its Name Because Friends \"Smash\" Beef Amongst Themselves

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

Masahiro Sakurai Reveals the "Smash Bros." Story

Satoru Iwata's Crucial Role in Naming Smash Bros.

Super Smash Bros., Nintendo's celebrated crossover fighting game, features a diverse cast of characters from across the company's vast library. Interestingly, the name is a bit of a misnomer, as few characters are actually brothers, and some aren't even male. So, what's the real story behind the name? While Nintendo never officially explained it, Sakurai recently 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." Former Nintendo president, Satoru Iwata, played a significant role in solidifying the name, according to Sakurai.

Sakurai explained that various name suggestions were brainstormed, culminating in a meeting with Shigesato Itoi (creator of the Mother/Earthbound series) to finalize the title. Sakurai credits Iwata with the "brothers" element, stating that Iwata's intention was to convey a sense of friendly competition rather than outright conflict. "Even though the characters weren't brothers, the word 'brothers' implied a friendly rivalry, a settling of minor disagreements," Sakurai clarified.

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 known as Dragon King: The Fighting Game, for the Nintendo 64.