Who Created Mario Bros.? Shigeru Miyamoto – Nintendo's Legendary Designer

Shigeru Miyamoto created Mario Bros. (1983) and its landmark successor Super Mario Bros. (1985). He is Nintendo's most iconic creative figurehead, serving as Representative Director and Fellow.

Miyamoto's Major Creations

• Donkey Kong (1981) – Mario's debut (as "Jumpman")
• Mario Bros. (1983) – Introduced Luigi, pipes, POW blocks, Shellcreepers/Sidesteppers
• Super Mario Bros. (1985) – Defined side-scrolling platformers
• The Legend of Zelda (1986) – Action-adventure template
• Star Fox (1993) – 3D rail shooter
• Pikmin (2001) – Real-time strategy with tiny plant-people
• Wii Fit / Wii Sports (concepts) – Expanded audience gaming

Design Philosophy

Miyamoto emphasizes "kyokan" (shared feeling)—designing mechanics that evoke universal emotions (joy of discovery, tension of challenge, satisfaction of mastery). He prototypes by hand, playtests obsessively, and insists on "polish until it feels right."

Without Miyamoto, the video game landscape would be unrecognizable. Mario remains his enduring global ambassador.