Smash Bros. Named After Friends Settling Differences Through 'Smashing'

Celebrating 25 years since its debut, the Nintendo crossover fighting game, Super Smash Bros., finally has an official explanation for its name, courtesy of its creator, Masahiro Sakurai.

Sakurai Unveils the "Smash Bros." Story

Super Smash Bros. brings together characters from Nintendo's vast game library. However, the name's "brothers" element is a bit of a misnomer, as few characters in the game are actually brothers, and some aren't even male. So, how did the name come about? Sakurai recently revealed the story.

In a YouTube video, Sakurai explained that the name reflects the game's core concept: "friends settling minor disputes." Former Nintendo president Satoru Iwata played a crucial role in the naming process.

Sakurai recounted how various name suggestions were put forth by the team. A meeting with Shigesato Itoi, creator of the Mother/Earthbound series, helped finalize the title. Sakurai credits Iwata with selecting the "brothers" aspect, explaining that Iwata felt it conveyed the nuance of friendly rivalry rather than outright combat.

Beyond the naming, Sakurai shared 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.