Masahiro Sakurai, the acclaimed game designer behind the Kirby and Super Smash Bros. series, has declared 1986 as the golden year of gaming. He expressed his admiration for the NES era, citing it as the finest period in the gaming industry. Sakurai manages a YouTube channel where he shares insights into his game development journey, and it was here that he named 1986 as the peak year for video games.

This choice is rooted in the debut of iconic franchises like The Legend of Zelda, Castlevania, and Metroid, the introduction of the Famicom Disk System, and the innovation of “megabit” cartridges that enabled the creation of expansive games. Sakurai also highlighted the enduring appeal of games from that era, many of which have made their way into the Super Smash Bros. series. With speculation about his future projects, fans are eagerly anticipating what Sakurai will do next, especially in relation to a new Super Smash Bros. game.