8 Game Designers Who Hated Their Own Creations

1. Shigeru Miyamoto (Super Mario Bros. 3)

Shigeru Miyamoto Mario 3
Nintendo

Super Mario Bros. 3 might have been the best-selling game of all time upon its release, and an enduring slice of platforming perfection that's just as wonderful to embed your thumbs into today as it was in 1988, but Shigeru Miyamoto thinks his masterpiece is "embarrassing."

Speaking with Time whilst celebrating quarter of a century of Mario back in 2010, the Nintendo doyen sensationally stated his immense displeasure with one of the best games ever:

"I look at Super Mario 3, and was like, “This was it?! This is what we thought was good enough?"

False modesty from a man responsible for a bargeful of the business' landmark games might be a little hard to stomach, but such self-criticism is a clue to his eternal genius. That said, if Shigsy thinks Mario 3 is a disgrace, what hope is there for us mere mortals?

Watch Next


Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.