FromSoftware legend Hidetaka Miyazaki has helmed some of the most challenging yet deeply rewarding games in history, like Demon’s Souls and Bloodborne. For years, many have wondered how Miyazaki designs these titles to maximize player engagement and longevity.
No need to wonder any further, though, because has Miyazaki has revealed the core elements that fuel his creative vision, revealing what makes his games tick and what part of the development process he finds most enjoyable.
FromSoftware Games Make Players Feel Like Winners
In an interview with Future Press, he talked about what elements he adds to his games that make them the way they are:
This is something I say all the time, but it all comes down to a sense of achievement. I think the essence of games lies in attaching meaning and value to the actions you take. Demon’s Souls, Dark Souls and Bloodborne all have one thing in common, and that’s how it places that meaning and value on the sense of achievement you can earn from playing.
That’s the whole idea behind his games. Every part, from fighting tough enemies to finding secret areas and shortcuts, is there to make you feel like a winner. Beating a gruelling boss, finding a hidden path, piecing together a bit of lore – all that stuff adds up to a feeling of triumph.
The world and story in Miyazaki’s games are part of this winning feeling as well. You don’t get everything handed to you on a plate. You have to explore and figure things out for yourself. By putting the pieces together, players can also create their own interpretations of the game’s underlying themes.
Hidetaka Miyazaki’s Favorite Part About Making Games
Even though he’s cranked out a solid streak of masterpieces in the last decade, the award-winning director says he’s far from being saturated, “To be honest, I can’t get enough of the game-director role because it’s kind of like being the total overall designer for a game,” explained Miyazaki.
When asked what his favorite part of the game development process is, he said:
If I had to give one aspect in particular, though, it’d be the map design. Outside of the chalice dungeons, I personally laid out all the maps in Bloodborne, something I like doing a lot.
This comment loops back to his philosophy of making players feel like winners. Miyazaki thinks well-designed maps make the game more fun and help players feel good about themselves. He likes the idea of players figuring out the world and making a map in their head as they go. That, according to him, is what makes a game truly fun, and that’s what he loves about making them.
With this peek into Miyazaki’s creative process, it becomes clear why his games are beloved by millions. He focuses on making players feel like they’ve accomplished something big, and he loves crafting detailed worlds and maps. This special concoction is what makes his games so memorable and keeps players coming back for more, even if they die a million times in the process.
