Super Nintendo

The Game-Changing Company That Unlocked the Power of Play

By: Keza MacDonald

Narrated by: Keza MacDonald

An exuberant, behind-the-scenes look at the designers and the company that brought us Mario, Zelda, Pokémon, and so much more, illuminating Nintendo's singular ethos, its massive cultural impact, and the innovative solutions behind its creative triumphs

“Comprehensive but never too dense, informative but approachable, and packed with an unwavering passion for Nintendo that I'd wager even the company's biggest detractors would find infectious. In short, if you want to learn about Nintendo, this is the book to do it.” —Jim Norman, Nintendo Life

What magical mushroom could have turned an unassuming playing card company into one of the dominant cultural forces of the twenty-first century?

In Super Nintendo, lifelong gamer and a renowned video games journalist Keza MacDonald traces Nintendo back to its quirky beginnings in 1889. Leaping from game to game, she tells the remarkable story of the people who brought us Super Mario Bros., Zelda, Pokémon, Animal Crossing, Splatoon, and more—not to mention the SNES, N64, Game Boy, Wii, Switch, and a host of other wacky gizmos—and charts the delights they’ve offered over the decades.

MacDonald draws on private interviews with icons like Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of Mario, who continues to leave his stamp on the company, and takes readers on a trip to the secretive Nintendo HQ—making her one of the few Western journalists to have set foot inside the building. Along the way, she provides a close-up look at the company's willingness to take risks and place long-term success over short-term profits.

A carousel of wonders, Super Nintendo whisks you back to the couch in the den, a controller in your hands for the very first time, staring up at a screen of infinite possibilities.

Great look at a company we all know but don't know well

I was one of those 5 million people who bought Animal Crossing: New Horizons in 2020 having never bought a video game before. The only game I've bought, which I play by myself, with my partner, or with our friends, is Mario Kart 8. I bought a Switch Lite specifically to play ACNH after months of stalking sites for restocks. I played it for about 2 years straight and I picked it up again a few weeks ago to design the new hotel. I'm in my thirties now and I played arcade games but I never played a handheld game until ACNH. I find games really fascinating from an anthropological POV and I enjoyed the structure of this book and the history, sociology, and psychology of the company and people who created these games.

A Great History For Nintendo and Gaming Fans

Keza provides a rare glimpse into the inner workings of Nintendo and provides a great overview of their long history. It's cool to hear the book narrated by its author, and she offers a solid performance throughout. I'm glad the Friends Per Second podcast recommended this book. Well worth the time and money.