The Very Obvious Reason Behind the Absolute Immersion in All Hidetaka Miyazaki Games

In the world of gaming, few creators have left as profound an impact as Hidetaka Miyazaki. The FromSoftware president’s unique approach to game design has spawned an entire genre, with titles like Dark Souls and Elden Ring becoming benchmarks for immersive world-building and atmospheric storytelling.

But what makes Miyazaki’s games feel so different from everything else on the market? A recent discussion on social media has sparked an interesting debate about the role of childhood influences in shaping creative vision, particularly when it comes to video game development.

As it turns out, the secret ingredient behind the magical worlds of Soulsborne games might have less to do with video games than you’d think.

The Unexpected Origins of Miyazaki’s Vision

Before he became the mastermind behind some of gaming’s most celebrated titles, Hidetaka Miyazaki‘s relationship with video games was quite different from what you might expect:

Hidetaka Miyazaki, one of the greatest gaming directors working right now, did not really start playing video games regularly until he was in his 20s.

He grew up on tabletop RPGs, fantasy books, and his own imagination.

Which is why Dark Souls feels so unique pic.twitter.com/aHQidamJw2

— Carlos That Notices Things (@QuetzalPhoenix) July 18, 2024

This observation isn’t just speculation.

In a 2016 interview with Rolling Stone, Miyazaki revealed the contents of his personal library:

First, you’d spot the manga shelf, with Devilman and Berserk lining the top. The neighboring bookshelf is packed with tabletop role-playing game rulebooks, with RuneQuest prominently displayed, alongside the board game Dragon Pass.

In fact, Miyazaki’s limited exposure to video games in his youth wasn’t entirely by choice. As he explained to IGN in 2018:

Growing up, I was restricted at home from playing video games until I reached University… There was a board game called Sorcery which is one of my favorites and I would often revisit the game. It’s not a video game but it definitely stands out in my mind as a game that impacted me.

Perhaps this early restriction was a blessing in disguise, forcing Miyazaki to develop his creativity through other mediums like tabletop RPGs and fantasy literature. This unique foundation would later become the bedrock of his distinctive game design philosophy.

From Tabletop to Soulsborne: A Fresh Perspective

Evidently, his unique background has profoundly influenced the way Miyazaki approaches game design. The intricate world-building and deep lore of Bloodborne, the interconnected level design of Dark Souls, and the vast open world of Elden Ring all bear hallmarks of someone who spent countless hours imagining fantastical worlds through TTRPGs rather than pixels.

The author of the X thread argues that this kind of diverse background is becoming increasingly rare in modern entertainment:

Movie makers raised on modern movies are also shit

Pokemon started because the creator liked collecting bugs and exploring as a kid, not playing video games

Inbred media https://t.co/jJWFH6yr7Z

— Carlos That Notices Things (@QuetzalPhoenix) July 18, 2024

George Lucas grew up in the 50s around hot rods and malt shops, maybe saw a few movies a week. His movies reflect his interests.

If all he did was stay in his room and watch movies? He would be a worse director for it.

— Carlos That Notices Things (@QuetzalPhoenix) July 18, 2024

While the sentiment might be a bit harsh, there’s an interesting discussion to be had about the value of diverse experiences in creative work. Not everyone agrees with @QuetzalPhoenix’s hot take, though:

This is colossally wrong. The golden age of gaming is NOW. And I been around since before they called the ATARI the 2600. All the current issues with games and movies are the EXECUTIVES’ fault.

— Edmo (@edmosuassuna) July 18, 2024

The truth, as always, likely lies somewhere in between. While Bloodborne and other FromSoftware titles certainly benefit from Miyazaki’s unique background, it’s not necessarily true that creators who grew up immersed in their chosen medium are somehow less capable of innovation. After all, many of today’s most innovative games come from developers who grew up with controllers in their hands.

What’s undeniable, though, is that Miyazaki’s distinct perspective has helped create some of gaming’s most memorable experiences. And on that note, perhaps the lesson here isn’t that one type of influence is superior to another—but rather that the best creative works often come from a rich tapestry of diverse experiences and inspirations.

What do you think about the relationship between a creator’s influences and their work? Has Miyazaki’s unique background contributed to the distinctive feel of FromSoftware’s games? Share your thoughts in the comments below!