Hidetaka Miyazaki Died So Many Times in Dark Souls That He Turned Death into a Soulslike Feature

In the world of video games, few creators have created a reputation as iconic as Hidetaka Miyazaki. He is known for his creative work on the Dark Souls series, where he created a thrilling experience where death is not merely a sign of failure, but the main purpose or goal that encourages players to give it their all and triumph over the overwhelming hurdles.

Miyazaki believes that failure is not the end of the journey instead can be transformed into a valuable learning opportunity to reshape how players perceive and interact with challenges. In a past interview, he revealed that not even he can complete his own creations without dying but rather than getting discouraged, these failures motivate him even more to continue delivering the games we now know and love.

The Impact of Hidetaka Miyazaki’s Dark Souls on Gaming

In the popular and beloved Dark Souls series, players need to navigate through a dangerous landscape filled with formidable foes and intricate obstacles while following the narrative. The game is known for its difficulty (creating a genre called soulslike), and more often than players will encounter the message “You Died”.

Rather than getting frustrated, players have slowly come to realize that this cycle of death and rebirth is a very integral part of the game’s experience. Hidetaka Miyazaki designed these games to encourage players to become more patient, observe their surroundings, and think effectively. Instead of regretting the failure, embrace it and accept it as a lesson, highlighting that mastery of any skill requires time and effort.

In a past interview, he admitted that he is not a skilled player and often dies a lot of times. But by learning from his own experiences, he wanted to craft a narrative and meaning behind every death, essentially giving meaning to the player’s every action in their journey, even death. His exact words were:

I die a lot. So, in my work, I want to answer the question: If death is to be more than a mark of failure, how do I give it meaning? How do I make death enjoyable?

Miyazaki has maintained this philosophy from his first Dark Souls in 2011 to even his latest title, Elden Ring. In this latest game, players can summon allies and explore an open world (filled with powerful enemies), yet the true essence of struggle remains intact. In some ways, he has made death in his game a memorable moment, and when players overcome formidable obstacles, it becomes a sense of accomplishment.

The Incredible Legacy of Hidetaka Miyazaki

In the video game industry, Miyazaki’s influence extends beyond simple game mechanics. More often than not, he touches deeper human emotions and experiences such as shame, failure, and death. By implementing these elements into the game, he has actually transformed video games to show the need to find meaning in setbacks.

Death and rebirth, trying and overcoming—we want that cycle to be enjoyable. In life, death is a horrible thing. In play, it can be something else.

As Miyazaki continues to push the boundaries of games with his creative thinking and designs, he remains a humble figure by reflecting on his journey and struggles.

He even insists his creative team members be completely open about everything, as it creates an environment where creativity thrives, allowing them to explore new ideas while remaining true to themselves.

For the gamers, Miyazaki has essentially redefined the relationship between them and the game through his unique approach to death. By turning failure into a fundamental feature of gameplay, he has made players embrace their struggles and learn from their mistakes.

In the end, whether you find joy in the journey of overcoming challenges or prefer a game to cater to your skill level, there is one thing no one can deny: in the world of Miyazaki, every death is just another step toward triumph.

What is your favorite Dark Souls game? Tell us in the comment section below.