One of the most critically and commercially successful games in the Nintendo Switch's library is Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It celebrates not only Nintendo's many franchises over the years, but also gaming history in general. It has an incredibly huge roster consisting of some of the most iconic gaming characters, with every previous fighter from prior entries included, with several newcomers as well. With Sora from Kingdom Hearts being the last fighter to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's roster, his debut also marked the end of full time development on the game.

Many fans who have been following the Super Smash Bros. series attribute many of its successes to its creator and director, Mashiro Sakurai. He has been a part of Nintendo's history since 1992, being Kirby's creator and has been directing the platformer fighter series since 1999. While he has split from Nintendo to run his own independent company, Sora Ltd, he has continued a working relationship with the publisher, especially when it comes to Super Smash Bros.. His dedication to the series has been recognized by Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu, earning him the award for most valuable video game creator in 2021.

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This award was given during the Famitsu Dengeki Game Awards ceremony, with the decision based on user votes within Japan. This news was shared over Twitter, with Sakurai thanking the many fans who supported him and his team during the development of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Considering the amount of work and dedication that the director has done in the last decade for the series, fans also congratulated him on this momentous award.

While the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate director was recognized by users as the most valuable creator of 2021, there were numerous other teams and creators that were also nominated. Those include Capcom's Resident Evil Village development team, Yakuza series developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, Cygames' Uma Musume: Pretty Derby dev team, and even Naoki Yoshida, the producer and director of Final Fantasy 14.

Capcom's Monster Hunter Rise took home the Game of the Year award at the Dengeki Game Awards ceremony, as well as Best Action game. Nintendo's Metroid Dread also received an award for best Action-Adventure game at the showcase, with the full list of winners and nominees available on Famitsu's website. With development on Super Smash Bros. Ultimate over and the director enjoying his time off, many fans believe this award is well-warranted.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is available now exclusively on Nintendo Switch

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