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Super Nintendo: How One Japanese Company Helped the World Have Fun
Not yet published
Expected 12 Feb 26From the instant classics to the hidden gems, Nintendo's video games occupy a special place in the hearts of hundreds of millions of people around the globe. Every player has forged a unique connection with a beloved game, feeling that rush of awe and wonder as they immersed themselves in a virtual world in pursuit of that most human of the desire to have fun.
Super Nintendo finds lifelong gamer Keza MacDonald exploring Nintendo's legendary roster of games - as well as consoles such as the SNES, Gameboy, Wii and Switch, and a host of other quirky gizmos from the Power Glove to Nintendo Labo - drawing from decades' worth of interviews with their creators and the people whose lives have been shaped and changed by them. Along the way, she tells the story of how this unassuming playing card company, founded in Kyoto in 1889, became one of the dominant cultural forces of the twenty-first century.
Offering unparalleled access to the company and its fun-filled world, and written with warmth and wit, Super Nintendo captures the love that so many of us feel for video games - and reveals just what that love tells us about being human.
Super Nintendo finds lifelong gamer Keza MacDonald exploring Nintendo's legendary roster of games - as well as consoles such as the SNES, Gameboy, Wii and Switch, and a host of other quirky gizmos from the Power Glove to Nintendo Labo - drawing from decades' worth of interviews with their creators and the people whose lives have been shaped and changed by them. Along the way, she tells the story of how this unassuming playing card company, founded in Kyoto in 1889, became one of the dominant cultural forces of the twenty-first century.
Offering unparalleled access to the company and its fun-filled world, and written with warmth and wit, Super Nintendo captures the love that so many of us feel for video games - and reveals just what that love tells us about being human.
320 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication February 3, 2026
15 people are currently reading
419 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
November 22, 2025
i genuinely don’t think i’ve been this touched by a book in years, i’m so emotional right now i feel slightly ridiculous
i think it’s interesting that this book touches on nintendo’s incredible ability to utilise nostalgia, whilst also highlighting the need for community, friendship and need to share joy with one another
all i could think about is my older brother letting me sit next to him whilst he played legend of zelda, mario, animal crossing etc - they’re some of my fondest memories and this book brought me back entirely to when he’d let me borrow his pokemon cards so i could show off at school
whether you’re a gamer or not, this book is a must read and I couldn’t recommend it enough. it was both informative and warm, the perfect setting for a book about the world’s sweetest gaming company
i think it’s interesting that this book touches on nintendo’s incredible ability to utilise nostalgia, whilst also highlighting the need for community, friendship and need to share joy with one another
all i could think about is my older brother letting me sit next to him whilst he played legend of zelda, mario, animal crossing etc - they’re some of my fondest memories and this book brought me back entirely to when he’d let me borrow his pokemon cards so i could show off at school
whether you’re a gamer or not, this book is a must read and I couldn’t recommend it enough. it was both informative and warm, the perfect setting for a book about the world’s sweetest gaming company
December 9, 2025
Level-up the nostalgia and discover easter eggs to Nintendo's origin story. As delightful as Kirby and as deep as Samus.
October 31, 2025
Tl;dr --> Neat way of describing how fun can be a business model for people not necessarily enamored with videogames, and an enjoyable read for those who are. 3.75/5
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This was admittedly catnip for me as someone whose first experience with gaming was a hand-me-down SNES, and who now marvels at the fact that Donkey Kong remains cool enough for her nephews.
But I do think it's an enriching read for anyone with a different experience, if they're interested in an exploration of why play matters and how a company can flourish and create costumer loyalty by seeking to provide actual fun even when sales aren't the most spectacular.
I quite liked the conceit of focusing on each franchise per chapter to highlight the evolution of the company and its impact. And it worked especially well when lending space to interviews with collectors, players and fans (and not just the creatives behind the games, whose voices are also great to have) in a way that helps spotlight why Nintendo encapsulates geeky awesomeness.
I will say that some parts of the chapters felt perhaps a bit meandering or with one too many names; the Zelda section, for example, is somewhat rambly in the middle until it finds its point again once it gets to "Breath of the Wild". The tone is also maybe slightly rose-tinted glasses, with just passing references to a possible rivalry between some unit directors and a super short mention of the Wii U's flop.
I also wished we could get photos to accompany the text, say to better illustrate the descriptions of the early toys Nintendo made before consoles or the Labo section. But that's probably a rights issue, so.
However those are overall nitpicks, as this book did offer fun, random facts and heartfelt tidbits alongside with its recapitulation of why a little plumber with red overalls is recognizable and loved worldwide.
[thanks to the publisher, author and netgalley for access to an e-ARC to form an honest opinion.]
///
This was admittedly catnip for me as someone whose first experience with gaming was a hand-me-down SNES, and who now marvels at the fact that Donkey Kong remains cool enough for her nephews.
But I do think it's an enriching read for anyone with a different experience, if they're interested in an exploration of why play matters and how a company can flourish and create costumer loyalty by seeking to provide actual fun even when sales aren't the most spectacular.
I quite liked the conceit of focusing on each franchise per chapter to highlight the evolution of the company and its impact. And it worked especially well when lending space to interviews with collectors, players and fans (and not just the creatives behind the games, whose voices are also great to have) in a way that helps spotlight why Nintendo encapsulates geeky awesomeness.
I will say that some parts of the chapters felt perhaps a bit meandering or with one too many names; the Zelda section, for example, is somewhat rambly in the middle until it finds its point again once it gets to "Breath of the Wild". The tone is also maybe slightly rose-tinted glasses, with just passing references to a possible rivalry between some unit directors and a super short mention of the Wii U's flop.
I also wished we could get photos to accompany the text, say to better illustrate the descriptions of the early toys Nintendo made before consoles or the Labo section. But that's probably a rights issue, so.
However those are overall nitpicks, as this book did offer fun, random facts and heartfelt tidbits alongside with its recapitulation of why a little plumber with red overalls is recognizable and loved worldwide.
[thanks to the publisher, author and netgalley for access to an e-ARC to form an honest opinion.]
December 1, 2025
Thanks Faber Books for my advanced reader copy!
When people hear the word Nintendo, they fall into one of two camps: the first, complete joy and nostalgia for a fun gaming company, and the second, scoffing at a childish brand. I fall into the first, having played Nintendo video games for as long as I can remember. I grew up with Pokémon Red and brain-training my way through The Legend of Zelda with Link as my avatar. I befriended countless forest friends in Animal Crossing: Wild World and my siblings and cousins and I hosted endless Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. and Kirby championships. During lockdown, I built a community of over 400 devoted (and many new!) Animal Crossing: New Horizons players. Even today, you’ll find me curled up on the sofa with my Nintendo Switch, when I’m not reading, writing or cooking! As you can imagine, I was more than delighted when Faber Books sent me a proof of this upcoming book that is a love letter to Nintendo.
Super Nintendo is a joyous celebration of the Japanese company that helped the world have fun. Whether you’re a casual gamer or an avid Nintendo collector, this book contains all you need to know (and then some) about the legendary games company. I completely loved getting to know more about the origins of Nintendo, but also of each mastermind behind their keystone game franchises. Of course, I simply adored the Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Pokémon, Animal Crossing and Super Smash Bros. chapters and their deep-dives, but the book as a whole is truly a wonderful, escapist and uplifting read. I am filled with endless nostalgia and whimsy, having finished this, and Super Nintendo has only served to deepen my adoration of this wall-breaking, generation-crossing, genre-defying gaming company.
When people hear the word Nintendo, they fall into one of two camps: the first, complete joy and nostalgia for a fun gaming company, and the second, scoffing at a childish brand. I fall into the first, having played Nintendo video games for as long as I can remember. I grew up with Pokémon Red and brain-training my way through The Legend of Zelda with Link as my avatar. I befriended countless forest friends in Animal Crossing: Wild World and my siblings and cousins and I hosted endless Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. and Kirby championships. During lockdown, I built a community of over 400 devoted (and many new!) Animal Crossing: New Horizons players. Even today, you’ll find me curled up on the sofa with my Nintendo Switch, when I’m not reading, writing or cooking! As you can imagine, I was more than delighted when Faber Books sent me a proof of this upcoming book that is a love letter to Nintendo.
Super Nintendo is a joyous celebration of the Japanese company that helped the world have fun. Whether you’re a casual gamer or an avid Nintendo collector, this book contains all you need to know (and then some) about the legendary games company. I completely loved getting to know more about the origins of Nintendo, but also of each mastermind behind their keystone game franchises. Of course, I simply adored the Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Pokémon, Animal Crossing and Super Smash Bros. chapters and their deep-dives, but the book as a whole is truly a wonderful, escapist and uplifting read. I am filled with endless nostalgia and whimsy, having finished this, and Super Nintendo has only served to deepen my adoration of this wall-breaking, generation-crossing, genre-defying gaming company.
November 16, 2025
Super Nintendo is a book exploring the history of Nintendo and their consoles and games. Keza MacDonald combines a concise history of the company and its employees with personal reflections and a look at the cultural impact of Mario, Link, Pikachu, and more. Each chapter focuses on a particular development or game series, and the book is carefully structured to unfold Nintendo's direction from hanafuda cards to the Switch 2.
As someone for whom Nintendo has been the game company of choice ever since watching my friend play Pokemon Red on a Game Boy Colour as a young child, I really felt this was a love letter to the company that also taught me a lot about the development of the company and games. My interest in Nintendo has waxed and waned over the years (I read the official Nintendo magazine avidly c.2004, but didn't play a console between my family's Wii and finally buying a Switch in 2022), but this book felt like catching up with Nintendo across all of that time. I liked MacDonald's personal anecdotes, which felt similar to my own just a little earlier, and details like discussing the competitive playing of Super Smash Bros Melee that prevailed for a long time.
This is a book for fans, seeing a company as something bringing joy or sparking innovation rather than about the money. For me, it was an emotional read, thinking about my own history with these consoles and games and the fact that so many other people have these histories too.
As someone for whom Nintendo has been the game company of choice ever since watching my friend play Pokemon Red on a Game Boy Colour as a young child, I really felt this was a love letter to the company that also taught me a lot about the development of the company and games. My interest in Nintendo has waxed and waned over the years (I read the official Nintendo magazine avidly c.2004, but didn't play a console between my family's Wii and finally buying a Switch in 2022), but this book felt like catching up with Nintendo across all of that time. I liked MacDonald's personal anecdotes, which felt similar to my own just a little earlier, and details like discussing the competitive playing of Super Smash Bros Melee that prevailed for a long time.
This is a book for fans, seeing a company as something bringing joy or sparking innovation rather than about the money. For me, it was an emotional read, thinking about my own history with these consoles and games and the fact that so many other people have these histories too.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.75⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Faber and Faber Ltd for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
I love works like these - delving headlong into iconic pop culture, this does a great job of chronicaling the history of the Nintendo company and some of its most notable staff members, and deep diving into the likes of Mario, Link and Zelda and Kirby. The author explores why such characters and games came to be so popular, along with the emotional and societal reactions when they became timeless hits. Some chapters were of more interest to me than others due to my personal preferences for certain franchises - highlights included the origins of the company, Mario, Pokemon and Animal Crossing.
The author's enthusiasm for the subject and impressive research really shines. However, the whole piece feels like it was written as an essay - with some structural issues within many of the chapters as it jumps back and forth between points and timelines. I do think that this could make a rather effective audio book which might make this structure work better.
This will be great for people who have played many Nintendo games on numerous consoles over the years and want to delve into the lore, or want to have a great feeling of nostalgia. I certainly envisage myself returning to particular sections of this book in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Faber and Faber Ltd for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
I love works like these - delving headlong into iconic pop culture, this does a great job of chronicaling the history of the Nintendo company and some of its most notable staff members, and deep diving into the likes of Mario, Link and Zelda and Kirby. The author explores why such characters and games came to be so popular, along with the emotional and societal reactions when they became timeless hits. Some chapters were of more interest to me than others due to my personal preferences for certain franchises - highlights included the origins of the company, Mario, Pokemon and Animal Crossing.
The author's enthusiasm for the subject and impressive research really shines. However, the whole piece feels like it was written as an essay - with some structural issues within many of the chapters as it jumps back and forth between points and timelines. I do think that this could make a rather effective audio book which might make this structure work better.
This will be great for people who have played many Nintendo games on numerous consoles over the years and want to delve into the lore, or want to have a great feeling of nostalgia. I certainly envisage myself returning to particular sections of this book in the future.
January 28, 2026
Super Nintendo explores the long and fascinating history of one of the most beloved gaming companies. Walking readers through some of Nintendo's most significant games, MacDonald discusses not only the games themselves but the people who imagined, developed, and designed them as well as how those games or systems changed the gaming world. The in-depth focus on the various minds behind the games is especially interesting (although I could've used a "cast of characters") since game developers don't usually get their time in the spotlight. And as someone who has played many of the games mentioned in this book, I appreciated getting a behind-the-scenes look at how those games came about. Super Nintendo is the perfect book for any gamer as well as for anyone interested in Nintendo's unique outlook and business philosophy.
January 10, 2026
*Advanced Copy Received from Publisher through NetGalley*
Level-up the nostalgia! Keza MacDonald’s Super Nintendo: The Game-Changing Company That Unlocked the Power of Play is an engaging and satisfying look at one of the most influential companies in gaming history. Super Nintendo is packed with fun trivia, cultural context, and behind-the-scenes insights that are sure to appeal to longtime fans and curious newcomers alike. MacDonald is an engaging writer and her genuine enthusiasm for games, gaming, and Nintendo in particular shines through very clearly. As someone personally who didn't get the childhood with gaming as a major part of it until much later, this was truly an informative and entertaining read for me. I learned so many things that I never knew. I feel that this will catch the attention of old and new gamers alike.
#SuperNintendo #NetGalley
Level-up the nostalgia! Keza MacDonald’s Super Nintendo: The Game-Changing Company That Unlocked the Power of Play is an engaging and satisfying look at one of the most influential companies in gaming history. Super Nintendo is packed with fun trivia, cultural context, and behind-the-scenes insights that are sure to appeal to longtime fans and curious newcomers alike. MacDonald is an engaging writer and her genuine enthusiasm for games, gaming, and Nintendo in particular shines through very clearly. As someone personally who didn't get the childhood with gaming as a major part of it until much later, this was truly an informative and entertaining read for me. I learned so many things that I never knew. I feel that this will catch the attention of old and new gamers alike.
#SuperNintendo #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Did you spend hours refining your pokemon team so you could hook up a link cable and own your friend in a pokemon battle? Did you start to question your friendships after someone stole your star in Mario Party for the *thousandth* time?
If so, do a barrel roll, and let's-a-go on a ride down memory lane.
In this book, Keza MacDonald has assembled a history of Nintendo and their creative process, told through their landmark franchises. She emphasizes their commitment to fun and innovation beyond just the newest, shiniest tech. As a tech-adjacent worker, I can't help but smile at the stories of Nintendo's creatives working to innovate with what they already have.
As someone who lived through the heyday of Nintendo in the US and still plays their games today, this was a great way to revisit memories and hear a few new tidbits about the games I know and love. Occasionally, I also got to read about some of the games that caught fire in Japan but never really made a splash in the US. Alas, looks like I've got to book a flight to hit up a Kirby cafe.
The book sometimes spent a lot of time on stories about the people behind Nintendo, including beloved exec Satoru Iwata and the legend Shigeru Miyamoto, at the expense of discussing more games within that chapter's franchise, but these stories offered intriguing insight into the creative process of some of the greatest game devs of all time, and I never found myself disinterested while reading.
As an appendix, the artist gives us a blurb of her 50 favorite Nintendo games, accompanied by a blurb about the significance they held for her. I would definitely recommend checking this out, as there were a few hidden gems I hadn't heard about.
I'd love to go check this out physically when it releases, because I'm hoping there might be pictures or other addenda to add to the nostalgia, but we'll see what the publisher decides to do. Either way, this is a fabulous tribute to a company that helped define video games as they are today from someone who clearly loves this field and the work that Nintendo has put forth.
If so, do a barrel roll, and let's-a-go on a ride down memory lane.
In this book, Keza MacDonald has assembled a history of Nintendo and their creative process, told through their landmark franchises. She emphasizes their commitment to fun and innovation beyond just the newest, shiniest tech. As a tech-adjacent worker, I can't help but smile at the stories of Nintendo's creatives working to innovate with what they already have.
As someone who lived through the heyday of Nintendo in the US and still plays their games today, this was a great way to revisit memories and hear a few new tidbits about the games I know and love. Occasionally, I also got to read about some of the games that caught fire in Japan but never really made a splash in the US. Alas, looks like I've got to book a flight to hit up a Kirby cafe.
The book sometimes spent a lot of time on stories about the people behind Nintendo, including beloved exec Satoru Iwata and the legend Shigeru Miyamoto, at the expense of discussing more games within that chapter's franchise, but these stories offered intriguing insight into the creative process of some of the greatest game devs of all time, and I never found myself disinterested while reading.
As an appendix, the artist gives us a blurb of her 50 favorite Nintendo games, accompanied by a blurb about the significance they held for her. I would definitely recommend checking this out, as there were a few hidden gems I hadn't heard about.
I'd love to go check this out physically when it releases, because I'm hoping there might be pictures or other addenda to add to the nostalgia, but we'll see what the publisher decides to do. Either way, this is a fabulous tribute to a company that helped define video games as they are today from someone who clearly loves this field and the work that Nintendo has put forth.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*Advanced Copy Received from Publisher through NetGalley*
Super Nintendo is a well written book about Nintendo that uses an interesting framing device to discuss the games, figures, and philosophies of the 130+ year company.
Each chapter is based around a game/game series and uses that to furthor delve into the other topics. There is a slight issue with this, in some chapters the balance of the discussion can become quite lopsided in some which can be a little disappointing at times. It is usually the games in question for those chapters that take a backseat. One chapter abandons the game it is named after quite early though the figure of Nintendo's history it goes on to discuss is quite an interesting and important one.
While those chapters can feel unbalanced in that regard, MacDonald's decades of experience in games journalism shines through to keep them engaging. They have an especially great knack for pulling from past interviews to tell a great historic narrative. MacDonald also does a great job balancing personal experience with the topics being discussed.
The only other con I could say that this book has is it left me wanting for more. With each chapter focusing on a game/series, there is a lot of information not covered. There are several facts and pieces of Nintendo trivia I expected to see that were not included in the book (and one former Nintendo employee I expected to see was only briefly mentioned in passing twice). But, there a other books that focus more in on specific games (like the Boss Fight Books line) as well as ones that dig more into just the history of the company (like the very informative, though out-dated Game Over by David Sheff). I'm also sure MacDonald has even more books, if not several in them after seeing their past works and enthusiasm for both Nintendo and gaming as a whole in this book.
Super Nintendo is a well written book about Nintendo that uses an interesting framing device to discuss the games, figures, and philosophies of the 130+ year company.
Each chapter is based around a game/game series and uses that to furthor delve into the other topics. There is a slight issue with this, in some chapters the balance of the discussion can become quite lopsided in some which can be a little disappointing at times. It is usually the games in question for those chapters that take a backseat. One chapter abandons the game it is named after quite early though the figure of Nintendo's history it goes on to discuss is quite an interesting and important one.
While those chapters can feel unbalanced in that regard, MacDonald's decades of experience in games journalism shines through to keep them engaging. They have an especially great knack for pulling from past interviews to tell a great historic narrative. MacDonald also does a great job balancing personal experience with the topics being discussed.
The only other con I could say that this book has is it left me wanting for more. With each chapter focusing on a game/series, there is a lot of information not covered. There are several facts and pieces of Nintendo trivia I expected to see that were not included in the book (and one former Nintendo employee I expected to see was only briefly mentioned in passing twice). But, there a other books that focus more in on specific games (like the Boss Fight Books line) as well as ones that dig more into just the history of the company (like the very informative, though out-dated Game Over by David Sheff). I'm also sure MacDonald has even more books, if not several in them after seeing their past works and enthusiasm for both Nintendo and gaming as a whole in this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Absolutely loved this book! Which really, really surprised me. I'm in my sixties, and pretty much missed the entire gaming boom, My era consisted of pinball, Superman/Batman cartoons, and at the end of my childhood, Pong. No, I requested an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher because of my son. Now 38 years old, he grew up in the height of the boom. From the first Mario Games to today, he has been enthralled by video games. So much so that he went to college for Computer Science, worked at both Google and Amazon, and is now independently designing and publishing his own video games. I never really understood the appeal, so I hoped this book would help. And it definitely did!
It was very enjoyable for me to read the history of the industry. The author has a way of making complicated concepts easy to understand, and a manner of writing that is easy to follow and enjoy. She covers a great deal of information and history, and I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed reading it. It goes without saying that I learned a lot. And that I can now converse with my son about games and gaming without sounding like a complete fool. That means a lot! Thank you, Ms. MacDonald, for that gift!
If you have any interest in gaming, or the history of it, I can only imagine you would love this book!
As a final note, in the beginning of the book the author discusses how the original Nintendo company was a playing card company. They produced an ancient card game called Hanafuda. I found the game on Amazon, and ordered it for my son for Christmas. I'm very happy to report that he was thrilled with the present! He had heard of the game, never knew where to get it or if it was still being made, and was amazed that his father found it, and kept it a secret until Christmas! Score one for the Boomers!
Seriously, find this book and read it. It's very good.
It was very enjoyable for me to read the history of the industry. The author has a way of making complicated concepts easy to understand, and a manner of writing that is easy to follow and enjoy. She covers a great deal of information and history, and I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed reading it. It goes without saying that I learned a lot. And that I can now converse with my son about games and gaming without sounding like a complete fool. That means a lot! Thank you, Ms. MacDonald, for that gift!
If you have any interest in gaming, or the history of it, I can only imagine you would love this book!
As a final note, in the beginning of the book the author discusses how the original Nintendo company was a playing card company. They produced an ancient card game called Hanafuda. I found the game on Amazon, and ordered it for my son for Christmas. I'm very happy to report that he was thrilled with the present! He had heard of the game, never knew where to get it or if it was still being made, and was amazed that his father found it, and kept it a secret until Christmas! Score one for the Boomers!
Seriously, find this book and read it. It's very good.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Keza MacDonald’s Super Nintendo: The Game-Changing Company That Unlocked the Power of Play is an engaging and largely satisfying look at one of the most influential companies in gaming history. MacDonald traces Nintendo’s long and surprising journey from its origins as a playing card company to its rise as a cultural powerhouse, using games, people, and ideas as the backbone of the story. The result is a book that feels both informative and deeply nostalgic.
One of the book’s strengths is its structure. Each chapter is framed around a specific game or game series, which then opens into a broader discussion of Nintendo’s philosophies, key figures, and business decisions. This approach works especially well when MacDonald draws on decades of games journalism and past interviews to build a lively historical narrative. The writing is clear, confident, and enthusiastic, and MacDonald balances personal experience with solid research in a way that keeps the book moving.
That said, the structure sometimes leads to uneven pacing. Certain chapters linger a bit too long on individual games, while other areas of Nintendo’s history feel underexplored. A few chapters even drift away from the game named in the title, though the historical figures discussed are usually compelling enough to carry the detour. I also found myself wishing for illustrations or photos to accompany the text, especially when iconic games and consoles are being discussed.
Still, Super Nintendo is packed with fun trivia, cultural context, and behind-the-scenes insights that will appeal to longtime fans and curious newcomers alike. It may leave readers wanting more, but that is a testament to how enjoyable and absorbing the experience is overall.
#SuperNintendo #NetGalley
One of the book’s strengths is its structure. Each chapter is framed around a specific game or game series, which then opens into a broader discussion of Nintendo’s philosophies, key figures, and business decisions. This approach works especially well when MacDonald draws on decades of games journalism and past interviews to build a lively historical narrative. The writing is clear, confident, and enthusiastic, and MacDonald balances personal experience with solid research in a way that keeps the book moving.
That said, the structure sometimes leads to uneven pacing. Certain chapters linger a bit too long on individual games, while other areas of Nintendo’s history feel underexplored. A few chapters even drift away from the game named in the title, though the historical figures discussed are usually compelling enough to carry the detour. I also found myself wishing for illustrations or photos to accompany the text, especially when iconic games and consoles are being discussed.
Still, Super Nintendo is packed with fun trivia, cultural context, and behind-the-scenes insights that will appeal to longtime fans and curious newcomers alike. It may leave readers wanting more, but that is a testament to how enjoyable and absorbing the experience is overall.
#SuperNintendo #NetGalley
January 22, 2026
Ahhhhh this book was so good! I am a lifelong Nintendo gamer; this is primarily as I was raised as a handheld gamer - a way for me to be left to my own devices whilst my parents watched TV. This book was a fascinating journey through the history of the Japanese entertainment company, from its humble beginnings as a playing card manufacturer, all the way up to its most recent device release, the Switch 2, and the author’s thoughts for the future.
I don’t read a lot of non-fiction, and I’m always concerned I’m not going to be immersed, but this wasn’t an issue here at all! The author makes the context easy to understand; it helps that it was a subject that I’m deeply invested in, plus I learned SO MUCH! I loved the way that the book’s chapters centred around specific games and how those franchises and the designers and coders behind them shaped the company.
Overall a really great read for Nintendo gamers and anyone interested in video games and tech in general! Easy to understand and super engaging, definitely recommended by me!
Read Super Nintendo for:
✨ Non-fiction; the history of Nintendo
✨ From humble beginnings to greatness
✨ The people who made and make the company great
✨ Why it has always stood out from it’s competitors
✨ Key franchises; why people love Mario, Zelda, Pokemon and more
✨ Engaging and non-complex writing
✨ Perfect for all types of gamers
Thank you so much to the lovely folks at Faber for sending me this absolutely gorgeous holographic foiled physical proof! The book is available on 12th Feb 2026 ⭐
I don’t read a lot of non-fiction, and I’m always concerned I’m not going to be immersed, but this wasn’t an issue here at all! The author makes the context easy to understand; it helps that it was a subject that I’m deeply invested in, plus I learned SO MUCH! I loved the way that the book’s chapters centred around specific games and how those franchises and the designers and coders behind them shaped the company.
Overall a really great read for Nintendo gamers and anyone interested in video games and tech in general! Easy to understand and super engaging, definitely recommended by me!
Read Super Nintendo for:
✨ Non-fiction; the history of Nintendo
✨ From humble beginnings to greatness
✨ The people who made and make the company great
✨ Why it has always stood out from it’s competitors
✨ Key franchises; why people love Mario, Zelda, Pokemon and more
✨ Engaging and non-complex writing
✨ Perfect for all types of gamers
Thank you so much to the lovely folks at Faber for sending me this absolutely gorgeous holographic foiled physical proof! The book is available on 12th Feb 2026 ⭐
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
SUPER NINTENDO is a book designed to celebrate the history of Nintendo, and is written by Keza MacDonald, a British video game journalist who writes for The Guardian. The story begins with Nintendo's inception in the nineteenth century as a manufacturer of playing cards, and follows its progress through to the 1980s when its arcade hits like DONKEY KONG saw it hit the international big time when it branched out into the home entertainment market.
The majority of the text is taken up by potted histories of Nintendo's most popular video game series including Mario, Metroid, Pokémon and Kirby. MacDonald combines potted history with plentiful anecdotes from the Japanese staff working at the company. These latter interview snippets are the most interesting part of the story, adding colour and insider knowledge to what could have otherwise been a dry list of facts and figures.
MacDonald is an engaging writer and her genuine enthusiasm for games, gaming and Nintendo in particular shines through. I've owned a NES, Game Boy and Wii at various times in my life and reading this book gave me a warm, cosy glow of nostalgia for the glory days of video game history, so it's a title I would recommend to the Nintendo fan in your life.
(Advance review copy supplied by Netgalley)
The majority of the text is taken up by potted histories of Nintendo's most popular video game series including Mario, Metroid, Pokémon and Kirby. MacDonald combines potted history with plentiful anecdotes from the Japanese staff working at the company. These latter interview snippets are the most interesting part of the story, adding colour and insider knowledge to what could have otherwise been a dry list of facts and figures.
MacDonald is an engaging writer and her genuine enthusiasm for games, gaming and Nintendo in particular shines through. I've owned a NES, Game Boy and Wii at various times in my life and reading this book gave me a warm, cosy glow of nostalgia for the glory days of video game history, so it's a title I would recommend to the Nintendo fan in your life.
(Advance review copy supplied by Netgalley)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Keza MacDonald’s Super Nintendo: How One Japanese Company Helped the World Have Fun is a lively, nostalgic, and well-researched exploration of the company that reshaped how the world plays. Structured around Nintendo’s landmark franchises—Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Pokémon, Kirby, and more—the book uses each series as a lens to examine the creative philosophies, technological limitations, and key figures that guided Nintendo from its early days as a playing card company through the rise of home consoles like the NES, SNES, N64, and beyond. MacDonald blends decades of games journalism, interviews, and personal insight to highlight Nintendo’s unique commitment to accessibility and fun over raw technical power, offering behind-the-scenes stories of creators like Shigeru Miyamoto and Satoru Iwata along the way. While some chapters linger longer than others and certain eras receive more attention than some readers might expect, the result is an engaging sampler of lore, cultural impact, and imaginative risk-taking that will resonate most strongly with longtime fans while remaining welcoming to casual gamers and newcomers alike.
Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 21, 2026
Super Nintendo: How One Japanese Company Helped The World Have Fun - Keza MacDonald
A fascinating read and insight into the history of Super Nintendo.
Mario - First he was Mr Video changed to Jumpman and then finally to Mario, he was originally a carpenter who then became a plumber. Mario’s name was inspired by the Nintendo Warehouse Manager - Mario Segale.
…I still remember playing Super Mario World with my siblings, oh the squabbles we had, there were tears and many tantrums, thrown controllers physical fights but there was also laughter and and great challenges too. Lol I Love Yoshi! (my favourite character) I still play Mario now as an adult! One of my favourite games ever is Mario Cart even to this day! 😎 and I can’t wait for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie set to be released in April 2026. 🔥 🍄 ⭐️ 💚 🔧 🏰
Zelda - I know many people enjoy(ed) Zelda, but not me. I had a hard time with this game and as a child didn’t like it much at all. . . next
Pomémon - Another one I didn’t like and still don’t understand it’s popularity to be honest but then people could say the same about Mario I guess. lol 😝
Kirby - I remember my eldest brother being completely obsessed with Kirby! Now as an epileptic who HAS Grand Mal Seizures he should have known better especially as he almost bit his tongue off during playing video games and having a seizure! (And that’s no lie! 😳) He would play Kirby day and night and not allow anyone else to play it. When I did eventually steal his Gameboy to play Kirby I had to lock myself in the bathroom! lol my heart was thumping and I couldn’t concentrate on the game so I put it back carefully under his pillow and crept away from his room. 👻 😂 …. My eldest brother later went on to computer engineering btw! 🖥️ 😮⚡️
An informative book about the history of Nintendo and the people who played a part in helping families to have fun. There are lots more games mentioned in this book but the ones I have mentioned are the ones that stood out to me personally. One I played relentlessly, one that I wanted to play and was forbidden, one I didn’t like and one I couldn’t stand.
Everyone who reads this book will have their own memories, experiences and opinions and these are mine.
A fascinating read and insight into the history of Super Nintendo.
Mario - First he was Mr Video changed to Jumpman and then finally to Mario, he was originally a carpenter who then became a plumber. Mario’s name was inspired by the Nintendo Warehouse Manager - Mario Segale.
…I still remember playing Super Mario World with my siblings, oh the squabbles we had, there were tears and many tantrums, thrown controllers physical fights but there was also laughter and and great challenges too. Lol I Love Yoshi! (my favourite character) I still play Mario now as an adult! One of my favourite games ever is Mario Cart even to this day! 😎 and I can’t wait for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie set to be released in April 2026. 🔥 🍄 ⭐️ 💚 🔧 🏰
Zelda - I know many people enjoy(ed) Zelda, but not me. I had a hard time with this game and as a child didn’t like it much at all. . . next
Pomémon - Another one I didn’t like and still don’t understand it’s popularity to be honest but then people could say the same about Mario I guess. lol 😝
Kirby - I remember my eldest brother being completely obsessed with Kirby! Now as an epileptic who HAS Grand Mal Seizures he should have known better especially as he almost bit his tongue off during playing video games and having a seizure! (And that’s no lie! 😳) He would play Kirby day and night and not allow anyone else to play it. When I did eventually steal his Gameboy to play Kirby I had to lock myself in the bathroom! lol my heart was thumping and I couldn’t concentrate on the game so I put it back carefully under his pillow and crept away from his room. 👻 😂 …. My eldest brother later went on to computer engineering btw! 🖥️ 😮⚡️
An informative book about the history of Nintendo and the people who played a part in helping families to have fun. There are lots more games mentioned in this book but the ones I have mentioned are the ones that stood out to me personally. One I played relentlessly, one that I wanted to play and was forbidden, one I didn’t like and one I couldn’t stand.
Everyone who reads this book will have their own memories, experiences and opinions and these are mine.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I don’t think I’ll ever tire of reading books about the history and cultural identity and impact of Nintendo, and that’s what we are invited to do with Keza Macdonald’s Super Nintendo: How One Japanese Company Helped the World Have Fun.
In each chapter, Macdonald talks about a pivotal Nintendo franchise – The Legend of Zelda, Mario, Pokémon, and so on – the games that made Nintendo, Nintendo. They talk about the inception of the franchises, speak with the original developers about what influenced their creations and the work of their teams, and about the impact that their games had on the gaming landscape going forward. It’s a fantastic trip down memory lane, a heady hit of nostalgia for anyone who grew up loving all things Nintendo.
I had a lot of fun with this book; rather than a deep dive into any one game, it was a really fun sampler of reminiscences and lore, one that I’d definitely recommend to any Nintendo superfan.
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an early copy for review. All opinions are my own.
In each chapter, Macdonald talks about a pivotal Nintendo franchise – The Legend of Zelda, Mario, Pokémon, and so on – the games that made Nintendo, Nintendo. They talk about the inception of the franchises, speak with the original developers about what influenced their creations and the work of their teams, and about the impact that their games had on the gaming landscape going forward. It’s a fantastic trip down memory lane, a heady hit of nostalgia for anyone who grew up loving all things Nintendo.
I had a lot of fun with this book; rather than a deep dive into any one game, it was a really fun sampler of reminiscences and lore, one that I’d definitely recommend to any Nintendo superfan.
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an early copy for review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
It’s obvious that Keza MacDonald has been following (and playing) Nintendo for a while; this book is a treasure of Nintendo history, fun facts and exploration of what makes it a great company. As promised, I did learn a lot of new things.
I enjoyed reading it as a lover of nerd culture, but it became obvious that I’m not the nerd I thought I was; I did not have half the nostalgia for most of these franchises (Super Mario & Pokémon yes, Zelda, Metroid, Donkey Kong, Kirby and Super Smash Bros no). It’s clear that MacDonald does love gaming and all of these franchises, which also make the book read a bit as a memoir of her own nostalgia.
If you’re a gamer, definitely add this to your TBR. If you’re not a gamer, it’s still worth adding to your TBR — it might even make you want to become a gamer.
I enjoyed reading it as a lover of nerd culture, but it became obvious that I’m not the nerd I thought I was; I did not have half the nostalgia for most of these franchises (Super Mario & Pokémon yes, Zelda, Metroid, Donkey Kong, Kirby and Super Smash Bros no). It’s clear that MacDonald does love gaming and all of these franchises, which also make the book read a bit as a memoir of her own nostalgia.
If you’re a gamer, definitely add this to your TBR. If you’re not a gamer, it’s still worth adding to your TBR — it might even make you want to become a gamer.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I am a gamer and a historian (but not a game historian) so there was some old info for me but some delightful nuggets.
My favorite series is Zelda and Ocarina of Time hit during my peak formative years. It blew my mind and to get some of the details of the challenges faced during its creation was really interesting.
Overall, I highly recommend reading if Nintendo played a role in your childhood or if you are interesting in a company that does things very different from comtemporaries.
I love that the author describes in interviews with early employees and C-suite their philosophy in Not leaning into the enshittification trend that nearly all other companies trend towards when quarterly profits are the goal. One of the reasons the over 100 year old company is more relevant than ever.
My favorite series is Zelda and Ocarina of Time hit during my peak formative years. It blew my mind and to get some of the details of the challenges faced during its creation was really interesting.
Overall, I highly recommend reading if Nintendo played a role in your childhood or if you are interesting in a company that does things very different from comtemporaries.
I love that the author describes in interviews with early employees and C-suite their philosophy in Not leaning into the enshittification trend that nearly all other companies trend towards when quarterly profits are the goal. One of the reasons the over 100 year old company is more relevant than ever.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC.
I enjoyed reading this book. I think it was for the most part an enjoyable look at the development of Nintendo as a company, although I do wish some areas into the history of Nintendo were more detailed while others a little less detailed. Some areas, such as looking at some of the different games seemed to go on a little too long, while other areas felt a little neglected. I also wish that this book did provide some illustrations or photos for this book. Otherwise I thought the writing is engaging and this book is very interesting to read.
I enjoyed reading this book. I think it was for the most part an enjoyable look at the development of Nintendo as a company, although I do wish some areas into the history of Nintendo were more detailed while others a little less detailed. Some areas, such as looking at some of the different games seemed to go on a little too long, while other areas felt a little neglected. I also wish that this book did provide some illustrations or photos for this book. Otherwise I thought the writing is engaging and this book is very interesting to read.
Currently reading
January 29, 2026Thank you Knopf for an early copy of this book.
If you are into video games AT ALL, I think you will like this book. I grew up around the same time as the author and have found myself really relating to the feelings she has towards a lot of this game titles referenced in this book. This is a pretty detailed history of Nintendo and the games that changed the world and created a lot of the mechanics we know today. As of right now, I am 75 pages in and it is chalked full of detail.
At the end of the day, the developers strive for fun and I think they've continued to try to push that into the world.
If you are into video games AT ALL, I think you will like this book. I grew up around the same time as the author and have found myself really relating to the feelings she has towards a lot of this game titles referenced in this book. This is a pretty detailed history of Nintendo and the games that changed the world and created a lot of the mechanics we know today. As of right now, I am 75 pages in and it is chalked full of detail.
At the end of the day, the developers strive for fun and I think they've continued to try to push that into the world.
November 8, 2025
A very detailed deep-dive into the past, present, and future of the Japanese entertainment corporation so many of us know and love. While I was most intrigued by the material prior to Y2K, I still read the sections on Pokemon, Super Smash Brothers, Animal Crossing, etc. to also understand the continuing prevalence of Nintendo in the lore of video games. I've always been (team) Nintendo, not Sega or Sony, over the long run. Recommended reading for kids of all ages. A great chance to geek out about old systems and game series like Mario, Zelda, Metroid, et al.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I’ve never been a gamer really. As a child I absolutely loved my Game Boys and Pokemon and I recently bought a Switch and some Mario and Pokemon games. You couldn’t call me a gamer or a Nintendo freak, but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate what Nintendo has done for the world.
I was very curious to read Super Nintendo and was lucky enough to get an ARC from NetGalley. I love how each chapter starts with a quote from someone connected to Nintendo, and then it focuses on a specific game, character or world.
My favourite chapters were the ones on Mario and Pokemon, but it was interesting to learn about the world of Zelda, Kirby and the others. Some of them I had never heard of before!
You can tell that so much love, fun and care has been put into this book, from Keza’s own love of Nintendo and journalism/writing, as well as sharing other people’s love of Nintendo too. There are so many studies, statistics, people and characters involved in bringing this book to life and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I’d highly recommend this book to anyone. A gamer, a Pokemon lover, a parent with gamer-kids, teens or anyone who wants to learn more about the wonderful world of Nintendo.
I was very curious to read Super Nintendo and was lucky enough to get an ARC from NetGalley. I love how each chapter starts with a quote from someone connected to Nintendo, and then it focuses on a specific game, character or world.
My favourite chapters were the ones on Mario and Pokemon, but it was interesting to learn about the world of Zelda, Kirby and the others. Some of them I had never heard of before!
You can tell that so much love, fun and care has been put into this book, from Keza’s own love of Nintendo and journalism/writing, as well as sharing other people’s love of Nintendo too. There are so many studies, statistics, people and characters involved in bringing this book to life and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I’d highly recommend this book to anyone. A gamer, a Pokemon lover, a parent with gamer-kids, teens or anyone who wants to learn more about the wonderful world of Nintendo.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
As someone who was born in the early 80s this book gave insight on how video games have changed throughout the decades (late 70s to the early 2000s).
Video games started roughly in the arcades mid 1970s to the early 1980s & home from the late 1980s through the early 2000s consoles of NES, SNES, N64, GameCube, Wii, Wii U, and the Switch.
Video games started roughly in the arcades mid 1970s to the early 1980s & home from the late 1980s through the early 2000s consoles of NES, SNES, N64, GameCube, Wii, Wii U, and the Switch.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
MacDonald, a Millennial, posits that Nintendo has staying power because it doesn't just appeal to the tech-savvy. Anyone can pick it up and play successfully. If you're a Nintendo super fan, you'll enjoy this deep dive into seldom-heard lore, Nintendo anecdotes, and more of what Nintendo does best: fun.
November 21, 2025
A vibrant, nostalgic celebration of Nintendo’s creativity and cultural impact, Super Nintendo reminded me why play feels both magical and deeply human.
Read
December 1, 2025This is really fun, and there's a lot here even for folks who've read a lot of Nintendo histories over the years.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Review to come
Want to read
January 15, 2026my friend received a review copy for this one, and i’m borrowing it after she finishes reading.
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