Nintendo’s shiny new museum needs more dirt

Nintendo Museum in Kyoto highlights company's century-long history but lacks depth and context, focusing on products over creators.

: Nintendo’s new museum in Kyoto offers a playful yet polished display of the company’s history. It features interactive exhibits and a range of products from hanafuda cards to modern consoles. However, it lacks in-depth context and recognition of the creators behind the iconic games. The experience feels more like a curated image of the company rather than a comprehensive historical account.

The Nintendo Museum in Kyoto provides a sleek and engaging overview of Nintendo's history, starting from its origins in 1889 as a hanafuda card manufacturer to its current status as a gaming giant. Visitors encounter whimsical elements like warp pipes and oversized controllers and interact with modern takes on classic Nintendo products. While the main floor exudes a theme park-like atmosphere with interactive exhibits, the second floor houses a chronological display of Nintendo's hardware and software evolution, from early arcade games to the Switch.

Despite its charm, the museum falls short in offering deep insights. Short on historical context and devoid of creator credits, it leaves visitors to piece together the broader narrative themselves. Displays like the Super Mario Bros. movie DVDs lack explanations, and there’s no mention of key figures like Takashi Tezuka or Aya Kyogoku.

Notably, the museum includes prototypes and rare items, hinting at what more open exhibits could offer. Shigeru Miyamoto expressed a desire to show more behind-the-scenes content, akin to the 8-bit prototype of Breath of the Wild, but for now, the museum underscores Nintendo's image as an entertainment company without delving into the complexities of its development journey.

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