Masahiro Sakurai strongly suggests that game developers let players skip cutscenes 

Super Smash Bros. and Kirby creator Masahiro Sakurai recently talked about the pros and cons of cutscenes in another of his “Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Video Games” YouTube videos. In the video, Sakurai states that even though games have evolved to the point where the quality of gameplay graphics can equal or surpass those found in cutscenes, developers can still find ways to capture audiences through carefully directed scenarios. That said, the dominance of the internet and players’ short attention spans prompted Sakurai to advise game developers to add the option to skip cutscenes whenever possible.  

The 3-minute video delves into different factors that revolve around keeping players invested. A high-action game like Splatoon 3 uses cutscenes to give players a moment to catch their breath while NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139…, another action game, uses both cutscenes and gameplay with few to no enemies to convey its story. 

But possibly the most important point Sakurai makes has to do with cutscenes being a reward for players. While this worked well back in the day, faster internet speeds and video sites like YouTube have made it easy for anyone to access cutscenes without playing the games themselves. To this end, Sakurai encourages game developers to make all cutscenes (this includes the credits) skippable. This makes life easier for players who can’t wait to get back to actually playing the game. 

Sakurai’s wish for skippable cutscenes in all games ties into his philosophy of not wanting to waste a second of the player’s time. While he understands that some developers want players to experience everything that they made, Sakurai thinks that the game should always adapt to the player’s needs. As a final note, Sakurai warns about adding quick-time events (QTEs) to keep players invested during cutscenes, as these have proven unpopular with players in the past. 

Commenters on the Nintendo Switch-centered website Switchsoku talk about Sakurai’s suggestion and how the “skip cutscene” options in games can be improved. Some want more games to let them skip cutscenes, with the option to watch them later in an in-game gallery. Others want an easier way to follow the story without having to watch them. Less extreme suggestions include always being able to pause cutscenes, while others simply don’t want QTEs in video games anymore. 

The video is worth a watch, as are Sakurai’s other videos centered on game creation and general productivity. Even if you aren’t a fan of the games he worked on, his insights on video games and work practices are sure to leave an impression (as are insights into how he stores his huge game collection and cat).