The NieR series has made a big impact on the gaming world. Its creator, Yoko Taro, stands by his work, never regretting the choices he made. Yet, oddly enough, he also feels none of his projects have ever reached true “perfection.”
Yoko Taro shared this unique insight with the YouTube channel Archipel. He explained that while he doesn’t look back with regret on anything he’s created, he also believes he has yet to craft his own “perfect cube.”
He used an interesting analogy to describe his game development process. Imagine shaping clay, he said. It’s a never-ending cycle of creation and adjustment. You mold something, then stop to examine it closely. You’ll always find a part that’s a bit off-kilter, a crooked side. You fix that, only to discover another imperfection on a different side. That feeling, he noted, simply never fades.
The world of creative work often runs on strict timelines. Developers rarely get unlimited chances to refine their projects. So, before a game can become that “perfect clay cube,” a deadline arrives. Everyone must put down their tools. The result isn’t a deep sense of satisfaction from finishing a flawless product. Instead, it’s often a clear view of how they could improve next time.
“I never feel I can create a perfect cube, or a truly perfect scene,” Yoko admitted. “But soon after, I recognize I’ve poured my full effort into it. That’s why, in the end, I have no regrets about what I’ve done. If I had endless time and resources, I would probably keep molding that cube forever. But at a certain point, it has to stop. When that time comes, we aren’t completely proud of it.”
He added, “Still, I don’t know if it’s necessary to change what I left undone. I just start fresh from the beginning. My goal is to sculpt a new cube, making it even more perfect than the last. When I look back, I don’t have regrets. But I can honestly say I never feel like I’ve fully achieved anything. It just feels more like a task.”