Kensuke Tanabe

is a Japanese video game producer and designer who has worked for Nintendo since 1986 until 2026 and is currently part of Winning Entertainment Group since August 2026.

History After he had graduated from the Visual Concept Planning Department of Osaka University of Arts, he decided to enter the video game industry, and joined Nintendo in April 1986.

At first, Tanabe was part of the Entertainment Analysis and Development division. Since then, he has become a producer, and has managed and overseen the development of externally developed first party Nintendo video games, such as Metroid Prime, Donkey Kong Country, Paper Mario, Chibi-Robo and other series.

In September 2026 it was confirmed by Tanabe's LinkedIn that he is now working as Chief Creative Officer (CCO) on Winning Entertainment Group since August of 2026.

Works Year Game Credit(s) 1987 Yume Kojo: Doki Doki Panic Director, course design 1988 Super Mario Bros. 2 Super Mario Bros. 3 Course design 1991 The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Scenario writer 1993 The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening 1994 Stunt Race FX Map design Kirby's Dream Course Donkey Kong Country Additional support1995 Kirby's Avalanche Nintendo staff Kirby's Dream Land 2 Map design Kirby's Block Ball Supervisor 1996Super Mario RPG Screenplay advisor Kirby Super Star Advisor Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire Japanese text translation BS Super Mario USA Power Challenge Original design 1998 The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Script Support 1999 Pokémon Snap Supervisor 2000 Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards Assistant manager 2001 Hamtaro: Ham-Hams Unite! Advisor Super Mario Advance Supervisor Magical Vacation Advisor 2002 Cubivore: Survival of the Fittest Supervisor Hamtaro: Ham-Ham Heartbreak Advisor Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem Supervisor Metroid Prime Co-producer 2003 GiFTPiA Supervisor Hamtaro: Rainbow Rescue Advisor 2004 Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Supervisor Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Producer 2005 Star Fox: Assault Project management Kirby: Canvas Curse Producer Chibi-Robo! Geist Battalion Wars Metroid Prime Pinball Super Mario StrikersTottoko Hamtaro Nazo Nazo Q Kumonoue no ? Jou 2006 Mother 3 Magical Starsign Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis Custom Robo Arena Kirby: Squeak Squad Excite Truck Metroid Prime Hunters 2007 Super Paper Mario Mario Strikers Charged Chibi-Robo!: Park Patrol Theta Battalion Wars 2 Metroid Prime 3: Corruption 2008 Super Smash Bros. Brawl Captain Rainbow Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir Kirby Super Star Ultra 2009 Picross 3D Picturebook Games: Pop-Up Pursuit Bonsai Barber Punch-Out!! Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! Okaeri! Chibi Robo! Happy Richie Dai Souji Irodzuki Tingle no Koi no Balloon Trip Rock N' Roll Climber Metroid Prime: Trilogy Art Academy Picturebook Games: The Royal Bluff Excitebike: World Rally Eco Shooter: Plant 530 A Kappa's Trail Excitebots: Trick Racing 2010 Aura-Aura Climber Associate producer Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! Producer Donkey Kong Country Returns 2011 Pilotwings Resort Mystery Case Files: The Malgrave Incident Kirby Mass Attack Senior producer Freakyforms: Your Creations, Alive! Producer Pushmo 2012 Kirby's Dream Collection Art Academy: Lessons for Everyone! Freakyforms Deluxe: Your Creations, Alive! Crashmo Dillon's Rolling Western Paper Mario: Sticker Star Sing Party 2013 Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon Special advisor Game & Wario Directing support, game design Dillon's Rolling Western: The Last Ranger Producer Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D Chibi-Robo! Photo Finder2014 Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze Producer 2015 Kirby and the Rainbow Curse Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars Supervisor Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash Producer Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Supervisor 2016 Mini Mario & Friends: Amiibo Challenge Producer Metroid Prime: Federation Force Paper Mario: Color Splash 2018 Dillon's Dead-Heat Breakers WarioWare Gold Luigi's Mansion2019Luigi's Mansion 32020Paper Mario: The Origami King2021WarioWare: Get It Together!2022Mario Strikers: Battle LeagueProducer2023Metroid Prime RemasteredWarioWare: Move It!2024Luigi's Mansion 2 HD2025Donkey Kong Country Returns HDOriginal game supervisor Metroid Prime 4: BeyondProducer, scan text writer Non-gaming credits 2021Super Nintendo WorldCreative director