Yoko Taro: Fear of Dementia Keeps Me Making Games

Ever wondered what keeps a legendary game director going long after they've achieved their dream? For NieR creator Yoko Taro, it's not passion for the craft—it's a fear of dementia.

In a recent talk session with Ender Lilies director Keisuke Okabe at The Tenth Mosaic video game culture festival in Tokyo, Taro dropped a bombshell: he's ready to retire. "I'm done with working. I don't want to do it anymore," he said, adding that he has "nothing really" in terms of current projects. But he hasn't walked away yet, and the reason is surprisingly practical—and a bit dark.

Taro explained that he already achieved his life goal with his first directorial gig, 2003's Drakengard. "With Drakengard, the first game I was given the opportunity to direct, I was actually able to do almost everything the way I wanted," he said. "As a game otaku, I think the dream is to release something you've always wanted to create into the world. Having achieved that dream, I view everything after that as the remainder of my life." That's a wild perspective from the man behind NieR: Automata, one of the most beloved RPGs of the last decade.

So why keep working? Initially, it was about money. "I'd be in trouble if I had no income," he admitted. But now, with savings and a pension that he believes are sufficient, he's considered retiring. The thing stopping him? A deep-seated fear of developing dementia in old age. He's heard of people being diagnosed after they retire, and that fear motivates him to stay active. When work gets tough, he tells himself: "This is good for preventing dementia." Honestly, that's a mood.

Of course, Taro being Taro, he also shared some typically eccentric thoughts on the Japanese game industry. "I'm going to die soon, so I really don't care what happens to Japan's game industry," he quipped. But he did note a positive shift: AI and new technologies have created a breeding ground for creators in their teens and 20s to make games freely. When he was young, options were limited to joining a game company or making niche PC games. Now, competition is fiercer and spreading from younger to older generations. "As I'm already on the older side, I'm simply filled with fear and trepidation, hoping that these flames don't reach me before I die."

As for what drives his creative choices, Taro says he doesn't get jealous of other games. Instead, he views good games from a fan's perspective—and wants to buy them all. "I've always worked in the games industry with the mindset of 'filling in the gaps,'" he explained. Games like ICO and Ikaruga were so perfect that he felt no need to compete in those genres. "This gap has already been filled, so I need to fill a different one. I think the reason that my games are crude games full of terrible things is because the pioneers have already seized all the beautiful aspects."

Since 2021's NieR Reincarnation and the NieR Replicant reboot, Taro has worked on the Voice of Cards series and the 2024 mobile title 404 GAME RE:SET. He's also writing an upcoming untitled Neon Genesis Evangelion TV series, with composer Keiichi Okabe providing music. But NieR fans are still waiting for a proper follow-up. Last November, Taro revealed that many projects he was involved in got canceled midway. "I've actually been working on some stuff, it's just that it never ended up seeing the light of day," he said. "I got paid for it, so I personally have no issues with that, but people seem to think that I haven't been doing anything."

So, will Taro ever retire? Only time will tell—and maybe his dementia prevention strategy. What do you think about his reasons for staying in the industry? Let us know in the comments!