Double Dragon creator, Yoshihisa Kishimoto, passes away!

by L.W. Barker

Yoshihisa Kishimoto, renowned for his creation of the Double Dragon and Kunio-kun (River City) franchises, passed away on April 2, 2026, at the age of 64.

The announcement was made by his son, Ryūbō Kishimoto, via social media platforms including Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). The family requested privacy during the funeral, which took place on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Regarded as the "grandfather of the beat 'em up genre," Kishimoto significantly shaped arcade and console gaming through several landmark titles such as the "belt scroll" format for side-scrolling brawlers beginning with Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun (1986)—released internationally as Renegade—and refined this approach with the globally influential Double Dragon (1987). Kishimoto famously developed the Kunio-kun series based on his rebellious teenage years in high school. He also directed notable arcade wrestling games, including WWF Superstars and WWF WrestleFest.

Prior to joining Techno Games Japan, he was a developer on Data East's LaserDisc arcade games such as Cobra Command and Road Blaster. In his later years, Kishimoto established the company Plophet and acted as a creative consultant for modern adaptations, including Double Dragon Neon, River City Ransom: Underground, and Double Dragon IV.

Numerous tributes have been shared by fans and industry colleagues, with major gaming publications reporting on Kishimoto’s considerable impact and the loss felt within the gaming community.

Rest in Peace Yoshihisa San, and thank you.