Makoto Sanda is a Japanese game designer and light novelist born in 1977, currently residing in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. His career is rooted in the tabletop role-playing game industry, having previously been a member of the notable creative group Group SNE, known for franchises such as Record of Lodoss War. Sanda has established a significant presence as a writer of light novels, manga originals, and role-playing game materials.

Sanda is the author of several long-running light novel series. One of his major works is Rental Magica, which was published by Kadokawa Shoten's Sneaker Bunko imprint from 2004 to 2013. This series also received a manga adaptation and an anime television series. His other novel series include Cross x Regalia, Iscariot, and Agartha Fiesta!.

In the field of manga, Sanda has served as the original creator and writer for several series. He is the author of Bestia, illustrated by A坂Ak0, and Yosuga Scenario Parade, illustrated by Kawasaki Sora. He also writes The Ancient Magus' Bride: Wizard's Blue, a spin-off of the popular series The Ancient Magus' Bride by Kore Yamazaki, which is illustrated by Tsukumo Isuo.

Sanda is most widely known for his work within the Type-Moon universe, particularly as the author of Lord El-Melloi II's Case Files. This light novel series, illustrated by Mineji Sakamoto, was published under the Type-Moon Books imprint from 2014 to 2019. It is a mystery series set in the world of Fate, focusing on the character Waver Velvet, now known as Lord El-Melloi II, ten years after the events of Fate/Zero. Sanda also writes its sequel series, The Adventures of Lord El-Melloi II, which began publication in 2020. A manga adaptation of the original light novel, illustrated by Tō Azuma, began serialization in Kadokawa Shoten's Young Ace magazine in 2017. Sanda's work was adapted into an anime television series titled Lord El-Melloi II's Case Files: Rail Zeppelin Grace note, which was produced by studio Troyca and aired from July to September 2019. He is also credited as the original creator for this anime adaptation.

Beyond his individual series, Sanda has participated in significant collaborative projects. He served as the game master and world designer for Red Dragon, a high-profile "role-playing fiction" project that turned tabletop RPG sessions into a serialized story. This project featured notable creators including Gen Urobuchi, Kinoko Nasu, and Ryohgo Narita. His deep involvement with the Fate franchise extends to writing event scenarios for the mobile game Fate/Grand Order and contributing to the setting materials for other works in the series.