Bubble Bobble
Bubble Bobble is Taito's 1986 arcade platformer starring Bub and Bob, two bubble-blowing dragons working their way down through the Cave of Monsters to rescue their girlfriends. Each of the 100 levels fits on a single screen. You blow bubbles to trap enemies, then burst the bubbles to defeat them, and each enemy drops a piece of fruit or another bonus item when it lands. The game was built for two players working together, and it rewards that cooperation all the way to its final screen.
Controls
What Bubble Bobble is
Bubble Bobble came out in Japanese arcades in June 1986 and was later ported to almost every home system of the era. The design is simple to learn: jump between platforms, trap every enemy in a bubble, pop the bubbles, and move on to the next screen. Popping several trapped enemies at once earns larger point bonuses.
There is more going on under the surface. Letters spelling EXTEND float across some levels and award an extra life when you collect all six, special bubbles release water or lightning, and hidden items change how your dragon moves or attacks. Wait too long on a screen and a warning appears before an invincible pursuer comes after you.
How it plays in your browser
This page runs the original arcade version through an emulator, so the level layouts, music and timing match the cabinet. There is nothing to download or install, and progress within a session works like a credit on the real machine.
A second player can join on the same keyboard or with a gamepad if your setup allows it. Playing with two is worth trying, since the game is at its best when both dragons clear a screen together.
Use the arrow keys to move, Z to blow bubbles and X to jump. Insert a coin with the Select key listed above, then press Enter to start.
Tips worth knowing
- Pop trapped enemies in groups rather than one at a time, because bursting several together gives much bigger score bonuses.
- Bubbles float along set air currents on each level, so watch where they drift before relying on them to catch an enemy.
- You can bounce on your own bubbles by holding jump, which lets you reach platforms that are otherwise out of range.
- Do not linger on a screen. After a while the remaining enemies turn angry and speed up, and a monster you cannot defeat soon follows.
- Collect the EXTEND letters whenever they appear, as extra lives are valuable in the later levels.
Frequently asked questions
Who made Bubble Bobble?
Taito developed and released Bubble Bobble for arcades in 1986.
How many levels does Bubble Bobble have?
The arcade game has 100 levels, each one a single screen that is harder than the last.
Can two people play Bubble Bobble together?
Yes. The game was designed around two-player co-op, with the second player taking control of Bob, and the true ending requires two players to finish together.
Is this the arcade version?
Yes, this page emulates the original 1986 arcade release rather than a later home port.
More games like this
Rapid Hero, Trog, Gang Busters. You can also browse the full games library or read the guides on the blog.