NES Platformer Action 1988

Bubble Bobble

Reviewed by Marcus Webb & Elena Castillo · Updated June 2025

Taito's beloved 1986 arcade classic on NES — Bubble Bobble puts two bubble-blowing dinosaurs (Bub and Bob) through 100 single-screen stages, trapping enemies in bubbles then popping them for points. Two-player simultaneous co-op, hidden secrets that unlock the true ending, and a charming design that became one of the most influential arcade games of the era.

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💡 Bubble Bobble — Key Facts

→ Bubble Bobble was developed by Taito and published by Taito
→ Released in 1988 on NES
→ Genre: Platformer, Action
→ We rate it 9.1/10 — an absolute classic
→ Taito's beloved 1986 arcade classic on NES — Bubble Bobble puts two bubble-blowing dinosaurs (Bub and Bob) through 100 single-screen stages, trapping enemies in bubbles then popping them for points. Two-player simultaneous co-op, hidden secrets that unlock the true ending, and a charming design that became one of the most influential arcade games of the era.

Overview

The Bubble Bobble theme plays through 100 stages. It’s a short loop — less than 30 seconds before it repeats. After 100 stages, players who don’t know how many times they’ve heard it. The theme is so pleasant that counting seems unnecessary.

This is Bubble Bobble’s most recognizable contribution to video game culture: a piece of music so naturally cheerful that it became one of the most covered themes in gaming.

The Mechanic

Blow a bubble. It floats forward. An enemy walks into it. The enemy is trapped inside, floating, waiting.

Walk into the bubble. Pop. The enemy is defeated. Items appear.

The trap-then-pop rhythm creates Bubble Bobble’s combat loop. The loop’s failure mode — the enemy escaping the bubble, moving faster and more aggressively than before — creates urgency. Trap everything, pop everything quickly, clear the stage.

One hundred stages of this, with enemies getting faster and more plentiful.

The Secret

The game loops without the true ending. Players who complete 100 stages without the specific hidden items see a message about continuing and return to stage 1.

The true ending requires items hidden in specific stages under specific conditions — a crystal ball in a stage accessible only after collecting other secrets earlier. The secrets’ existence was discovered through player experimentation. The game doesn’t announce them.

This is Bubble Bobble’s secondary contribution: a game that contains knowledge players must discover rather than being told. The true ending’s existence creates community around sharing how to reach it.

Co-Op

Bub and Bob, working together. Two players, two dinosaurs, the same 100 stages. The game was designed for this format — stages where one player covers one area while the other handles another, the cooperation creating efficiency that solo play can’t match.

Most Bubble Bobble memories involve a second person.

Our Review

9.1

Outstanding / 10

🎮

Gameplay

★★★★★

🎨

Graphics

★★★★★

🎵

Audio

★★★★★

🔄

Replay

★★★★★

Gameplay

Bubble Bobble is a single-screen platformer across 100 stages. Players control Bub or Bob, small bubble-blowing dinosaurs who must clear each stage of all enemies. Blowing a bubble traps an enemy inside; walking into or jumping on the bubble pops it and defeats the trapped enemy. Trapped enemies eventually escape if not popped quickly. Items appear when enemies are defeated — food for points, powerups that modify bubble speed, size, and fire bubbles. Enemies move faster and become more aggressive if left alive too long. Two-player simultaneous co-op allows Bub and Bob to work together. Hidden items and secret paths unlock the true ending; the game loops without the secret content.

Graphics

The NES Bubble Bobble captures the arcade's colorful single-screen stage presentation. Bub and Bob's distinctive round dinosaur designs, the varied enemy types, and the stage obstacles are faithfully reproduced.

Audio

The Bubble Bobble theme is one of gaming's most enduring pieces — a short, catchy loop that plays throughout the game's 100 stages and has been covered, remixed, and referenced constantly since 1986. Players who played Bubble Bobble in arcades or at home recognize the theme immediately decades later.

Replayability

100 stages provide substantial content. The hidden secret items that unlock the true ending — specifically collecting all necessary items across multiple stages — reward thorough exploration and game knowledge. Two-player co-op provides the game's best experience.

Historical Significance

Bubble Bobble (1986 arcade, 1988 NES) was one of the most popular arcade games of the mid-1980s. The two-player simultaneous co-op structure, the bubble-trap mechanic, and the game's 100-stage design influenced subsequent single-screen platformers. The franchise continued with Rainbow Islands (sequel featuring rainbow platforms), Parasol Stars, and Bust-a-Move/Puzzle Bobble (the bubble-shooting puzzle franchise that Bub and Bob anchor). The Bubble Bobble theme is considered one of the catchiest pieces in arcade game music history.

✅ Pros

+ Two-player simultaneous co-op with Bub and Bob
+ 100 stages with increasing complexity
+ Bubble-trap mechanic creates unique combat rhythm
+ Hidden secrets reward thorough players with true ending
+ Iconic theme song among most recognized in game music

❌ Cons

- 100-stage single-loop length substantial for arcade-style game
- Game loops without secret content — true ending requires specific items
- Some NES hardware differences from arcade original
- Later stages require precise bubble control

Also Known As

Bubble Bobble NESバブルボブル

Bubble Bobble FAQ

How does the bubble-trap mechanic work in Bubble Bobble?

The central mechanic of Bubble Bobble is enemy capture through bubbles. Bub and Bob can blow bubbles that travel forward and trap any enemy they contact. A trapped enemy is sealed inside the bubble, which floats temporarily before descending and eventually popping. Players must touch or jump on the trapped enemy's bubble to pop it and defeat the enemy, collecting any items that appear. Timing matters: trapped enemies begin to escape from bubbles if not popped quickly, becoming faster and more dangerous when freed. Popping multiple enemies' bubbles simultaneously creates combo bonuses. The mechanic creates a two-phase combat loop: trap, then pop — with the failure mode being the enemy escaping more aggressively than when first caught.

What is the true ending in Bubble Bobble and how is it reached?

Bubble Bobble has two endings. The 'bad' ending occurs when players complete all 100 stages without collecting specific hidden items — a message appears saying the adventure continues and the game loops. The true ending requires collecting hidden items hidden in specific stages that are not obviously displayed. The most critical hidden item is a crystal ball that appears in a specific stage under specific conditions (related to collecting other secret items in prior stages). Reaching the true ending unlocks the game's complete conclusion where Bub and Bob rescue their girlfriends and return to human form. The true ending's existence was discovered by players over time through experimentation — the game doesn't tell players the secrets exist.

How does two-player Bubble Bobble work?

In two-player mode, one player controls Bub (blue dinosaur) and the second player controls Bob (green dinosaur) simultaneously on the same screen. Both characters can trap and pop enemies independently or cooperatively — trapping an enemy while the other player pops it creates opportunities for coordinated play. Items that appear when enemies are defeated can be collected by either player. Both players share the same lives pool — when one player loses a life, they respawn in the stage and continue. The two-player experience is the game's intended and most enjoyable form: stages are designed with paths that benefit from having two players cover different screen sections simultaneously.

Is Bubble Bobble available on modern platforms?

Bubble Bobble 4 Friends (Nintendo Switch, PS4, PC, 2019) is the most recent mainline entry — a new Bubble Bobble game for 4-player simultaneous co-op that references the original's design. The original NES Bubble Bobble is available through Nintendo Switch Online's NES library. Taito has released various compilations including Bubble Bobble — the Taito Legends compilations on PS2 and PSP included the arcade original. Bust-a-Move/Puzzle Bobble (the spin-off bubble-shooting series featuring Bub and Bob) has dozens of entries across modern platforms. The original arcade and NES Bubble Bobble are the most accessed through Nintendo's subscription service.