Bubble Bobble (NES)

About Bubble Bobble (NES)

I still remember the first time I booted up Bubble Bobble and was instantly charmed by those two little dragons on the screen. You guide Bub and Bob through a hundred colorful rooms, blowing bubbles to trap every goofy enemy that wanders by. Once they’re floating helplessly, a quick tap pops them into candy, fruit, or something even more surprising. There’s a simple joy in timing your shots just right, watching a room full of foes get caught in a perfect chain of bubbles.

As you climb through the stages, the variety of power-ups and sneaky tricks keeps things fresh. Some levels hide secret doors, others toss you into bonus mini-games where snagging extra points feels like gold. And the soundtrack—those cheery chiptunes—somehow get stuck in your head for days, making even the toughest rooms feel like a friendly challenge. It’s one of those games that doesn’t need complicated controls or flashy graphics; it hooks you simply by being fun.

If you played the arcade or another port, you might notice a few tweaks here and there, like slightly different color choices or rearranged stage layouts. But the heart of Bubble Bobble—two buddies teaming up, shooting bubbles, and turning baddies into treats—remains the same. It’s that dependable, pick-up-and-play magic of early platformers that still makes you smile, even decades later.

Whenever I revisit it, I’m struck by how easily it fills a few minutes or an hour without ever feeling stale. Even today, challenging a friend to see who can clear more levels feels as lively as it did back then. It’s simple, it’s bright, and it never seems to lose its appeal—proof that great game design doesn’t need to be complicated.