The first of the Bomberman series, the game features single-player action with a top-down view and simple controls. The player has only one ability: placing bombs. Each bomb explodes into a cross-shaped blast (four directions), which can destroy either enemies or blocks. Power-ups may be found to increase the size of the blast, place additional bombs, increase the speed of the Bomberman, or to walk through walls. The objective is to destroy all enemies and escape through the exit before time runs out. Hitting the exit with a bomb blast releases more enemies that must also be destroyed.