Bubble Bobble

A classic platform video game series created by Taito, featuring the bubble-blowing dragon protagonists Bub and Bob.

Action

16

Games

1982–1994

Years

16

Platforms

$102.98

Ø CIB

+29.7%

24M change

About

The Bubble Bobble series originated with Taito's acclaimed 1986 arcade platformer, which saw numerous ports to home systems between 1987 and 1988, including a budget release by The Hit Squad. Players control the dragons Bub and Bob, trapping enemies in bubbles to clear single-screen stages. The success of these early releases established a major franchise that spawned sequels like Rainbow Islands and the Puzzle Bobble spin-off series.

Designed by Fukio Mitsuji, the gameplay of Bubble Bobble relies on deep, hidden mechanics that reward mastery. Players navigate 100 levels, collecting items to trigger secret rooms and spelling "EXTEND" with water, fire, and lightning bubbles to earn extra lives. A key innovation was the cooperative requirement: players can only view the true, happy ending by completing the final boss fight with two players active, a feature preserved across the various 1987 and 1988 home versions.

The franchise's early footprint is defined by these distinct releases, including the 1987 conversions for systems like the Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, and Nintendo Entertainment System, the 1987 Bubble Bobble [Hit Squad] budget reissue, and the 1988 ports for platforms such as the Amiga and Atari ST. Database listings also associate the property with an anomalous 1982 designation.

Tadashi Kimijima composed the game's famously catchy, looping background theme, which remained a constant across these ports. The success of the 1987 and 1988 releases solidified the game's legacy as a pioneer of cooperative multiplayer design.