The sequel improves visuals and enriches multiplayer options. The core concept remains identical and impeccable. If the first is unavailable, this is a perfect substitute.
Your verdict
Category
Action4 players3+
Description
Sequel to Bomberman with new mazes, enemies and enriched power-ups. Published by Hudson Soft, released in the USA in 1993. Bomberman with new bombs and power-ups and five-player multiplayer mode. Second Bomberman on Famicom.
Bomberman II review
3/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Polished"
3/5
Music
★★★★★
"Memorable"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Gameplay
"Masterful"
Trapping opponents in a maze of explosions and grabbing the power-ups before they do makes for multiplayer of immediate readability. The tense rounds, where anticipation reigns, chain together delightfully. The solo mode stays repetitive, but the multiplayer keeps a clear, tactical mechanic that still delights gathered around a single console.
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
The sequel beefs up the experience with new multiplayer modes and trickier stages that spice up the power-up race. The joy of trapping a rival between two blasts stays intact, the tension just as keen. More generous in options and fiercely convivial, this entry extends the explosive release without losing any of its edge.
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Carrying the mine-clearing quest solo while opening the way to genuine multiplayer clashes widens the formula's interest considerably. Grabbing bonuses to swell your blasts and corner your rival makes for short rounds you restart endlessly. The solo mode stays conventional and a touch repetitive, but the versus brings a tension that makes all the difference.
The US NES version from Hudson, released at the tail of the cycle (1993) into a market already shifting to the SNES. That late timing means a smaller NTSC print, making the cart far less common than many NES hits, especially in an intact cardboard box. The competitive three-player multiplayer and its status as ancestor of the SNES/PC Engine Bomberman games sustain demand beyond a simple Hudson completion goal.
Better with friends
A sharpened sequel to the arena bombing game, whose three-way battle mode remains a peak of explosive conviviality. The competition bets on bluff and positioning: cornering an opponent between two walls or turning a trap against its setter sparks instant bursts of laughter. Readable and unpredictable, it chains express rematches where the slightest timing slip flips the game in a split second.
Is Bomberman II still worth playing in 2026?
Bomberman II improves the first entry's visuals and genuinely expands the multiplayer options, which finally become the main attraction. Three simultaneous players turn the experience into joyful chaos and readability stays exemplary. The core concept remains intact and impeccable. If the first is unavailable or too austere, this second entry is a perfect substitute and an excellent way into the saga. For Hudson classic fans and festive local play, still a very recommendable cart today, especially on evenings with friends.
