Game Boy port of Bubble Bobble. Bub and Bob spit bubbles across a hundred single-screen rooms, trap enemies, pop bubbles. The port is fine but loses the original's side-by-side two-player magic. Good puzzle-action solo, but the co-op makes all the difference.
Your verdict
Category
Platformer4 players3+
Description
Game Boy version of the classic action game with Bub and Bob the bubble-blowing dragons trapping enemies. Published by Taito, released in 1990 in Europe and North America. One hundred single-screen levels, bubbles to capture enemies, bonus items, and 2-player link cable mode.
Bubble Bobble review
3/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Polished"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Trapping enemies in bubbles then popping them with a jump: the move is cute, addictive and surprisingly tactical. With two players, teamwork quickly turns into outright giggling, especially when the bonuses rain down. Colourful and good-natured, this Taito classic stays a pure pleasure to nibble at will.
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Trapping enemies in a bubble, popping it and unleashing a rain of bonuses: the mechanic amuses from the very first screen and calls for the next. The hundred levels go by in small doses, the score climbs and co-op doubles the urge to keep going. The pixels have aged but the loop stays crystal clear, perfect for a game you thought would be short.
The European version of the handheld Bubble Bobble shows the lowest value of the three, a result of broad PAL distribution and demand less stretched than in the US or Japan. The Taito classic stays appreciated here, but the Europe edition enjoys neither the Japanese precedence nor the North American fervour. A sensible pick for the PAL player-collector rather than a piece coveted for scarcity.
Is Bubble Bobble still worth playing in 2026?
Bubble Bobble brings to the Game Boy the arcade classic where dragons Bub and Bob trap enemies in bubbles before popping them. This simple, brilliant mechanic keeps all its charm, and the progression through about a hundred screens maintains a lively rhythm. The good natured mood and the efficiency of the gameplay cross the years with ease. Since cooperation was at the heart of the original experience, solo loses a little of its flavor, but the title remains an excellent and still enjoyable retro companion.
