The perfection of arcade co-op on NES. Bub and Bob blow bubbles, trap enemies, collect bonuses. Inexhaustible, charming, perfect for two. A monument.
Your verdict
Category
Platformer1 player3+
Co-op
Description
Platformer featuring Bub and Bob transforming enemies into bubbles to pop in colorful settings. Published by Taito, released in Europe in 1988. Bub and Bob blowing bubbles to capture enemies, fruits to collect after popping, 100 levels and simultaneous two-player co-op. NES port of Taito's Bubble Bobble arcade classic.
Bubble Bobble review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Gameplay
"Masterful"
Trapping enemies in bubbles before popping them lays the foundation for a single-screen platformer of fiendishly addictive simplicity. Two-player co-op multiplies both the chaos and the strategy. A hundred levels and well-hidden secrets ensure its longevity; this clear, joyful mechanic has lost none of its catchy charm.
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Trapping enemies in bubbles then popping them with a jump: the move is cute, addictive and more tactical than it looks. Climbing a hundred levels keeps curiosity alive, between bonuses to find and secret endings. Colourful, good-natured and brimming with charm, this Taito classic stays a pure pleasure you restart without thinking.
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Trap an enemy in a bubble, burst it, then gather the shower of fruit: the mechanic fits on a single screen and invites you to string together all hundred levels. Secrets, EXTEND letters and bonuses reward exploration, and two-dragon co-op multiplies the urge to keep going. The true ending reserved for the duo can frustrate the lone player, but the good-natured charm stays irresistible.
The European PAL version of the Taito classic, sought for its role in console co-op culture and its unforgettable musical signature. PAL CIB in an intact cardboard box ranks among the harder Taito NES PAL releases to finalise in clean state, and demand is boosted by the series' continued presence in reissues (PS4, Switch). The cote climbs sharply for copies bearing European or Scandinavian labels.
Is Bubble Bobble still worth playing in 2026?
Bubble Bobble is the perfection of cooperative arcade gaming on NES. Bub and Bob blow bubbles, trap enemies, collect bonuses and climb through a hundred maddeningly inventive levels. Inexhaustible, charming, perfect in two-player with the famous true ending reserved for co-op, Taito's title remains a monument. The bouncy controls, Tadashi Kimijima's catchy soundtrack and the design's sheer generosity carry an experience that has not aged. For retro arcade fans and local play lovers, still an absolute must today.
