Bomberman
Bomberman is a 1983 maze game developed by Hudson Soft in which the title robot navigates grid-based stages, planting bombs to blast through destructible walls and defeat enemies. Players must time their explosions carefully to avoid being caught in the cross-shaped blast while uncovering exits and power-ups hidden beneath the bricks. Clearing every enemy reveals the door to the next stage.
Collecting items increases the number of bombs that can be placed at once and the reach of their explosions, gradually turning the cautious robot into a walking demolition force, with rarer power-ups granting abilities like detonating bombs on command or passing through walls. The tight, tactical gameplay of trapping enemies and clearing safe paths gave the series its lasting identity, and the original's story famously tied it into Hudson's Adventure Island.
Bomberman became especially famous for its later multiplayer battle modes, where several players bomb each other in enclosed arenas. The franchise continues to this day, and early entries remain available through retro re-releases and emulation.
Play it today
Modern alternatives to Bomberman, with the devices they run on and their price. Ordered editorially by how well each one stands in for the original, with community votes weighted in as they accumulate.
Prices, platform availability and Steam Deck compatibility can change at any time. Always check the store page before buying.
| Alternative | Price | Steam Deck | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bombergrounds: Reborn Indie | Free + in-app purchases | Steam Deck Untested | PC, Mac |
| Super Bomberman R 2 | € 49,99 | Steam Deck Playable | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| Blast Zone! Tournament Indie | € 14,99 | Steam Deck Untested | PC, Mac, Linux |
| Bombslinger Indie | € 11,99 | Steam Deck Playable | PC, Switch |
Bombergrounds: Reborn Indie
Free + in-app purchasesA free battle-royale spin on bomb-laying arena play, with the same grid and blast-radius thinking.
Bombergrounds: Reborn runs on PC, Mac. Not available on Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
Super Bomberman R 2
€ 49,99An official modern entry with classic bomb-laying battles and new competitive modes.
Super Bomberman R 2 runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
Blast Zone! Tournament Indie
€ 14,99An indie multiplayer bomber game directly inspired by classic Bomberman battles.
Blast Zone! Tournament runs on PC, Mac, Linux. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
Bombslinger Indie
€ 11,99A bomb-laying roguelite built on Bomberman's grid and blast radius, with a spaghetti-western twist.
Bombslinger runs on PC, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox.
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