Bubble Bobble
Bubble Bobble is a 1986 platformer developed by Taito starring the bubble dragons Bub and Bob, who must clear a hundred single-screen stages of enemies. The dragons trap foes inside bubbles by blowing them, then pop the bubbles by jumping into them to defeat the enemies and turn them into collectable fruit, cakes, and treasure. Popping several trapped enemies at once yields far greater rewards.
Designed with cooperative two-player action at its heart, the game rewarded teamwork and exploration, hiding secret items, magic potions, and letters spelling EXTEND that granted extra lives and access to bonus rooms. Reaching the true ending required two players to finish together, adding a layer of hidden depth beneath its cheerful surface. Its charming characters, catchy looping theme, and clever secrets gave it enormous replay value.
Bubble Bobble launched a long-running series, including its sequel Rainbow Islands, and remains one of Taito's most beloved properties. The original is accessible through numerous retro collections and re-releases, and its co-op design still shines today.
Play it today
Modern alternatives to Bubble Bobble, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nubby's Number Factory Indie | € 6,99 | Steam Deck Playable | PC, Mac, Linux |
| Bubble Bobble 4 Friends | € 39,99 | Steam Deck Playable | PC, PlayStation, Switch |
| Puzzle Bobble Everybubble! | € 39,99 | Not on Steam | Switch |
| Taito Milestones 2 | € 39,99 | Not on Steam | Switch |
Nubby's Number Factory Indie
€ 6,99An indie single-screen arcade game with the addictive loop and charm of classic co-op platformers.
Nubby's Number Factory runs on PC, Mac, Linux. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
Bubble Bobble 4 Friends
€ 39,99An official modern sequel that preserves the classic bubble-trapping co-op gameplay.
Bubble Bobble 4 Friends runs on PC, PlayStation, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, Xbox.
Puzzle Bobble Everybubble!
€ 39,99The bubble-shooting spin-off series at its most complete, with four-player co-op and a story mode.
Puzzle Bobble Everybubble! runs on Switch. Not available on PC, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox.
Taito Milestones 2
€ 39,99Arcade-accurate Taito emulations including Bubble Bobble and its immediate follow-ups.
Taito Milestones 2 runs on Switch. Not available on PC, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox.
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