Bubble Bobble

Trap your foes in bubbles and pop your way through one hundred levels. Bubble Bobble is Taito's classic 1986 platformer — a joyful, addictive co-op favorite starring the bubble dragons Bub and Bob — and you can play the full NES version right here in your browser, free and with no download. Blow bubbles, burst enemies, and rescue your friends from the Cave of Monsters. Hit the Play button to start, and read on for the gameplay, controls, and tips.

What Is Bubble Bobble?

Bubble Bobble is an action-platform arcade game by Taito, first released in 1986 and ported to the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and many other systems. You play as the twin bubble dragons Bub and Bob (Bubblun and Bobblun), working through 100 single-screen levels, blowing bubbles, bursting enemies, and collecting a huge variety of items.

The story: Baron Von Blubba has kidnapped the brothers' girlfriends and turned them into bubble dragons, so Bub and Bob must clear all 100 levels of the Cave of Monsters to rescue them. The game became wildly popular and spawned a long line of sequels and spin-offs — and it's an early, famous example of a game with multiple endings.

How the Gameplay Works

Every level is a single screen you must clear of enemies:

• Blow bubbles — trap enemies inside bubbles, then pop them with your spiny back to defeat them.
• Chain your pops — bursting several bubble-trapped enemies at once spawns different foods worth escalating points (1000, 2000, 4000…), which build toward extra lives.
• Bounce on bubbles — bubbles float for a while before bursting, and you can jump on them to reach higher platforms.
• Angry enemies — leave a foe too long, take too long on a level, or grab the negative skull item, and enemies turn pink and speed up.
• The invincible chaser — wait too long and an unkillable enemy appears to hunt you, so keep up the pace.
• Boss fight — on level 100 you face Super Drunk; catch the Lightning Potion to fire lightning bubbles and defeat it.

Secrets & Multiple Endings

Bubble Bobble was ahead of its time with branching endings:

• Single-player finishes give the "Bad" ending, nudging you to try again with a friend.
• Two-player co-op completion unlocks the "Good" ending — and reveals a code for Super Mode, a faster, harder version of the game.
• Clearing Super Mode in two players earns the "True" ending and the full story behind Super Drunk.

How to Play

Getting started is instant. Press the Play button on this page and Bubble Bobble loads directly in your browser — free, with nothing to install. Then:

1. Move and jump around each single-screen level.
2. Blow bubbles at enemies to trap them.
3. Jump into the bubbles to pop them and defeat the trapped foes.
4. Pop several at once for big food bonuses and extra lives.
5. Clear every enemy to advance — and reach Super Drunk on level 100.

Bubble Bobble plays great on both desktop and mobile. On a computer you use the keyboard (and any USB or Bluetooth gamepad you connect is detected automatically and maps to the NES layout), while on phones and tablets you get a custom on-screen gamepad styled just like a real NES controller — so jumping and bubble-blowing feel right wherever you play.

Controls

Here's what each control does, mapped to your keyboard:

You can jump onto bubbles without popping them by holding the jump button. A connected gamepad uses the same button assignments.

Tips for New Players

• Group your pops. Bursting multiple bubbled enemies at once spawns higher-value foods — chaining them is the fastest route to extra lives.
• Don't dawdle. Take too long and enemies turn angry, then an invincible chaser appears. Keep clearing each level briskly.
• Use bubbles as platforms. Jump on floating bubbles to reach items and high corners you can't jump to directly.
• Avoid the skull. It's the only negative item — grabbing it can enrage enemies. Steer clear unless you know what you're doing.
• Play co-op for the real ending. The "Good" and "True" endings require two players, so grab a friend to see how the story really resolves.

Why Play It in Your Browser?

Bubble Bobble is one of the most charming and replayable co-op games ever made, with secrets that reward mastery. Running the NES version right here means no cartridge hunting and no console setup: just press Play and start blowing bubbles. Because it's the genuine NES build, you get all 100 levels, the multiple endings, Super Mode, and the Super Drunk finale exactly as Taito designed them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bubble Bobble free to play here? Yes. Press Play and the full NES game loads in your browser — no cost, no account, no download.

When did Bubble Bobble come out? It released in arcades in 1986, developed by Taito, and was ported to the NES and many other systems. The version here is the NES release.

How many levels are there? One hundred single-screen levels, ending with the Super Drunk boss fight on level 100.

How do I get the good ending? Complete the game in two-player co-op for the "Good" ending — and clear Super Mode in co-op for the "True" ending.

Can I play it on my phone? Absolutely. It plays great on mobile thanks to a custom on-screen gamepad modeled on the classic NES controller, and just as well on desktop with the keyboard or a connected gamepad.

Ready to clear the Cave of Monsters? Press Play and start blowing bubbles.