All Articles: Bubble Bobble 4 Friends

Bubble Bobble, the quintessentially 80s bubble-busting platformer, found most of its fame thanks to an excellent NES adaptation. But did you know that the game originally got its start as an arcade cabinet in 1986? It’s true, and it looks this version of the game will be included with Bubble Bobble 4 Friends, a new sequel that’s currently in development for the Switch.

Developer Taito said that all 100 stages will be included in this “arcade-perfect” recreation, as well as the “original music, sound, and visuals”:

Bubble Bobble is an iconic cult game and is considered the most popular and innovative platformer of the ’80s. The twins Bub and Bob set out to free their girlfriends from the hands of the nasty baron, who also enchanted them into bubble dragons. As such, the brothers hop through the differently arranged platforms of the 100 colorful levels and shoot bubbles at numerous enemies. In the ’80s and ’90s, players jumped solo or in two-player co-op mode through the levels. Bubble Bobble’s success has seen it ported to more than 20 different platforms in recent decades, including the Commodore 64, Sega Genesis, and NES Classic Mini.

Bubble Bobble 4 Friends will be released exclusively for the Switch in Europe, Australia, and Asia on November 19. A North American launch will follow in Early 2020.

Inin Games and Taito have announced that the Bubble Bobble franchise will be returning to store shelves for the first time in more than ten years. Bubble Bobble 4 Friends is currently in development at Taito and will be released exclusively for the Nintendo Switch in Europe on November 19. A North American launch will follow in Early 2020.

This new sequel retains the bubble-blasting battles of its predecessors, while also adding in four-player cooperative play for the first time:

One night, a child’s room became enfolded by a miraculous light and every object under its rays suddenly came to life… including the child’s most favourite toy, the little dragon called Bub. Full of jealousy, the wicked magician Baron Von Blubba challenges the friendly dragon to battle.

The adorable first trailer for Bubble Bobble 4 Friends has been embedded above.