Bomberman (series)

For other uses, see Bomberman (disambiguation).

Bomberman is a strategic, maze-based computer and video game franchise originally developed by Hudson Soft. The original game was published in 1983 and new games in the series are still being published to this day. Today, the Bomberman character is featured in over 60 different games. Being commercially successful, with over 10 million units of games sold, the series "has since become known as the first name in multiplayer games".

The Bomberman franchise is very famous worldwide, especially the Bomberman Jetters video game adaptation.

Occasionally, Bomberman games feature the grid-base action. Players are put in a stage where they have to destroy Soft Blocks, possibly uncovering items. New items have been created for different games, while some have been a permanent power-up. Items may be necessary to defeat opponents. When one is bombed, the player is "dead".

Player capacity has risen from two players to ten players. Online play is also available.

Games[]

Main series[]

Title	Year	Platforms	Notes
Bomber Man	1983 1984	PC-8801, PC-6000 Series, Fujitsu FM-7, Sharp X1, Sharp MZ-700, Sharp MZ-2000, MSX, ZX Spectrum	Original releases in Japan named Bakudan Otoko on most covers, but Bomber Man in the game, release for MSX and ZX Spectrum in Europe as Eric and the Floaters
3-D Bomberman	1984	MSX	Uses first-person perspective
Bomberman	1985 1987	Nintendo Entertainment System	Game Boy Advance and N-Gage re-releases in 2004
Bomber Man Special	1986	MSX	A port of the NES game
Bomberman	1990 1991 1991	TurboGrafx-16, PC Engine, Amiga, Atari ST, MS-DOS, Sharp X68000	Released as Bomberman only for the PCE/TG-16 release, which was the first Bomberman release to support 5 players; first Bomberman game for the IBM-PC. It was released as Dyna Blaster in Europe.
Bomberman II	1991 1992 1991	NES	Released as Dynablaster in Europe
Bomberman '93	1992 1993	PC Engine, TurboGrafx-16	Released on Wii's Virtual Console in 2006
Bomberman '94	1993 1994 1994	PC Engine, Sega Genesis	Japan-only release for the PC Engine, released the following year for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis as Mega Bomberman, 5-player multitap support; released on Wii's Virtual Console on March 23, 2009 in the US and on July 10, 2009 in Europe
Bomberman B-Daman	1996	Super Nintendo Entertainment System	Japan-only, part of the B-Daman series.
Hi-Ten Bomberman	1993	Custom NEC computer	Made for high-definition, widescreen TVs, but never released; only shown as a tech demo at the 1993 Hudson Soft Gaming Caravan event and said to be the basis for Saturn Bomberman
Super Bomberman	1993 1993 1993	SNES	4-player multitap support
Super Bomberman 2	1994 1994 1995	SNES	4-player multitap support
Super Bomberman 3	1995 1995	SNES	5-player multitap support, Japan and Europe release only
Super Bomberman 4	1996	SNES	Japan-only release
Super Bomberman 5	1997	SNES	Japan-only release
Saturn Bomberman	1996 1997 1997	Sega Saturn	10-player multitap support; first Bomberman game with official internet support; regarded as one of the series' highpoints
Saturn Bomberman Fight!!	1997	Sega Saturn	Japan-only release
Neo Bomberman	1997	Neo-Geo, MVS	Japan-only release
Bomberman 64	1997 1997 1997	Nintendo 64	4-player support, first Bomberman game with 3D graphics
Bomberman Hero	1998 1998 1998	N64	Focus on single-player adventure game
Bomberman 64: The Second Attack!	1999 2000	N64	First appearance of Pommy, one of the Charaboms
Bomberman World	1998 1998 1998	PlayStation
Bomberman 64	2001	N64	Japan-only; 4-player support (unrelated to 1997 title of the same name)
Bomberman Party Edition	1998 2000 1999	PlayStation	PlayStation port of the game, released in Europe as Bomberman
Bomberman Online	2001	Dreamcast	North America-only; 4-player local, 8-player online support
Bomberman Jetters: The Legend of Bomberman	2002	Game Boy Advance	Japan-only release; based on the anime series, Bomberman Jetters
Bomberman Jetters	2002 2004	Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 2	PS2 release Japan-only; based on the Bomberman Jetters anime series
Bomberman Generation	2002 2002 2002	GameCube	One of the first games to use cell-shaded graphics
Bomberman Online	2003	PC	6-player support, released only in Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, also a private server was created under the website http://bomber-world.com but shut down in July 2012
Bomberman Collection Vol. 1	2002 2003	PC	Compilation of Bomberman (TG-16), Bomberman '93 and Bomberman World for Windows
Bomberman Land	2000	PlayStation	Japan-only release
Bomberman Land 2	2003	GameCube, PlayStation 2	Japan-only release
Bomberman Collection Vol. 2	2004	PC	Japan-only, Compilation of the SNES Super Bomberman 1–3 and PlayStation Bomberman Party Edition
Bomberman Land 3	2005	PlayStation 2	Japan-only release
Bomberman Act:Zero	2006 2006 2006	Xbox 360	Realistic re-envisioning of the character
Bomberman Land Wii	2007 2008 2008	Wii	Remake of 2000 Japan-only release, designed to take advantage of Wii controller
Bomberman Live	2007 2007 2007	Xbox 360 (Xbox Live Arcade)	8-player online support
Bomberman Online Japan	2008	PC	Online game, briefly available in Japan
Bomberman Blast	2008 2008 2008	Wii, WiiWare	One of first games announced for WiiWare; also released as an expanded retail game; 8-player support, online and offline
Bomberman Ultra	2009 2009 2009	PlayStation 3 (PlayStation Network)	8-player online support
Bomberman Live: Battlefest	2010 2010 2010	Xbox Live Arcade
Super Bomberman R	2017 2017 2017	Nintendo Switch	8-player
Untitled Bomberman game		Apple Arcade
Super Bomberman R Online	2020	Various platform
Super Bomberman R 2	2023	Various platform

Portable games[]

Title	Year	Platforms	Notes
Atomic Punk	1990 1990 1990	Game Boy	Known as Atomic Punk in North America and Dynablaster in Europe.
Bomberman: Panic Bomber	1994	Neo-Geo, Virtual Boy	VB version is a port of the Neo-Geo release; also released for Super Famicom and PC-Engine CD in Japan only
Pocket Bomberman	1997 1998 1998	Game Boy, Game Boy Color	GBC release only in the US and in Europe
Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!	1994 1995	Game Boy	Named Bomberman GB in Japan; also Nintendo's earliest crossover game
Bomberman GB 2	1998 1998 1998	Game Boy	Named Bomberman GB in North America
Bomberman GB 3	1996	Game Boy	Japan-only release; Released in Japan For Virtual console
Bomberman LCD	1997	LCD-keychain game	Released by Bandai
Bomberman Quest	1998 1998 1999	Game Boy Color	Role-playing video game
Bomberman Max	1999 2000	Game Boy Color	Released in two variants, Red Challenger and Blue Champion editions
Bomberman Tournament	2001	Game Boy Advance	4-player support
Bomberman Max 2	2002 2002 2003	Game Boy Advance	Released in two variants, Blue Advance and Red Advance
Bomberman Jetters	2002 2004	Gamecube, Playstation 2	An adaptation for the anime Bomberman Jetters
Bomberman	2003	Mobile devices
Bomberman	2004 2004	N-Gage
Bomber Man Special	2004	Mobile devices	Port from the MSX version to mobile devices
Super Bomberman	2004	Mobile devices
Bomberman	2005	Nintendo DS	8-player support over wireless play, but no internet Wi-Fi support
Bomberman RPG	2005	Mobile devices
Hudson Best Collection Vol. 1: Bomberman Collection	2005	Game Boy Advance	Compilation title of the first two NES Bomberman games. Japan-only release
Play ☆ Panic Bomber +	2005	Mobile devices
Play ☆ IQ +	2005	Mobile devices
Play ☆ Bomberman Cross	2005	Mobile devices
Bomberman Next: Gotochi Kanto Hen	2005	Mobile devices
Bomberman Next: Gotochi Kinki Hen	2005	Mobile devices
Bomberman: Bakufuu Sentai Bombermen	2006	PlayStation Portable	Japan-only release
Bomberman Portable	2006 2006 2007	PlayStation Portable	4-player support over wireless play; North America only
Bomberman Land Touch!	2006 2006 2006 2007 2007	Nintendo DS	8-player support over wireless play, 4-player internet Wi-Fi
Bomberman Story DS	2007 2007 2007	Nintendo DS	Not released in North America
Bomberman Land Portable	2007 2008 2008	PlayStation Portable
Bomberman	2007	iOS
Gachapin ☆ Bomberman	2007	i-mode	A Bomberman game using Gachapin characters; Japan-only release
Bomberman Land: Battles	2007	Mobile devices
Bomberman Land Touch! 2	2007 2008 2008 2008	Nintendo DS
Bomberman Touch: The Legend of Mystic Bomb	2008	iOS
Bomberman 2	2008 2009	Nintendo DS	Named Custom Battler Bomberman in Japan, not released in North America
R20 ☆ Moe Bomberman	2008	Mobile devices	Cross-over between Hudson's R20 ☆ Moe series
Bomberman Touch 2: Volcano Party	2009	iOS
Bomberman Blitz	2009 2009	DSiWare
Bomberman: Disney Stitch Edition	2010	Mobile devices	Based on the anime Stitch!
Bomberman Dojo	2011	iOS, Android
Bomberman 3DS	Cancelled	Nintendo 3DS
100-nin Taisen Bomberman	2012	iOS, Android	The first Bomberman published by Konami
Bomberman	2014	iOS, Android
Taisen! Bomberman	2016	iOS, Android	Konami-developed mobile game to celebrate the 33rd anniversary of the original game.
Amazing Bomberman	2022	Apple Arcade
BomberPino	2023	Mobile devices

Spin-offs[]

Title	Year	Platforms	Notes
Robo Warrior	1987 1988 1989	MSX, NES	Released in Japan with the name Bomber King; Bomberman-like progressive adventure game
Blaster Master Boy	1991 1991 1992	Game Boy	Bomber King: Scenario 2; slightly altered and released by Sunsoft in America and PAL regions under the Blaster Master license
Star Parodier	2008	PC Engine	Japan-only release; Shoot 'em up
Bomberman Wars	1991	PlayStation, Sega Saturn	Japan-only release; tactical role-playing game
Bomberman Fantasy Race	1998 1999 2000	PlayStation	Racing game
Bomberman Kart	2001 2003	PlayStation 2, Mobile devices	Released in Japan and PAL regions only; kart racing game
DreamMix TV World Fighters	2003	GameCube, PlayStation 2	Released in Japan only; crossover fighting game featuring Bomberman as a playable character.
BoBomberman		Game Boy Advance	Minigame based on the NES version of Bomberman, but using characters from the Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo series; unlocked in the Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo GBA game, Bakutou Hajike Taisen
Bomberman Hardball	2004 2005	PlayStation 2	Released in Japan and PAL regions only; sports and party game
Bomberman: Panic Bomber	1994 2017 2017	PC Engine CD, various	Puzzle game, similar to Puyo Puyo and Tetris
Bomberman Chains	2011	iOS	Puzzle game, similar to Bejeweled
Bombergirl	2018	Arcade, PC	Released in Japan only; strategy and battle arcade
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate	2018	Nintendo Switch	Crossover fighting game featuring White Bomberman as an Assist Trophy character

Coin operated[]

Title	Year	Platform	Notes
Bomber Man	1991	Arcade	Known as Dyna Blaster and Atomic Punk in Western regions
Bomberman World	1992	Arcade	Known as Dyna Blaster Global Quest and Atomic Punk Global Quest/Atomic Punk 2 in Western regions
Bomberman: Panic Bomber	1994 2017 2017	Neo Geo MVS (Arcade)
Neo Bomberman	1997	Neo Geo MVS (Arcade)
Bombergirl	2018	Arcade
Bombergirl Pachislot	2022	Arcade, PC

Knock-offs[]

Bomberman is one of the most frequently plagiarized video games in history, partly due to the ease of programming simple clones. These are only a small selection of the many unauthorized Bomberman knock-offs that have appeared over the years, and still continue to be made. Most are designed for personal computers and mobile devices, but a few have been released for consoles and arcade hardware.

Title	Year	Platform	Notes
Bomb Buddies	2012	PC (Windows), Facebook	A Bomberman style game with 8-player simultaneous multiplayer sessions across 120 levels and 8 game modes.
PopTag!	2001	PC (Windows)	Released in South Korea as Crazy Arcade. Nexon America formerly ran a global version. Almost exactly the same as Bomberman, except as an MMO. Likely the most popular and successful Bomberman ripoff ever, PopTag! may be more well known than Bomberman itself in its home country of Korea.
About Bombs and Explosives	2009	PC (Windows)	A classic-style arcade game; main goal is to place bombs and blow up anything in users way; in single player mode, one must find the way through about 100 levels by eliminating monsters and searching for exit; in battle mode, one must destroy other players; standard last man standing type of game, or team play; freeware
Bakudanjin	1999	Apple Macintosh	An arcade-style game with the same game mechanic as Bomberman but with different game modes and original characters
Bomb Mania	1997	Commodore 64	4-player support (4-player adapter needed)
Bomberland	2013	Commodore 64	5-player support (keyboard and 4-player adapter needed)
Bomboy [轟炸小子 - Explosion Kid]	1993	Sega Genesis	Released by Gamtec of Taiwan, it was designed similar to Super Bomberman, but with no Battle Mode and the level layout omits the grid-based design common in most Bomberman games; has 10 worlds with 5 levels each and supports 2-Players simultaneously like Super Bomberman
XBlast	1993	PC (Windows) and Linux	XBlast is a multiplayer version released under the GNU General Public License by Marc Oliver Vogel for Microsoft Windows and X11R5/R6.
Cheeky Twins II	1994	Commodore 64	2-player support, released on Magic Disk
BomberMan	2014	Windows Phone	Bomberman-inspired game by independent developer
Spark World	1995	Super Nintendo	Knock-off of Super Bomberman with sentient cartoon cars as playable characters. Bombs are batteries that explode with electric charges. Sometimes referred to as "Bombercar." Only released in Japan.
Bombing Bastards	2014	Wii U, Xbox One, PS4, Vita, PC (Windows), Mac, Linux	A Bomberman clone with relatively high production values, 5-player support, and boss battles. The title is censored as Bombing Busters on all platforms other than Wii U and PC.
Teslatron	Unknown	PC (Windows)	A simplistic 5-player Bomberman clone, and a defunct web browser game that featured online multiplayer and chat. Player characters were scientists piloting robots that dropped electric charges. No longer playable.
Fireball	1992	Arcade	Basic 4-player Bomberman clone made in South Korea. Uses stolen bomb and explosion sprites. The main character's design is a rip-off of Joe Shimomura from the Cyborg 009 anime/manga franchise.

Power-Ups[]

Main article: Power-Ups

Power-Ups are the basic items to help Bomberman defeat opponents. Power-Ups come in different abilities, such as the ability to carry more bombs or faster movement.

Gallery[]

External links[]

Bomberman Official Konami Shop