Bubble Bobble (1986)
Game Boy Advance · 1986
About this game
Bubble Bobble is the story of two boys, Bub and Bob who venture into the mysterious cave of monsters to save their friends from the evil warlock and are magically turned into dinosaurs.
The only way to transform back is to reach the end of the cave and rescue your friends...
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Bubble Bobble is a platform game, with each level being a single screen.
The enemies must be cleared from a level to go to the next one.
With one player controlling Bub and the other controlling Bob, the player can jump and collect items for points (such as fruit).
The real power Bub and Bob have however is the ability to blow bubbles.
These bubbles can be as platforms to leap on, or to trap enemies.
Enemies trapped in a bubble must be popped by jumping into them, wherein they'll turn to fruit.
Additionally, power-ups sometimes float by in bubbles.
They include lightning, which flies out horizontally at enemies, and water, which drags the player and enemies straight down flowing over platforms.
Taking too long to complete any level will summon Baron Von Blubba, who will float around the screen trying to destroy the player.
As one of the first arcade games to have more than one ending, it comes with a "Bad" ending, where a single player finishes the game and gets a message to try again with a friend.
A "Good" ending where two players finish the game, turning back to human form and rescuing their lady friends.
Then there is Super Bubble Bobble mode where the player has to enter a secret code into the game to get access to it.
This is a version of the game where the monsters of the levels are swapped around with other minor differences, finishing that will reveal the "True" ending.
The NES version has a few extra stages bringing the total number of stages to 112.
The Sharp X68000 version contains a hidden minigame called Sybubblun.
It contains a set of 20 original difficult levels with the game being reskinned with a Syvalion theme.
About Game Boy Advance
Nintendo's Game Boy Advance (2001) offered near-SNES-level graphics in a handheld and became a home for excellent ports as well as original titles across nearly every genre. GBA cartridges are generally durable and plentiful, making it an approachable platform for new collectors, though a few late-release RPGs and limited exclusives have become genuine chase items.
Gamevaro tracks Bubble Bobble (1986) for Game Boy Advance with separate market values for loose, complete-in-box (CIB) and factory-sealed copies, sourced from real eBay sales. Prices also vary by region — PAL, NTSC-U and NTSC-J releases of the same game often sell for different amounts due to print run sizes and regional collector demand.
Adding Bubble Bobble (1986) to a Gamevaro collection takes seconds — search by title or scan the box barcode, and the app fills in cover art, release details and current pricing automatically. This GBA release dates back to 1986.
Market values by condition
PAL
Recent sales
| Date | Type | Region | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-08 | Loose / Item only | NTSC-J | €48.62 |
| 2026-07-08 | Boxed (CIB) | NTSC-J | €87.60 |
| 2026-07-07 | Loose / Item only | PAL | €50.68 |
| 2026-07-07 | Loose / Item only | NTSC-U | €48.62 |
| 2026-07-07 | Boxed (CIB) | NTSC-U | €87.60 |
Market insights
Rarity & condition
Only a handful of market sales have been tracked for Bubble Bobble (1986), suggesting it doesn't trade hands very often — a sign of relative scarcity compared to more common Game Boy Advance titles.
Complete-in-box (CIB) copies typically command a premium over loose cartridges/discs because the original box and manual are more fragile and get discarded or damaged over time — fewer complete sets survive.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Bubble Bobble (1986) worth?
Bubble Bobble (1986) for Game Boy Advance is currently worth €50.68 loose. Prices are based on real sales and update regularly on Gamevaro.
Is Bubble Bobble (1986) rare?
Bubble Bobble (1986) has only a handful of tracked market sales, suggesting relative scarcity compared to more common Game Boy Advance titles.
What's the difference between loose, CIB and sealed for Bubble Bobble (1986)?
Loose means cartridge or disc only, CIB (complete in box) includes the original box and manual, and sealed means factory-sealed and never opened. These are tracked as separate market values because the price gap between them can be significant, especially for older releases.
Is Bubble Bobble (1986) worth more in PAL or NTSC?
The PAL version of Bubble Bobble (1986) is currently worth €50.68 loose, versus €48.62 for NTSC-U. Regional price differences usually come down to print run size and regional collector demand.
Ratings & Reviews
Also on other platforms
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