Bust-A-Move
Sega Game Gear · 1996
About this game
The home version of Bust-A-Move is not a straight adaptation of the arcade game.
It greatly increases the number of levels, has new gameplay features, and introduces new modes.
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The general concept remains the same: the player controls a catapult at the bottom of the screen that shoots bubbles of random colors.
When three or more bubbles of the same color touch on the playfield, they are removed, with any bubbles falling away that are not attached to the ceiling, sidewall, or another bubble.
The ceiling periodically descends, pushing the bubbles downward.
The game is lost if any bubbles touch the bottom.
In single-player mode, the goal is to clear pre-set bubble patterns.
The game consists of 100 levels, more than tripling the number from the arcade game.
Some arcade levels are reused, but most are entirely new.
Also new are gameplay elements in the form of special bubbles: explosive bubbles destroy bubbles in a small radius around them if hit.
Lightning bubbles move sideways if hit, clearing a horizontal line.
Water bubbles burst, with the downward stream recoloring all bubbles it touches.
Another new element is a boss fight in the final level.
The two-player mode from the arcade version also reappears, but optionally adds a series of ten computer opponents with different playing strategies.
In two-player mode, the goal is to make the other player fail.
Instead of the ceiling descending, new bubbles are added from the top.
Removing more than the required three bubbles at a time sends bubbles to the opponent's field.
The final mode is Challenge mode: it is an endless unwinnable mode where new bubbles are continuously added from the top.
It is played for the high score: both the score and the number of bubbles popped are counted.
About Sega Game Gear
Sega's Game Gear (1990) was a technically capable handheld competitor to the Game Boy, notable for its full-color backlit screen — a real advantage at the time, offset by famously poor battery life. Its commercial underperformance against Nintendo's handheld means smaller print runs overall, and complete, well-preserved cartridges (the plastic shells are prone to yellowing and cracking) are a genuine niche within retro handheld collecting.
Gamevaro tracks Bust-A-Move for Sega Game Gear 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 Bust-A-Move 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 GG release dates back to 1996.
Market values by condition
NTSC-U
NTSC-J
Recent sales
| Date | Type | Region | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-15 | Item only | NTSC-U | €13.14 |
| 2026-07-15 | Loose / Item only | NTSC-J | €13.12 |
| 2026-07-12 | Complete in Box | NTSC-U | €58.18 |
| 2026-07-12 | Box Only | NTSC-U | €18.01 |
| 2026-07-12 | Graded New | NTSC-U | €144.33 |
| 2026-07-12 | New (sealed) | NTSC-U | €131.21 |
| 2026-07-12 | Item only | NTSC-U | €9.62 |
| 2026-07-12 | Manual Only | NTSC-U | €7.59 |
| 2026-07-10 | Graded New | NTSC-U | €144.27 |
| 2026-07-10 | Manual Only | NTSC-U | €7.59 |
| 2026-07-10 | Complete in Box | NTSC-U | €58.15 |
| 2026-07-10 | Box Only | NTSC-U | €18.00 |
| 2026-07-10 | New (sealed) | NTSC-U | €131.15 |
| 2026-07-10 | Item only | NTSC-U | €9.61 |
| 2026-06-18 | Complete in Box | NTSC-U | €49.24 |
| 2026-06-18 | Item only | NTSC-U | €9.48 |
| 2026-06-18 | New (sealed) | NTSC-U | €129.35 |
| 2026-06-18 | Manual Only | NTSC-U | €7.49 |
| 2026-06-18 | Box Only | NTSC-U | €17.75 |
| 2026-06-18 | Graded New | NTSC-U | €142.29 |
| 2026-06-17 | New (sealed) | NTSC-U | €129.35 |
| 2026-06-17 | Complete in Box | NTSC-U | €49.24 |
| 2026-06-17 | Manual Only | NTSC-U | €7.49 |
| 2026-06-17 | Graded New | NTSC-U | €142.29 |
| 2026-06-17 | Item only | NTSC-U | €9.48 |
| 2026-06-17 | Box Only | NTSC-U | €17.75 |
| 2026-06-15 | New (sealed) | NTSC-U | €129.65 |
| 2026-06-15 | Complete in Box | NTSC-U | €49.36 |
| 2026-06-15 | Box Only | NTSC-U | €17.79 |
| 2026-06-15 | Item only | NTSC-U | €9.50 |
Rarity & condition
Only a handful of market sales have been tracked for Bust-A-Move, suggesting it doesn't trade hands very often — a sign of relative scarcity compared to more common Sega Game Gear 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 Bust-A-Move worth?
Bust-A-Move for Sega Game Gear is currently worth €13.14 loose, €58.18 complete in box, and €131.21 factory sealed. Prices are based on real sales and update regularly on Gamevaro.
Is Bust-A-Move rare?
Bust-A-Move has only a handful of tracked market sales, suggesting relative scarcity compared to more common Sega Game Gear titles.
What's the difference between loose, CIB and sealed for Bust-A-Move?
Loose means cartridge or disc only, CIB (complete in box) includes the original box and manual, and sealed means factory-sealed and never opened. For Bust-A-Move, loose is €13.14 and CIB is €58.18 — CIB commands a premium because original boxes and manuals are fragile and often don't survive.
Ratings & Reviews
Also on other platforms
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