# Bomberman Tips: Fuse Time, Power-Ups and Finding the Exit Door > Bomberman tips for the NES classic: every power-up, how to find the hidden door, why bombs take 2.7 seconds to go off (we measured it) and how to stay alive. - Source: https://yesthisgame.com/blog/bomberman-tips/ - Published: 2026-10-26, updated: 2026-10-26 - Author: Yes This Game (the team that makes the games on the site) ## Key takeaways - A bomb goes off 160 frames after you drop it, about 2.7 seconds; we read the bomb's fuse counter in the game's memory. - Every stage hides one exit door and one power-up under bricks; blast the last enemy, then walk into the door. - Hitting the door or a power-up with a blast releases a new wave of enemies, so be careful where the fire goes. - Power-ups stay with you from stage to stage; losing a life takes some of them away, such as the remote control. **In the NES Bomberman, a bomb goes off 160 frames after you drop it, about 2.7 seconds, and its blast runs in four directions. Every stage hides one exit door and one power-up under the brick walls: uncover them, defeat every enemy, then walk into the door.** That is the whole game in two sentences, but there is a lot more to it: what each power-up does, why bombing the door is a bad idea, and how to stay out of your own fire. We measured the fuse in the running game, and you can try everything below in [Bomberman on Yes This Game](https://yesthisgame.com/bomberman/). ## How long does a bomb take? We dropped a bomb and read the game's memory every few frames. A counter starts at zero when the bomb lands and goes up by one every frame; when it reaches 160, the bomb explodes. The NES draws about 60 frames a second, so the fuse is **about 2.7 seconds** . That is enough time to walk around one corner, but not much more, so plan your escape before you press the button. *What we read from the game's memory* | Value | What we found | | --- | --- | | Bomb fuse | 160 frames, about 2.7 seconds | | Time limit per stage | Starts at 200 | | Blast length | Stored as the number of squares times 16; one more square for each Flame power-up | | Number of bombs | Stored as bombs minus one; one more bomb for each Bomb power-up | ## Every power-up *Power-ups in Bomberman (NES)* | Power-up | What it does | | --- | --- | | Bomb | One more bomb on the field at the same time | | Flame | The blast reaches one square further | | Skate (speed) | You walk faster | | Remote control (detonator) | Bombs wait until you set them off with B | | Wall pass | Walk through brick walls | | Bomb pass | Walk over bombs | | Flame pass | Your own blasts can't hurt you | | Mystery (question mark) | A short time of invincibility | Power-ups stay with you from stage to stage, but losing a life takes some of them away, such as the remote control, so they are worth protecting. ## Finding the door, and why not to bomb it The exit door and the stage's power-up each hide under one brick wall. When a blast breaks that brick, the door or the power-up appears. The door does nothing until every enemy on the stage is gone; then it opens and you can walk in. Be careful once they are uncovered: if a blast hits the door or a power-up, a new wave of enemies comes out of it. Many players lose a run by placing one more bomb next to the door to catch a last enemy, and then face a crowd. ## 8 Bomberman tips ### 1. Drop and step around a corner The blast travels in straight lines. Standing around a corner from the bomb, diagonal to it, is always safe. ### 2. Never box yourself in Before you drop a bomb, check that you have a way out that the blast won't reach. Dead ends are the most common way to lose a life. ### 3. Let enemies walk into the fire Drop a bomb in a corridor an enemy is heading into, then step away. Its path takes it into the blast. ### 4. Chain your bombs A blast that reaches another bomb sets it off at once. With several bombs you can clear a long line of bricks in one go. ### 5. Take the remote control seriously With the remote control the fuse no longer matters: place bombs, walk to safety, then press B. It makes every stage easier. ### 6. Open up space early Clear the bricks around you first. More open squares mean more ways to escape your own blasts later, when the stage gets busy. ### 7. Watch the timer When TIME reaches zero, fast enemies flood the stage. Leave enough time to finish. ### 8. Use the password The game shows a password at Game Over. Choose CONTINUE on the title screen and type it in to start again from that stage. ## Bomberman cheats on Yes This Game [Bomberman](https://yesthisgame.com/bomberman/) runs free in your browser: the arrows walk, X drops a bomb and Z sets bombs off once you have the remote control. Press the magic wand button next to full screen for five optional cheats: **Unlimited lives** , **Super bombs** (10 bombs with five-square blasts), **Remote control** , **Blast-proof** and **Infinite time** . For another classic with destructible brick walls, try [Battle City](https://yesthisgame.com/battle-city/). ## Frequently asked questions ### How long does a bomb take to explode in Bomberman? On the NES, 160 frames, about 2.7 seconds. We read the fuse counter in the game's memory as it counted up after a bomb was dropped. ### How do I find the exit door in Bomberman? It is hidden under one of the brick walls. Blow up bricks until you uncover it, defeat every enemy, then walk into the door. ### What happens if you bomb the exit door? A blast that hits the door or a power-up releases a new wave of enemies. The door itself stays. ### What is the best power-up in Bomberman? Many players say the remote control, because your bombs wait until you set them off, so you can place them safely and blast at the right moment. ### What happens when the timer runs out? A crowd of fast, tough enemies appears. Finish the stage before the timer reaches zero. ### Can I play Bomberman online free? Yes. The NES Bomberman runs free in your browser on Yes This Game, with optional cheats such as super bombs and the remote control. ## Games in this guide - [Bomberman](https://yesthisgame.com/bomberman.md): Play Bomberman online free: blast through brick mazes, trap the enemies and find the exit door in 50 NES stages. Cheats for super bombs. No download. - [Battle City](https://yesthisgame.com/battle-city.md): Play Battle City online free: drive your tank through 35 stages, destroy every enemy tank and guard your eagle base. Unlimited lives cheat. No download. - [Tetris](https://yesthisgame.com/tetris.md): Play NES Tetris online free: turn and drop the falling pieces, clear lines and chase a Tetris. Cheats for the long piece and slow falling. No download. - [Super Mario Bros.](https://yesthisgame.com/super-mario-bros.md): Play the original Super Mario Bros. online free: run and jump through 8 worlds and 32 levels of the 1985 NES classic. Cheats for Fire Mario and stars.