Bomberman

Bomberman is the maze game that started a whole series. You are a little white robot in a field of concrete pillars and brick walls, and your only tool is the bomb. Drop one, step aside, and the blast runs in four directions, breaking bricks and catching any enemy in its path. Under one brick on every stage hides the exit door, and under another a power-up. Clear all the enemies, reach the door and the next stage begins. This is the NES version by Hudson Soft, with 50 stages, and it plays right here in your browser with no download.

How to play

1. Press Play under the title picture, then Start (Enter) to begin with START selected.
2. Walk with the arrow keys and drop a bomb with X. Move out of the blast line before it goes off: a bomb explodes after about two seconds.
3. Blow up the brick walls to open paths and to find the hidden power-up and the exit door.
4. Catch every enemy in a blast. When the last one is gone, walk into the door to finish the stage.
5. Watch the TIME counter at the top. If it reaches zero, a crowd of fast enemies appears.

Controls

Computer: arrow keys walk, X drops a bomb, Z sets your bombs off when you have the remote control, Enter is Start and pauses the game. Move the mouse over the game to show the bar with pause, restart, sound, save state, load state and full screen buttons.

Phone and tablet: an on-screen pad appears under the game. The cross on the left walks, A drops a bomb, B sets bombs off and Start pauses.

A USB or Bluetooth gamepad also works.

Cheats

Press the magic wand button next to the full screen button above the game. A small panel opens over the game, and the game waits until you close it. You can switch on:

• Unlimited lives: the LEFT counter never goes down.
• Super bombs: up to 10 bombs at once, each with a blast five squares long.
• Remote control: your bombs wait until you set them off with B (Z on a keyboard).
• Blast-proof: your own bombs can’t hurt you, so you can stand right in the fire.
• Infinite time: the timer stays at 200.

Reloading the page turns the cheats off again.

Power-ups

• Bomb: one more bomb on the field at the same time.
• Flame: a longer blast.
• Skate: you walk faster.
• Remote control: set off your bombs when you choose.
• Wall pass, bomb pass and flame pass: walk through bricks, walk over bombs, or stand in the fire.
• Mystery: a short time of invincibility.

Be careful with the exit door and the power-up: a blast that hits them releases a new wave of enemies.

About Bomberman

Hudson Soft released Bomberman for the Famicom in Japan in 1985, and the NES version followed in North America in 1987. Its simple rule, a bomb that blasts in a cross, became one of the best known ideas in video games, and later Bomberman games added the famous battle mode for up to five players.

Frequently asked questions

Is Bomberman free to play?

Yes. You can play it free in your browser on Yes This Game, with no download and no sign-up.

How many stages does Bomberman have?

The NES Bomberman has 50 stages, with a bonus stage now and then.

Why don’t my bombs explode?

If you picked up the remote control, or switched it on in the cheats, bombs wait until you press B (Z on a keyboard).

Can I play Bomberman on my phone?

Yes. On a phone or tablet an on-screen pad with a cross, A, B and Start appears under the game.

Can I save my progress?

Yes. The bar under the game has a save state button that stores the game exactly where you are, in your browser on this device. The load state button brings it back.