Four guides, one job each
I split these so a rules question does not sit on the same URL as a history question. On 23 October 2026 I reread the Ilyon how-to, the Wikipedia entries, and a tricks article, then wrote each page from those notes in my own sentences.
- How to play: aim, match, bounce, fail state.
- Tips: what I actually try when a board is stuck, tied back to those sources.
- Original: dates, the sale, and the 50 million download figure from 2018.
- Puzzle Bobble: the 1994 arcade game people confuse with this one.
Questions people ask
Where do I start if I have never played?
The how-to-play guide. It is the shared rule, with a warning that miss penalties change by version.
Who made the original?
Absolutist, released 2001–2002. Ilyon took the series over after the 2015 sale. Details and the two date sources are on the history page.
Sources checked 2026-10-23
- Ilyon guide to the original — accessed 2026-10-23
- Wikipedia: Bubble Shooter — accessed 2026-10-23
- Wikipedia: Puzzle Bobble — accessed 2026-10-23
- bubbleshooter365 tricks — accessed 2026-10-23
Checked on 2026-10-23. Ratings, install bands, and file sizes are store snapshots, not live counters.