Bomberman
Strategic destruction
Hudson Soft's Bomberman perfected competitive multiplayer through simple mechanics: place bombs, avoid explosions, eliminate opponents.
Overview
Bomberman distilled competitive gaming to its essence. Players place bombs that explode in cross patterns, destroying blocks and opponents. Power-ups extend explosion range and bomb count. What sounds simple becomes deeply strategic when four players compete in destructible mazes. The formula proved so perfect that dozens of sequels followed.
Fast facts
- Developer: Hudson Soft.
- Original platform: MSX, PC, NES.
- Creator: Shinichi Nakamoto.
- Multiplayer: up to 5 players (with multitap).
- Peak era: Super Bomberman series on SNES.
- Current owner: Konami (acquired Hudson Soft, 2012).
The core loop
Gameplay fundamentals:
- Place bombs: explode in four directions.
- Destroy blocks: reveal power-ups.
- Trap opponents: corner them with explosions.
- Survive: last player standing wins.
Multiplayer perfection
Why it endures:
- Instant understanding: anyone can play immediately.
- Skill ceiling: positioning and timing reward practice.
- Chaos factor: unpredictable chain reactions.
- Social play: screaming at friends since 1985.