Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 69 | 37 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 64% | 63 | 72 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 100% | 97 | 2 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Aug 20, 2026) · 1 reviews sampled · 2 total reviews in window · weighted 0.5 up / 0 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (47)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 55
“Bubble Bobble 4 Friends is an unfortunate step backward. It's a fun, but very vanilla entry in the long-running series. The launch content doesn't match the launch price, nor does it compare favorably with other arcade games available on the Switch eShop.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Bubble Bobble 4 Friends is a great modern addition to the series. It offers a solid balance of fun and challenge with high replayability due to the three-tier scoring system and collectables, as well as the inclusion of the original game in the series.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Bubble Bobble 4 Friends is a pleasant callback to yesteryear, with just enough changed to keep it from simply retreading old ground. It is a little short if one charges through, points be damned, but it’s still several hours long at least.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Nostalgia and an 8-bit classic simply aren't worth the price of admission”
read full review ↗ - 75
“For veterans of the Bubble Bobble series, this is a worthy follow up to the classics. For newcomers, the accessibility options, like the lack of a serious penalty for dying, make this one of the easiest places in the series to jump in. If you don't mind the light amount of content, Bubble Bobble 4 Friends is an excellent pickup.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Bubble Bobble 4 Friends is a solid, enjoyable and well-made entry in the Bubble Bobble franchise.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Bubble Bobble 4 Friends revisits many of Bubble Bobble's ideas with a few twists of its own. While it can feel too easy and uneven at times, the whimsical visuals and new skills can provide an entertaining time nonetheless.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Taito's comeback continues with this revival of its most famous series, and while it's slim the old magic remains.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“A really good take on a classic gameplay but there's little to no replayability, and the price is too high.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Bubble Bobble 4 Friends is a simple and comfortable arcade platformer that is quite fun for its short runtime.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“It's a fine line when creating a sequel to such a classic game. Go too modern and you alienate your classic player base, but go too retro and it doesn't appeal to the new generation of gamers. Taito has got the balance spot on here though, and created a Bubble Bobble for 2019 that feels completely right, but without being mere fanservice. It's a brilliant game that all Switch owners ought to get in my opinion.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Bubble Bobble 4 Friends marks the arrival of the famed series on the Nintendo Switch and as the title promises, this is indeed a feast for up to four friends in what is easily one of the game's best selling points. Along with a simple and addictive gameplay and a joyfully colourful visual environment, Bubble Bobble 4 Friends is irresistible to pick up, even though it could feature more content and a less repetitive soundtrack.”
read full review ↗
Pure Nintendo
Nintendo Life
Gamer Escape
Cubed3
NintendoWorldReport
Worth Playing
CFG Games
Eurogamer
SECTOR.sk
MonsterVine
GameGrin
FNintendo…and 35 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- A Free Major Update for “BUBBLE BOBBLE Sugar Dungeons Boosted”!Aug 20, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- 脆弱性対応Oct 23, 2025
- Patch: Version 1.0.1 releaseOct 21, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Upcoming bug fix patchOct 15, 2021