Game: Bubble Bobble Sugar Dungeons
Genre: Action
System: Steam (Windows) (Also on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation)
Developer|Publisher: Taito Corp | Arc System Works
Controller Support: Yes
Steam Deck: Playable
Price: US $39.99 | UK £34.99 | EU € 39,99
Release Date: November 27th, 2025
Review code provided with many thanks to Press Engine.
Bubble Bobble Sugar Dungeons – Bub is Back!
As someone who has adored Bubble Bobble since the classic arcade days (yes, I’m old), I approached this one with a mix of excitement and caution. Bub and Bob are gaming icons to me, and every new entry arrives with expectations. Sugar Dungeons is a twist on the familiar formula, and while I feel conflicted in places, there’s plenty here that fans and newcomers will enjoy.
Going on an Adventure
The story begins with Bub waking up and meeting a tiny chap named Dolcen, who recruits him to explore treasure-filled dungeons. The plot is simple and sweet, mostly serving as a backdrop for the action. Bubble Bobble has never needed deep storytelling, and this game continues that tradition comfortably.
Enter the Dungeon
The classic bubble-blowing remains intact: trap an enemy, pop the bubble, collect your reward. It feels immediately familiar in the best way. The main twist is that you don’t have to defeat every enemy to move on; you can rush straight for the exit. Long-time fans like me will still clear each room out of habit. You will still need to keep time in mind, though, if you linger too long, the baron (a famous ghostly character from the series) will come chasing to end your run early. The dungeon will sometimes present with optional exits, some taking you further ahead into the dungeon and some to a big boss fight. A boss fight is usually a larger enemy encountered already, another series stable. Familiar features from the series return, such as special bubbles including the water and lightning power-ups, which help quickly dispatch enemies if activated at the right moment.
Crafting
Crafting now plays a role, letting you create different bubble types from collected materials found in treasure chests. These can be activated on the fly during further runs and can really help out in a pinch. It adds some depth but also introduces an early-game grind that slows progress more than it should. You see Sugar Dungeons gates a lot, its progress behind missions such as crafting a set number of power-ups. The resources required are randomly dropped from chests found in dungeons, but often it requires multiple runs to acquire what you need and hence unlock more interesting features in the game, such as exploring castles, which are larger interconnected levels.
Dungeons are semi-randomised, changing layouts and enemy placement each time you enter. While this adds variety, the rooms themselves begin to repeat sooner than expected. It keeps things fresh enough, but feels limited.
Level Up
Sugar Dungeons features a surprisingly large upgrade system, letting you enhance Bub’s abilities and learn new skills while unlocking extra bubble types. It’s fun to grow stronger, but many of the upgrades are gated behind repeated resource farming, which may test a player’s patience early on.
Pick up and Blow Bubbles
Controls are smooth and approachable. Simple jump and shoot bubbles. Bubbles can be ridden to reach higher platforms. This has been fine-tuned compared to other games in the series, and helpful wind indicators let you judge the drift of each shot. It’s an easy game to pick up, making it a fine pick for new players to the series.
A Surprising Limitation
The biggest letdown is the absence of co-op. For a series built on sharing the fun with another player, the single-player-only approach leaves a noticeable gap. While understandable from an upgrade-system standpoint, it still feels like a missed opportunity.
Too Sugary
The colourful art direction is cheerful and lively. Bub looks great, animations are smooth. I wasn’t too keen on the sugary dungeon design, maybe a bit too sweet for my liking. But there is variety if you stick with the game. The soundtrack is pleasant but not especially memorable, more of a soft backdrop than a standout feature.
Retro Extra
A fantastic inclusion to the game is Bubble Symphony. An entry in the Bubble Bobble series I have never played before that was released in arcades and on the Sega Saturn back in the day. This follows the more traditional arcade formula of the first game with some neat extras. This includes more frequent boss fights, multiple routes through the game and the ability to choose from 4 dinos, each with their own unique skill sets. I have to say I actually enjoyed playing this far more than Bubble Bobble Sugar Dungeons since it’s instant arcade goodness without the grind, and it’s a bonus inclusion. Symphony also features two-player co-op for a friend to jump in on the action with you. If you really love your retro, I would go as far as to say it’s worth picking up for this hidden retro gem.
Conclusion – Experimental Entry
Bubble Bobble Sugar Dungeons is enjoyable, though not without flaws. The familiar bubble action feels good, the new systems show ambition, and Bub remains a delight. But the resource grind, repetitive dungeon structure, and the lack of co-op hold it back from feeling like a true standout.
It’s worth a look for long-time fans or curious newcomers, especially if you’re open to a more experimental take on the series.
As a retro fan, the inclusion of Bubble Symphony, which does include co-op, made this a package solid recommendation.
Final verdict: I Like it a Lot
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