Bubble Shooter

Bubble Shooter is a classic arcade matching game where you need to match bubbles of the same color to move through each level.

Suitable for players of all ages as well as skill levels, this game starts with easier levels and lets you advance to harder levels later. It puts a series of bubbles across the screen and a shooter at the bottom. You need to adjust your mouse to change the angle of the shooter before you release a new bubble. A small section off to the side shows the bubble in your shooter. When you release a bubble and make a match, it removes those bubbles from your screen.

Though it sounds quite easy, Bubble Shooter is a challenging game, especially as you move to the higher levels. This is when it will reduce the number of bubbles that you get, which limits how many moves you can make. You may find that the game gives you bubbles to shoot in different colors than those on the level, which makes it even more challenging. Unlike similar paid games for mobile devices, you don't need to waste real money on upgrades though. As long as you stick with it, you'll eventually figure out how to get by each level.

Bubble Shooter starts each level with a number of bubbles in different colors that take up a few lines on your screen. You can move your mouse to the right or left to change where the shooter sends the next bubble. The game also helps you easily see the color of the bubble to help you make matches. If you need a bubble of a different color, you'll have the option of exchanging it. You need to move quickly though because the game changes every few seconds. It not only adds more bubbles to the screen but also causes the existing bubbles to drop down a few inches. If you take too long to make your matches, the bubbles will eventually drop into the shooter and end the game.

This game comes with different modes, but the most popular one is the arcade mode. When playing the arcade version, you might feel like a kid again. This mode features different levels but allows you to work at a pace that you like. You don't need to worry about taking your eyes off the screen for a few seconds to talk to a friend because it works at your pace. If you move quickly and clear levels at a higher speed, the game will add new levels faster. When you slow down and take your time, the game will slow down too.

Another nice feature of Bubble Shooter is that it automatically saves your progress. Have you ever been in the middle of another game before and had to abruptly stop playing? The chances are good that you came back and found that your game sent you back to a previous level. Bubble Shooter will automatically save your game at the point where you left off. No matter how long it takes before you come back, you'll find that you're where you started. You have the option of ending that game and starting over again too, which is helpful if you want to get a higher score.

This game also features boosters that you can win to help you beat the game and get through the levels faster. It has one booster that acts as a bomb. When you match it to bubbles of the same color, it will clear bubbles of different colors that are close by. Another booster will remove an entire line or multiple lines when you match it to the right bubbles. Bubble Shooter does a good job of telling you what each booster does the first time you unlock one, but it doesn't remind you of what those boosters do later.

As the game keeps changing as you play, it doesn't feel quite as boring as other matching games do. Far too many matching games make you play the same levels for hours with only a few subtle changes. Bubble Shooter not only changes the bubbles that you see on each level, but it also reduces the time that you have to clear the screen as well as the colored bubbles that you can use in your shooter.

When looking at the cons of Bubble Shooter, you'll notice that you can easily make mistakes. If you nudge the mouse while lining up your shot, you can change the angle of the shooter. You risk pressing the wrong button and changing the color of the bubble that you need to shoot too. This can increase the time it takes to clear a level or keep you from moving forward. You may find that the game gets a little boring if you play it often. Though it does change a few things when you keep playing, most of the levels seem fairly similar.

Matching games are fun for players of all ages and don't require as many skills as action games do. As long as you can see the different colors and line up matches with your shots, you'll find that the first levels in Bubble Shooter are easy. The levels become more challenging as you keep playing because the game will add new bubbles to the screen every few seconds. You need to move the shooter and release new bubbles quickly before the bubbles take over the entire screen. This is a great game for playing on your own. Whether you want something you can play on your lunch break, when waiting in line or before falling asleep at night, give Bubble Shooter a try.