Bubble Pop

What you do

Bubble Pop is a 60-second cozy arcade game about one decision made again and again: pop a bubble now, or let it grow. Every bubble shows its points, and the value climbs faster the bigger it gets. Bubbles never overlap: when one runs out of room against a wall or a neighbor, or gets wobbly when it is big, it starts fizzing, and if you do not tap it in time it bursts for nothing. Rare prize bubbles hold bath toys for bonus points, and the last 15 seconds are a bubble rush.

How to play

1. Tap a bubble to pop it and bank the points shown in its center.
2. Bubbles grow, and bigger bubbles are worth much more: 10 points when new, up to 240 at full size.
3. A bubble starts fizzing when it touches a wall or another bubble, reaches full size, or gets wobbly when big. Tap it before its orange ring runs out or it bursts for zero points.
4. Gold numbers (50 or more) add one combo dot when popped, and big bubbles (100 or more, with a double gold ring) add two. Every three dots raise the multiplier on all pops by 0.5, up to x3.
5. A burst resets the combo. So does a tap on open water, which also costs 10 points.
6. Bubbles of the same color that touch are linked by a small bead. Popping one pops the whole linked group as a chain: two bubbles pay 1.5 times their values, three pay double, and so on.
7. Prize bubbles add a bonus, but the toy is lost if the bubble bursts. The last 15 seconds are a bubble rush with faster growth.
8. Ratings: Cozy Pop from 2,500 points, Sparkly Pop from 6,000 and Perfectly Fizzy from 12,000.

Controls

• Touch: tap bubbles and buttons.
• Mouse: click bubbles and buttons. Hovering a bubble outlines its chain and shows what it would pay.
• Keyboard: click or tap the bath first. Arrow keys (or W, A, S, D) choose a bubble, Space or Enter pops it, P or Esc pauses, R restarts, and Space or Enter starts a round or plays again.

Tips worth knowing

• New bubbles are safe but small. Let them grow toward gold before you pop them.
• A bubble about to bump into a different color will start fizzing. Pop it first, or let it fizz and save it if you are quick.
• Two bubbles of the same color growing toward each other are a chance for a chain: let them touch, then pop either one.
• Slower hands score more by popping at gold; quick hands can wait for the bigger, riskier values.
• Protect the combo. One burst or a stray tap resets it, so do not tap empty water.
• Input assist gives bigger tap areas, slower growth and longer fizz rings if you want a gentler round.

Accessibility

• Every bubble shows its points as a number, gold rings and dots mark combo bubbles, and each color also has its own shape (heart, leaf or star), so nothing relies on color alone.
• Input assist gives every bubble a more forgiving tap area, slows growth and lengthens the fizz ring.
• Reduced motion (or the system setting) removes the fizz wobble and most particles; the draining ring still shows the time left.
• The whole game can be played with the keyboard: arrow keys choose a bubble and Space or Enter pops it.