How to Play Bubble Shooter: Rules and Tips
In Bubble Shooter you aim a launcher at the bottom of the screen and fire coloured bubbles up at the field. A bubble sticks where it touches, and when it joins three or more of the same colour, they pop. Any bubbles left hanging with nothing holding them up fall off for bonus points. Every few shots the ceiling drops a row: clear every bubble before one crosses the line at the bottom.
The goal
A field of bubbles hangs from the top of the screen. Your job is to clear all of them. You win when the last bubble pops or falls, and you lose if any bubble ends up below the dashed line near the launcher. The idea goes back to the 1994 arcade game Puzzle Bobble, and countless versions have followed. This guide explains the rules of GameLake's Bubble Shooter, which keeps to the classic formula.
Aiming and shooting
- Aim by dragging (or holding) anywhere above the launcher. A dotted line shows where the bubble will travel.
- Shoot by letting go. On a computer you can also aim with the arrow keys and fire with the space bar.
- Bounce shots off the side walls to reach bubbles you can't hit straight on. The aim line shows the first bounce.
- The bubble flies until it touches another bubble or the ceiling, then sticks in the nearest gap.
The field is packed like a honeycomb: rows of 9 bubbles alternate with rows of 8 that sit half a bubble to the right, so every bubble can touch up to six others.
Matching three: how bubbles pop
When your bubble lands touching others of the same colour, count the whole connected group, including the new bubble. Three or more and the group pops. Two is not enough: the bubble just stays there, which can still be useful as the start of a future three.
On GameLake every colour also has its own symbol: a pink heart, yellow star, green leaf, blue drop, purple moon and orange flower, so you can match by shape as well as colour.
Falling bubbles
After a pop, any bubbles that are no longer connected to the ceiling, through a chain of other bubbles, fall off the field. Their colour doesn't matter. Falling bubbles score double, and they're how big levels get cleared quickly.
The ceiling and the line
Every shot counts down toward the next ceiling drop: when the count runs out, the whole field moves down one row. The dots under the launcher show how many shots are left, and every shot counts, including shots that pop something.
If a bubble ends up below the dashed line, the game is over. So keep an eye on your lowest bubbles, not the average height of the field: a single string hanging down the middle reaches the line first.
Swapping and the next bubble
You can always see the next bubble beside the launcher. Tap the launcher (or press Swap, or S on a keyboard) to switch them. Swapping is free and you can do it as often as you like before you shoot.
The launcher only loads colours that are still on the field. When you clear the last bubble of a colour, that colour stops coming, so the end of a level gets easier as colours disappear.
Difficulty levels and the Daily
| Level | Colours | Starting rows | Ceiling drops every | Aim line | Points × |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | 4 | 6 | 10 shots | Full, to where it sticks | 1 |
| Medium | 5 | 7 | 7 shots | Medium length | 2 |
| Hard | 6 | 8 | 6 shots | Short | 3 |
| Daily | 5 | 7 | 7 shots | Medium length | 2 |
Easy also starts with bigger clumps of the same colour, so there are more ready-made matches. On Hard, colours are more mixed and the shorter aim line means you have to judge long and bank shots yourself.
Scoring and stars
| What happens | Points |
|---|---|
| Each bubble that pops | 10 |
| Each bubble that falls | 20 |
| Six or more fall in one shot | +10 more for each one |
| Clearing the field | 500 bonus |
When you clear the field you also earn one to three stars, based on how many shots you used compared with how many bubbles you started with. Use no more shots than 30% of the starting bubbles for three stars, or 50% for two. On Easy, with 51 starting bubbles, that's 15 shots or fewer for three stars.
Five beginner tips
- Aim for what holds things up. Popping three bubbles near the top can drop a whole bunch, for far more points than popping three at the bottom.
- Use the walls. A bank shot gets your bubble behind blockers and under overhangs.
- Check the next bubble before you shoot. If the current one has nowhere good to go, swap.
- Park awkward colours next to bubbles of the same colour, or out at the sides, never in the middle where they block future shots.
- Watch the countdown. Just before the ceiling drops, deal with whatever hangs lowest.
For more on bank shots, planning two bubbles ahead and earning three stars, read our Bubble Shooter tips guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play Bubble Shooter?
Aim the launcher and fire bubbles at the field. When a bubble joins three or more of the same colour, they pop, and any bubbles left hanging fall off. Clear the whole field before any bubble crosses the line at the bottom.
How many bubbles do you need to match?
Three or more of the same colour, counting the bubble you just shot. Two of a colour stay on the field.
Why do bubbles fall without popping?
Bubbles have to be connected to the ceiling through other bubbles. When you pop the ones holding a group up, everything below falls off, whatever its colour.
When does the ceiling come down?
After a fixed number of shots: every 10 on Easy, 7 on Medium and the Daily, and 6 on Hard. The dots under the launcher count down.
How do you get three stars in Bubble Shooter?
Clear the field using no more shots than 30% of the bubbles you started with. Big drops of falling bubbles are the way to do it.
Is Bubble Shooter free on GameLake?
Yes. It's free in your browser on phone, tablet or computer, with no download and no account.