Play Bomb Jack online
2 players online · taking turns · everyone on their own device How online multiplayer works
A caped hero, 24 bombs and the highest jump in the arcade.
Play nowFree, right in your browser, nothing to install.
- Year
- 1984
- Manufacturer
- Tehkan
- Players
- 2 players, alternating turns
- Genres
- Platformers, Vintage classics
- Decade
- '80s arcade games
Bomb Jack is peak 80s arcade: a caped hero who jumps like gravity is optional, backdrops of famous landmarks and bombs scattered all over the screen that you need to grab before the enemies box you in. Watch someone play for two minutes and you were digging for a quarter.
Under that simple look is a seriously sharp score-attack game. Collecting the bombs isn't enough; you have to grab them in the right order to land the big bonus. On UsuArcade it's got its own cabinet on the floor and plays right in your browser.
History
Bomb Jack was released in 1984 by Tehkan, the Japanese company that would soon rename itself Tecmo. It was one of their best-known games of the era, and a wave of home computer versions made it a household name, especially in Europe.
The backgrounds set it apart: the Sphinx and the pyramids, a fairy-tale castle in Bavaria and other recognizable spots gave it a trip-around-the-world feel that other platformers of the day didn't have.
How to play
Each screen has 24 bombs spread across platforms and floating in midair. Jack jumps sky-high with the button, and if you tap it while he's falling he glides down slowly, which lets you line up your moves with real precision.
Every time you grab a bomb, another one's fuse lights up. Follow the trail of lit bombs and you score a huge bonus at the end of the screen. Enemies keep spawning and changing form; grab the P ball and they turn into coins you can snag for points. The B power-up bumps your multiplier, and the E gives you an extra life.
Fun facts
- Tehkan changed its name to Tecmo in the mid-80s.
- Tapping the button midair to float is the key technique for big scores.
- Collecting 23 lit bombs in a row nets the maximum screen bonus.
In the arcade
Bomb Jack was a take-turns game, and that's how it plays on UsuArcade, just online: invite your friend to your cabinet once they're in the lobby and trade turns, each on your own phone or PC. While one plays, the other watches live.
Nothing to install: it runs in your browser, gamepad supported, and every game starts with INSERT COIN, free. Everyone else in the lobby can watch and chat, and scores go up on the arcade's high score board.
FAQ
Can I play Bomb Jack online with a friend?
Yes, taking turns online, each on your own device: just like the original arcade, you alternate turns in the same game of Bomb Jack, you on your phone or PC and your friend on theirs. While one plays, the other watches.
What year did Bomb Jack come out?
The Bomb Jack arcade game came out in 1984, made by Tehkan (later known as Tecmo).
How many players is Bomb Jack?
Up to two players, taking turns.
How do you get the big bonus in Bomb Jack?
Grab the bombs with lit fuses in order. Each one you collect lights the next; follow that chain to the end for the top bonus.
Do I have to pay or install anything?
No. Every game starts with INSERT COIN, but it's free and runs in your phone or computer browser.
