Bomberman '93 / '94

Few gaming concepts are as clean and perfect as Bomberman: a maze, bombs, and the last one standing wins. Bomberman '93 and its successor Bomberman '94 honed this formula on the PC Engine into one of its finest forms and defined what it means to be a truly great party game.

Just about everyone knows the basics: you move around a grid-based arena, plant bombs, blow up walls and opponents, and collect power-ups that extend blast range, increase your bomb count, or speed up your movement. The magic lies in the simplicity of the rules and the depth of the tactics — every match is a mix of foresight, trap-setting, and downright devious timing.

The key draw is multiplayer. With a multitap, a whole crew gathers around a single screen and pure chaos erupts, full of betrayals, bursts of laughter, and screaming when your own bomb corners you. Bomberman '94 also introduces the ridable Louie creatures (Rooey in Japan), which you ride around the arena to gain an edge — a small touch that broadens the variety of matches even further.

Beyond the battle arena, both games also offer a solid single-player campaign packed with mazes and bosses, so you won't be bored on your own either. Still, everyone knows that Bomberman's heart beats in multiplayer — it's one of the defining titles of the „party game“ genre long before that term became fashionable.

The series continued across every platform imaginable and became a Hudson icon, but the PC Engine versions are among those fans remember most fondly. If you're looking for a game that reliably fires up any gathering, this is exactly it.

Why play: The essence of party gaming — simple rules, endless tactics, and multiplayer that will shatter friendships and bring the group closer all at once.