Super Bomberman Collection Review

There is a particular kind of comfort in returning to Bomberman, a series that has never felt the need to reinvent itself in order to remain appealing. Its rules are simple, its arenas compact, and its pace deceptively calm until the moment everything goes wrong. Super Bomberman Collection on Switch 2 leans into that enduring simplicity, but it does so with a sense of care that gives these older games a renewed clarity. Rather than a nostalgic bundle assembled out of obligation, this feels like a thoughtful preservation of Bomberman’s earliest console years, spanning both the NES and SNES eras and presenting them with enough modern support to make them feel surprisingly present.

The collection gathers seven titles: Bomberman and Bomberman II from the Famicom/NES era, followed by the full run of Super Bomberman, Super Bomberman 2, Super Bomberman 3, Super Bomberman 4, and Super Bomberman 5 from the Super Famicom/SNES years. Across these seven games sit twelve regional versions, reflecting the small but meaningful differences that emerged as the series travelled between Japan, North America and Europe. It is a broader sweep of history than a SNES‑only package would have offered, and it gives the collection a sense of progression that is more tangible than expected. The early NES titles, with their stark visuals and stripped‑back mechanics, sit comfortably alongside the more expressive and ambitious SNES entries, creating a clear through‑line of how the series found its footing.

The inclusion of the first‑ever English localisations of Super Bomberman 4 and Super Bomberman 5 gives the collection an immediate sense of significance. These were games that lived in import lists and fan translations for decades, and seeing them finally presented with the same accessibility as the rest of the series feels long overdue. Konami’s recent retro collections have varied in their level of care, but this one lands firmly on the more respectful end of the spectrum. The menus are clean, the borders unobtrusive, and the support features – save states, rewind, artwork galleries – are implemented with a light touch. They are there if you want them, but they never intrude on the experience. The Switch 2’s 4K output gives the pixel art a crispness that flatters both the NES and SNES titles, and the games load quickly enough that moving between them becomes part of the pleasure.

Beginning with the NES games gives the collection a grounding that feels surprisingly fresh. The original Bomberman is stark and methodical, its grid‑based stages offering little more than the essentials, yet there is a clarity to it that still works. Bomberman II builds on that foundation with more varied layouts and a greater sense of momentum, and while both titles are unmistakably products of their time, they remain enjoyable in their own right. Their inclusion is not merely historical; they show how quickly the core idea proved itself, and how little needed to change for the formula to take hold.

Moving into the SNES era, the evolution becomes more expressive. The first Super Bomberman is a reminder of how little the series needs to function: tight arenas, a handful of power‑ups, and a pace that encourages both caution and recklessness. Super Bomberman 2 sharpens the difficulty and introduces more elaborate stage gimmicks, while Super Bomberman 3 begins to experiment with character variety and more colourful, playful environments. The newly localised Super Bomberman 4 and 5 are where the collection truly opens up. These games feel like the point where Hudson Soft began to stretch its legs, adding branching paths, more ambitious boss encounters and a broader range of multiplayer options. Super Bomberman 5, in particular, stands out for its customisable battle modes, which feel surprisingly modern in their flexibility. Experiencing these titles in English for the first time gives them a new sense of accessibility, and it is easy to see why they have been held in such high regard by long‑term fans.

Across all seven games, the core loop remains as compelling as ever. There is a rhythm to Bomberman that is difficult to replicate. It is a mixture of planning and improvisation, of setting traps and falling into your own. The Switch 2’s responsiveness helps the action feel crisp, and the ability to move between games quickly encourages experimentation. Even players who have only encountered Bomberman through more recent entries will find something quietly satisfying in the purity of these early designs.

Retro collections often struggle to balance authenticity with convenience, but Super Bomberman Collection handles this with confidence. Save states and rewind are invaluable for the more demanding single‑player campaigns, especially in the earlier titles where boss fights can be abrupt spikes in difficulty. The gallery content is well‑chosen, offering a glimpse into Hudson Soft’s design process without overwhelming the player with trivia. The Switch 2‑specific enhancements are meaningful rather than decorative. The 4K output gives the visuals a crispness that flatters both the NES and SNES titles, and the scaling options avoid the blurring or shimmering that sometimes undermines retro re‑releases. GameShare is a particularly welcome addition, allowing players without the game to join local or online sessions. It is a small feature, but it suits Bomberman’s social nature perfectly, lowering the barrier to the kind of spontaneous multiplayer sessions that defined the series in the first place.

Performance is generally strong. The games run smoothly, inputs feel responsive, and loading times are minimal. There are occasional quirks, such as a moment of audio desynchronisation here, a slight inconsistency in game speed there, but these issues are rare and never severe enough to disrupt the experience. They are the kind of imperfections that come with emulation, and while noticeable, they do not linger.

Bomberman has always been a series built around shared chaos, and this collection embraces that wholeheartedly. Local multiplayer is smooth and easy to set up, and the Switch 2’s improved wireless performance helps keep matches stable even with multiple controllers connected. The breadth of multiplayer content across the seven games is impressive, and the ability to jump between titles keeps sessions lively. Each entry brings its own flavour of arenas and power‑ups, and the later games in particular offer a surprising amount of variety. Super Bomberman 5 remains the standout, with its customisable rules and generous selection of stages, but even the earlier titles have a charm that holds up well. There is something uniquely satisfying about the moment when a match descends into pure improvisation, with bombs bouncing unpredictably and players scrambling to survive their own decisions.

Online multiplayer is more limited, and this is one of the collection’s few notable shortcomings. While functional, it lacks the depth and matchmaking options of more modern Bomberman titles. For a collection so rooted in local play, this is not a fatal flaw, but it does feel like a missed opportunity to extend the longevity of the package.

What stands out most about Super Bomberman Collection is the sense of care that runs through it. Hudson Soft’s early console era was foundational not just for Bomberman, but for multiplayer gaming as a whole. These were games that helped define the idea of the “couch‑competitive” experience, long before online play became standard. By preserving these titles with such attention to detail, and by presenting them with modern conveniences that never overshadow the originals, Konami has delivered a collection that feels both archival and alive. For long‑time fans, this is a chance to revisit a formative era with a clarity and completeness that was previously impossible. For newcomers, it is an accessible and generous introduction to a series that has quietly shaped the landscape of multiplayer design. For anyone with an interest in the history of the medium, as well, it is a reminder of how much creativity can be found in simplicity.