Bubble Ghost Remake - A Perfect Example of How to Do a Remake

• DEVELOPER: Nakama Game Studio
• PUBLISHER: SelectaPlay
• PLATFORMS: PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5
• GENRE: Puzzle / Platformer
• RELEASE DATE: March 27, 2025
• STARTING PRICE: 14,99€
• REVIEWED VERSION: PC

Get ready for a blast from the past. Bubble Ghost Remake, a 2D action-puzzle platformer, is a reimagining of the classic 1987 Atari ST game, where you play as ghostly inventor Heinrich Von Schinker. Your mission is to guide a super fragile bubble through a haunted castle packed with tricky traps, spooky enemies, and clever puzzles. This remake sports a modern cartoon look, an expanded story, and comes with over 40 brand-new levels alongside 36 beautifully remastered originals. And if you’re looking for a game to really test your patience, the kind that makes you want to rage, smash your keyboard, or pull your hair out, well, you’re in the right place – theoretically (it’s not always like this while playing).

Bubble Navigation and Precision

The core of the game revolves around guiding your bubble by blowing air. Heinrich’s breath strength depends on how long you hold down the action button, whether you’re using a controller, keyboard, or mouse. You can move Heinrich freely through walls and manually rotate him using buttons or mouse clicks. There’s also an assist mode if you prefer him to automatically orbit the bubble. It was really comfortable to play with the mouse, rather than just constant clicking on various buttons on the controller to change his side.

The catch is that your bubble pops instantly if it touches hazards like spikes, electricity, or animals. This means you’ll need super precise puffs of air to navigate tight spaces or cleverly manipulate interactive elements like fans or switches. Levels gradually get more complex, evolving from simple corridors into bigger mazes with environmental puzzles, think toggling lightning or redirecting air currents. It all builds up to boss fights that use these unique blowing mechanics in really creative ways.

The boss fights were super interesting, always requiring you to really figure out their attack patterns and movements. The good thing is that you have multiple difficulties to choose from at the beginning for your bubble. For example, it can be easier by having more health, or by making your bubble pop instantly the moment it touches anything. My biggest issue, though, is that the bosses take a while to figure out. In most cases, you’ll really need to memorize their patterns rather than getting clear hints on how to beat them. So, definitely expect to fail quite a bit when you face them.

“The boss fights were super interesting and fun.”

The game offers three different ways to play

While I did mention the game can be a bit “rage-inducing,” it’s honestly not that terrible. There will definitely be moments where you’ll get frustrated, which is totally normal for this kind of game, but it’s actually very forgiving. You get checkpoints everywhere, so you can get right back into the action pretty quickly at the early stages of the game. The bubble’s physics-based movement is also really smooth, responding realistically to your command. However, later stages can feel like marathons because the checkpoints become much sparser, and the levels themselves just go on for longer.

Bubble Ghost Remake offers three different ways to play: Story Mode gives you over 40 brand-new levels driven by a narrative. Here, you follow Heinrich on his quest to find his missing wife, Sofia, guided by a bubble that carries a familiar song. These levels are much larger and more complex than the original’s single-screen design, and you’ll find collectibles like spectral hoops and hidden items that expand the story.

On the other hand, Original Mode recreates the classic 1990s Game Boy/Atari ST experience with updated visuals. You get three lives for your run, but if you fail, it’s back to the very start. Speedrun Mode is for competitive players, offering time trials with online leaderboards and a Hall of Fame to chase. The game also packs in extra content like secret rooms, alternate endings, and achievements, which definitely boost replayability. Sub-levels and collectibles also give you challenges to aim for that elusive 100% completion.

“There will definitely be moments where you’ll get frustrated.”

Bubble Ghost Remake ditches the original’s pixel-art minimalism

Important to point out is that Bubble Ghost Remake ditches the original’s pixel-art minimalism for a hand-drawn, cartoon aesthetic, led by illustrator Ken Niimura. This creates a storybook-like castle, and the visuals are definitely amazing. However, this shift from retro to a cuter style sometimes clashes with the game’s more serious themes, and the audio unfortunately isn’t very memorable. Heinrich himself, while a bit of a dorky ghost compared to the cute Game Boy or spooky Atari ST designs, might lack some of the original’s charm. And comic-book cutscenes tell Heinrich’s story with a simple, nursery-rhyme feel, adding emotional touch.

The soundtrack, put together by Fran Romguer, features orchestral and ambient tracks that are described as “light and mysterious,” fitting the castle’s vibe pretty well. You’ll hear remixed Game Boy tracks, including Hitoshi Sakimoto’s catchy original tune, but only in the Original mode as they’re absent from the main story campaign. The new music, unfortunately, feels “generic” and easily forgettable, often just fading into the background.

In the end, Bubble Ghost Remake is a bold, charming, and genuinely great reimagining of a cult classic. Nakama Game Studio’s love for the 1987 original really shines through, delivering an experience that feels both fresh and wonderfully nostalgic. If you’re a fan of puzzle-platformers and love a good challenge, this is a solid pick. Honestly, this is exactly how you should be doing a remake.

“Bubble Ghost Remake is a bold, charming, and genuinely great reimagining of a cult classic.”

Review copy provided by the publisher

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