🎮 Play Rainbow Islands Old Version Online (Arcade)

Rainbow Islands is Taito’s 1987 arcade sequel to Bubble Bobble, swapping the enclosed single-screen rooms of the original for tall, scrolling islands you climb from bottom to top. Playing as Bubby (or Bobby in two-player mode) after their transformation back from dragon to human, you throw arcs of rainbow that solidify into platforms and crush enemies, racing against a rising tide of water that forces you upward on every level. This “Old Version” is the earlier of the two common arcade ROM revisions, with minor differences in enemy placement and colour cycling compared to the later “New Version” release.

How to Play

Clear each of the seven islands by reaching the top before the water catches you, then defeat the boss waiting there. Rainbows can be walked on, dropped on enemies to squash them, and popped to reveal fruit, diamonds, and other bonus items.

• Arrow keys — move left/right and climb
• Z — jump
• X — throw a rainbow
• Enter — start
• Shift — insert coin

Tips

• Stack two or three rainbows before popping them together for a much bigger diamond payout than popping one at a time.
• Collect the “H”, “U”, “R”, “R” and “Y” letters as they scroll across the top of the screen for an extra life when you spell the full word.
• Trapping enemies between two rainbow platforms and popping both at once clears crowds fast and racks up chain bonuses.