Developed almost exclusively in Japan, Bubble Bobb-l-ikes are cooperative, two-player, arcade videogames characterized by progressing, one-screen stages that are cleared when all enemies have been defeated through means of incapacitation. Other common elements include power-ups or score bonuses (often in the form of food) dropped by defeated enemies, collectible letters used to unlock bonus stages once a specific word is completed, and a variety of distinctly themed worlds and jocular geographical inference.
Bubble Bobble, the defining and most well-recognized example of this group of games, arguably draws descent from Mario Bros. Both games have limited playfields, increasingly agitated and dangerous enemies after a time limit and an incapacitate/defeat mechanic.1)