Comparison

METAL SLUG 3 vs BUBBLE BOBBLE classic

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

METAL SLUG 3

Experience the classic 2D action shooting game on your iPhone. Fight through diverse stages with a variety of weapons and vehicles. Enjoy branching paths, cooperative multiplayer, and achievements.

Highlights
  • Arcade Mode
  • Mission Mode
  • Branching map system
  • Multiple Slug vehicles
  • Wi-Fi cooperative gameplay
  • Game Center achievements
Read full description

The legendary NEOGEO 2D action shooting masterpiece “METAL SLUG 3” heads out to iPhone devices! Use various weapons and slugs to fight your way through and survive on the battlefield!! ■Not only a perfect port of the original NEOGEO game! In addition to its classic “ARCADE MODE”, this perfect conversion of “METAL SLUG 3” includes a “MISSION MODE”, allowing you to select in which stage you want to play! You can now train yourself in your favorite stages or those which give you a hard time! ■ Command many Slug vehicles like an ace! The Slugs are back and more colourful than ever, with Slug Mariners, Drill Slugs, and Elephant Slugs joining the original Metal Slugs and Slugnoids!! ■ Clear all routes via the branching map system!! A branching map system allowing you to take a different route to the end with each play-through, and an immense map of endless gameplay awaits you in “METAL SLUG 3”!! ■Intense cooperative gameplay via the Wi-Fi function! "METAL SLUG 3” can be doubly enjoyed by playing with another brother-in-arms simultaneously via the Wi-Fi function! Will you be able to clear the hardest stages with your friends? ■Compatible with “GAME CENTER”! Complete the maximum number of “ACHIEVEMENTS” in order to increase your "METAL SLUG 3" Player Rank! Beat the best scores and become World’s Number 1!!

About

BUBBLE BOBBLE classic

Relive the classic arcade experience with this beloved title. Capture enemies in bubbles and defeat them using intuitive controls. Discover power-ups and special bubbles to aid your quest through challenging stages.

Highlights
  • Capture enemies with bubbles
  • Automatic shot function
  • Collect alphabet bubbles for extra lives
  • Power-up items to enhance abilities
  • Special bubbles with unique effects
  • Unlockable super game mode
Features
Read full description

Classic Arcade Game with the main character ‘Bubblun’ to capture enemies with bubble and defeat it. [How to Control] Able to move left and right on the screen, and press the fire and jump buttons to play. [Game Feature] - Conveniently fire the bubbles with the automatic shot function. - Able to get an extra life through gathering alphabet bubbles E, X, T, E, N, D. - Able to get additional scores through hamburger, hot-dog, sushi, banana, and ice cream after defeating all enemies on the stage. - The skull monsters are going to appear and chase if the player cannot clear the stage in a certain amount of time. - Able to change the original or full screen aspect ratio in the setting. - Super game is available after normal game is cleared. - Supported achievement and leaderboard. [Power-up Item] - Yellow candy: Increasing speed of blowing bubbles. - Pink candy: Increasing range of blowing bubbles. - Blue candy: Increasing bubbles’ flying speed. - Red shoes: Increasing Bubblun’s movement speeds. [Special Bubble] - Water bubbles: Special bubble that flows the water down to defeat the enemies. - Fire bubbles: Special bubble that drops the fire and creates multiple fires. - Lightning bubbles: Special bubble that can be blown horizontally to defeat the enemies. [Item] - Holy water: Removing all enemies on the screen, and available to get additional scores in limited time. - Parasol: Allows to jump numerous stages. Depends on color of parasol, the jumped stages are different. - Magical staff: All remaining bubbles on the screen will turn into food, and also a large food will fall down. - Sky blue Ring: Able to get extra points each time the Bubblun moves. - Chack’n Heart: Transforms to invincible Bubblun that defeat the enemies. - Magical necklaces: Shining ball bounces around the stage, and defeat the enemies. - Clock: Freezing the monsters in certain amount of time. © TAITO CORPORATION 1986, 2020 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/mobirixplayen YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/user/mobirix1

Screenshots

METAL SLUG 34 screens
BUBBLE BOBBLE classic4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: BUBBLE BOBBLE classic at Free against METAL SLUG 3's $2.99. BUBBLE BOBBLE classic also leads on review sentiment (74% vs 31%) and rating (4.5 vs 3.5). METAL SLUG 3's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and ads (none vs shown). On ratings volume and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

BUBBLE BOBBLE classic is free to download; METAL SLUG 3 costs $2.99 up front. BUBBLE BOBBLE classic sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. METAL SLUG 3 asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

BUBBLE BOBBLE classic holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 876 and 501 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 31% of METAL SLUG 3's written reviews are positive against 74% of BUBBLE BOBBLE classic's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

METAL SLUG 3 ships an update every 3 months, BUBBLE BOBBLE classic fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
METAL SLUG 3 versus BUBBLE BOBBLE classic: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMETAL SLUG 3BUBBLE BOBBLE classic
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating3.5 (876 ratings)4.5 (501 ratings) — better
Positive reviews30.6% of reviews73.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings876 — better501
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#63 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size148 MB160 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperSNK CORPORATIONMOBIRIX

Customer experience

METAL SLUG 3

All ratings872 ratings
Positive59.4%
Neutral7.9%
Negative32.7%
Written reviews379 reviews
Positive30.6%
Neutral8.7%
Negative60.7%

BUBBLE BOBBLE classic

All ratings501 ratings
Positive87.6%
Neutral7.0%
Negative5.4%
Written reviews551 reviews
Positive73.5%
Neutral11.1%
Negative15.4%

User reviews

METAL SLUG 3

From 876 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎮 Classic arcade gameplay
  • 🎨 Excellent graphics and visuals
  • 🕹️ Nostalgic experience
  • 🕹️ Addictive and fun

Room to improve

  • 🎮 Unresponsive and clunky controls
  • 🎮 Difficulty with precision movement
  • 🎮 Inability to remap controls
  • 🐛 Crashes and compatibility issues
  • 🎮 Small on-screen controls

BUBBLE BOBBLE classic

From 501 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎮 Authentic arcade experience
  • 👍 Nostalgic and fun gameplay
  • 💯 Brings back childhood memories
  • 🕹️ Classic game mechanics

Room to improve

  • 🎮 Clunky touch controls
  • 🔍 Difficulty seeing character
  • 💰 Excessive ads and in-app purchases
  • 🐛 Crashes and freezes

Bugs and requests

METAL SLUG 3

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashes on iOS 7 and newer
  • Screen orientation issues
  • Grenade button not working with controllers
  • Inability to unlock later levels

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to remap controls
  • Larger on-screen controls
  • Improved controller support
  • Save progress and continue later
  • More continues/lives

BUBBLE BOBBLE classic

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Game crashes on startup
  • Unresponsive controls
  • Graphical glitches and visual issues

Requested features

5 requests
  • Controller support
  • Customizable controls
  • Save progress and continue later
  • Two-player mode
  • Level select or checkpoint system

In-app purchases

None

METAL SLUG 3

No in-app purchases

6 purchases

BUBBLE BOBBLE classic

One-time6
  • Purchase 300 Dia$2.99
  • Purchase 500 Dia$4.99
  • Purchase 1,100 Dia$9.99
Show 3 more
  • Purchase 3,600 Dia$29.99
  • Purchase 6,500 Dia$49.99
  • Purchase 15,000 Dia$99.99

Questions

Is METAL SLUG 3 free?
METAL SLUG 3 costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is BUBBLE BOBBLE classic free?
BUBBLE BOBBLE classic is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, METAL SLUG 3 or BUBBLE BOBBLE classic?
BUBBLE BOBBLE classic is rated higher. METAL SLUG 3 averages 3.5 out of 5 from 876 ratings, while BUBBLE BOBBLE classic averages 4.5 from 501 ratings.
Do METAL SLUG 3 or BUBBLE BOBBLE classic have ads?
BUBBLE BOBBLE classic shows ads; METAL SLUG 3 does not.
Which is updated more often, METAL SLUG 3 or BUBBLE BOBBLE classic?
METAL SLUG 3 ships an update every 3 months, and BUBBLE BOBBLE classic fortnightly. Most recently, METAL SLUG 3 was updated on November 10, 2026 and BUBBLE BOBBLE classic on November 7, 2026.

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