Ten-player Bomberman. The Saturn's multitap allowed a grid-maze match that no other console could offer.
Saturn Bomberman was developed and published by Hudson Soft for Sega Saturn in July 1996 — the first Bomberman game to support 10-player simultaneous multiplayer, using two Saturn Multitap adapters for a 6x6 grid battle stage. The battle stage with 10 players became one of the Saturn's most memorable multiplayer experiences. The single-player mode featured a side-scrolling adventure component in addition to standard Bomberman stages. Saturn Bomberman was designed specifically to showcase the Saturn's capability as a multiplayer platform. It sold approximately 600,000 copies and is cited as the defining Bomberman release of the 5th console generation.
About this game
Saturn Bomberman is the 1996 action game developed and published by Hudson Soft for the Sega Saturn, best known for its extraordinary multiplayer capacity: with two multitaps connected, up to ten players can compete simultaneously in battle mode — a number unmatched by any console game at the time and rarely exceeded since. The game also features a full single-player campaign with boss battles and a wide variety of battle arenas, but it is the ten-player mode that made Saturn Bomberman legendary and turned it into the ultimate party game of the 32-bit era.
Key Features
Up to 10-player simultaneous battle mode with two Saturn multitaps and ten controllers. Single-player story mode with boss battles across themed worlds. Wide selection of battle arenas with variable hazards and power-ups. Customisable battle rules including sudden death and time limits. Power-up items including kick-bomb, punch-bomb, and multi-bomb.
Gallery
The Story Behind
The Bomberman series had been a staple of multiplayer gaming since the early 1990s on the PC Engine, where five-player battle mode on a multitap had already become legendary. Saturn Bomberman doubled that capacity to ten players, using two Saturn multitap accessories. This made it one of the definitive party game experiences of the 32-bit era and a key reason many households kept their Sega Saturn into the late 1990s. The ten-player configuration became an enduring memory for players who experienced it — the sheer chaos of ten simultaneous explosions in a confined arena remains difficult to replicate in any modern setting.
Tricks & Tales
Saturn Bomberman's ten-player battle mode required two Saturn multitaps (each supporting four additional controllers) plus the two standard controller ports, making it one of the most hardware-demanding party setups of its era — finding nine friends with controllers and two multitaps was an event in itself. The game's single-player mode features a riding animal system that lets Bomberman mount creatures, each with unique abilities, borrowed from Super Bomberman 3 on Super Famicom. Hudson Soft designed the battle arenas with asymmetric layouts to prevent camping strategies from dominating ten-player matches.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
Released in Japan (July 1996), North America (September 1997), and Europe (May 1997). The Japanese version is the original release. Note that full ten-player mode requires two Saturn multitap accessories, sold separately. Single-player and two-player modes work with standard hardware.
Maintenance Tips
For the full ten-player experience, two Saturn multitap accessories are required. Original Hudson multitaps are the most reliable option; third-party versions exist but quality varies. As with all Saturn discs, keep clean and handle carefully. The CR2032 internal backup battery retains stage progress and battle records.
Going deeper
Explore the machine this game ran on, and what to check before you buy or care for one:
What to Watch Out For
Before buying, these are the points worth knowing — from someone who handles original Japanese Saturn Bomberman copies regularly.
Will this Japanese Sega Saturn disc work on a North American or European Saturn?
No. The Sega Saturn uses BIOS-enforced regional lockout. Japanese discs will not run on Western Saturn consoles without modification — options include a mod chip, a region-free BIOS swap, or an Action Replay cartridge (which bypasses region protection on many titles). A Japanese Sega Saturn is the most straightforward solution. The discs themselves are standard CD-ROM — the incompatibility is software-only.
Does the Sega Saturn require a backup memory cartridge to save this game?
The Saturn has a small internal backup memory (approximately 32KB) maintained by an internal CR2032 battery. This shared memory fills quickly across multiple games. Many Saturn titles — especially RPGs — recommend or require a Saturn Backup Memory cartridge for adequate save space. If the internal CR2032 battery is dead, the console loses all internal saves on power-off. Replacing the battery is a straightforward maintenance task and is strongly recommended for any Saturn that has not had it changed.
How should I inspect and care for a Sega Saturn disc?
Check the data side under light for scratches. Wipe from the center outward in straight radial strokes with a soft lint-free cloth — never circular. The Sega Saturn laser is known to be sensitive as hardware ages; if a disc fails to load despite appearing clean, the console laser may need cleaning or recalibration. Laser failure is one of the most common maintenance issues in Saturn hardware.
Before You Buy
Things worth knowing before you buy Saturn Bomberman
A short checklist for buying a used Sega Saturn disc wisely — useful with any seller, anywhere.
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Choose a seller who tests it before shipping
A copy that has actually been powered on and checked is a known quantity. An untested one is a gamble you only settle after it arrives.
Look for a seller who states it was function-tested and says what they confirmed. A serious seller can tell you exactly what was checked.
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Check the disc for scratches
Deep scratches on the playing surface cause freezes and read errors. Light surface marks are usually fine.
Ask for a clear photo of the disc's underside. A seller who tested it will confirm it loads and plays through.
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Make sure it fits your console
This is a Japanese Saturn disc. The Saturn is region-locked, so a Japanese disc needs a Japanese console or a region workaround.
Play it on a matching Japanese console or a region-free system, and confirm the listing states the region.
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Saturn saves rely on a console battery
The Saturn keeps internal saves on a CR2032 battery in the console (not the disc). A dead console battery loses internal saves and resets the clock.
This is about your console, not the disc — but worth knowing so saves aren't lost.
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Read the seller's reviews and return policy
A 100% positive record across thousands of sales is close to a guarantee — packing, communication and problem-solving all work for everyone. A return policy protects you if something is off.
Read the feedback and confirm a clear return window before you buy.
The last step before buying anywhere is knowing what it's worth.
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