Popline: bubbles, a rope and four islands to bring back to colour, coming soon to Google Play

How it plays

The stick moves Lino and the FIRE button shoots the rope, which travels straight up and pops every bubble it touches, with its tip or anywhere along its length. Each bubble splits into two smaller ones until it disappears: a level is cleared when none are left, before time runs out and without getting hit. Popping bubbles of the same colour in a row raises the chain multiplier, and every level hides prism shards to collect.

A comic-book story, four islands

The Bollamare Archipelago has lost its colours: Baron Puff stole the Prism Drops and locked them inside giant grey bubbles. Lino takes his grandfather's fishing rope and sets off, with Granny Tessa and Pepe the seagull. Porto Lume has rising tides and moving boats, the Amber Dunes have wind and glass blocks, Bamboo Valley has ladders, platforms and ghost bubbles, and the White Fjord has slippery ice and falling icicles. At the end of each island a boss is waiting, each with a weak spot: Captain Foam, Sandy, Master Mist and Gelindo.

Nine weapons and six special bubbles

Popping bubbles and breaking glass turns up weapons and items. Besides the harpoon there are the fishing net, the taut line that works as a wall, the slingshot, the laser, the fan shot, the electric rope, the boomerang and the firework rocket; the whistle, magnet, umbrella and extra hearts help out in tight spots. Not all bubbles are the same: armoured, sticky, triple, ghost, soap, and snowballs that grow as they roll.

Endless mode, weekly challenge and friend challenges

After the campaign, the endless mode keeps going with ever harder levels and a boss every ten, and the weekly challenge gives everyone the same level with its own leaderboard. You can challenge a friend with a link: they play the same level against your ghost. With Google Play Games your scores go onto online leaderboards and achievements unlock. Pearls earned by playing, with a daily gift and chests, pay for Lino's hats, an extra life or a boost before a level — they cannot be bought with money.

Free, with a one-time ad removal

Popline is free to download and play, in six languages. An ad may appear between islands; rewarded videos are optional and let you continue after a game over or double your pearls. If you prefer, a single one-time purchase removes the ads for good and comes with a pearl bonus. No subscription.