To play the game, download the.tap file and play in a ZX Spectrum emulator.

Alternatively you can play it online here: https://torinak.com/qaop/#128#l=https://zxspectrum.xyz/bubbleback-the-story-of-f...

Physical copies (Yes REAL tapes you can load on a real Spectrum) are available from Northern Games: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1X6uhw8ycB

Story

The long awaited sequel to Forward to the Past, featuring music by the award winning Lee Bee!

Following Dave's botched attempt at time travel in 2021, a hole has appeared in the space time continuum. This has allowed an evil Baron to enter our realm, kidnap Dave and turn Nate into a bubble dragon, as that's the sort of messed up thing the Baron likes to do.

It's up to you, as Nate's bubble dragon alter ego, to collect 86 bubbles to break the Baron's spell. This will turn Nate back into a human kid, banish the Baron & remove Dave's cage, enabling you to go find and SAVE DAVE!

Download the .tap file and load through a ZX Spectrum emulator, or on a real Spectrum (48k & above) via a device like a divMMC or through one of those .tap converters such as Play ZX. If you're playing it on a ZX Spectrum Next, don't forget to set it to 50Hz. ;-).

Tips:

Cyan baddies can be caught in bubbles, flashing baddies cannot.

You can use the bubbles to float, by jumping on them and holding "up"

Special thanks:

This game would not have been possible if it wasn't for these lovely people:

Lee Bee, Nucleos, Joefish, Jonathan Cauldwell, Bruce Groves, Kevin McGrorty, Simon Gambin and the utter genius behind the legendary Bubble Bobble, Fukio Mitsuji.

...and tonnes of other unsung heroes, I love you all! ❤️

Reviews 

The reviews are in and people have been very kind about our game!

Planeta Sinclair: "BubbleBack: The Story of Forward to the Past 2 is a captivating work, undoubtedly the best Dave and Nate have ever done. It grabs us from the very first screen."

http://planetasinclair.blogspot.com/2025/10/bubbleback-story-of-forward-to-past-...

Break Space magazine: "This game is wonderful…Playing it put a big, fat grin on my face”

https://breakspace.itch.io/breakspace-issue-3

Retro Gamer "another fantastic Sloanysoft release"