Bloons

This article is about the game franchise. For other uses, seeBloon.For the inflatable object, seeBalloon.

Bloons
Screenshot of the originalBloonsgame
Genre(s)	Puzzle video game
Developer(s)	Ninja Kiwi
Publisher(s)	Ninja Kiwi
Platform(s)	Web browser
First release	Bloons WW:March 2007
Latest release	Bloons TD Battles 2 WW:November 2021
Spin-offs	Bloons Monkey City, Bloons Super Monkey

Bloonsis avideo game franchisedeveloped byNinja Kiwi.The games involve players using monkeys, armed with various tools, to pop as many "bloons" (balloons) as possible. They include theBloonsseries, theBloons Tower Defenseseries, and several other spin-offs. Most of the earlierBloonsgames arebrowser-based gamesthat use Adobe Flash Player, although some are available on other platforms. Mobile games based on theBloonsseries are distributed through theApp Store,Google Play,and some throughSteam.Games made by Ninja Kiwi older thanBloons TD 6are available through the Ninja Kiwi Archive on Steam.

Development

The traditional "Balloon and Dart"carnival gameprovided the inspiration for the originalBloonsgame.

The firstBloonsgame was developed by Stephen and Chris Harris, two brothers fromNew Zealand.Prior to working onBloons,the pair had releasedCash Sprint– a successful racing game that incorporated weekly prizes. After the success ofCash Sprint,they developed their own web portal for flash games, but failed to gain the necessary traffic. Instead they decided to focus on their own games, and launched a website –Ninjakiwi– with five of their own games. The site was a success, and this led to their work onBloons.

The basic concept forBloonscame from Stephen's wife. When Stephen asked her what would be fun in a new game, she brought up carnival games with darts and balloons.The first version was developed quickly, and the game was released on March 5, 2007. It proved popular, especially after being picked up byDigg,and soon reaching approximately 100,000 players per day.By 2011 the game had been played over 3 billion times.

Release timeline

Main series entries inbold

2007	Bloons
	More Bloons
	Bloons Player Pack
	Bloons Tower Defense
	Bloons Player Pack 2
	Bloons Tower Defense 2
2008	Bloons Player Pack 3
	Even more Bloons
	Bloons Player Pack 4
	Bloons Tower Defense 3
	Hot Air Bloon
	Bloons Player Pack 5: Christmas Ed
2009	Bloons TD 4
	Bloons Festive Fun
	Bloons Blast
2010	Bloons 2
	Bloons Super Monkey
2011	Who Wants To Be A Bloonionaire?
	Bloons TD 5
2012	Bloons TD Battles
2013	Bloons Super Monkey 2
2014	Bloons Monkey City
2015
2016	Bloons Super Monkey 2 iOS
2017
2018	Bloons TD 6
	Bloons Adventure Time TD
2019
2020
2021	Bloons Pop!
	Bloons TD Battles 2

Main series

Bloons

TheBloonsseries is the original grouping of games developed under the "Bloons" name. In all of the main games, the goal is for the player to clear the playing area of all Bloons (which, as implied, have similar traits to balloons) using a limited number of darts.The player is able to choose the power, aim, and other factors involving the launch of darts; and hence the path it will follow and what Bloons it will pop. There are many sequels and spin-offs of this series, with large fan support (indicated by the "player packs" discussed later).

Gameplay

The games consist of various levels, each with a different and unique layout of Bloons. On each, the player is given several darts used to pop the Bloons on the screen. The fewer darts the player uses, the better their score for that level. There is much strategy involved, especially since some Bloons have special powers or affect the player's darts in both helpful and hindering ways. For example, when a special Bloon is hit, they provide the player with 3 darts to fire at once during their next shot. Another one has an area blast effect (again, when hit) like a bomb.As new games in the series developed, more and more aspects of the game were expanded upon with many new Bloons and levels being introduced. There are also several "player packs" – groups of levels developed by players of theBloonsseries.

Games in the series

• Bloons
• More Bloons
• Even More Bloons
• Bloons Insanity Pack
• Bloons Junior
• Bloons 2
• Bloons 2 Christmas Pack
• Bloons 2 Spring Fling
• Bloons Player Pack(1–5)
• Bloons Pop

Bloons Tower Defense

Main article:Bloons Tower Defense

In theBloons Tower Defenseseries (often abbreviatedBloons TDorBTD), the main objective of the game is to pop the enemy Bloons before they reach the end of the path on the game screen. The player has various types of towers available to defend against the Bloons, such as Dart Monkeys, Tack Shooters, and the powerful Super Monkey.There are also other types of towers introduced in later editions of the series, such as Ninja Monkeys and Monkey Buccaneers, the latter of which could only be placed on water.

Every tower can be purchased and upgraded with in-game money, which is earned through various means. In earlier games, the only way of acquiring money was to pop the Bloons, but in Bloons TD 4, a cash-generating tower called the Banana Farm was added, along with the Monkey Buccaneer, which can be upgraded to generate cash at the end of each round.

There are many types of Bloons, the Red Bloon being the weakest; the tougher variants each contain one or more weaker ones, released when the containing Bloon is popped.For example, the Green Bloon contains a Blue Bloon, which contains a Red Bloon. Depending on the difficulty and version of the game, the player has a certain number of "lives" available. Different types of Bloons consume different numbers of lives if they escape, based on the total number of Bloons contained inside. Some Bloons have special attributes. Lead Bloons are immune to sharp things, black Bloons are immune to bombs, and white Bloons are immune to ice. There are also special types of Bloons, such as the infamous "MOAB-class" bloons (Massive Ornary Air Blimp, sometimes called "Mother Of All Bloons" although that is incorrect according to a note before round 38 in BTD3), where the Bloon resembles anairshipand takes many hits to defeat, an example being the ZOMG or BFB (Zeppelin Of Mighty Gargantuanness and Brutal Floating Behemoth, respectively). In general, the newer games have had more Bloon and tower types.

Bloons TD 6is the latest installment in the mainBloons Tower Defenseseries, butBloons Tower Defense Battles 2,a spinoff, is the most recent game overall. Both have a variety of new and improved features. The game features all of the classic tower defense gameplay with a few enhanced strategies that add even more depth and challenge.

Bloons Monkey City

Bloons Monkey Cityis a free multi-platform game that combines the traditionalBloons TDwith a city builder.Capturing more plots allows the player to place more buildings. Some buildings require specific tiles. The buildings cost in-game money, which are acquired from different buildings and by capturing tiles. Windmills and watermills create energy that is used by the player's other buildings. Leveling up allows the player to make more buildings and cities. Bloonstones, another valuable in-game resource, are used to unlock the strongest upgrades for towers. Plots further away from the starting tiles tend to have stronger bloons, and some plots contain chests, which give a permanent reward when the plot is captured.

Bloons Super Monkey

Bloons Super Monkey(often abbreviated as BSM) is the secondBloonsspin-off series to date; it is abullet hellRPGwith three installations so far.

The objective of the game is to move a super monkey that shoots a stream of darts to pop bloons.Popping them gives the player power blops, which are used to buy upgrades. If the monkey fails to pop the required amount of bloons for a certain level, the game is over. The super monkey wields weapons, which can be upgraded or replaced with a different weapon.

The first game,Bloons Super Monkey,was released on Ninja Kiwi's website in February 2010.In May 2013, a sequel,Bloons Super Monkey 2,was released on the same website.In November 2016, a refined version ofBloons Super Monkey 2was released on the iOS App Store and Android Play Store for download.

Bloons Pop!

Bloons Pop!is a spin-off mobile game of the mainBloonsseries that incorporates elements of theBloons TDseries, mainlyBloons TD6,with puzzle gameplay. It expands on the gameplay of theBloonsseries with power-ups, merge mechanics, and a town building system.

Spin-off games

• InHot Air Bloon,users must pop as many Bloons as possible without crashing into obstacles on their (as the name says) hot air bloon.Players have the option to save their scores to the High Score List with an existingMochi Gamesaccount.
• InWho Wants to Be a Bloonionaire,users answer ten questions in a similar style toWho Wants to Be a Millionaire?with two hints.If they are all answered correctly, then a trailer ofBloons TD 5is shown.
• InBloons Pop 3(unrelated toBloons Pop!), users are put in a game very similar toCandy Crush Saga,where they must match 3 of the same color bloon together in order to pop them.

Reception

Aggregate review scores

Game	Year	Metacritic
Bloons	2009 2010	PSP:68/100 Wii:21/100
Bloons TD 4	2009	iOS: 69/100
Bloons TD 5	2012	iOS: 79/100
Bloons TD Battles	2012	iOS: 78/100

Tech media websiteCNETreported favorably on theBloons Tower Defensegames for iPhone, describing it as having "nearly everything from the beloved Web-based classic". The article reflects negatively on the controls, stating that "[they] are a little finicky", but overall their impression is positive, saying that the game is an ideal introduction to thetower defensegenre for young children.

External links

• Ninja Kiwi official website