Play Barbie Online

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Cover art of Barbie

2.5 / 5

7 votes

Platform
NES
Genres
Action · Platformer
Player Perspective
Side view
Developers
Imagineering Inc.
Publishers
Hi Tech Expressions
Release date
December 1, 1991

Summary

Barbie on the NES was an early attempt to lure girls into the console world, built around the iconic doll’s charm bracelet as a gameplay mechanic. Each level is framed as a "dream" where Barbie scurries left‑to‑right, trying to keep her Z’s from dropping; a slip means she wakes up and the stage restarts. The charm bracelet lets you summon animal helpers—press B after selecting a charm and, if the signal reaches the critter, it performs the needed action, often turning the tide in a boss fight. Enemies are delightfully mundane—tennis rackets, kites, pizza slices—so the challenge feels more like a whimsical obstacle course than a shoot‑‘em‑up. While critics were split, some praised the simple puzzles and platforming, noting it wasn’t just about fashion swaps, whereas others dismissed it as a pink‑skin veneer that missed the mark for genuine female gamers.

Storyline

Barbie on NES unfolds inside a whimsical dream where the titular fashionista must gather the perfect outfit for the Fantasy Ball and a chance to meet Ken. She journeys through three distinct worlds—Mall World, Underwater World, and a 1950s‑style Soda Shop—collecting accessories and power‑ups that keep her "Zs" from dropping and help her overcome obstacles. In Mall World she shops for Barbie coins to use at a wishing fountain, earning a pink ball gown; underwater, Mermaid Barbie and friendly dolphins retrieve pearls to trade with a giant oyster for a pearl ring; finally, at the soda shop she gathers gold records that form a stairway to the sky, where she claims a pair of sparkling high‑heeled shoes. Along the way she finds Dream‑Ups, Glamor Items, and charms for her bracelet, all of which boost her abilities. After assembling the full ensemble, Barbie returns to her Dream House, descends the glittering staircase, and meets a dapper Ken ready to dance at the Fantasy Ball.

Edited by Maya Carter

Game Videos

Game Screenshots

  • Screenshot 1 of Barbie
  • Screenshot 2 of Barbie
  • Screenshot 3 of Barbie
  • Screenshot 4 of Barbie
  • Screenshot 5 of Barbie
  • Screenshot 6 of Barbie

Multiplayer

Game modes
Single