Marble Blast Ultra
Marble Blast Ultra is the second game in the Marble Blast series, developed by GarageGames. Originally released January 25, 2006 for Xbox 360 via Xbox Live Arcade, it brought the marble-rolling formula to consoles with a redesigned campaign, full controller support with rumble, and 8-player online multiplayer in the Gem Hunt mode.
Gameplay
Section titled “Gameplay”Marble Blast Ultra retains the core gameplay of rolling a marble through obstacle courses against the clock. The game ships with 60 levels spread across three difficulties:
| Difficulty | Levels |
|---|---|
| Beginner | 20 |
| Intermediate | 20 |
| Advanced | 20 |
Many levels were adapted or recycled from Marble Blast Gold, though the updated engine and console controls give them a distinct feel.
Power-ups
Section titled “Power-ups”Marble Blast Ultra carries over the power-ups from MBG and introduces two multiplayer-specific additions:
| Power-up | Effect |
|---|---|
| Ultra Blast | Fills the blast meter for an immediate directional boost |
| Mega Marble | Temporarily enlarges the marble, able to knock opponents |
Multiplayer — Gem Hunt
Section titled “Multiplayer — Gem Hunt”Gem Hunt supports up to 8 players online. Players collect colored gems worth different point values:
| Gem Color | Points |
|---|---|
| Red | 1 |
| Yellow | 2 |
| Blue | 5 |
Matches last 3–6 minutes. The player with the most points when time expires wins. The Ultra Blast and Mega Marble power-ups add a competitive layer not present in the single-player campaign.
Development
Section titled “Development”Marble Blast Ultra was designed by Alex Swanson and developed by GarageGames. It runs on the Torque Game Engine Advanced (TGEA), an upgrade over the Torque Game Engine used in Marble Blast Gold. TGEA brought improved shaders, lighting, and rendering capabilities suited to the Xbox 360 hardware.
The game was announced at the Indie Games Con 2005.
Release History
Section titled “Release History”| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| January 25, 2006 | Xbox 360 release via Xbox Live Arcade |
| November 2007 | Marble Blast Online announced for InstantAction browser platform |
| 2011 | Windows PC port released |
| 2011 | Delisted from Xbox Live Arcade after GarageGames loses IP rights |
The Windows port released in 2011, the same year the game was delisted from Xbox Live Arcade due to GarageGames losing IP rights to the Marble Blast franchise.
Marble Blast Ultra in Marble Blast Online
Section titled “Marble Blast Ultra in Marble Blast Online”Marble Blast Online’s Ultra version recreates the full Xbox Live Arcade campaign with:
- Full controller support — the only MBO version with complete controller implementation
- Cross-platform multiplayer (PC, macOS, Android, browser)
- Replay recorder and Rewind
- A curated set of community custom levels
Ultra receives full support alongside Platinum and is the best choice for players who want the XBLA campaign or prefer a controller.
Download Marble Blast Ultra
Section titled “Download Marble Blast Ultra”Play in your browser — no install required
Section titled “Play in your browser — no install required”Play Marble Blast Ultra in browser →
Mobile browsers support touch controls out of the box. The browser build is capped to VSYNC; use the native builds for unlocked FPS and best multiplayer performance.
Windows & macOS
Section titled “Windows & macOS”Download the latest release from GitHub, extract the ZIP, and run the executable (Windows) or .app bundle (macOS).
Download for Windows / macOS (v1.2.5)
macOS note: Move the .app into /Applications before launching. If macOS blocks it, open System Settings → Privacy & Security and click “Open Anyway”.
Android
Section titled “Android”Download Marble Blast Ultra APK
Enable “Install unknown apps” for your browser or file manager, then open the APK to install. Full controller support is available on all native builds.