diff --git a/main.lua b/main.lua
index aa72175..829bfd0 100644
--- a/main.lua
+++ b/main.lua
@@ -227,6 +227,8 @@ function love.load(arg)
     velocity_x = 0,
     velocity_y = 0
   }
+
+  game.bursting_bubbles = {}
 end
 
 function love.update(dt)
@@ -234,7 +236,9 @@ function love.update(dt)
     return
   end
 
-  if game.next_bubble.velocity_x ~= 0 or game.next_bubble.velocity_y ~= 0 then
+  if game.next_bubble and
+    (game.next_bubble.velocity_x ~= 0 or game.next_bubble.velocity_y ~= 0) then
+
     local next_x = game.next_bubble.x + game.next_bubble.velocity_x
     local next_y = game.next_bubble.y + game.next_bubble.velocity_y
     local bubble_should_stop = false
@@ -286,19 +290,68 @@ function love.update(dt)
 
     if bubble_should_stop then
       local nearest_slot_index = find_nearest_slot(next_x, next_y)
-      game.bubble_slots[nearest_slot_index].bubble_type = game.next_bubble.bubble_type
       game.next_bubble.x = game.bubble_slots[nearest_slot_index].x
       game.next_bubble.y = game.bubble_slots[nearest_slot_index].y
       game.next_bubble.velocity_x = 0
       game.next_bubble.velocity_y = 0
+      game.bubble_slots[nearest_slot_index].bubble_type = game.next_bubble.bubble_type
 
       local matches = find_matches(nearest_slot_index)
+      if #matches >= 3 then
+        -- remove matches
+        for i = 1, #matches do
+          local index = matches[i]
+          game.bursting_bubbles[#game.bursting_bubbles+1] = {
+            x = game.bubble_slots[index].x,
+            y = game.bubble_slots[index].y,
+            bubble_type = game.bubble_slots[index].bubble_type,
+            scale = 1.0,
+            alpha = 1.0
+          }
+          game.bubble_slots[index].bubble_type = 0
+        end
+        game.next_bubble = nil
+      end
+
+      -- calculate remaining bubble types
+      local total_bubble_count, counts_by_type = get_bubble_counts()
+      if total_bubble_count == 0 then
+        print('level cleared!')
+      else
+        local bubble_types = {}
+        for bubble_type, count in pairs(counts_by_type) do
+          if bubble_type >= 1 and bubble_type <= 8 then
+            bubble_types[#bubble_types+1] = bubble_type
+          end
+        end
+        -- get next bubble
+        game.next_bubble_index = game.next_bubble_index + 1
+        game.next_bubble = {
+          x = game.launcher_x,
+          y = game.launcher_y,
+          bubble_type = get_next_bubble_type(game.next_bubble_index, bubble_types),
+          velocity_x = 0,
+          velocity_y = 0
+        }
+      end
+
     else
       game.next_bubble.x = next_x
       game.next_bubble.y = next_y
     end
   end
 
+  if #game.bursting_bubbles > 0 then
+    for i = #game.bursting_bubbles, 1, -1 do
+      local bubble = game.bursting_bubbles[i]
+      bubble.scale = bubble.scale * 1.05
+      bubble.alpha = bubble.alpha - 0.1
+      if bubble.scale >= 1.5 then
+        table.remove(game.bursting_bubbles, i)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
   if game.frame_by_frame then
     game.paused = true
     game.frame_by_frame = false
@@ -361,23 +414,42 @@ function love.draw(alpha)
     game.launcher_offset_y
   )
 
+  if #game.bursting_bubbles > 0 then
+    for i = 1, #game.bursting_bubbles do
+      local bubble = game.bursting_bubbles[i]
+      love.graphics.setColor(1, 1, 1, bubble.alpha)
+      love.graphics.draw(
+        game.bubble_images[bubble.bubble_type],
+        bubble.x,
+        bubble.y,
+        0,
+        bubble.scale,
+        bubble.scale,
+        game.bubble_radius,
+        game.bubble_radius
+      )
+    end
+  end
+
   -- draw next bubble
   -- if moving, extrapolate position based on alpha value from love.run
-  love.graphics.setColor(1, 1, 1, 1)
-  love.graphics.draw(
-    game.bubble_images[game.next_bubble.bubble_type],
-    game.next_bubble.x + game.next_bubble.velocity_x * alpha,
-    game.next_bubble.y + game.next_bubble.velocity_y * alpha,
-    0,
-    1,
-    1,
-    game.bubble_radius,
-    game.bubble_radius
-  )
+  if game.next_bubble then
+    love.graphics.setColor(1, 1, 1, 1)
+    love.graphics.draw(
+      game.bubble_images[game.next_bubble.bubble_type],
+      game.next_bubble.x + game.next_bubble.velocity_x * alpha,
+      game.next_bubble.y + game.next_bubble.velocity_y * alpha,
+      0,
+      1,
+      1,
+      game.bubble_radius,
+      game.bubble_radius
+    )
+  end
 end
 
 function love.mousepressed(x, y, button, is_touch, presses)
-  if button == 1 then
+  if button == 1 and game.next_bubble then
     local diff_x = x - game.launcher_x
     local diff_y = y - game.launcher_y
     local dist = math.sqrt(diff_x * diff_x + diff_y * diff_y)