If you came here expecting to find the best pinball machines like the ones found in arcades or vintage bars, we have good news and bad news. The bad news is those pinball tables cost anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 and require costly repairs. The good news is we found six digital pinball machines for man caves and game rooms that deliver a similar experience at a fraction of the cost.
Digital pinball machines offer the same gameplay but with a virtual ball, flippers, bumpers and targets. Most machines have real-feel tilt and nudge to mimic the physical jostling pinball wizards used in traditional pinball. Unlike their predecessors, digital pinball machines have more than one game per machine and require much less maintenance.
You might notice that half of our options are from Arcade1Up, and that’s because after researching every digital pinball machine available online and consulting with experts, we found no company is making officially licensed pinball games better than this one. Prepare to upgrade your game room with the best pinball machine for your space.
VIA MERCHANT
Best Overall Pinball Machine
Aracade1Up Attack From Mars Pinball
Shop on Amazon Shop on Wayfair
The Arcade1Up Attack From Mars is the best pinball machine for 90s babies looking to relive their arcade glory days. It feels like the real thing and provides 10 classic pinball themes, from the machine’s self-titled game to “The Getaway: Highspeed II.” It comes with a working plunger to launch your virtual ball, haptic flipper buttons with feedback and tilt and nudge for when you need to get your ball out of danger. Plus, it’s easy to assemble and has adjustable legs to accommodate people of all heights.
Gen Zers will love it for its versatility and large liquid-crystal display (LCD) screen with stunning graphics. Luckily for them, they won’t have to drop quarters in it to keep playing, though there is a faux coin slot to give it that arcade look.
Pros
- Real-feeling digital pinball machine
- 10 classic pinball themes in one machine
- Easy assembly
- Adjustable legs
Cons
- Short 90-day warranty
VIA MERCHANT
Best Retro Pinball Machine
Arcade1Up Marvel Digital Pinball Machine
Shop on Amazon Shop on Wayfair
No disrespect to the Marvel movies, but we love the Arcade1Up Marvel digital pinball machine because it uses the retro comic book look of our favorite childhood superheroes. Seriously, it looks like a pinball machine you’d find at a movie theater arcade. The fact that it has faux coin slots, the classic Marvel logo and responsive buttons doesn’t hurt, either.
It comes with 10 Marvel-licensed pinball themes, including the classic “Ghost Rider” and new options from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, like “Civil War.” Each option jumps to life on the large LCD with graphics that make it feel like a video game, and the adjustable volume allows you to play late into the night.
Pros
- Classic arcade design
- Great graphics
- Officially licensed Marvel pinball themes
- Adjustable volume
Cons
- Can’t download more themes
Best Pinball Machine for Families
Arcade1Up Star Wars Digital Pinball Machine
Shop on Amazon Shop on Wayfair
The Force is strong with the Arcade1Up Star Wars digital pinball machine. There are 10 themes for those who grew up with the prequels or sequels, and the adjustable legs allow pinball masters and Padawans to play comfortably. The dual speakers and LCD screen make you feel like you’re in a galaxy far, far away, no matter which theme you choose.
Customer reviewers say it’s enjoyed by people of all ages and call it a “must have” for any Star Wars fan.
Pros
- Loved by adults and children
- 10 themes from Star Wars prequels and sequels
- Two-player profiles available
- Dual speakers
Cons
- Short 90-day warranty
VIA MERCHANT
Best Budget Pinball Machine
Smartivity DIY Pinball Machine
Shop on Amazon Shop on Walmart
If you’re looking to pull the trigger on a more affordable pinball machine, consider 2022 Toy of the Year Finalist, the Smartivity DIY pinball machine. The fun starts before you hit your first flipper, as your children or favorite engineer have to design the course made from eco-friendly materials. Once assembled, you can launch right into a game of miniature pinball with working targets, bumpers and ramps.
Your children will also be learning without knowing it—the kit teaches them about momentum, levers and energy transfers—all aspects taught in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM). The pieces are small and fragile, though the company promises free replacement parts.
Pros
- Affordable
- Feels like a real pinball table
- Uses eco-friendly materials
- Portable
Cons
- Pieces are fragile, but company offers free replacement parts
VIA MERCHANT
Best Tabletop Pinball Machine
Rokr Miniature Pinball Machine
Shop on Amazon Shop on Walmart
The Rokr miniature pinball machine provides the same fun as a full-sized machine without taking nearly as much space, which is ideal for apartment dwellers or those with compact game rooms already filled with a pool table. While it’s small, the pieces are high quality and shouldn’t snap on you like some other mini pinball machines.
This is one of the few tabletop pinball machines that makes noise and flashing lights to make it feel like you’re in an actual arcade. Most customer reviewers said it was easy to assemble, though they said rookie wooden model builders should practice on a smaller set first.
Pros
- Small and durable
- Makes authentic pinball noises
- Fun to put together
- Clear assembly instructions
Cons
- Has to be plugged in
VIA MERCHANT
Best Pinball Machine for Variety
Haunted House 3D Digital Pinball Machine
Shop on Amazon Shop on Walmart
The Haunted House 3D digital pinball machine comes with 12 themes in one machine, making it the most versatile pinball table available right now. Despite its name, there are more than just horror themes available and some of the games date back to the 1970s, such as the pinball classic “Jacks Open.” You’ll get an authentic-feeling playing experience and the ability to pause your game if you need to eat dinner or want to watch your friends’ ping pong match.
Customer reviewers noted there’s a slight delay between when you press the haptic flipper button and when the flipper goes up, so you’ll have to adjust your reflexes just a little bit.
Pros
- 12 games in one machine
- Lighter than most digital pinball machines
- Records all high scores
- Allows you to pause your game
Cons
- Slight flipper delay
What to Look for When Buying a Pinball Machine
Shopping for the best digital pinball machine is not too different than looking for a high-quality traditional pinball machine. You’ll want a machine that’s fun to play and replayable, and looks good.
Playing Field
As someone who spent much of his childhood emptying his piggy bank into pinball machines, the first thing I looked for is a dynamic playing field. This means finding a “table” with multiple targets and ramps, mini games and missions, multi-ball options and more.
Real-Feel Gameplay
With digital pinball, you’ll want a high-quality machine with responsive controls to avoid any “lag.” There’s nothing worse than hitting the flippers and having to see your ball go down because they didn’t go up in time. Along the same lines, look for machines that provide real-feel playback that makes it seem like you’re using a traditional pinball machine.
Games
One of the advantages of digital pinball is you can switch from game to game, so find a machine with themes you like and make sure there’s enough to keep you entertained for a while.
Licensing
If your pinball machine has themes from a TV show, movie or book, make sure it’s licensed by the appropriate copyright holder to ensure you’re buying a legally made pinball machine.
Why You Should Trust Us
As someone who grew up in the 1990s, pinball machines are something I have a lot of experience with. My parents would hand me a few dollars, which I’d promptly turn into quarters and spend hours playing every pinball machine I could get my hands on. Not only that, I’m a shopping expert and editor who spends hours researching products and customer reviews to find the best products for your game room. I’ve written guides on the best dart boards, foosball tables and more.
We Flipped Through Almost Every (Digital) Pinball Machine
Finding the best pinball machines wasn’t easy and, unfortunately, it didn’t involve spending time in an arcade. Since traditional pinball machines cost thousands of dollars, we had to look into a more affordable option: digital pinball machines. These machines are relatively new, so we were able to research just about every model available.
Our preference went to digital pinball tables with themes from the good old days because it made them feel like the real deal. We also researched mini pinball tables for children or those in compact spaces. We finalized our list after looking at dozens of customer reviews and looking at things like how well the buttons respond to players, special features, gameplay and whether they were officially licensed.
FAQ
What is the most produced pinball machine?
The best-selling pinball machine is The Addams Family machine from Bally, which sold more than 20,000 units in the 1990s. You can only find it on the secondary market, and it often sells for more than $12,000.
When should I replace my pinball balls?
It depends on how often you play. Frequent players should replace their pinball balls every six months while more casual players can wait for up to two years. Replace your balls when they look beat up or in poor condition, or start behaving in a weird way, such as not rolling as smoothly as they did when you first used them.
Do pinball machines need maintenance?
Traditional pinball machines require a lot of maintenance due to the hundreds of moving parts and electronics. These repairs are often costly and require finding a specialist repairman. Digital pinball machines, however, require much less maintenance.
Article Originally published on: https://www.familyhandyman.com/list/best-pinball-machines/
