Pinball has existed since the 1930s, when Automatic Industries developed the first coin-operated machine. It was called a “whiffle board” and was soon replaced by the “Ballyhoo” game created by Raymond Maloney. Ballyhoo represents the first modern pinball machine.
Today, pinball and game variations have moved into the online space and transformed from the once-standard pinball table. For example, according to the Plinko guide on ReadWrite, Plinko is an exciting casino game that imitates the concept of pinball as a puck bounces around a board filled with obstacles. As Michael Graw states, many Plinko-dedicated sites have appeared over the years and grown in popularity among the gambling community.
Pinball is also no longer just a “main” video game, it has been incorporated into many different video games as a minigame within other games, either as a stage in the game or an optional extra.
Here are the top 6 mini pinball games that have entertained gamers.
1. Sonic Frontiers: Pinball Stage
Sonic Frontiers has a single storyline but has incorporated several minigames as the game progresses. One of the most loved sections of the game is the pinball minigame. The table is bright and fun, and players have to score 5 million points to progress to the next part of the game.
This game can test your patience and skills, and may also be slightly frustrating if you’re bad at pinball. However, you can quickly increase your point total by collecting red rings.
Admittedly, this pinball machine is not completely beginner-friendly, but it is an exciting challenge that players must overcome.
2. Sonic Adventure: Casinopolis
The Sonic franchise loves pinball, and Sonic Adventure’s Casinopolis section features a 3D pinball game where players must collect 400 rings to pass the level.
The pinball table is not too difficult or too easy, and you’ll be able to collect your rings within a couple of rounds as you play the minigame.
Another Sonic game featuring pinball that didn’t make our list is Sonic Generations. The pinball game was initially a pre-order bonus but eventually became a free download, and is an exciting side game for pinball enthusiasts.
3. Duke Nukem Forever: Balls of Steel
Duke Nukem Forever includes not one but two pinball tables. There is one in the main game, and another in the Doctor Who Cloned Me downloadable content. Both minigames have their differences but have a similar style of play.
The main goal of the pinball game is to score more than 280,000 points for an ego boost. If you exceed a million points, you get a trophy or other achievement.
The ball’s dynamics are a bit confusing at first, but you will quickly get the hang of it and start scoring points.
4. Mario Pinball Land
Mario is a beloved franchise, but Pinball Land may have estranged a couple of younger players because of its difficulty. It features stellar graphics (for a Gameboy title), but it’s quite an unforgiving game.
If you mess up and lose the ball, you have to start all over again. This minigame is fun if you’re an expert at pinball, but you’ll likely be quite frustrated with it the first time you play.
5. Pinball of the Dead
Fans of House of the Dead will love this pinball spinoff offered by Sega. Although not a real in-game minigame, it was one of the many minigames offered by HotD. Other minigames included a typing game and a game that improved your English.
Pinball of the Dead has multiple tables, so if your luck has run out on one, you can just change it up. It’s more than just your standard pinball game; it includes boss fights and characters from the original HotD game.
6. Metroid Prime Pinball
The first Metroid game to hit the Nintendo DS was Metroid Prime Pinball. Samus, the main Metroid protagonist, can morph into a ball, so the release of a pinball game made a lot of sense for the series.
The Nintendo DS is a great option for this style of game as the screen is split in two. The separation between the two screens can be a bit annoying at first, but once you get used to it it starts to make sense. This game has great graphics, with the table displayed on the top screen and the flippers on the bottom screen.
Wrapping Up
There are hundreds of video game franchises that have added nostalgic pinball elements to their minigames. These games serve to break up the main quest and incorporate a bit of retro magic.
Apart from these games above, many other titles have adopted pinball games, including Kirby’s Pinball Land and Pokémon Pinball, although these are standalone games.
The pinball-inspired games above show how the appeal of pinball has sustained over the years and can be adapted to meet modern gaming needs.
