The Art of Video Pinball

Originally, video pinball games were more video game than pinball. As console and computer hardware improved, with better graphics and better capability to simulate ball physics, video pinball games began to look and behave more like real pinball tables. Eventually, developers began porting actual existing pinball tables into video games. Today, a list of all video pinball games based on actual tables would be quite long, and will likely get even longer over time. This list is instead a tribute to the video pinball games of old, the ones that didn't seek to replicate existing tables, but rather offered players a more unique, and in some cases decidedly more abstract, pinball experience.

Video Pinball - The granddaddy of them all is this game for the Atari 2600. While the screen looks better suited for something like Breakout, the spirit of pinball is indeed here, with bumpers, drop targets, roll-overs and even body English, too much of which will "tilt" the table.

Raster Blaster - Another pioneering title was this video pinball game for the Apple II. Raster Blaster was programmed by Bill Budge, whose stylized "Billy" looks uncoincidentally similar to the logo for reknown pinball manufacturer Bally. Budge would later create the Pinball Construction Set, one of the first titles to put publisher Electronic Arts on the map.

David's Midnight Magic - Programmed by David Snider and published by Broderbund for several 8-bit computers, this video pinball game is loosely based on real pinball table Black Knight.

Pinball - One of Nintendo's launch titles for the Nintendo Entertainment System was this pinball game, boasting a table so large only half can be shown on screen at a time.

Midnight Magic - Not to be confused with David's Midnight Magic (or maybe it is), this Atari 2600 release offers a different but equally entertaining virtual table.

Virtual Pinball - Another Electronic Arts pinball offering, this time for the Sega Genesis. Players can play immediately on several ready-made tables, or take some time to create their own.

Sonic Spinball - Every Genesis-era game featuring Sonic the Hedgehog has at least one decidedly pinball-esque level. Sonic Spinball offers a whole game's worth of them.

Pokemon Pinball - Why not? They've turned everything else into a Pokemon game! Game Boy Color owners were treated not only to a Pokemon-themed pinball game, but also to a bundled rumble pack to give a little oomph to the presentation.

KISS Pinball - This virtual pinball table for the Sony PlayStation is different from the actual pinball table featuring KISS which was released over two decades prior. The PlayStation game didn't get very good reviews.