Looking to add the best pinball machine to your game room? Create your own personal arcade with these top-rated options.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.Learn more.
Looking to add the best pinball machine to your game room? Create your own personal arcade with these top-rated options.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.Learn more.
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
Cons
Short 90-day warranty
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
Cons
Can’t download more themes
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
Cons
Short 90-day warranty
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
Cons
Pieces are fragile, but company offers free replacement parts
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
Cons
Has to be plugged in
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
Cons
Slight flipper delay
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.
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.
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.
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.