Which digital pinball machines are right for your home?

Whether you grew up playing pinball in your local arcade or only recently discovered the 'ol silver ball, maybe you’re enough of a fan to pick up a table of your own.

The problem is, prices start at about $7,000 for a new, authentic pinball table. Used pinball machines often go for less, of course, unless they’re collectible, which could drive the price well into five figures. But what if you can pick up a “digital” pinball table for a fraction of the cost? Digital pinball tables have a virtual silver ball instead of a real one, along with faux flippers, ramps, and lights – displayed on a horizontal (but angled) LCD screen – but are programmed to obey the laws of physics (such as a ball gaining speed as it rolls down the table).

Digital pinball tables also have the added benefit of switching between various table themes, so if you’re bored of one (and its layout), you can simply choose another. They require less maintenance than real electromechanical pinball tables. Whether they’re full-sized or smaller, many of these tables still have “real” parts, usually flipper buttons and sometimes, a real plunger to pull back on.

There are a few of these tables to choose from, and so here’s a look at a few worthy options. (Note: We're not including super pricey products here, like the $4,200 900 Games in Virtual Pinball, or tables that aren't officially licensed.)

For the pinball wizard who likes variety

Legends Pinball ($800)

A full-sized table measuring 44 by 22 by 60 inches, AtGames’ Legends Pinball houses 22 Gottlieb pinball tables, including classics like Haunted House, Rescue 911, Genie, Wipeout, and the iconic Black Hole. Gamers can add more pinball tables via USB or online, and it includes support for ArcadeNet, a streaming service with more than 200 pinball, arcade, and console games.

Easy to set up (but with a friend as it’s more than 100 pounds), Legends Pinball has an authentic plunger and flippers, but a virtual 32-inch LCD playfield, with 1080p resolution and running at a smooth 60 frames per second. There’s also a 15.6-inch backglass, authentic “nudge” sensor, haptic (vibration) feedback, and stereo speakers.

Because it’s connected to your Wi-Fi network, there is support for online multiplayer support, global leaderboards, download table upgrades and other content, voice chat, and a friends list.

Legends Pinball looks and feels great, and if you can score the digital table on sale for $300 or more, it's a huge win. It’s a huge bonus you can add more games to its 16GB of storage), plus the table supports more than 40 pinball and arcade accessories (such as new side-panel art options, gamepads, trackballs, and more).

Pros:

• Biggest and best machine you can buy today for the price
• Can easily add more games and accessories
• Supports multiplayer matches and other advanced features

Cons:

• Many games are good but many are not so memorable or replayable
• Heavy and more challenging to put together than other machines

Buy at Walmart

For serious Marvel fans

Marvel Pinball ($749)

If 10 games are enough for you—and you're a fan of Marvel comics and movies—Arcade1Up's Marvel Pinball is a digital pinball machine with unique tables tied to familiar superheroes and villains.

Specifically, the 3/4-sized table (measuring 59.5 by 36 by 20.5 inches), includes: Civil War, Fantastic Four, Fear Itself, Ghost Rider, Marvel's Women of Power: A-Force, Spider-Man, Thor, Venom, Wolverine, and X-Men. Renowned digital pinball developer Zen Studios created all of these tables.

You cannot add more games to this machine, and some games are better than others, naturally. The layout and graphics for Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, and X-Men are standouts, but all games play well on its 24-inch, 1080p LCD playfield and 8-inch LCD score screen. The refresh rate could be better as there's a little "ghosting" on the silver ball, but shouldn't bother most players.

This table also has authentic flipper feedback and haptics, a real plunger and buttons, and (volume-adjustable) stereo speakers. Arcade1Up added real tilt and nudge sensors, too.

Pros:

• Marvel fans will love the variety
• Smaller than a full-size pinball machine
• Zen Studios makes some great pinball games

Cons:

• Can't add more games
• Some ghosting when the ball moves fast

Buy at Best Buy

For Star Wars geeks

Star Wars Pinball ($749)

Along with the abovementioned Marvel Pinball and its Attack From Mars! digital pinball table, Arcade1Up's Star Wars Pinball whisks players to a galaxy far far away, with 10 Zen Studio-designed tables based on iconic Star Wars films and characters.

While you cannot add more games to this machine, included titles are as follows: A New Hope, Ahch-To Island, Battle of Mimban, Boba Fett, Darth Vader, Han Solo, Masters of the Force, Star Wars: Rebels, The Empire Strikes Back, and The Force Awakens. Heck, Star Wars fans will geek out on the exterior art alone, which pays homage to all three trilogies. To some, the 3/4-scale pinball machine (59.5 by 36 by 20.5-inches) is perfect as it's small enough to place in a smaller room, but pinball purists may prefer a larger table to replicate the size of most authentic pinball machines.

Like Marvel Pinball, gamers can expect a 24-inch, 1080p playfield, 7-inch color LCD score screen (slightly smaller than Marvel Pinball), loud but adjustable stereo sound, haptic feedback, and nudge/tilt support.

Pros:

• Fun selection of Star Wars-themed games
• Easy to set up, can fit in small rooms

Cons:

• Can't add more games

• Some ghosting, especially when the ball moves fast on the table

  Buy at Best Buy

For those who grew up playing Gottlieb tables

Haunted House 3D Digital Pinball Machine ($720)

Featuring 12 Gottlieb titles, ToyShock's Haunted House 3D Digital Pinball Machine is similar to Arcade1Up's 3/4-sized tables (23.5 by 50.5 by 35.5 inches) and packs plenty of '70s and '80s favorites. That includes its namesake Haunted House, as well as other licensed titles: Big Shot, Black Hole, Bone Busters, Centigrade 37, Class of 1812, El Dorado City of Gold, _Goin' Nuts, Jacks Open, Lights…Camera...Action!, _TX Sector, and Victory. All these games are also included in AtGames' Legends Pinball.

I’m not sure why these are called "3D" games, as these tables look like the others in this round-up, but they're attractive nonetheless (unlike the large grey bezel around the playfield). While there are real flipper buttons and a mechanical plunger, it uses a 24-inch HD playfield, dot matrix display on the backglass, and "nudge" sensors (left, right, and up), which could result in a "tilt" if players are too rough.

Similar to the other tables, there are individual game instructions for each game, high-score input, the ability to pause, and stereo speakers with variable volume control (though the sound quality was inferior to other digital pinball tables we’ve listed).

While not with the same charm as the other machines in this round-up, Haunted House 3D is a fun and nostalgic reproduction of some classic pinball tables for your home.

Pros:

• A dozen games to choose from, including iconic pinball tables
• Nudge sensors work well and are accurate

Cons:

• Can't add games and many of the same games are in AtGames' Legends Pinball
• Price is somewhat steep for what you get
• Build quality seems inferior to AtGames and Arcade 1Up offerings
• Sound isn't that great, crackly

Buy at Walmart

For pinball fans without a lot of space

Legends Pinball Micro ($449)

Want a collection of pinball tables but live in a small home, apartment, or condo? AtGames' Legends Pinball Micro is similar to our top digital pinball pick, Legends Pinball, but this is a compact table (23.60 by 12.36 by 22.64 inches) with 15.6-inch playfield (1080p at 60 frames per second) to place on a table or desk. An 8-inch backglass LCD screen displays your score and other info.

Four legs can be purchased separately for $80 at the AtGames e-store.

A big selection of 50 virtual tables comes built-in, including: Zaccaria and Taito titles like Darius, Bubble Bobble, Space Invaders, Devil Riders, Time Machine, and Arkanoid, but you can also download more games. This includes the recently released Dr. Seuss Pinball Pack 2 ($25), which houses Green Eggs and Ham, Dr. Seuss's ABC, Oh the Places You'll Go!, and One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.

In fact, all Legends Pinball games are compatible with Legends Pinball Micro, and more than 200 titles are available through the ArcadeNet streaming service.

This diminutive table also supports multiplayer gaming, global leaderboards, a friends list, voice chat, and authentic flippers and nudges.

Pros:

• Small table, can be placed in many areas of a home
• A huge collection of 50 games and more can be added
• Supports multiplayer and other advanced features

Cons:

• Doesn't really feel like it authentically replicates a classic pinball table
• Some filler games
• Table legs sold separately

Buy at Amazon