The Pinball Primer
No nonsense summaries of pinball table layouts and rules to get you on your way, whether you're playing casually on location, playing in a tournament, or just want to read about some table tips and strategies.
This site is a work in progress, and table rulesets are constantly being added.
Currently: 266 rulesets and counting.
If you have requests, questions, or corrections, email me at aquaticespeon@gmail.com or message me on Twitter, Discord, or Instagram (solar_espeon everywhere).
For more about the story behind this website and an FAQ, click here.
For a glossary of pinball terms, click here.
Please enjoy!
Note: tables with a title whose first word is "The" are sorted by the second word in their name, such as "Amazing Spider-Man, The".
Abbreviations:
EM = electromechanical
SS = early solid state
AN = alphanumeric
DMD = dot matrix display
LCD = liquid crystal display (full colour television-style screen)
#
2001 (Gottlieb, EM, 1971)
300 (Gottlieb, EM, 1975)
4 Square (Gottlieb, EM, 1971)
8 Ball (Williams, EM, 1966)
A
Abra Ca Dabra (Gottlieb, EM, 1975)
Aces & Kings (Williams, EM, 1970)
Addams Family, The (Bally Williams, DMD, 1992)
Air Aces (Bally, EM, 1975)
Airport (Gottlieb, EM, 1969)
Aladdin's Castle (Bally, EM, 1976)
Ali (Stern Electronics, SS, 1980)
Alien Poker (Williams, SS, 1980)
Alien Star (Gottlieb, SS, 1984)
Amazing Spider-Man, The (Gottlieb, SS, 1980)
Apollo 13 (Sega, DMD, 1995)
Arena (Premier Gottlieb, AN, 1987)
Asteroid Annie and the Aliens (Gottlieb, SS, 1980)
Atarians, The (Atari, SS, 1976)
Atlantis (Gottlieb, EM, 1975)
Attack From Mars (Bally Williams, DMD, 1995)
Aztec (Williams, EM, 1976)
B
Bad Cats (Williams, AN, 1989)
Balls-a-Poppin' (Bally, EM, 1956)
Bally Game Show, The (Bally Williams, AN, 1990)
Bally Hoo (Bally, EM, 1969)
Bank Shot (Gottlieb, EM, 1976)
Barracora (Williams, SS, 1981)
Batman 66 (Stern Pinball, LCD, 2016)
Batman Forever (Sega, DMD, 1995)
Baywatch (Sega, DMD, 1995)
Big Deal (Williams, EM, 1977)
Big Shot (Gottlieb, EM, 1973)
Black Knight (Williams, SS, 1980)
Black Knight 2000 (Williams, AN, 1989)
Black Rose (Bally Williams, DMD, 1992)
Blackout (Williams, SS, 1980)
Black Pyramid (Bally Midway, SS, 1984)
Bobby Orr's Power Play (Bally, SS, 1978)
Boomerang (Bally, EM, 1974)
Bowling Queen (Gottlieb, EM, 1964)
Bram Stoker's Dracula (Bally Williams, DMD, 1993)
C
Cactus Canyon (Bally Williams, DMD, 1998)
Canada Dry (Gottlieb, EM, 1976)
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (Bally, EM, 1976)
Card Whiz (Gottlieb, EM, 1976)
Catacomb (Stern Electronics, SS, 1981)
Centaur (Bally, SS, 1981)
Centaur II (Bally, SS, 1983)
Centigrade 37 (Gottlieb, EM, 1977)
Charlie's Angels (Gottlieb, SS/EM, 1978)
Cheetah (Stern Electronics, SS, 1980)
Cirqus Voltaire (Bally Williams, DMD, 1997)
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (Gottlieb, SS/EM, 1978)
College Queens (Gottlieb, EM, 1969)
Comet (Williams, SS, 1985)
Congo (Bally Williams, DMD, 1995)
Cosmic Gunfight (Williams, SS, 1982)
Cosmic Princess (Allied Industries / Stern Electronics, SS, 1979)
Creature from the Black Lagoon (Bally Williams, DMD, 1992)
Cue Ball Wizard (Premier Gottlieb, DMD, 1992)
Cybernaut (Bally Midway, SS, 1985)
Cyclone (Bally Williams, AN, 1988(
D
Dealer's Choice (Williams, EM, 1973)
Demolition Man (Bally Williams, DMD, 1994)
Devil's Dare (Gottlieb, SS, 1982)
Diamond Jack (Gottlieb, EM, 1967)
Diamond Lady (Premier Gottlieb, AN, 1988)
Dimension (Gottlieb, EM, 1971)
Diner (Bally Williams, AN, 1990)
Dirty Harry (Bally Williams, DMD, 1995)
Disco (Stern Electronics, EM, 1977)
Disco Fever (Williams, SS, 1978)
Dipsy Doodle (Williams, EM, 1970)
Doctor Who (Bally Williams, DMD, 1992)
Domino (Gottlieb, EM, 1968)
Doodle Bug (Williams, EM, 1971)
Dolly Parton (Bally, SS, 1979)
Dracula (Stern Electronics, SS, 1979)
Dragon (Interflip, EM, 1977)
Dr. Dude and his Excellent Ray (Bally Williams, AN, 1990)
Drop-a-Card (Gottlieb, EM, 1971)
Dungeons and Dragons (Bally, AN, 1987)
E
Earthshaker (Bally Williams, AN, 1989)
Eight Ball (Bally, SS, 1977)
Eight Ball Champ (Bally Midway, SS, 1985)
Eight Ball Deluxe (Bally, SS, 1981)
Embryon (Bally, SS, 1981)
Escape from the Lost World (Bally Midway, AN, 1988)
Evel Knievel (Bally, SS/EM, 1977)
F
F-14 Tomcat (Williams, AN, 1987)
Farfalla (Zaccaria, SS, 1983)
Fathom (Bally, SS, 1981)
Fireball (Bally, EM, 1972)
Fireball II (Bally, SS, 1981)
Firepower (Williams, SS, 1980)
Firepower II (Williams, SS, 1983)
Fire Queen (Gottlieb, EM, 1977)
Fish Tales (Bally Williams, DMD, 1992)
Flash (Williams, SS, 1978)
Flash Gordon (Bally, SS, 1981)
Flicker (Bally, EM, 1974)
Flight 2000 (Stern Electronics, SS, 1980)
Flintstones, The (Bally Williams, DMD, 1994)
Four Million B.C. (Bally, EM, 1971)
Free Fall (Gottlieb, EM, 1974)
Frontier (Bally, SS, 1980)
Funhouse (Bally Williams, AN, 1990)
Future Spa (Bally, SS, 1979)
G
Gay 90's (Williams, EM, 1970)
Gemini (Gottlieb, EM, 1978)
Genesis (Premier Gottlieb, AN, 1986)
Getaway: High Speed II, The (Bally Williams, DMD, 1992)
Gilligan's Island (Bally Williams, DMD, 1991)
Gorgar (Williams, SS, 1979)
Grand Lizard (Williams, AN, 1986)
Grand Prix (Williams, EM, 1976)
Guns 'n Roses (Data East, DMD, 1994)
H
Hang Glider (Bally, EM, 1976)
Hardbody (Bally Williams, AN, 1987)
Harlem Globetrotters: On Tour (Bally, SS, 1979)
Harley Davidson (Bally Williams, AN, 1991)
Hearts and Spades (Gottlieb, EM, 1969)
Heat Wave (Williams, EM, 1964)
Hercules (Atari, SS, 1979(
Hi-Deal (Bally, EM, 1975)
Hi-Diver (Gottlieb, EM, 1959)
Hi-Score (Gottlieb, EM, 1967)
High Speed (Williams, AN, 1986)
Hook (Data East, DMD, 1992)
Hotdoggin' (Bally, SS, 1980)
Hot Hand (Stern Electronics, SS, 1979)
Hot Shot (Gottlieb, EM, 1973)
Hot Tip (Williams, SS/EM, 1977)
Hurricane (Bally Williams, DMD, 1991)
I
Incredible Hulk, The (Gottlieb, SS, 1979)
J
Jackbot (Bally Williams, DMD, 1995)
Jacks Open (Gottlieb, EM, 1977)
Joker Poker (Gottlieb, SS/EM, 1978)
Jungle Princess (Gottlieb, EM, 1977)
Jungle Queen (Gottlieb, EM, 1977)
K
Kings of Steel (Bally Midway, SS, 1984)
Kiss (Bally, SS, 1979)
L
Laser Ball (Williams, SS, 1979)
Laser Cue (Williams, SS, 1984)
Laser War (Data East, AN, 1987)
Lectronamo (Stern Electronics, SS, 1978)
Lost World (Bally, SS, 1978)
Love Bug (Williams, EM, 1971)
Lucky Ace (Williams, EM, 1974)
M
Machine: Bride of Pinbot, The (Bally Williams, AN, 1991)
Magic (Stern Electronics, SS, 1979)
Magic City (Williams, EM, 1967)
Magic Town (Williams, EM, 1967)
Mata Hari (Bally, SS/EM, 1978)
Medieval Madness (Bally Williams, DMD, 1997)
Medusa (Bally, SS, 1981)
Melody (Gottlieb, EM, 1967)
Memory Lane (Stern Electronics, SS, 1978)
Meteor (Stern Electronics, SS, 1979)
Mibs (Gottlieb, EM, 1969)
Monster Bash (Bally Williams, DMD, 1998)
Mousin' Around (Bally Williams, AN, 1989)
Mystic (Bally, SS, 1980)
N
New York (Gottlieb, EM, 1976)
Night Rider (Bally, SS/EM, 1977)
Nine Ball (Stern Electronics, SS, 1980)
Nitro Ground Shaker (Bally, SS, 1980)
Now (Gottlieb, EM, 1971)
O
Old Chicago (Bally, EM, 1976)
OXO (Williams, EM, 1973)
P
Paddock (Williams, EM, 1969)
Paragon (Bally, SS, 1978)
Party Zone, The (Bally Williams, DMD, 1991)
Pat Hand (Williams, EM, 1975)
Pharaoh (Williams, SS, 1981)
Phoenix (Williams, SS, 1978)
Pinball (Stern Electronics, SS/EM, 1977)
Pinball Pool (Gottlieb, SS, 1979)
PinBot (Williams, AN, 1986)
Pioneer (Gottlieb, EM, 1976)
Playboy (Bally, SS, 1978)
Pool Sharks (Bally Williams, AN, 1990)
Pop-a-Card (Gottlieb, EM, 1972)
Post Time (Williams, EM, 1969)
Pro Pool (Gottlieb, EM, 1973)
Q
Quicksilver (Stern Electronics, SS, 1980)
R
Rack-a-Ball (Gottlieb, EM, 1962)
Rancho (Williams, EM, 1976)
Ready...Aim...Fire! (Gottlieb, SS, 1983)
Red & Ted's Road Show (Bally Williams, DMD, 1994)
Rolling Stones (Bally, SS, 1980)
Royal Flush (Gottlieb, EM, 1976)
S
Satin Doll (Williams, EM, 1975)
Scared Stiff (Bally Williams, DMD, 1996)
Scuba (Gottlieb, EM, 1970)
Seawitch (Stern Electronics, SS, 1980)
Shadow, The (Bally Williams, DMD, 1994)
Sharp Shooter II (Game Plan, SS, 1983)
Silverball Mania (Bally, SS, 1980)
Sinbad (Gottlieb, SS/EM, 1978)
Sing Along (Gottlieb, EM, 1967)
Six Million Dollar Man, The (Bally, SS, 1978)
Skateball (Bally, SS, 1980)
Sky Jump (Gottlieb, EM, 1974)
Smart Set (Williams, EM, 1969)
Snow Derby (Gottlieb, EM, 1970)
Snow Queen (Gottlieb, EM, 1970)
Solar City (Gottlieb, EM, 1976)
Solar Fire (Williams, SS, 1981)
Sorcerer (Williams, SS, 1985)
Space Mission (Williams, EM, 1976)
Space Odyssey (Williams, EM, 1976)
Space Station (Williams, AN, 1987)
Spanish Eyes (Williams, EM, 1972)
Speakeasy (Bally, SS, 1982)
Spider-Man (Stern Pinball, DMD, 2007)
Spider-Man Vault Edition (Stern Pinball, DMD, 2016)
Spin-a-Card (Gottlieb, EM, 1969)
Spirit of 76 (Gottlieb, EM, 1975)
Star Action (Williams, EM, 1973)
Star Gazer (Stern Electronics, SS, 1980)
Star Trek (Bally, SS, 1979)
Star Trek: The Next Generation (Bally Williams, DMD, 1993)
Star Wars (Data East, DMD, 1992)
Stardust (Williams, EM, 1971)
Stars (Stern Electronics, SS, 1978)
Stingray (Stern Electronics, SS, 1977)
Strikes and Spares (Bally, SS, 1978)
Student Prince (Williams, EM, 1968)
Super Mario Bros. Mushroom World (Premier Gottlieb, DMD, 1992)
Super Score (Gottlieb, EM, 1967)
Supersonic (Bally, SS, 1979)
Sure Shot (Gottlieb, EM, 1976)
T
Tales from the Crypt (Data East, DMD, 1993)
Tales of the Arabian Nights (Bally Williams, DMD, 1996)
Target Alpha (Gottlieb, EM, 1976)
Target Pool (Gottlieb, EM, 1969)
Taxi (Williams, AN, 1988)
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (Bally Williams, DMD, 1991)
Theatre of Magic (Bally Williams, DMD, 1995)
Time Machine: Where You Go Back In Time (Data East, AN, 1988)
Tommy: The Who's Pinball Wizard (Data East, DMD, 1994)
Top Score (Gottlieb, EM, 1975)
Trident (Stern Electronics, SS, 1979)
Triple Action (Williams, EM, 1973)
Triple Strike (Williams, EM, 1975)
Tri Zone (Williams, SS, 1979)
Twilight Zone (Bally Williams, DMD, 1993)
U
V
Vector (Bally, SS, 1982)
Viking (Bally, SS, 1980)
Volley (Gottlieb, EM, 1976)
Voltan Escapes Cosmic Doom (Bally, SS, 1979)
Vulcan (Gottlieb, EM, 1977)
W
Wheel of Fortune (Stern Pinball, DMD, 2007)
Whirlwind (Bally Williams, AN, 1990)
White Water (Bally Williams, DMD, 1993)
Wild Cars (Williams, EM, 1977)
Wild Fyre (Stern Electronics, SS, 1978)
Winter Sports (Zaccaria, SS, 1978)
Wizard! (Bally, EM, 1975)
World Cup (Williams, SS, 1978)
World Cup Soccer (Bally Williams, DMD, 1994)
World Series (Gottlieb, EM, 1972)
X
X's & O's (Bally Midway, SS, 1984)
Xenon (Bally, SS, 1980)
Y
Z
Zip-a-Doo (Bally, EM, 1970)
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