Pinball

How to play Pinball

Pinball is a classic arcade game. A steel ball rolls down a sloped table full of bumpers, lanes and targets. You keep it in play with two flippers at the bottom. Every hit scores points, and the longer the ball stays up, the higher your score climbs.

Goal

Score as many points as you can with three balls. A ball is lost when it falls between or past the flippers. Your best score is saved in this browser.

Controls

1. Hold Space, Enter or the Down arrow to pull the plunger, then let go to launch the ball. The longer you hold, the harder the shot.
2. Press Z or the Left arrow for the left flipper, and M or the Right arrow for the right flipper. The Shift keys work too.
3. On a touch screen, tap the left half of the table for the left flipper and the right half for the right flipper. While the ball waits on the plunger, hold the right half to pull it. You can also use the buttons under the table.
4. Press P or Esc to pause. The game also pauses when you switch tabs.

Scoring

• Pop bumpers kick the ball away for 100 points. Slingshots above the flippers give 50.
• Roll through the three top lanes to light them. Each flipper press moves the lit lights, so you can line up an unlit lane. Light all three to raise the multiplier up to 5×. Every score is multiplied.
• Hit the three orange targets on the left wall for a 2,500 point bonus.
• Shoot the ball up the orbit lane on the right for 750 points.

End of the game

If you lose a ball within a few seconds of launching it, the ball saver gives it back once. The multiplier resets with each new ball. When the third ball drains, the game is over. Like bouncing balls? Try Brick Breaker.

Strategy tips

• Do not flip too early. Wait until the ball reaches the flipper. Hitting it near the middle of the flipper gives the best control.
• Cradle the ball. Hold a flipper up and let the ball roll to rest against it. Then you can calm down and aim your next shot.
• Aim across the table. The left flipper shoots best to the right side, and the right flipper to the left. Use this to reach the orbit lane and the targets.
• Use lane change. Before the ball reaches the top lanes, tap a flipper to move the lit lights so the ball falls into an unlit lane.
• Build the multiplier early. A high multiplier makes every bumper and target worth more for the rest of the ball.