They will never be quite like the old arcade pinball machines with roll digits, but online pinball simulations are getting incredibly realistic and there are no quarters required. Free pinball has become a way for companies to promote their brand and encourage people to visit their Web sites. Some online pinball games use Shockwave, so those of you that don't have it already might want to download and install it before you play.
1. Rat'N'Roll Pinball
Disney
Disney makes several good free pinball games as a way to promote their films. The Rat'N'Roll table is themed on Ratatouille with nice ball action, solid flippers, and some neat ramps to shoot for. It's also a good size for today's large screens.
2. The Sims Pinball
Pogo
Based on The Sims video game, this table on Pogo has nifty targets, responsive flippers, good physics, and 3D effects. You can chat with others as you play, and if you sign-up at Pogo it will save your high scores.
3. WALL-E Pinball
Disney
Another fine pinball game from Disney, this one takes its theme from the WALL-E movie. This table is relatively large and it has some great ramps that trigger unusual effects. The physics are well done and the flippers pack enough punch to get the ball where you need it to go.
4. Pinbrawl
Pinbrawl
Pinbrawl offers several challenging and fast tables with good high score lists. The graphics and physics are impressive, and they have some cool sounds. As well as the original Pinbrawl, you can now play Footbrawl and Ice House Pinbrawl, although they're lower resolution than some of the other games on this list.
5. Pinball Soccer Stars
Wild Snake
WildSnake Software has created a great 3D simulation of soccer pinball. This is a head-to-head variation of pinball which you play against a computer opponent. Although quite different from traditional pinball, it's a nice size, it has sharp graphics, solid physics, and even nudge controls.
6. Starsky & Hutch Pinball
Warner Bros.
The movie wasn't all that memorable, but this pinball game on the official Starsky & Hutch site is a lot of fun. It's large enough most LCDs, ball movement is terrific, and getting a good score is tricky.
7. Pinball Blizzard
Pinball Blizzard
Pinball Blizzard is a unique, Christmas-themed Flash game with a table split into 3 play areas, each with their own set of flippers. They run an annual high-score competition, but the game is freely available year-round for pinball fans.
8. Full Power Pinball
Hotwheels
These 2D tables on the official Hotwheels site are nicely rendered and they vary depending on which car you select at the beginning of the game. If you get tired of one table, start over with a different car and you'll have new set of targets and ramps.
9. High Gear Pinball
High Gear Pinball
The flippers in High Gear Pinball are a bit small and they don't angle up much, making it hard to catch the ball, but it has cool sounds, neat graphics, and good ball movement, with some unusual targets to shoot for.
10. Cereal Factory Pinball
Postopia
This is pinball for up to 4 players with a breakfast cereal theme, sponsored by Postopia. Developed by Skyworks, the physics are very good and it uses many familiar pinball machine sounds.
