Your Guide to the Wide World of Star Wars Pinball Machines

When it comes to Star Wars pinball machines, there are a lot of options to choose from. Whether you're looking for a physical machine to add to your game room, or a digital table to play on your computer or video game console, there's definitely something out there for you. In this blog post, we'll take a look at some of the best Star Wars pinball machines available on the market today. We'll cover tables from Stern, Data East, Sega, Sonic and Williams, as well as digital tables from PinballFX and Arcade1up. So without further ado, let's get started!

The Enduring Popularity of Star Wars

Star Wars has been one of the most popular movie franchises for decades, and it shows no signs of slowing down. I mean, what's not to like about a grand tale of space wizards? Kids and families love the characters and story lines, and there's something for everyone in the Star Wars universe. It's no surprise then that Star Wars pinball and arcade machines are some of the most popular on the market. They offer a great way for fans to interact with the franchise, and they're (usually) a lot of fun to play.

Partly due to it's popularity as a licensed franchise, and partly due to how long the Star Wars franchise has existed within popular culture, there are a LOT of both physical and digital Star Wars pinball machines to choose from. We've rounded up some of the best below, so you can find the perfect one for your game room.

Best Physical Star Wars Pinball Machines

There's just something about playing a physical pinball machine that can't be matched by digital tables. Pinball machines are big, bulky and take up a lot of space - but they're worth it. When you have one in your own home, you can play whenever you want, without having to worry about finding a machine at the arcade or spending money on credits. In our order of preference, here are the best Star Wars pinball machines.

Stern Star Wars - The Mandalorian

Stern Star Wars - Comic Art Edition

Stern Star Wars - Regular Edition

Not going to sugar coat it, this can be a very challenging pinball machine for some players. Classic Steve Ritchie design that plays fast and mean. The rules are approachable but the (sometimes confusing) multiplier system offers enough depth to keep longtime game owners and experienced players coming back for more. Once you get your shots dialed in and your strategy figured out, blowing up your score on the game can be extremely satisfying. Of all the Star Wars pinball machines on this list, this one probably possesses the highest "one more play" factor.

Learn more about Stern's Star Wars table in our games directory.

Data East - Star Wars

The Data East Star Wars pinball machine is light on the rule depth but generally fun to shoot with pretty excellent theme integration. The Jon Borg design offers a lot of flow and some satisfying shots (hello blowing up the Death Star).

Williams Star Wars - Episode 1

Famously part of Williams ultimately failed Pinball 2000 project, Star Wars Episode 1 was a John Popadiuk design and was meant to be part of a new machine that would allow owners to easily swap game playfields and other brandable elements rather then buying a whole new game. They only released one other table for this machine, the sequel to Attack from Mars, Revenge from Mars. The Pinball 2000 concept also included an integrated CRT display to give the player a feeling of additional immersion, and a blend of video game and pinball experience.

Sega - Star Wars Trilogy

Released in 1997 and designed by industry vets Joe Balcer and Joe Kaminkow, Sega's Star Wars Trilogy game was meant to encompass all three movies from the original Star Wars trilogy, instead of just a single film like the 1992 game would do or the upcoming Episode 1 machine would also take.

Stern - Star Wars Home Edition

Honestly Stern's Star Wars Home Edition game could probably get ranked higher up on this list, but it's not a full size pinball machine, so we're inclined to keep it pretty low. This is essentially a reskin of an already stripped down version of a full-size pinball machine which includes fewer complicated mechanical components, simpler rules, a smaller screen display, etc.

Bonus: Segasa-Sonic - Star Wars

There's not a lot to say about the Sonic Star Wars! It's unknown how many were produced, and those who have been able to get their hands on a copy report a pretty limited ruleset and barebones playfield.

Best Virtual Star Wars Pinball Games

Arcade1Up Star Wars Virtual Pinball Machine

The Arcade1Up Star Wars Virtual Pinball Machine is about as close as you can get to real deal Star Wars pinball. The Arcade1Up uses a physical cabinet with a giant LCD display screen that's meant to look similar to a full size pinball machine, but at a fraction of the size (and cost). This virtual pinball table runs 10 tables from Zen Studios PinballFX Franchise, so you get some nice variety for your money.

Games included:

• Boba Fett™
• A New Hope™
• Ahch-To Island™
• Battle of Mimban™
• Darth Vader™
• Masters of the Force™
• Star Wars: Rebels™
• Han Solo™
• The Force Awakens™
• The Empire Strikes Back™

Zen Studios PinballFX Franchise

Zen Studios - a Hungary based software and game development company, is best known for their PinballFX franchise of digital pinball games. Zen creates their own series of wholly unique pinball experiences from a variety of both licensed and unlicensed themes. Over the years, they have released a number of Star Wars focused pinball tables, which can be downloaded and played just about anywhere, including most major video game console systems and gaming PCs.

PinballFX Star Wars Pinball Tables:

• The Empire Strikes Back
• The Clone Wars
• Boba Fett
• Star Wars Rebels
• Rogue One
• Han Solo
• Return of the Jedi
• A New Hope
• Starfighter Assault
• Darth Vader
• Droids
• Masters of the Force
• The Force Awakens
• Might of the First Order
• The Last Jedi
• Ahch-To Island
• Solo
• Calrissian Chronicles
• Battle of Mimban