Ranking Pinball FX Tables and Packs By Value

(This article has been updated to reflect the Zen Studios update on April 13, 2023)

Offering an astounding 105 tables at the time of this writing, Pinball FX has a grand number of pinball table adventures for you to explore. But not all tables are created the same, and some great ones are mixed in packs with others of varying quality. While everyone begins with Wild West Rampage, a phenomenal table in its own right, along with Sorcerer’s Lair and Fish Tales as of the April 13 update, a question presents itself: what should you purchase first as you build your collection?

Luckily, I have played every single table in the collection extensively, and while I may not have the same taste as everyone else (that would be quite boring), I am fairly confident in my overall judgment in ordering these packs and tables both by quality and the value in their pricing in U.S. currency. So without further ado, here is my listing, starting with the greatest quality value.

For a full overview of the new-generation Pinball FX, be sure to check out our review!

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1. Williams Pinball Collection 1 ($23.99)

The price point of $23.99 is shared among a few of the greater collections (9 or more tables), and it is the highest price point apart from the second Marvel collection. But don’t let that deter you here, as the value far exceeds that price. In fact, I would say this is the greatest steal of the entire catalog. When people think of the best pinball experiences of all time, many of these tables make the cut. Medieval Madness, alone, could justify the entire price, but wait, there’s more! Attack from Mars, Theatre of Magic, Black Rose, and the quirky Safe Cracker join The Party Zone, The Getaway, Junk Yard, and Champion Pub.

See? Truly legendary tables make this a legendary collection and an obvious first choice in your hunt for the very best in pinball.

2. Universal Monsters Pack ($6.99)

This pack could really be called a “Williams lite” pack, being two of Williams’ finest creations. I would purchase Monster Bash for this price alone, but The Creature From The Black Lagoon provides its excellent fun as well. You will be playing Monster Bash well into the night, partying along with all of your favorite party animals and monsters, so don’t let this one out of your sights for too long!

3. Williams Pinball Collection 2 ($23.99)

Shocking, isn’t it? Even more Williams tables make the cut, here, and for good reason. Much like the first pack, many of these tables are synonymous to pinball itself. Who didn’t hear the sounds of Tales of the Arabian Nights permeating their local arcade back in the day? Who doesn’t fondly recall Rudy’s insults from his FunHouse, or hasn’t taken up some golfing with those No Good Gofers? From Cirqus Voltaire’s Ringmaster to the complexity of Red and Ted’s Road Show, this is the height of pinball greatness. Oh, and the rest aren’t bad, either, as White Water, Hurricane, Space Station, and Dr. Dude and his Excellent Ray find their home inside this magnificent collection.

4. Williams Pinball: Twilight Zone ($9.99)

As the highest ranked pinball table of all time according to The Internet Pinball Machine Database (IPMD), the inclusion of Twilight Zone into the Zen Pinball family of tables is a natural fit. The new graphical effects (which can be toggled on and off, as with all of the real-life tables) help to ratchet up the fun and intensity as well.

The $9.99 asking price might seem a bit steep for one table, but there is a reason that this table is regarded so highly, and it becomes obvious immediately: it plays incredibly well with an interesting layout and shots that feel good and make sense. Once you get caught in the Twilight Zone, you’ll likely never want to leave.

5. Universal Classics Pinball ($9.99)

As the first non-Williams tables on the list, the Universal Classics Pinball Pack surprised everyone with their quality. It is not as if Zen Studios hadn’t already proven themselves with an array of excellent tables before this list, either, but whenever several tables are released at once, one of them is bound to miss. However, that is not the case with these three. E.T., Back to the Future, and Jaws not only find their licenses very well respected, here, but the tables are also insanely fun to play. Each offers moments that will make you smile as you reminisce on the memories you have with their respective movies.

6. Zen Originals Collection 1 ($15.99)

Zen Studios know how to craft a pinball table. Far before they were recreating Williams’ real-life efforts, the fine artisans at Zen Studios assembled many original tables. These grew in quality and complexity over time, and some of their finest work is represented in this first Zen Originals Collection. Pasha, with its whimsical Persian theme, and CastleStorm, based on Zen’s game of the same name, are stand-outs, here. But don’t sleep on the rest of them, either. Biolab is cute and quirky, Rome is challenging with great quest design, Son of Zeus will put a smile on your face during your Herculean quest, Adventure Land feels like a fine day at the amusement park, and Secrets of the Deep is, well…it may be the weakest of the bunch, but it still holds plenty of water and mystery to discover.

7. Marvel Pinball Collection 1 ($23.99)

Offering eleven tables, each featuring a unique superhero, or team of heroes in the cases of Fantastic Four and X-Men, this first Marvel Pinball Collection has a lot to offer. As the first Marvel collection released for Pinball FX, the tables on offer in this collection are mostly Fantastic (see what I did there?). Blade, Spider-Man, Captain America, and Moon Knight would see a sale from me just with their inclusion. But added are good times with Doctor Strange, Thor, Fantastic Four, and Ghost Rider. Even the weaker ones, namely Wolverine, Iron Man, and X-Men, aren’t terrible by any means. Each has great features, and they join the other incredible adventures here for a fine superhero experience.

8. Star Wars Pinball Collection 1 ($23.99)

Some would say that Zen Studios went a bit crazy with the Star Wars license. There were nine movies made, with a couple of off-shoots and TV series, yet Zen found a way to build twenty-one different Star Wars tables, each with unique themes in the Star Wars universe. Ten of those tables appear in this first Star Wars Pinball Collection, and they are among the finest. The Masters of the Force table is easily my favorite, and that’s saying something as all of the tables in this collection are truly stellar (I can’t help myself).

The original Star Wars trilogy is represented here with Episode IV A New Hope, Episode V The Empire Strikes Back, and Episode VI Return of the Jedi. Each features licensed music and epic moments from those legendary films. The Clone Wars, Boba Fett, Starfighter Assault, and Darth Vader play fast and are surprising in their own right. Han Solo and Droids have their moments, but are a tad weaker compared to the rest. Still, “weak” in this collection is no bad thing as these are all fine tables.

9. Star Wars Pinball Collection 2 ($23.99)

Just underneath it’s Collection 1 counterpart, the second Star Wars Pinball Collection features nine tables, and most are quite fun. Solo is a surprising stand-out, here (not to be confused with the fun but weaker Han Solo table), and it has a lot of depth to it. Other top stand-outs are Rogue One and Star Wars Rebels, which found me coming back to them repeatedly. Other great tables are here, too, like The Force Awakens, Ahch-To Island, and Battle of Mimban, which was unexpected yet quite welcome. Rounding out the collection are The Last Jedi and Calrissian Chronicles, proving that the Force is strong with this collection.

10. Grimm Tales ($4.99)

The fact that Grimm Tales is the first stand-alone, non-Twilight Zone table on this list should tell you something. This table is amazing. It takes great parts of Medieval Madness, Epic Quest (a table sorely missed so far in Pinball FX), and Sorcerer’s Lair, and mashes them up in a storybook-themed pinball table. The Brothers Grimm would likely approve of the flow and content, I think. And even if they somehow didn’t, they’d be too busy enjoying the scenery and digital scoreboard effects while playing the ramps and castle targets to care. At $4.99, this one is a must-have.

11. Marvel Pinball Collection 2 ($29.99)

As the second Marvel collection, let’s get this out of the way: it is the better collection over the first Marvel outing. And that one is filled with incredible tables! Then why is this one so much lower? Although it includes 12 tables instead of the first collection’s 11, the asking price is 7 dollars more. It is absolutely worth it, but for the value, it slips a bit overall.

But don’t let that $29.99 price bother you too much as you will not regret a penny of it. There are no weak tables in this collection, unlike the first, and the standouts here are some of my favorite tables in the entire Zen catalog. World War Hulk is one of the greatest tables ever made, and sitting alongside it are Civil War, The Infinity Gauntlet, and Fear Itself. Rounding out the collection are Deadpool, Venom, Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel’s Avengers, Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, Marvel’s Ant-Man, Marvel’s Women of Power: A-Force, and Marvel’s Women of Power: Champions, all of which are excellent.

12. Jurassic World Pinball ($9.99)

Jurassic World Pinball is a bit of a misnomer because this is a collection that not only features the Jurassic World table, but Jurassic Park as well. Even stranger is the fact that the best table in this collection of three is Jurassic Park Pinball Mayhem. Don’t get me wrong, World and Park are great on their own, but Mayhem takes it all up a notch with its design and aesthetics, being the surprise stand-out table, here.

13. Wrath of the Elder Gods ($4.99)

The Wrath of the Elder Gods table has a winning theme to start with. It attempts to play with your psyche with its dynamics, starting with a bit of a bizarre musical theme given the material. But things get weird quickly as the eldritch-style horrors make their way across the space and into your mind. You won’t soon cease playing this one because it just won’t let you!

14. DreamWorks Pinball ($14.99)

Talking about surprises, DreamWorks Pinball brings all of the fun found in its How to Train your Dragon, Kung Fu Panda, and Trolls cinematic hits to vibrant pinball experiences. Each of these plays like a dream (come on, it was so obvious), and the themes and designs will keep you smiling as the scores rack up. The slight stand-out goes to Trolls, but that could honestly change depending on the day, for me; they’re all so whimsical, so appealing, and so good!

15. Zen Secrets & Shadows ($14.99)

Three of Zen Studios’ new original tables are found in this collection, and each features the move away from dot matrix to a high-definition digital scoring display. These are grand adventures, finding you pitted against the Curse of the Mummy, solving a gumshoe mystery in Pinball Noir, and seeking treasures with a steampunk crew in Sky Pirates: Treasures of the Clouds. The quest designs are top notch in these fantastical epics, and you’re sure to be unearthing the riches found in these masterpieces for a long time to come.

16. Godzilla vs. Kong Pinball Pack ($14.99)

Right before the Godzilla vs. Kong pack was announced, I was in a chat room talking about possible themes that would be amazing to see, and Godzilla and King Kong were among those. So when it was announced that not only would we get a Kong and a Godzilla table, but also a Godzilla vs. Kong table in a 3-table pack, I was beyond ecstatic.

Of course, the tables still had to deliver beyond their themes. And they are more than up to the task, for the most part. I feel that the Godzilla table is slightly on the weaker side compared to the other two due to the layout being a bit less comfortable for shots (which actually is akin to Godzilla), but it’s still fantastic.

I feel the standout among these is Kong. It plays like a dream, though Godzilla vs Kong is no slouch, either. The music, sounds, and graphics are all very appealing, and the use of the modern digital scoreboards on each is outstanding and engaging. Though I feel some of the other 3-packs are ever-so-slightly better overall, the use of the license is well-done here, and you’ll love every minute of your time with these tables.

17. Peanuts’ Snoopy Pinball ($5.49)

Likely the most surprising table for me, Peanuts’ Snoopy Pinball recreates everything that we love from the Peanuts gang. While it focuses on Snoopy with his Red Baron capers and his pal, Woodstock, the rest of the crew is here in full force. Lucy has her Psychiatric Help booth at the ready for a five cent charge, and she’s happy to give poor Charlie Brown a hard time with a football. Linus has his blanket, and everyone is ready for a round of baseball. The whimsy from decades ago is sure to win your heart over and over again.

18. Swords of Fury ($5.49)

Created in 1988, Swords of Fury has the honor of being the second oldest table currently available in Pinball FX, releasing a year after Space Station. However, being an older table doesn’t mean that this table lacks the goods. Quite the contrary, Swords of Fury begins with an excellent musical theme, and it provides a grand journey with Lionman as he tames Ogres Alley and becomes an Avenger after passing through the Magic Tunnel. The layout has a hybrid old-school design with a few modern sensibilities sprinkled about. The graphics and sounds are engaging, too, as this table stands the test of time.

19. The Machine: Bride of Pinbot ($5.49)

Released many years after the original Pinbot, this machine has a few tricks up her sleeve. The Machine: Bride of Pinbot shows how tables directly evolved over time. While the original Pinbot was a masterpiece for its time, Bride of Pinbot takes the theme and open playfield, and it runs with that concept while adding modern conventions. The original Pinbot even gets recognition here with his own mini-playfield. And, yes, the Easter egg works to find the mooing cow.

20. My Little Pony Pinball ($5.49)

Sure, this table may be based on a children’s show and toys, but who among us isn’t at least a child at heart? My Little Pony Pinball not only includes the iconic song, but it features a vibrant and enjoyable table layout as well. It is filled with interesting “Mane Modes,” and it has an exciting launch ball skill shot mechanic to boot!

21. World Cup Soccer ($9.99)

As possibly the single best table available in the entire catalog apart from Twilight Zone (and even that’s debatable by my own preference), World Cup Soccer also regained its FIFA license (a previous digital release didn’t have it and had to make a few liberties with the table), so this is the most authentic digital representation of the table available.

It also happens to be insanely fun to play, even for those of you that might not be the biggest fans of the theme. It has a lot of modes that make sense, and it does something unique by packing most of the targets and ramps to the sides, keeping the middle of the field open for shots of skill aimed at beating out the keeper and scoring a goal. There is even a special guest appearance from Raiden of Mortal Kombat fame! It may be $9.99 for one table, but it is absolutely worth it.

22. Williams Pinball: The Addams Family ($9.99)

There are few pinball tables as iconic as The Addams Family, and for good reason. The table takes the quirkiness of its source material and masterfully designs modes and features around it. From Thing taking the ball to lock it, to Cousin Itt’s target hunt, visiting the Addams in their home is always a treat on this table. Pricing it at $9.99 for this single table caused it to descend the ranks of this list, but it is still absolutely worth the price.

23. Crypt of the Necrodancer Pinball ($5.49)

This is a weird one. Let’s get that straight before anything else. Based on the hit rogue-lite rhythm game, this table has all of the charm from that game, with character sprite graphics for targets and a soundtrack that will be thumping in your head long after you’re done playing.

What you will notice right away, however, is that this is no ordinary pinball table. Conventional pinball rules are broken everywhere, and there will be times that, if not for the flippers and ball, you’d be forgiven for not realizing you’re playing pinball at all. Draining the ball doesn’t take a ball away but instead drains some health from your heart. There will be opportunities to aid your health as well, and you will be dancing with enemies, inventory, and your heart health across 6 different stages and their bosses.

It may be a bit bonkers compared with the other tables, but Crypt of the Necrodancer Pinball is fun, and once you start to understand its systems, you will likely be hooked. Depending on your tastes, this table could be in a much different spot on the list, but I feel it is well situated right here for being something a bit different and quite daring.

24. Garfield Pinball ($5.49)

Our favorite lazy cartoon cat is well represented in his own table, featuring not only himself, but Odie, Jon, Arlene, and others as well. The top of the table is ramp heavy, reminding me of the amazing Avengers tables (which are also, thus far, missed in Pinball FX). Learning how and when to aim at each ramp is key, giving you plenty of chances to feed Garfield and his friends, watch TV, and several other activities.

25. Gearbox Pinball ($14.99)

Though it features three tables for $14.99, the Gearbox collection is near the bottom of this list due to the tables being generally weaker than many listed higher on the charts. These tables are all fun, but there are some inconsistencies among them. The stand-out here is Homeworld: Journey to Hiigara, and it feels somewhat like the incredible Mars table (again, sorely missed in Pinball FX) if Mars added a few more elements to its play space. While I suspect most who purchase this collection will be after the Borderlands: Vault Hunter table, they will almost certainly find themselves drawn toward the Homeworld table far more often as it is the star (pun somewhat intended).

While having an iconic theme, the Borderlands table is quite erratic, with constant drop targets in the lower middle of the playfield and ramps jumping to the mid or segmented top areas. It actually can be a lot of fun, and the trademark Borderlands humor is spot on, but the design is lacking sensibility and smooth flow overall. And moving to the Brothers in Arms: Win the War table, it includes some inconsistencies throughout while also having a bland theme. The layout is actually decent, but the presentation is a bust due to using an overabundance of the dreaded military “grays, greens, and browns” that FPS games have been trying to move away from. It also doesn’t help that the digital scoring display showcases graphics from the now dated video game. A dot matrix display actually would have helped in this rare case. The music is emotional and decent, as is the sound design, so both of those are done quite well, but there is some foul language in the voice acting, so be aware with the kidos if that may be an issue.

26. World War Z Pinball ($5.49)

World War Z is a lot of fun. Let’s get that straight before explaining why it is so low on this list. The table takes place in a mall during a zombie outbreak, so what’s not to like? It actually is an engaging theme, but the set up of the table and flow is somewhat weaker than the tables above it. The modes are fun, including one where you fire at zombies from the side of the table, but the overall presentation and execution of it all is somewhat of a mess. Though, if a gory mess is what they were going for, Zen Studios certainly accomplished that! It is quite an exciting ride, just not up to the level of other available tables.

27. Star Wars Pinball: Thrill of the Hunt ($9.99)

Here we go, the dreaded Star Wars Pinball: Thrill of the Hunt. Two Star Wars tables for $9.99, and all Star Wars tables are supposed to be awesome, right? Almost. Even The Mandalorian, which saves this collection, is awesome. It flows well, has an excellent theme, and has charisma in spades among its modes and graphics.

But then there is Classic Collectibles. Man, did I want Classic Collectibles to work as a table. Who doesn’t love collecting, or even just seeing, these rare Star Wars action figures? The issue here is that, even though the concept is one of my favorites among the whole catalog (I love this theme!), the table is…well, it’s a mess.

Remember when I was describing World Cup Soccer, saying how it could be considered the best table due to it’s flow, keeping a wide open lane in the middle and having several activities off to the sides? Well, imagine starting with that great concept, but then thinking what a terrible idea it is that there’s not more stuff in the middle. And on the sides. And all around all of that stuff with flippers randomly placed among it all because there are never enough of those. The problem is that the ball has nowhere to go. It has no space to reasonably move about except for a small bottom portion. Sure, you can learn to get the ball to the different elements, but when it gets just a bit off target, bouncing all about, there’s no telling where it may end up. While this can be fun at times, constantly having to pinpoint locations down narrow, wayward paths can get tiring. The flow is as chaotic as it gets, though it can honestly be just as thrilling as it is irritating.

28. Indiana Jones: The Pinball Adventure ($14.99)

Ahh, Indiana Jones: The Pinball Adventure. What an excellent table you are. What an iconic experience you are. But my, what a large price tag you have! No doubt due to licensing a real-life table with an epic name attached to it, Indy’s adventure comes at the cost of $14.99 for the single table. When compared to the cost of owning the real machine, this price is a steal. But when compared to other video pinball tables in the Pinball FX catalog, the unique price point finds poor Indiana’s otherwise excellent table falling down the pit to the bottom of this list.

So there you have it, every purchasable table and pack available at the time of writing, ordered by their value for the quality you get. Obviously, lists like these are quite subjective, but I feel this is a fine overall order of things. How do you see it? Feel free to let us know, and have fun unleashing your inner pinball wizard in Pinball FX!