About this game
Released in 1999, Pokémon Pinball is one of the most successful genre spinoffs in the Pokémon franchise — a pinball game with two tables, Red and Blue, each corresponding to one version of the original games. The core loop rewarded players for keeping the ball alive long enough to encounter, catch, and evolve Pokémon, carrying the collection-driven compulsion of the main series into an entirely different game format. Notably, the cartridge included a built-in rumble pak, one of the first Game Boy Color games to include haptic feedback.
Key Features
Two pinball tables — Red and Blue — each with distinct layouts and exclusive Pokémon encounters, a catch-and-evolve loop rewarding ball survival and accurate aim, built-in rumble pak providing haptic feedback from within the cartridge itself, and compatibility with the Game Boy Printer for trophy output.
The Story Behind
Pokémon Pinball arrived at the height of global Pokémon fever in 1999, alongside the anime's international expansion and the trading card game's worldwide popularity. Its commercial success demonstrated that the Pokémon brand could extend to genres far beyond RPGs while retaining its core appeal. The game sold over 5 million copies worldwide.
Tricks & Tales
The rumble pak was embedded inside the cartridge itself rather than as an external accessory — an engineering solution that surprised many players when they first felt the vibration from the cartridge in their hand. The game required 2 AA batteries in addition to the Game Boy Color's own batteries to power the rumble feature. All 151 original Pokémon can be caught across both tables.
Collector's Guide
Available in our shop
Hand-cleaned and tested units shipped worldwide from Toyohashi, Japan. HP direct purchase exclusive: we include a printed shop owner's note card with every order.
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