Pokémon Pinball for the Game Boy and its sequel, Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire for the Game Boy Advance, transformed the traditional pinball experience with a unique Pokémon twist. These games cleverly integrated the mechanics of pinball with the Pokémon world, challenging players to capture Pokémon by hitting specific targets on the pinball table with a Poké Ball-themed pinball. Each table was themed around different environments from the Pokémon universe, complete with obstacles, evolution stages, and boss battles against iconic Pokémon. Pokémon Pinball introduced an innovative rumble feature for the Game Boy Color, enhancing the tactile feedback with each flipper action or when the ball hit targets, while its sequel expanded on the concept with tables based on the Hoenn region from Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire versions. With their engaging gameplay, vibrant graphics, and the compelling goal of completing the Pokédex by capturing and evolving Pokémon, both games offered a refreshingly creative take on pinball and became beloved classics among Pokémon fans and pinball enthusiasts alike.

Pokemon Pinball released for the Gameboy Color had an interesting piece of hardware, the rumble pack, built into the cartridge. The battery pack required a AAA battery to add rumble to the game.

Pokemon Pinball Ruby & Sapphire

A sequel, Pokemon Pinball Ruby & Sapphire was released in 2003. This game was released on a standard cartridge and didn’t have the rumble feature built into the GBC game.