Playing video game pinball can be almost as good as the real thing. Of course, playing on a real pinball table is the optimal way to do it, but a well-made simulation can come pretty close. Add in the fact that you can play from the comfort of your home, and you have a truly winning experience.

Today, we are going to have a look at the very best virtual pinball experiences you can get your hands on. It's funny how it has actually come full circle, with pinball machines leading to the arcade games that ultimately let to us having the luxury of home consoles. Now, it's those very same consoles and PCs that are going back and emulating the experience of pinball machines.

Anyway, enough on the history of how pinball lead to video games. Let's take a look at these awesome games, so you can get to reliving your pinball memories!

Pinball FX2

This is, in my opinion, one of the granddaddies of all the pinball video games. Why? Simply for the realistic nature of their custom tables. Sometimes, you might actually forget that you are playing a virtual pinball table and not the real thing. They look beautiful, and they are all fun to play as well. They also have some classic tables, which is perfect for any gamer looking to reminisce on the old days of hanging out at the pinball arcade.

This game is available on PC and Xbox 360, so you can choose how and where you want to play it. Some awesome notable tables are Plants Vs. Zombies, Star Wars, Rome, and the list goes on and on. Check out the game's website if you want to see the entire list of tables. Just remember, not all of the tables are available with the initial game, and they are for sale as microtransactions.

Pinball Arcade

For the gamer looking to play some of the most famous tables in video game history, this is exactly the game you want. If you think back fondly to certain tables, there is a good chance that it has been meticulously recreated by the developers of Pinball Arcade. Best of all, this game is available for every platform under the sun, including iOS, Android, Xbox 360, PS3, and Mac (it was given Greenlight status on Steam, so it's coming to PC soon).

When you buy the game, you get four tables included – Tales of the Arabian Nights, Ripley's Believe It or Not,  Theatre of Magic, and Black Hole – all of which are classics. The list of other tables available for purchase is absolutely massive. Regardless of what platform you choose to get the game for, you can count on having tons and tons of pinball to play, provided you are willing to shell out some extra cash.

Full Tilt! Pinball

I am willing to bet that you've probably played Full Tilt! Pinball, even if you don't realize it. That Space Cadet pinball table that came with every copy of Windows back in the day is from Full Tilt. While it might be the most readily available pinball game out there, it's actually quiet good, and even though it's a little on the older side, it's still a lot of fun to play.

The full version of the game actually comes with two more tables, so there is even more fun to be had. There is also a sequel called Full Tilt! Pinball 2, so you can get even more fun out of it. Of course, you'll have to find the CD to play it, but there are always means of downloading it if you are willing to look.

Devil’s Crush

This one is not as readily available as the newer games, as it is on the TurboGrafx-16, but boy oh boy is it ever awesome. This game embraces the fact that it's not a real table with some effects that just can't exist on a real table. Of course, for pinball purists, this will not be the game for you.

What makes this game so interesting is that it features a mix of single and multi-screen gameplay. This creates a really fun game that all pinball fans should try. Even if you don't like pinball, you should still play it, because it's just a fantastic video game all around.

Conclusion

For all of you pinball aficionados, these video games will be perfect for you. For most of us, it's not practical to have a pinball machine in our home, but with the magic of video games, you can help create some of the pinball feeling without breaking the bank. Even if you're not a pinball addict, and just a big fan of video games, I promise you will enjoy these.

What pinball video games do you love? Have you played any of the games listed above? Hit the comments section below and let us know!