12 Flipping Good Gift Ideas For Pinball Wizards

The nostalgic thrill you get at the pinball table is a magical one that never passes, so treat a pinball lover to a gift they'll love.

If you got into playing pinball machines in arcades as a kid, then I'm sure you understand just how wonderful they are.

As the bright colours, blinking lights, artwork, and buzzing sounds completely absorb you, while trying to master the ball with the flippers as it constantly threatens to get past you takes every ounce of your attention.

And when the game is finally over, you just can't help yourself but to want to play all over again.

So for this reason pinball retains fans even as the kids turn into adults, with many enthusiasts loving nothing more than finding and playing their favourite machines.

And if you know someone like this, then getting them a pinball related gift is a really thoughtful thing to do.

So check out the following gift ideas for pinball wizards, which contain a range of things that they'd love to receive.

1. A Book Celebrating Pinball Tables Of Yesteryear

Much of the joy of pinball is the nostalgic feeling and love people have for the tables they played on as a kid.

So getting a pinball lover a book that documents all the pinball tables of their childhood and beyond is our first gift idea on this list.

And one I'd recommend is The Complete Pinball Book, which shows the progression in pinball machines from the 1930s onwards.

With another good choice being Pinball Compendium: 1982 To Present, for a more detailed look at the pinball machines of the past 40 years.

2. Pinball Tapestry Art For Their Walls

Getting a pinball wizard some pinball-related artwork for their home is another nice gift idea.

And you have plenty of choice here, from posters of artwork from old machines, blown up apron cards, or framed flyers from their favourite pinball machines of the past.

Or you could go for a piece of tapestry to hang on a wall or window, such as the Grateful Dead pinball wall tapestry above.

And this one has a 3D print that comes alive when wearing the 3D glasses that are included, creating a real psychedelic experience.

3. A Backlit Pinball Translite That Looks Great Hanging On The Wall

Translites are the really cool backlit artwork you see on the face of a pinball machine, and the good news is you can also buy these as pieces of standalone wall art.

So they can make for a fantastic gift for a pinball enthusiast.

As a translite from one of their favourite machines will take pride of place on their wall, and the vibrant colours and design will be a real talking point when lit up.

So take a look at the pinball translites at Flyland Designs, with a nice example being the Whitewater pinball translite.

And you can also order these as posters too, if you don't want to go the whole hog with the frames and backlights.

4. A Pinball Bumper Nightlight

Another really cool gift idea for a pinball lover is to get them something that is crafted from a real piece of equipment from an old pinball machine.

As you can find bottle openers, lights, and other small items crafted from flippers, bumpers, and other things from disused machines.

And one such item that I think makes for a good gift are the pinball bumper nightlights from Tiltcycle.

As these are original pinball bumpers with a range of styles and designs that have been repurposed in nightlights that you plug into your sockets at home.

And they look fantastic when lighting up as you walk past them, as well as being a true piece of pinball nostalgia.

5. A Retro Pinball Keychain

If you're after a small stocking stuffer gift idea for a keen pinball player, then look no further than the RepliCade insert coin keychain.

As this is a really awesome piece of retro nostalgia that they can carry around with them in their pocket.

And it'll make them fancy a game of pinball every time they get their keys out to open the front door!

6. A Pinball Video Game That Replicates The Action

While many kids and adults love pinball, getting to an arcade is not always possible, and owning your own machine can cost an absolute fortune.

So a great alternative that can help to fill those pinball cravings and makes for a good gift is to get them a pinball video game for their games console.

As these games are so realistic and lifelike nowadays, they are almost as good as playing the real thing.

And one that is popular in the pinball community is The Pinball Arcade, which has replicated over 20 famous and popular pinball machines for them to play away on to their hearts content.

7. A Pinball-Related Board Game

Board games can be fun, especially at Christmas time when you have all the family together.

So rather than getting the Monopoly board out this year, why not mix things up by getting a pinball fan the Super Skill Pinball: 4-Cade board game.

As this is a fun way to bring the skill and choices they make on a pinball table to life, as 4 players all chase the highest score with their selections from dice rolls.

So it's a novel way of controlling the flippers, bumpers, and pinball, and is a fun way to pass the holidays until they can get back to the arcades again.

8. A Pinball Machine Game For Kids

If you have a young one that really loves playing pinball machines in the arcades, then the next gift idea is the one for them.

As the Brio pinball game is a great way for them to have their pinball fun (albeit without the flashing lights and buzzing sounds), while improving their skill and timing.

And this will only help them to enjoy the real thing even more on their next visit to the arcade.

9. A Real Pinball Machine For The Big Kids!

Now the ultimate gift for any pinball lover would be to get them their own pinball machine to use at home.

And if you have the budget to stretch to this, then you'll be popular with them forever with this one!

However, these machines can run well into thousands of dollars, depending on condition and how desired they are.

So you can check out a selection of machines at The Pinball Company, where you can be assured of getting one that has been restored well and will work.

Or if your pinball wizard has a good knowledge of how they work, and is quite handy, then you could look for a fixer upper for them on Craigslist or Facebook groups to save some money.

10. A Magnetic Cup Holder For Their Pinball Machine

When you get absorbed in a pinball machine, you can lose hours in the blink of an eye.

So many people like to play with a drink by their side, whether that be a soda for the kids or a beer for the adults.

But the problem is that there is often nowhere to put it, as you can't balance it on the machine itself, and putting it on the floor is asking for it to be kicked over.

So a nice little gift for someone who likes to drink and play at the same time is the Master Magnetics cup caddy.

As they can attach this cup holder to the side of the pinball machine they are playing on, and rest their drinks in it without having to worry about anything.

11. An Anti-Fatigue Mat To Keep Them Feeling Fresh

Standing up for hours at a time can really take it's toll on a pinball player, leading to sore feet and lower limb fatigue.

So a gift that someone who has their own pinball table at home will really appreciate (and might not know they need themselves) is an anti-fatigue mat.

As standing on one of these mats as they play will greatly cut down on any aches, pains, and fatigue, leaving them feeling fresher and able to play for longer.

With the Sky Solutions anti-fatigue mat being a good choice for this, as it's well made, does the job, and comes in a range of colours to match their pinball table design.

12. A Neon Wall Sign For Their Man Cave

Anyone who is lucky enough to have a games room and a pinball table at home has already got it made.

However, one gift that can provide the finishing touch to their man cave is to get them a neon wall sign to create a real arcade atmosphere.

And one that is perfect for pinball lovers is the pinball neon wall sign above.

Rounding Up

Pinball machines are beautiful to look at, great fun and addictive to play, and stir up warm feelings of nostalgia in us.

So if you know someone that still loves to play pinball, getting them a gift related to it is a great thing to do.

And they'll be sure to love the gift ideas for pinball wizards that I've given you here, as each one can brighten their day in one way or another.