Pinball is an archaic arcade game for some, a technical marvel for others, and a favorite pastime for more and more dedicated players. Little is commonly known about pinball except that it’s made up of big sturdy amusement machines where you shoot steel marbles with flippers up a tilted playfield. Both game culture communities as well as scholars tend to underestimate the finesse of playing and the design decisions behind developing physical pinball devices. Most importantly, it is a game of hybridization in different aspects: Pinball is physical and digital, retro and contemporary, mechanical and electronic, skill-based and chance-induced. Therefore it should be worth more attention. This talk gives an overview on why pinball research could be more than a side note within game studies.