Joust

Joust is a solid-state electronic head-to-head pinball machine designed by Barry Oursler and released by Williams Electronics in April 1983 (only 402 units were made). It introduced simultaneous play for two players competing at opposite ends of the same playfield, each pressing flipper buttons that control only the two flippers facing their opponent.

The gameplay features that set Joust apart include its four flippers split between the two players, two kick-out holes, a 3-bank of drop targets, a 2-in-line pair of drop targets, and two spinning targets. What truly sets Joust apart is its final mode: after both players have drained all their balls, each gets a final 30 seconds to score as many points as possible with unlimited balls.

Visually, Joust boasts a clean, minimalist design with bold colors and simple graphics, reflecting the shift toward more straightforward gameplay themes in the early 1980s. Originally developed under the name 'Conflict' (the 'Joust' name having previously been used for an unrelated 1981 video game), it remains a notable, low-production entry in pinball history, celebrated for its head-to-head gameplay mechanic.