Card Castle

The Card Castle is an electro-mechanical add-a-ball machine from Nordamatic, an Italian manufacturer based in Verona that operated from 1975 to 1979. This single-player game was produced in 1977 and carries a cards/gambling theme.

Gameplay features two flippers, two pop bumpers, eight standup targets, a spinning target, and a star rollover — notably, the machine has no slingshots, which adds an extra layer of challenge for players navigating the playfield. As an add-a-ball game, it follows the European convention (common on games like this from the era) of awarding extra balls rather than the replay-based scoring typical of American machines of the time.

Little is documented about the specific artwork or designer behind Card Castle, and one known example on record has had its score windows altered with fake numbers by an owner for use as wall art, rather than reflecting an original playthrough. Despite the scarcity of information, the machine remains an interesting example of Nordamatic's brief run as a pinball manufacturer.