Pro Pool is a add-a-ball and more desirable (and rare if that’s important to you) than Big Shot. You will enjoy the Pro Pool much better.

Carefully watch the accuracy of the bonus count on Hot Shot...it can be hard to dial in. I think Hot Shot is a fun 4 player with simple rules. Casual player seem to enjoy it.

EM multi-player games, as a rule, require resetting features on every ball, due to a lack of memory. Unlike with single player games, there is no ball to ball progressive play (other than total score) as a result.

I much prefer Pro Pool's gameplay (progressive target completion as well as add-a-ball) over its multi-player (and standard replay) cousins - Hot Shot and Big Shot.

Check this out if you haven't already:

I think the difference in ranking is probably influenced by one-player add-a-ball versus multi-player replay.

If you plan to play alone, I think the add-a-ball version would have more longevity.

If you plan to play with others, a two-player game is infinitely more desirable in my opinion, to the point I’m seeking only two-players in my collection.

The slight downside when playing a multi-player by yourself is that winning a replay is not as thrilling as extending your game by one or more balls.

From a resale perspective, I think the art package on Pro Pool is more desirable to collectors. And, Hot Shot/Big Shot seem readily available if you ever decide to change your mind down the road.

Quoting to agree.

Unlike Pro Pool, Hot/Big Shot has an end of ball bonus. Playing the multiplayer version against friends with the bonus and bonus multiplier kicking in on later balls can be great. Better have a good last ball.

But if you play solo more often than not, the Pro Pool is a pretty easy choice in my book.

As AndrewP mentioned, if you’re going to play with other people, I’d much rather have the 2 player Big Shot. I personally don’t prefer one over the other between Add a balls and replay games but lots of people do.

Nothing against single players or 4 player games but I’d prefer it if all my machines were 2 player games. Easier to work on and less cluttered than 4 player games and more fun for competition than single players.

My Big Shot being played a couple weeks ago by 4 less than casual players..stars at 1:04:00. https://m.twitch.tv/videos/1520628614. Game is on location at the Delaware Pinball Collective.

The EM rankings are even more worthless than for the newer games. Like a 2-player version of a title getting a half point higher rating than the 4-player. And if you start scrolling down the Top 100 EM list? Waaaay too many in there where I'm thinking 'You GOTTA be kidding'.