Pinside rating

This game received 804 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 8.070 _/10

8.07

Top 100 ranking

This game ranks #68 in the Pinside Pinball Top 100.

Score breakdown

Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:

Game Design: 8.094

Artwork: 8.294

Sounds/Music: 7.433

Other Aspects: 8.207

Pinside staff rating

This is how we, the very knowledgeable (wink wink) Pinside.com staff & moderators rate this game. 9 of us have rated this game.

7.562

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Found 440 ratings (with comment) on this game

There are 440 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
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8.368/10

5 days ago

DRD

DrDrain

Pinside member

8y 35,400 57 112

Fish Tales is a fun game.

The layout very innovative with the boat in the middle and the gameplay has a very nice flow to it. All of the shots feel satisfying and I especially like the shot to the left orbit through the spinner. The game has one of the best toppers of all time. It is even better than the new Stern toppers in my opinion. That fish is looking so great.

The rules are not very deep. There's basically just the multiball, it's jackpots and the four fish you have to catch and tell tales about. That is one of the funniest ideas of any game. I love hearing that "Get outta here!".

Playing the game is very much fun although it can get a bit repetitive after a while. But trying to collect those jackpots is not that easy and often drew me back towards this game.

Overall Fish Tales is a very fun game which will probably be most suitable for beginners and more casual players. It is also a game through that I have learned to become a better player.

3 Pinsiders starred this!

8.852/10

29 days ago

GMS

gmanrulz46

Pinside+ Frequent

Yonkers, NY

5y 69,050 539 8 26

Very good mark ritchie game

gmanrulz46 currently owns this game.

7.607/10

72 days ago

???

iammrkevin

Pinside apprentice

Alpharetta, GA

<1y 9,150 4 1 20

This is one I keep going back to when I see where it ranks here. I am not a fan of the layout and the gimmicks in this one and over the years that has not changed. Williams did a great job in this time period with some unique themes. This one isn't for me, but I totally get that for some people this theme is perfect.

2 Pinsiders flagged this.

8.512/10

3 months ago

ROG

Maik

Pinside member

Hannover

3y 24,250 11 24

Great Pinball. Very Fast.

Maik has this game on the wishlist.

9.260/10

4 months ago

???

Fmfreim

Pinside member

Arlington, VA

6y 32,550 22 17 7

This was the 1st machine I owned and I never tire of it

Fmfreim currently owns this game.

9.020/10

5 months ago

ZAK

Nintegageo

Pinside member

Ottawa

<1y 40,050 189 5 33 1

This is my newest pin, and was on my list as a machine to own. The theme is just so awesome and original, as is the gameplay. The smaller slippers certainly add challenge, however there are plenty of ways to get high scores. The topper looks great, though I do have mine set not to smash its tail.
The art is bright and has character. Highly recommend LEDs, with matching coloured ones under the fish at least.
The boat in the middle reminds me of the elevator in Who Dunnit? Though I rather the boat. It is iust fast and smooth, while allowing control.
Seriously just a great game, highly recommend!

Nintegageo edited previous rating on June 28, 2023.
Nintegageo currently owns this game.

7.898/10

5 months ago

UWU

Thegamerskunk

Pinside member

<1y 20,400 9 1 31

When you hit the Captive Ball, 90% of the time, the ball goes down the middle. Thats the only flaw but otherwise, its a good one!

8.420/10

6 months ago

CHJ

raph2711

Pinside apprentice

Toulouse

3y 11,500 2 9

Good game, the atmosphere pleases everyone

raph2711 currently owns this game.

9.660/10

6 months ago

FLX

Tarlos

Pinside member

Montréal, QC

<1y 19,500 1 5 10

Maybe I'm biased a little, but Fish Tales is one of the most, if not the most, fun pinball of all time for me. It just scream light family fun and everybody come back to it, even if you complete the game easily. Goofy humor, funny music, rules easy to understand for the newcomers: a great pin.

Tarlos currently owns this game.

8.300/10

7 months ago

PAR

Pinside member

9y 27,350 44 8

Family friendly game, great flow, loop shots are fun, Very challenging if game has the shorter lightning flippers. Much easier to play with the standard length Williams flippers

8.532/10

7 months ago

UWU

Rewdood

Pinside+ Addict

Truckee, CA

5y 39,400 44 12 16

I installed a new boat plastic and protector and it broke on the posts the first ball I played 10/10 would shoot jet skis again

Rewdood currently owns this game.

8.376/10

9 months ago

JAY

Buckeyepin

Pinside member

Powell, OH

8y 51,050 98 11 26

Just picked up a Fish Tales to bring one back to life. I always enjoyed playing thjs out but never took the theme seriously because I am not a big fishing fanatic. What I forgot is that ALL B/W from this era have such a high quality feel to the game ( solid cabinet, flippers and slings) that you realize your playing a game from another time and place in pin production. Diamond Plated playfields seem to last inexplicably long. It is still perfect after about 40,000 plays is my guess.

FT has a very basic rules set: Hit the boat ramps, load Multi Ball and stack modes to increase playfield values. The music is campy for sure and it is a simple game in general....but the posts provide real risk reward and the variety of shots keeps the game from being too repetitive ( at least for the era!). Overall the game is great in a big collection and a nice call back to B/W prime. There is a reason you see them EVERYWHERE even today. Timeless theme, kid friendly, and its always a riot to see that fish kick on captive ball shots ( gotta get that solenoid just right in there !).

Buckeyepin has owned this game in the past.

7.950/10

10 months ago

NBC

Nick-C

Pinside member

Saint Charles, MO

<1y 24,150 4 3 9 1

This game is a blast! The music is catchy, and then sort of annoying, but will get in your head and you can't shake it. I thought it played well - I've only played it at the Pinball Museum in Las Vegas, so it may not have been in the best shape. I'm really hoping Chicago Gaming Company remakes this.

7.375/10

11 months ago

TLG

Gordo14131

Pinside+ Frequent

Chesterfield, VA

5y 32,500 3 26

Not my favorite. I’m not a fan of tables where I lose sight of the ball on the upper most part of the playfield. Was ok to play, played a few times probably not interested in playing again.

7.659/10

11 months ago

BUZ

Buzzerz

Pinside apprentice

Bredared

<1y 11,750 3 16

Great competitive game, hard to master and can be brutal if you don't hit your shots. As a home owned game it gets quiet repetitive, sold mine but still love to play it at locations when competing. Love the theme.

Buzzerz edited previous rating on October 15, 2022.
Buzzerz has owned this game in the past.

6.530/10

12 months ago

JEC

Berserk

Pinside member

Kincardine, ON

11y 51,650 262 4 23

A 90s classic machine and a favorite for many and rightfully so. It's a fun machine especially hitting the left and right ramps is very satisfying. It's not one of my personal favs, but I can see why many people love it.

3 Pinsiders flagged this.

8.620/10

1 year ago

???

Iliketofish

Pinside+ Frequent

Marathon, FL

1y 34,150 24 7 7

When I got into this hobby, being I love to get offshore and fish, I had my eyes on the pin since day one. Finally acquired one and glad I did. Needed a little love and after wards, this is a fast fun game. The wife actually has some games on it and enjoys it which says a lot. She doesn’t veer from Terminator 2. Rules are easy to understand, shots are fun and satisfying to hit. Love the call outs and music. This will not be leaving my game room.

Iliketofish edited previous rating on August 30, 2022.
Iliketofish currently owns this game.

8.820/10

1 year ago

ET

skiman

Pinside member

Sandy, UT

5y 24,900 18 10

I hate fishing but I like fish tales. This game had complex rules for its time. I love the boat shot and the video mode. The music gets annoying after a while, but I kept the volume pretty low. I enjoyed this game while I had it, but I don't really miss it now that I traded it

7.244/10

1 year ago

SEX

mpdpvdpin

Pinside member

Providence, RI

6y 92,300 3,878 9 96 1

This is one of those games I just walk right by without even thinking of playing. The theme the layout…its just not for me.

2 Pinsiders flagged this.

8.816/10

1 year ago

MEA

Charger

Pinside member

8y 28,650 2 11

An often overlooked game. It’s fun and can be played casually or deeply explored with more serious play.

8.236/10

1 year ago

???

kbenson13

Pinside+ Frequent

Houston, TX

1y 28,900 62 3 7

This game is tough but fun. The sound and music are absolutely perfect for this game, and really draw you in. If you can't play this game with the volume cranked up, you are missing out. The ruleset is shallow but fun and challenging. Obviously, the topper is the best topper ever made for any pinball machine. I would love to own this game, and I'm kinda hoping CGC gets around to remaking this one.

9.120/10

1 year ago

SUL

chromag

Pinside+ Frequent

Cloverdale, CA

11y 57,900 37 15 19

Fish Tales is a pin that made my short list of 90's games to get around 10 years ago. I only played it on one occasion, but fell hard.
Never able to time it right for many years when it was everywhere for 3k, I finally got one this month and I am now obsessed with it!
It's very much still the honeymoon so I'll try to take it easy, but I've had MM and AFM in the past and FT is right there in my book.
Fast and brutal games are mixed with magical pinball experiences you don't forget.
Lots of flow and different ways to score big when yer rolling and a game design that just works so well with the layout.
Just had my first game over 200m and it was a rush!!
She is also one of the best looking pins ever.......just gorgeous!!
When I even think about hitting the captive ball it drains.....love it.
Every shot satisfies when lit up for high scoring and extra ball is earned.
I love everything about this pin!!

chromag edited previous rating on July 05, 2022.
chromag has owned this game in the past.

5.246/10

1 year ago

ECW

Ecw0930

Pinside member

Fredericksburg, VA

3y 66,550 943 2 112

Not worth the hype. Play bc of what it is. Don't play it much bc of what it is.....

7 Pinsiders flagged this.

8.543/10

1 year ago

KVV

Kevv

Pinside member

Ghent

2y 18,150 6 4 6

Great simple game.

The rules are not deep at all, but there's some different things to do like going for the super jackpot, collecting fish, boat frenzy, ... I really like going for the super jackpot as it seems attainable but still poses a challenge to actually achieve and score big points. Locking a ball is very satisfying, but other than that there's not really any toys except maybe for the topper but that's not really a toy.

Flow on this table is amazing though. There's not that much shots, but they're all very nice to shoot. The shorter flippers also pose an extra challenge and ball times are often not that long.

The theme is simple but fun. Catching fish is something everyone understands and most people can get into. The music is outstanding and callouts are great as well.

Kevv currently owns this game.

9.020/10

1 year ago

ETI

Tienou45

Inactive member

Gien

1y 13,750 8

My first pinball, I should never has sold him

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There are 440 ratings (that include a comment) on this game. Currently showing results page 1 of 18.

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