Williams

Tales of the Arabian Nights

Pinside Rating

This game received 886 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 8.499 _/10

8.499

Top 100 ranking

This game ranks #30 in the Pinside Pinball Top 100.

Score breakdown

Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:

Game Design: 8.454

Artwork: 8.731

Sounds/Music: 8.095

Other Aspects: 8.512

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.

9.051

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Found 491 ratings (with comment) on this game

There are 491 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
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9.104/10

2 years ago

AWW

Triplecdad

Pinside member

Tucson, AZ

7y 48,100 262 9 12

Deserves a higher rating than 29th. Wish I owned this and hope CGC does a remake. This game is on route at a local bar. Numerous other games on location including new Sterns. Always play this the most. Ramps and shots and callouts are great but does need color dmd.

8.487/10

2 years ago

JDT

vitadarts

7y 24,500 1 9

Always Top 20

8.920/10

2 years ago

C P

Skatewake

Pinside+ Addict

2y 99,550 506 9 64 3

Great game

Skatewake edited previous rating on February 01, 2022.

6.729/10

2 years ago

DAS

Inflamedcarnie

Pinside member

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

2y 34,900 1 3 107 1

A great 'looker', but an average 'player'.

2 Pinsiders flagged this. 4 Pinsiders starred this!

7.655/10

2 years ago

ABF

Sheev_Palpatine

Pinside+ Frequent

4y 104K 664 69 1

So much fun! Awesome machine!!!

Sheev_Palpatine edited previous rating on October 01, 2022.

9.155/10

2 years ago

???

troon47

Pinside member

Vancouver, WA

6y 36,650 203 3 34

One of the most gorgeous tables ever made with some challenging shots....timeless classic.

8.055/10

2 years ago

DAD

Ivanhoe

Pinside+ Frequent

5y 53,050 136 15 6

I’ve played it virtually then finally had a chance to play it at a show. I really liked it, I would certainly consider adding it to my collection. If someone (looking at you CGC) makes a remake of it, I will certainly buy it. If I were to give some creative criticism it would be for the vacuum molded ramps to be made from wire form instead, this would the playfield to look cleaner, better built and more reliable, the plastic has a tendency to get stress cracking or break over time. The second thing I would critique is the need for a good topper, the game begging for a great topper, should be easy to do since there’s so much content to choose from. Overall, the game play is terrific and certainly enjoyable game after game.

9.032/10

2 years ago

PSM

Petes0281

Pinside member

Houston, TX

2y 34,300 33 2 9 1

Tales of the Arabian Nights is my 1st pinball machine I bought. The game is pretty fun to play. The sound is top notch for the time era. Skillshot, ball save, multiball, ramps all in one machine!

Petes0281 edited previous rating on December 15, 2022.
Petes0281 has this game on the wishlist.

9.661/10

2 years ago

???

TwirlingFern

Inactive member

Unknown

2y 7,500 31

Excellent table. Unique toy at the time of spinning lamp, and genie is cool. Game flows and plays very well. Beautiful music and great callouts. Multiple ways to play - go for lamp spins or jewels.

7.108/10

2 years ago

JMO

PinDaddyDrain

Pinside member

Unknown

3y 25,500 1 54

The Genie is cool, the animations are sweet, and the sounds are nice. It’s fun…just fun. Ya know? lol

7.568/10

2 years ago

TSE

thetylander

Pinside member

9y 54,800 56 10 50

Remember when these sold for about $2500 to $4000? Ah the good old days, and not so long ago!!!
This is more of a long term review rather than your typical “Oh boy I just bought my very first pinball machine and it’s the greatest game ever!!! I’m giving it a perfect 10!!!” type of thing you usually see on Pinside.
It’s not that I don’t love seeing the enthusiasm and joy, but give me some reasons why it’s perfect besides the fact that you snagged one.
I am guilty of giving Doctor Who a higher than average rating but I explained why… in far too many words!
This is Tales of the Arabian Nights and the reason why it will never grace my collection again.
Your mileage may vary.
Saggy naggy:
This is one of the games that features a saggy naggy. A female voice telling you constantly what to do. Great for an arcade setting, terrible for at home where your own saggy naggy is upstairs telling you to quit wasting time playing pinball and go finish changing the oil on the car.
The rest of the sound is awesome.
Caution! Fragile!!!:
This machine breaks, and nothing that breaks is cheap or easy to find in stock. Be prepared to make proper repairs as superglue and tape can still probably be found on many machines out in the wild. If you buy it from a location rather than one in a collection, buy a good set of tools and the service manual, just in case.
Price:
I started with a reference to the prices in the good old days, about 10 to 15 years ago I suppose? It has gone up almost 4X Bonus (when Lit) over the past decade and a half or so. The $10,000+ prices are crazy in my opinion, but demand and popularity makes the stupid people pay stupid amounts. Personally, I believe it should be around $6500 to $7500 for a good players condition machine, but that’s obviously just me!
Fun Factor:
Probably one of the most fun games I have ever played. The ramp shots are just amazingly smooth and when you get a rhythm going… yeah!!! Something to be experienced once in your lifetime!
If you start with any pinball machine that’s close to parts and rebuild it, you take a lot more pride in owning that machine. As time passes, you keep upgrading your mistakes and amateur attempts until everything meets your expectations of it looking and running like a good original or a professionally refurbished one.
But sometimes, once it’s done, you want to move on. At least with me there have been no regrets, and probably never will be. There probably aren’t any Arabian Nights in that condition anymore, which is good, but I think I liked the idea of taking a broken machine and returning it to its former glory more than actually owning the game. The $$$$ & more $$$$ values, they don’t really matter. A good game is a good game, regardless of the hype and desirability or lack thereof.
Tales of the Arabian Nights… if you have the means today, then I highly recommend it. Otherwise you can find a lot more fun (or even a couple “lesser” games) for much less. If you’re an investor, this one may have topped out for a while. Go buy some graded, slabbed and sealed video games instead. That market bubble hasn’t burst… yet!

thetylander has owned this game in the past.

3 Pinsiders flagged this. 3 Pinsiders starred this!

7.533/10

2 years ago

AOK

NetherFredo

Pinside apprentice

Cushing, MN

3y 35,400 7 9 92

A classic. Flows well.

9.044/10

2 years ago

???

RUSTY1

Pinside member

5y 22,000 6 19

Finally got a.chance to play this at an arcade bar in Kansas city. It has eluded me for years. After playing multiple games in a row I have to say that this is the best from its era. Now if I can just find someone to sell me a nice one for my home........Please!

8.816/10

2 years ago

ECW

Ecw0930

Pinside member

Fredericksburg, VA

4y 69,550 1,017 2 113

As fun and good as it gets. Layout is unique yet playable forever. The ramp is great with all the options once it gets up there. Spinning the lamp real hard is so satisfying. What a great spinner. The genie is great. His multiball how it disappears is a great trick. And it's great with 2 ways to beat the game.

One of the best classics.

Ecw0930 edited previous rating on January 23, 2022.
Ecw0930 has owned this game in the past.

9.560/10

2 years ago

CAC

Codybomb2000

Pinside member

2y 31,800 39 27 13

This is a great game if you want to keep playing over and over. When you get multiball, the magnet goes down under the playfeild with the ball. When lit on the ramp, you can shoot a fire ball. This is a game that every word they say, you can imagine yourself in the game doing that thing they are saying.

Codybomb2000 edited previous rating on October 16, 2022.
Codybomb2000 currently owns this game.

8.256/10

2 years ago

JAY

Buckeyepin

Pinside member

Powell, OH

9y 53,550 107 9 27

Just rediscovered this game at a barcade in Worthington Ohio. Even if I am a sucker for mid 90’s Bally/Williams games : this one stands out and is for some reason always an under rated game for this era ( theme perhaps ?).

You would be hard pressed to find a game where they packed more technology into the play field. Multiple ramp changes, hidden routes , and excellent use of magnets. It honestly made me ask .... why do all JJ and Stern play fields look alike now? This truly was the apex of Williams quest to integrate as many toys into the theme as possible. Super flow to the game, very nice rule set and an epic battle verses the genie. I would totally add this to my collection. Great Game.

Buckeyepin edited previous rating on July 03, 2023.
Buckeyepin has owned this game in the past.

9.080/10

2 years ago

KSM

munemori_s

Pinside member

Doral, FL

5y 36,900 59 27 12 3

Great game.
No auto fire so you have to keep launching balls at multiball. Cool. Magnets make the game fast. Lamp is fun

munemori_s currently owns this game.

9.800/10

2 years ago

BDC

Iewindowman

Pinside+ Addict

4y 40,650 3 24 1

I have wanted this game for a long time. I was just able to pick it up. It will never leave my collection. I now understand why people haven’t wanted to let this game go from their collections. I believe it is a perfectly balanced 90’s pinball. I love the toys and interaction of this game with the spikes and genie. The magnet dropping and allowing the ball to go below the play field is super cool as well. Williams made so many amazing games in the 90s

8.940/10

3 years ago

GEB

gb

Pinside+ Frequent

Broomfield, CO

11y 33,550 34 9 6

TOTAN is arguably the most beautiful pin made, especially the playfield. Combined with the music it does take you to a faraway land. It has a good number of hidden shots, like the harem. Battling the genie, the wizard mode is fun and exciting with the back and forth of who is winning. The tales however lack variety - they require many of the same shots. It also does not have a deep rule set, and is easy to beat for an experienced player.

gb currently owns this game.

8.660/10

3 years ago

DDS

Shubbydoo

Pinside+ Frequent

Melbourne, Fl 32934, FL

5y 58,900 49 10 61 8

ToTAN is simply put an all-time pinball classic machine. It gets everything right. Flow, art, music, theme, and just plain fun. Most pinheads haven't played this very often. Collectors have bought them up and hold them and when you do find one in the wild it is tired and thus the flippers and mechs may not work 100%. When this game is set up correctly and working 100% it is buttery smooth. Not as smooth as ToM though. It is semi-rare especially in near mint condition which adds to the mystic. Be prepared to spend big $$$$ if you find one that has been taken care of. Like all Bally/William of this era it is somewhat limited in modes and ruleset. Get'r done!!

Shubbydoo edited previous rating on April 25, 2021.
Shubbydoo has owned this game in the past.

9.860/10

3 years ago

VSS

naf_llabnip

Pinside member

3y 52,300 358 4 14

I realized when rating this machine that I am rating it slightly higher than any other machine I have ever played. It is that good ... really there are no weak points in my opinion. I don't "love" the theme, but it is SO well executed and so much fun it is impossible for me to not completely love this machine.

naf_llabnip has this game on the wishlist.

8.496/10

3 years ago

BPS

Soulrider911

FOF

Walnut Creek, CA

7y 104K 3,131 6 12 1

One of the best, some truly rare mechanics in this machine

Soulrider911 currently owns this game.

9.120/10

3 years ago

SYD

Onwallst

Pinside member

Denver, CO

8y 82,550 655 95

Wpc95 classic. Great game. Unique skill shot. We love it but you need to have a deeper collection. Top 10 game. Very underrated.

8.060/10

3 years ago

DAD

SWfan

Inactive member

Newport Beach, CA

4y 48,150 142 1 56

Playfield is a little crowded and bash toys a little big, as the lamp gets in the way of a lot of the shots and kills the flow, but still a fun pin. I love the spikes that come up just above the inlanes, that is awesome! And in generally, one of the best use of magnets in any pin!!

SWfan edited previous rating on February 03, 2021.

9.564/10

3 years ago

JEC

Berserk

Pinside member

Kincardine, ON

12y 51,650 262 4 23

Probably my favorite game out of the B/W lineup, TOTAN is as close as you can get to perfection in pinball, at least for when the time it came out in. So much to do and a lot of really satisfying shots to make. Also I legit skill shot which can be quite difficult to master even with a well tuned machine. Music and sound is what really brings this game together, it sets the tone early on that adventure you are about to take. Even my wife, who isn't huge into pinball absolutely loves this game. If there is one thing I would say is a slight drawback, is that the plastic ramps do seem to clutter the playfield a bit, but you would hardly notice when you are playing. I would love to own one, I would love to see a remake as I would be on the list to get one for sure.

Berserk has this game on the wishlist.

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