Pinball for the Atari 2600 is an action & adventure game that challenges players to score as many points as possible. The story follows a pinball player trying to escape from danger, with no specific narrative given. Instead, the player must navigate through increasingly difficult levels and avoid obstacles to reach the end of each stage.
Gameplay involves controlling the Pinball 's movement using basic buttons, aiming for bumpers, spinners, and rollovers to score points. The Atari logo rollover is a key feature that can award an extra ball when done successfully. As players progress through the game, levels become increasingly difficult, requiring precise timing and control to overcome obstacles.