American Pinball is a Chicago-based pinball machine manufacturer, founded in 2015 by Dhaval Vasani and backed by Aimtron. Its first game, Houdini, was released in 2017, followed by Oktoberfest, Hot Wheels, and Legends of Valhalla. The company has employed game designers like Joe Balcer and Dennis Nordman and is rumored to be releasing a new game in 2023.
- Pinball games:6
- Years active:2015-Present
- Status:Active
- Location:Chicago, IL, USA
- Website:American Pinball
About American Pinball
American Pinball is a Chicago-area pinball manufacturer founded in 2015 by Dhaval Vasani, whose family’s electronics firm Aimtron helped establish the venture. Initially collaborating with designer John Popadiuk to finish the partially completed “Magic Girl,” American Pinball soon shifted direction, bringing in veteran designer Joe Balcer to produce a new concept called Houdini: Master of Mystery, which entered production in late 2017 as the company’s first original release. This debut title garnered attention for its intricate artwork, steampunk-magician theme, and notably challenging shot layout, helping the startup carve out a niche among collectors and operators seeking fresh pinball designs.
Building on Houdini’s success, American Pinball expanded in 2018 to a larger Palatine, Illinois facility for higher-volume manufacturing. The company followed up with Oktoberfest: Pinball on Tap in 2019, blending a whimsical festival theme with lighter, more approachable gameplay. Subsequent releases included the licensed racer Hot Wheels (2020) and Legends of Valhalla (2021), the latter developed in partnership with Riot Pinball to highlight Viking-era battles and mythology. In 2023, American Pinball introduced Galactic Tank Force, an original sci-fi adventure featuring live-action video elements, underscoring the firm’s willingness to explore diverse themes and innovative approaches. A limited-edition tribute to legendary designer Barry Oursler titled Barry O’s Barbecue Challenge launched in 2024, further signaling the company’s recognition of pinball’s historical figures.
By 2025, American Pinball had begun refocusing its business strategy toward contract manufacturing amid market challenges, while also experiencing a key leadership change when Executive Vice President David Fix departed that January. Despite workforce reductions, rumors persisted of a forthcoming licensed “Cuphead” title nearing completion, suggesting the possibility of future American Pinball creations under a revised operational model. Having spent its first decade melding original and licensed themes with a reputation for solid engineering, American Pinball continues to shape the evolving landscape of modern pinball.
