Sonic Spinball was developed by Sega Technical Institute and published by Sega, released for the Genesis in 1993 as a pinball spin-off built around Sonic the Hedgehog’s speed and physics rather than his usual platforming stages. Set across four large, interconnected pinball tables inside Dr. Robotnik’s volcanic base, players launch Sonic like a ball, using flippers, bumpers, and ramps while also being able to jump, spin, and roll to actively steer between targets rather than relying purely on passive pinball physics. Its multi-tiered tables hid secret paths, boss fights, and Chaos Emerald bonus stages, blending traditional pinball scoring with the exploration and momentum-based feel that defined the mainline Sonic games. Rushed into production to meet a holiday release window, it drew criticism at the time for occasionally frustrating physics and steep difficulty, but it has since found a more forgiving audience among Sonic fans and pinball enthusiasts who appreciate its ambitious attempt to reinvent the format.