Robot Bowl

About

Robot Bowl is a 1977 arcade bowling game where you control robot bowlers using five buttons to aim, shoot, and hook the ball. The black and white visuals focus on standard bowling rules but add a twist: hook shots can only be made after the ball is thrown. This makes spares easier but splits more common, balancing skill and challenge. Play single-player or two-player matches to battle or team up, with scores hinging on timing and precision. The game came in two cabinet styles. The upright version reused old driving game cabinets, featuring a hole in the front rebranded as a "ball return" to hide the missing gas pedal. The cocktail model had a round top and side-mounted controls, requiring players to tilt their view. Both used the same hardware but offered distinct setups. While early arcade bowling, its simple mechanics and quirky cabinet stories have kept it a niche favorite among retro gamers.