Black Knight

Black Knight, released by Williams Electronics in 1980, stands as one of the most innovative and influential pinball machines of the early solid-state era. Designed by Steve Ritchie, it introduced several groundbreaking features that would become industry standards, including the first-ever magna-save feature and multi-level playfield in a production pinball machine.

The game's medieval theme was brought to life through its revolutionary split-level playfield design, featuring an upper and lower playing surface connected by wire ramps. This vertical integration of gameplay spaces was unprecedented at the time and created entirely new possibilities for pinball design. The magna-save feature, activated by buttons on the side of the cabinet, allowed players to magnetically capture balls that would otherwise drain, adding a new strategic element to gameplay.