Best Table Hockey Games: Air, Rod, Stick, Bubble, Dome & Ice
There are many types of hockey table games on the market which means you can find the type you want, the one that suits your interest best. Today I want to show you all those different types of hockey table game because I am sure that there are some table hockey models you haven’t heard of.
I like the fact that there are different hockey table games because that is not a common feature in the game table world. This is great because you can pick the game table by your desires, which means that you can play with small players or you can play the game with pucks and strikers. So, to help you see which hockey table game is the best for you I have gathered them all in one article and the only thing you have to do is read the article.
Different Hockey Table Game Types on the Market
Air Hockey Table
The first and the most famous hockey table game is the air hockey. It is as popular as a foosball table, even more popular, and it is the most common game table in the hockey category. The air hockey game table is the biggest and its only disadvantage is that you have to have enough room for it in your game room or your living room. It is also the most durable game table and it provides you a chance to really hit the puck. That means that you can play as hard as you can and the table will stand like nothing happen. But that, of course, depends on the quality of the table and the brand which made it.
The basic principle on which the air hockey works is that you have a >smooth playing field, a puck, and 2 or 4 strikers. The goal of the game is to score your opponent. But, underneath the playing field is an electric blower that produces constant airflow and makes the puck move the entire match, without your intervention. This is a game table, but it also comes as a tabletop> for persons who don’t have enough room to accommodate the full-sized table.
Rod Hockey Table
Anther hockey table game you will definitely love is the rod hockey table. A rod hockey table is actually very different from the air hockey table and it looks like the ice hockey table game. It comes with the playing field, the hockey players, the goals and it even has the fence around the playing field. There is one catch with this table hockey game. It is not a table per se, it is a tabletop which means that you can put it on the table or on the floor. Most people consider that an advantage because the game doesn’t require that much free space and it is easy to store when you aren’t using it.
This game table is much smaller than the air hockey table so it is better for people who don’t have much room in the game room. It is also more interesting for people who love foosball because you have to use the rods to control the players on the field. It is pretty similar to foosball players, but the hockey player on this ice hockey table game is controlled below the playing surface.
Bubble Hockey Table
A bubble hockey table is the third option for a hockey table game and it is the easiest to recognize because it comes with a protective dome ”bubble” above the playing field. This hockey table is smaller than air hockey table, but bigger than the rod hockey table so I would put it in between those two types. It is similar to the rod hockey table because it also uses rods to control the players on the field. Actually, when you are looking the playing field, the rods and the players, those two are very similar, except the giant bubble above the playing field in the bubble hockey table.
The bubble hockey table can move with two types of bases. The first one is the pedestal base and it is more stable than the second one, which is actually a design of any game table – 4 legs. There are not that many advantages or disadvantages between those two types so it is up to you and your desires to see which bubble hockey base suits your best table hockey game better.
Reviews of All Hockey Table Models
Now that I have introduced you to the most popular types of hockey table games, I want to show you the most popular models of each and every hockey table. I will reduce my list up to top 3 of each type so you can easily choose the best table hockey game for you and to keep the list short. I know that the longer the list is, it is harder for people to decide so top 3 hockey games are, in my opinion, the best list.
Air Hockey Table Models
1. Playcraft Center Ice Air Hockey Table
This table hockey game is one of the best on the market because it is made of good quality materials and it is very durable. If you are looking for a nice and quality game table for your game room you should consider this one, just make sure you have the room for it because it is 7′ air hockey table. The design of the table is amazing, it is made in silver and black color combination so it can fit in almost every room of your home. The playing field is also pretty cool, completely white with few simple black graphics on it. I like the fact that the only color on the table is the red color of the strikers and the puck.
The playing field is made of high-gloss PVC laminate so you can expect smooth surface and fast-paced game. If you still aren’t convinced about the speed of the puck, you will be once you hear that the 120V blower produces strong and constant airflow. The electronic scorer keeps track of the time and score and you can easily close it when you are done playing hockey. The sturdy legs will keep the table in one place and the leg levelers will make sure that the playing surface remains straight all the time.
2. Atomic Blazer 7′ Air Hockey Table
Another full-sized air hockey table I wanted to show you is made by Atomic and it is actually pretty similar to the game table from Playcraft. It is made for hobby players, but that doesn’t mean it is not durable or made of high-quality materials. The design is simple, made in black with silver and white details on the cabinet and the legs. The playing surface is white with black and red graphics and the pucks and strikers are black. This simple design allows you to put this table in your living room and it won’t feel like it doesn’t belong there.
The foldable electric scorer on the side of the table keeps track of the time and score so you don’t have to. The smooth-playing field will keep the puck in motion and the heavy-duty 120V electric blower will keep the puck fast for the more intense experience. The legs on the table are made of durable material and they are equipped with leg levelers so you can be sure that you won’t have any trouble will uneven playing surface.
3. Viper Vancouver 7.5′ Air Hockey Game Table
This air hockey game resembles the ice hockey table game the most out of all air hockey models above. It is made with black cabinet and legs and the only decoration on them is one simple white line. The reason why I said that this game table resembles the ice hockey table game the most is because the playing field looks a lot like the real ice hockey field. Also, the electric scoring system is designed to resemble the real ice hockey scoring system.
The scoring system offers you different times for the match so you can set the match duration 5,10 or unlimited. The smooth playing surface is equipped with the 110V electric blower so you can be sure that the puck will move all over the field. The blower might not be as strong as the ones on the previous two tables, but that shouldn’t be a big problem. The sturdy legs end on leg levelers so you can adjust the playing surface if the floor is not straight (it can happen).
Rod Hockey Table Models
1. Stiga NHL Stanley Cup Rod Hockey Tabletop
As I have already mentioned, most rod hockey tables are tabletop and that is why I want to show you the most popular game model at the moment. Stiga produces very good game tables and this one is pretty durable considering it is a tabletop. The NHL Stanley Cup game table is completely in white and the only decoration it has on the cabinet is the name of the brand and the model in black.
The reason why this is considered the best ice hockey table game is simple, it really looks like an ice hockey field. The fence on the inside has sponsors and you can’t avoid sponsors even on the playing field. Hockey players are separated in two versions, one is with the Detroit Red Wings against Toronto Maple Leafs and the second is NY Rangers against Boston Bruins so you are playing with actual teams which is pretty cool. The rods below the playing surface are easy to control so you can expect a good and fast hockey match.
2. Franklin Sports Rod Hockey Pro
I must say, this rod table hockey has the most impressive design and there is something special about this blue and white color combination and the entire shape of the game. The frame and the legs are made in dark and light blue, while the playing field is white with red graphics on it. This game table doesn’t come with real players and teams so you can play Blue team against the Red team.
The rods on the table are simple to use so the player’s control is easy. This game table is also decorated with sponsors on the fence but this one doesn’t have them on the playing field. I like that it is equipped with protective plexiglass behind each goal, but that is not a special feature because almost every rod hockey game has to have it.
3. Playcraft Sport Rod Hockey
I know that I said that almost every rod hockey game is actually a tabletop, but it is not a rule. To show you that I have decided to share with you a rod hockey table made by Playcraft, but it is a kid’s game so it is smaller than other game tables. You can see that it is a kid’s hockey game by the colorful design and graphics on the cabinet and legs, which doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a nice match. It just means that you have to be gentle with the game.
The playing surface looks like a real deal so it is a great ice hockey table game. The teams on the field are black and red and you control them with plastic rods that come with big handles, not that small dots like tabletop versions which is a better solution. There are panels and bars between the legs to improve the stability of the table so your kids can enjoy completely. There are also leg levelers which are a must-have option for most game tables on the market.
Bubble Hockey Table Models
1. Carrom Signature Bubble Hockey with Pedestal Base
The first bubble hockey table I want to show you is actually one of the best table hockey games in this category. This table comes with a special pedestal base that keeps the stability at the maximum which is very important for the game performance. The model comes in two colors, you can choose one from the bright red to the bright blue color, so I would recommend this table hockey model if you are looking to make an impression on friends and guests.
The entire cabinet is made of durable material so you can be sure that it will last a long time. The dome above the playing field is made of heavy-duty shatter resistant plastic so you can hit the puck as hard as you want. The electric scoring system is located above the playing field, just at the top of the plastic dome (from the inside) and it keeps the track of time and score. A game table like this one is perfect for man caves or game rooms. It is even equipped with 4 cup holders which is great.
2. Carrom Signature Bubble Hockey table
The second model I want to show you is actually very similar to the model above. It also comes in blue and red colors and it is made to last a long time. The biggest and probably the only difference are the legs on the table. This model is not equipped with a pedestal, but with square legs as a part of the traditional game table design. They are also connected with bars for even better stability and wit leg levelers for the straight playing surface.
Everything else on the hockey table game is very similar to the model above. The table comes with shatter-resistant plastic dome and fast and light rods that control the players. The scoring system also keeps track of the time and score and it is located under the dome. There are also 4 cup holders which means that if you are impressed with the model above, but if you don’t like the pedestal base, you can easily grab this ice hockey table game.
3. Shelti Breakout Bubble Hockey Table Game
Shelti is another game table brand that produces bubble hockey games and this Breakout model is actually somewhere between the rod hockey and the bubble hockey and you can easily see that in the design of the plastic dome. This game table has a lower dome so it doesn’t have a scoring system in the dome, but on the edge of the table. The table comes in blue color and it has traditional legs design, not a pedestal base.
The smooth playing surface allows the puck to glide gently from one player to the other and chrome rods will keep the game fast so you can feel the adrenaline during the match. The electric scoring system is on the edge and it keeps the track of the time and the score so you don’t have to think about that. The square legs are very stable and they are equipped with leg levelers for the best experience. This may be the cheapest bubble hockey in the category but it might be the best table hockey game for you. It is up to you to decide that and see which of the game tables has your name on them.
What is the best table hockey game ever made?
Each air hockey table game is different so I won’t pick best table hockey game but I will pick one table hockey set for each ice hockey table game. The first category is air hockey table game and I recommend you to check out Playcraft Center Ice Air Hockey Table. You can easily consider this table a professional air hockey table, due to the size and performance. If you are looking for a heavy-duty model, this is one of the best air hockey tables.
