Unlike later pinball machines, Baffle Ball does not have flippers.

While bagatelle-derived "marble games" had long existed previously, Baffle Ball was the first commercially successful game of its type, being affordable enough for store and tavern owners to quickly recoup the machine's cost.

Over 50,000 machines were made, jump-starting the arcade pinball field; it spawned a home version in 1932 called Baffle Ball Senior.

[2] Baffle Ball was responsible for the launch of the company Gottlieb that went on to make pinball machines such as Ace High and Black Hole.

The game sat on top of bar counters and the bartender might award prizes for high scores.