Side Pocket

Side Pocket is a pool simulation where the primary task involves pocketing balls to achieve target scores across various levels. The experience is challenging, as a limited number of attempts are provided and mistakes carry significant consequences. Successfully completing a stage can unlock bonus rounds and opportunities to gain additional attempts, with accurate aiming being a fundamental requirement.

Different versions of the game offer distinct features. The original arcade iteration focuses on a time pressured single player experience. The NES adaptation expanded this with several modes, including a two player option for traditional play or a competitive nine ball variant, alongside a structured single player campaign. This campaign progresses through four tiers of difficulty, from City to World Class, where later stages introduce mandatory trick shots that force a level restart if failed.

Subsequent ports to systems like the Game Boy, Genesis, SNES, and Game Gear introduced graphical and audio improvements, along with modified gameplay. The pocket game mode was often extended with more stages and trick shot arrangements, and in some console versions, a thematic progression through U.S. cities was added. These releases sometimes included entirely new modes, such as a dedicated trick game. A version for the WonderSwan allowed two players to share one device, while its single player mode involved selecting a character and competing against CPU controlled opponents in a turn based structure.