Best Table Hockey Games (Reviewed)
We spent over 14 hours playing and testing out 9 table hockey games. And after putting each model through a battery of in-house tests, we have narrowed down the list to the best six, across different segments.
Here are our top picks.
Best High End
Carrom Super Stick Hockey Table
Best Overall
STIGA NHL Stanley Cup Hockey Game
Best Inexpensive
PLAYMOBIL NHL Hockey Arena
Last Updated: 5th Mar, 2023
For the uninitiated, Table Hockey may seem like the foosball version of ice hockey, but rather it's a Real GAME in itself. The game may seem simple, but it requires immense concentration, fast hand-eye coordination, and quick reflexes.
Table hockey goes by different names like rod hockey, bubble hockey, or table top ice hockey, but don't get confused; they all broadly mean the same. Just like Ice Hockey, players try to put the puck in the opponent's goal by moving and rotating the metal rods. And at competitive levels, you can find pucks traveling at a speed of up to 20 feet/second or 700 miles/hour on the miniature rink.
This game is a treat for any die-hard NHL fan - in season or off! The game captures all the essence of ice hockey and puts it in a miniature and easy to play form. It's a super fun yet very challenging game to master and makes up for an ideal gift choice for enthusiastic kids.
As there are so many table hockey games on the market, you'll see that you have lots of choices when it comes to the right table. What makes a table the best pick for you? Why should you pick one table over another?
To save you the hassle, we have picked five of the very best table hockey games currently available. So, whether you're looking for a pro-quality table hockey set or a budget unit for your home, we have you covered.
Our Picks for the Best Table Hockey Games
- Carrom Super Stick Hockey Table- Pro Pick
- STIGA NHL Stanley Cup Hockey Game - Best Overall
- Irwin Toy Table Top Hockey Game - Budget Pick
- Peter Forsberg Edition Tabletop Hockey Game- Best Design
- PLAYMOBIL NHL Hockey Arena - Best For Kids 4 And Up
- Franklin Sports Rod Hockey Pro - Bargain Pick
1. Carrom Super Stick Hockey Table: Pro Pick
If you're looking for the best table hockey game ever made, this is it. This is a table that every hockey enthusiast dreams of owning someday. The table is designed to offer competitive rod hockey playing experience for players of all ages and skill levels. Of course, it doesn't come cheap. The unit costs close to $1000, but if you consider the overall quality, it's well worth the price.
The mini ice rink captures all the essential design elements of ice hockey, helping recreate realistic playing experience. The surface is smooth, allowing the pucks to glide fast and smooth. Also, the rods are made of solid steel and are very responsive, giving your precise control over the players. You can play offense, defense, or simply hit quick shots with complete control. Also, the outer bubble dome is made of high tensile resin, which is very clear and as per the manufacturer's claim, is shatterproof.
The table itself is sturdily built to offer years of play and comes with lots of different options for you to choose from. The base can either come with four legs or a pedestal base, something many customers love as it's so sturdy. That's great for those who like to play rough. If you choose the legs, you can use leg levelers and a chrome support bar, to ensure the table stays level while you play.
You'll also see the table comes in three different colors: black, red, and blue, so you can pick the one that makes the most sense for you.
The individual players are easily replaceable, and you also have the option to replace them with your favorite team's colors for an additional cost.
Top Features:
- Shatterproof bubble dome to protect your table
- Two packs of pucks included, along with a set of players
- Measures 58 x 47 x 45.25 inches, making it fit in anywhere
- Choice of leg styles for the perfect play
- Option to buy hand-painted players
Final Note:
The Carrom Super Stick Hockey Table is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a high-quality and durable ice hockey table game. And with all different customization options, you can set up the table exactly how you like it.
2. STIGA NHL Stanley Cup Hockey Game: Best Overall
The STIGA NHL Stanley Cup Hockey Game happens to be one of the best-selling and top-rated table hockey games on Amazon. And it comes as a no surprise! It's portable, priced affordably, and plays great. Moreover, it's actually licensed and approved by the NHL.
It's incredibly customizable, so you can put together the teams you want to play against each other. You can buy the table in either Detroit Red Wings vs. Toronto Maple Leafs teams, or NY Rangers vs. Boston Bruins. If those team set ups aren't quite to your liking, then you can buy other team sets so you can battle it out with your favorite team.
The table itself measures 37 x 3 x 19.75 inches. It's a compact table that will easily be stored whenever it's not in use. It's also lightweight, allowing you to play anywhere, be it on the coffee table or on the couch.
Coming to the performance, the table plays to competitive standards. The controlling rods are made of flexible steel, making it easier to control the individual players. The design of the rink is similar to what you see in a typical ice hockey game with logos of different NHL teams along the sides.
The table is full of features that make it a delight to play. You'll see that there are plexi-shield protectors behind each net, so there's no danger of the puck bouncing away during the play. There are puck ejectors in each goal, and each goalie moves side to side for the ultimate defense.
Top Features:
- Convenient design, lightweight
- All parts are replaceable if needed, no more playing with broken or missing parts
- Left-handed and right-handed shooters included
- Two pucks included with the pack
- Change out the teams as and when you want for custom match ups
Final note:
This hockey table offers endless play thanks to officially licensed team packs. You can customize it to your heart's content and play wherever you want. And the best part is that you get this high-quality table well-under $125, making it a steal of a price!!
3. Irwin Toy Table Top Hockey Game: Budget Pick
Not all hockey game tables need to cost a fortune. If you look around, you can easily find some budget models out there that give you everything you need. This is an excellent hockey table, and it's a real bargain too. The Irwin Toy Table is a hit, especially among kids, with customers saying that it's easy to set up and durable too. It offers all the fun of table top hockey at nearly half the price of some of its competitors.
This table top model can go anywhere in the home, so you can pull it out and play it whenever you want to get a game started. Afterwards, simply put it back in the box and store it away. The board measures 4 x 37 x 17 inches, making it small enough to store but big enough to play a fun game of hockey on.
The board itself has lots of features that you would find in more expensive boards. For example, the players are 3D modeled and fully painted, adding to the realism of the hockey experience. There's behind the net play features added, just like a real ice hockey game. The clear end screens keep the puck in play, no matter what's going on on the board. And, finally pucks glide on the surface with ease, making the game more exciting.
Top Features:
- Perfect for kids aged 7 upwards
- Used in official rod hockey tournaments
- Made by a family-run company
- Full 3D modeled players, just like full-size tables
- Easily stored when not in use
Final Note:
It's incredible what this board offers, despite its low price. If you're on the hunt for a bargain, this table top hockey game is for you.
4. Peter Forsberg Edition Tabletop Hockey Game - Best Design
If you're looking for the most realistic version of a table hockey game, then here's the one you want to look for. It comes in classic tabletop design, and the look and feel of the unit are top-notch. Kids and adults alike will love playing with it.
Looking at the table itself, you'll see that the playing field looks just like the real deal. There are advertising boards all around the ice rink, as you would see in real life, and the players are 3D modeled and look just like real people. What's even better is you can change the players out, if you so wish. Want to pit the Flyers against the Rangers? You can do that, simply pick up the right player packs and swap them out.
Customers say it reminds them of the table hockey games they had as kids, making it a nostalgic treat. They can buy the game and share the fun of playing with their own kids right now, passing on the fun of table hockey.
The game itself gives you exactly what you want in a game of table hockey. The 'ice' on this model is 25% thicker than regular models, making it very long-lasting. You'll also see that there's no 'dead zones' on the board, you'll always be able to reach the puck wherever it goes.
Top Features:
- Easy assembly, takes about five minutes to put together
- Measures 40 x 21 x 18 inches
- Retro vibe makes it a hit with adults and kids alike
- Realistic rink design
- Replaceable players, so you can create your own teams
Final Note:
The design of this table hockey game is top-notch. You'll get a real wave of nostalgia if you played table hockey a lot as a kid, and your kids now will love it.
5. PLAYMOBIL NHL Hockey Arena: Best For Kids 4 And Up
The tables we've featured so far are great for kids, but they do have an age range. Most of them cover, ages 7 upwards, which does leave the smaller kids left out. If you want to give the younger kids in your life a chance to play table hockey, this is the one that you should pick up.
This table features a simplified ice rink with four total players, allowing younger kids to get to grips with the action. The playable figures are all moveable, so your kids can move them into position, ready to score a goal against the opposition.
Kids will love the familiar Playmobil figures and will be excited to incorporate the table into their imaginative play. For you, as an adult, it's super simple for you to put the table together. It comes in a few large pieces that simply snap together, ready to go. No frustrating hours with a manual trying to put it together.
What's super fun about this set is that it comes with all kinds of decal stickers. Your kids can decorate their players with their favorite team's logos, and decorate the rink, so it looks just like the ones they visit in real life. They'll love customizing their rink and making it all their own.
Top Features:
- Comes with four regular Playmobil figures that allow your kids to play table hockey
- Measures 23 x 3.7 x 19.7 inches
- Great customer service with replacement parts when needed
- Can be played in conjunction with other Playmobil sets
- Score sliders to keep track of the score while playing
Final Note:
Your kids are bound to love this table hockey set. It allows younger kids to get in on the fun, and the included decal stickers mean they can play as their favorite players.
6. Franklin Sports Rod Hockey Pro: Bargain Pick
Finally, let's take a look at this bargain pick table, the Franklin Sports Rod Hockey Pro table. We've seen a lot of different tables right now, but there's no denying that this table offers you a lot of options for the lowest price on this list. You'll be amazed at how much you can get for the price you pay.
Firstly, let's take a look at the board itself. It measures 34 x 20 x 3 inches, so it's the same basic size as most table hockey tables. The large rink gives you so much room to really get into the game and enjoy it. It's an attractive table too, featuring design details like full 3D model players and ice rink markings to make it feel just like the real thing. It has score sliders on each side too, so you'll be able to see at a glance who's winning.
The plexiglass enclosures ensure that no puck will find its way out of the table, so no stopping in the middle of the play to hunt for a lost playing piece. The design has been created so both adults and kids ages 6 and up will be able to get the most out of it.
Top Features:
- Low price for a high-quality table
- Full 3D model players for a quality experience
- Easy to put together and start playing
- Solid rods allow for enthusiastic play
- Excellent design style looks just like the real thing
Final Note:
If you want to save some cash on a table hockey game, this is the one for you. It looks great and plays well, making it a perfect bargain option.
Table Hockey Game Buyer's Guide
Out of these six games, you've seen that there's so much variation when it comes to table hockey. With so many to choose from, how do you even start thinking about what you want from a game? If you're not sure, you're in the right place.
This guide will help you think through the process and pick out the right table rod hockey game set for you.
Key Considerations
<Who's Playing?>
The first thing to think about is who's going to be playing the game. Who will be using the table most? For example, you may be considering buying a table for a hockey-mad child as a birthday gift. Maybe you want something as an adult, for the retro nostalgia. Instead, perhaps you're looking to have a table installed in your brand new man cave or games room.
Different players have different needs, so you need to take this into account as you plan your table hockey purchase. For example, you may want a sturdy table for your kids, which can take rough play and extended playtime. You may want a smaller game for the kids that can be put away when not in use. On the flip side, maybe you want a table that adults can enjoy playing when they get together. Use the following points to help you pick the right table.
<Table Top Or FreeStanding>
Firstly, there are two broad types of table hockey. The first is the table top version, the one you probably remember from your childhood. These versions are smaller and so can be put away when they're not in use. As they're smaller, they will have enclosures at either end, but they won't be fully enclosed. They also can be placed anywhere in the house, so you can pull out and play it whenever you would like.
The other option is the full table hockey game or bubble hockey set. These are designed to be stationary in a fixed spot in your home. That's what makes them very popular for game rooms and man caves, as they offer all the fun of an arcade in your own home. They also often come with bubble tops, making them even safer as the puck can't fly out at all. If you don't like the idea of the table being constantly set up in your home though, they won't be for you.
The type you choose depends on who will be using it. If it's for your kids, a smaller table top version will be best. If it's in a dedicated room for adults though, the free-standing table version will be better suited.
<Price Points>
Now let's talk about price. The price of your table hockey game is going to have a large effect on whether you buy it or not. The first thing you need to do is set a budget for your table. How much are you willing to spend on the table itself? Once you have that in mind, you can start narrowing down your search.
You'll see that if you have a lower budget (under $200), you'll be looking at a table top version of the game. If you have more money to play with ($500 to $1000), then you could get a full table game if that appeals to you. Remember, if you're spending less, that doesn't mean that you have to settle for lower quality. You can get great quality boards without spending a fortune. Check customer reviews to see what they say before you take the plunge.
<Build Quality>
Now while you're looking at potential tables, you need to be sure that you're getting a good quality table. How do you know that the table hockey game is going to last you a long time, as well as through some heated matches? Take a look at how the tables are built.
Most table hockey games are going to be made of plastic, but you want to know if that plastic will hold up over time. Take a look and see what the reviews are saying. Are the games easy to put together? Have the rods held up, and not bent or broken? Are there any 'dead zones' on the board where you can't reach the puck? This will tell you if a table hockey game is worth buying.
If you're planning on buying a full-size table, take a look at the quality of the legs. Are they stable? Do they hold the game level, to avoid the puck sliding? If there's a bubble on top of the table, is it shatterproof? Again, check the reviews to see what real customers are saying.
<Customization Options>
Finally, think about the customization options that you'll get with your table hockey game. Do you want to be able to swap out the players so they're your favorite team? In many cases, you can buy a game that already features your favorite players, just start searching for your favorite team plus the words 'table hockey'.
If you don't see any, then look for tables that allow you to swap players out. There are many models that sell extra packs of players in every team imaginable. You can pick up the packs you want and easily swap them out, to get the team you want.
You can even do this for kid's sets, too. The Playmobil one reviewed in our list, for example, gives you stickers with all major teams' logos. Your kids can use the right stickers in order to customize their own players, making it so much more fun for them.
Let's Wrap Things Up
As you've seen, there are so many options when it comes to table hockey games. You can get smaller table top models, or full tables with bubble tops for adult play.
Whatever you want, you're sure to find it on this list. Use it to find the perfect rod hockey game for you, and play on with your friends and family.
