Before actually playing the game, there are two boards to select from: the Ruby Field and the Sapphire Field. Both layouts are similar.
The game follows standard pinball rules. A small ball (in this case, a Poké Ball) moves around the board, striking different objects in order to accomplish certain goals. When it falls towards bottom of the board, the set of flippers must be used to force it back up the table. If the ball escapes the flippers and reaches the bottom of the board, that ball is lost. When all of the available balls are lost, the game is over. There are two main goals of the game. The first is to earn points, which are acquired by performing a variety of actions. The second is to complete the Pokédex. Whenever a new Pokémon is acquired, it is added to the Pokédex.
The game starts from a Standard mode until a special mode is activated. The special modes are: Catch 'Em Mode, Egg Mode, Evolution Mode, and Travel Mode. Bonus levels are also accessible.