Magnets

Electromagnets mounted beneath the playfield surface that can grab, slow, deflect, or redirect the ball during play. Unlike Magna-Save, which is player-activated, playfield magnets are typically software-controlled — the game decides when to energize them, creating unpredictable ball movement that no amount of player skill can fully anticipate. Williams’ Twilight Zone (1993) used magnets to spectacular effect, and the mechanism has since become a standard tool in the designer’s kit for creating moments of surprise, challenge, and controlled chaos.