Side Pocket

The primary play mode, called "Pocket Game", is a straight pool-like game set within a limited number of lives; the player must achieve a predetermined score to advance through four or five levels, each with increasing number of balls. The player earns points by pocketing balls, pocketing balls on consecutive shots, and pocketing balls in numerical order. On occasion, a flashing star appear in a pocket, and if the player pockets a ball into that pocket in the same shot, a bonus will be awarded in the form of points, extra lives or a bonus round. One life is lost if the player scratches or fails to pocket a ball in two consecutive turns.

In the two-player mode, the player can choose between Pocket Game or 9-Ball Game. In two-player Pocket Game, the game plays similarly, except the two players take turns and there are no lives; if one player misses or scratches, control of the cue ball simply changes to the other player. In 9-Ball Game, each player has three lives and one life is lost if a player incurs a foul. However, the lives will be restored if the player makes a legal shot on the next turn.

In Japan, Game Machine listed Side Pocket on their August 1, 1986 issue as being the eighth most-successful table arcade unit of the month. It went on to be the eighth highest-grossing table arcade game of 1987 in Japan.

In reviewing the NES version, Computer Gaming World declared it "far and away the best billiards simulation ever published for any system". The features that went beyond realistic pool were especially praised as enhancing the game's play.