Pinball Tycoon is a pinball simulation offering a selection of four tables, all linked together by a tycoon theme. Up to four players can alternate turns on the following tables: California Gold Rush, Black Gold, Hollywood Mogul, and Golden Chance. Each table is viewed from a top-down perspective on a vertically scrolling playfield consisting of two screens. Artwork and features vary depending on the theme, with movie elements displayed on the Hollywood Mogul table and casino features appearing on the Las Vegas-inspired Golden Chance table. Each pinball game also has its own music, but all feature a simulated dot matrix display along the bottom of the screen for high scores.