There has certainly been no shortage of unique and bizarre ideas in the world of arcade game creation over the years. And if there ever were a strange offering deserving of some special retro-recognition, it is Airball. It is one of those quirky games, difficult to categorize into any of the typical genres, and remains aloft in a place all its own.

Developed by MCI in 1972, Airball had a decidedly spooky feel to it. The basic premise is that players attempted to move a ping-pong ball, suspended in mid-air thanks to a series of air jets, through a number of obstacles. The ball floated eerily within a fluorescent black-lit environment, its movement accentuated by various sound effects, including chimes, whistles and vocal noises.

While Airball may not have been one of the most popular and enduring games ever unleashed on the video game market, it remains a game worthy of recognition, if only for the fact that it was both imaginative and unique. And for those that had the privilege of playing it, a memorably fun experience.