One feature that distinguishes Safe Cracker is that the player can acquire extra time rather than having a limited number of balls per game. If the player loses a ball, as long as there is time left on the clock they can continue playing. The main objective of the game is to break into the bank’s vault. Once the player has entered the bank, the game changes to a board-game that takes place on the backglass!

If the player is successful, the game will eject a “magic token” for the player to catch as it rolls down the playfield glass. At the end of the game, the player can deposit the token and play “Assault on the Vault”, In this frenzied 4-ball multiball mode, players have 90 seconds to hit as many drop targets and ramp shots as possible to break into the vault.