Lists
The Best Pinball Machines of 2025 Ranked
The best pinball machines of 2025 wowed us with their innovation, fine-tuned flow, and excellent layouts, producing some truly standout experiences. In celebration of this year's best release, I've whipped up a list of the best pinball machines of 2025.
Matt Owen
The Best Pinball Podcasts (2023 Edition)
Taking a look at some of the best pinball podcasts as we approach the end of 2023.
Colin Alsheimer
18 Pinball Themes Stern Won't Be Making Anytime Soon*
Reading some tea leaves on social media posts.
Colin Alsheimer
Ten Pinball Machines Even Weirder Than You
Every now and again, we see some absolutely insane layouts, designs, or gimmicks which send a machine down in fame - or infamy - for their unusual nature.
James McFatter
Top 10 Pinball Machines of the 2010s
We recently left the 1900s in the past when we released our list of the 20 Best Pinball Machines of the 2000s, and while the first decade of our current millennium had a lot to offer, much like internet speeds and smartphones, the pinball machines in the 2010s got even better.
Brad Milison
Ranked: The 20 Best Pinball Machines of the 2000s
Discover the top pinball machines from the 2000s, showcasing innovative gameplay, unique themes, and thrilling challenges that kept the pinball industry alive.
Brad Milison
Seven Pinball Themes for a Casual Player Named Brad
Discover the top 7 pinball themes on a casual player's wishlist, from Jaws to The Fifth Element. Explore why these cinematic and musical inspirations would catch his eye.
Brad Milison
From Dragon Ball Z to Attack on Titan: 10 Anime Themes Perfect for Pinball
Anime fans have waited patiently to see anime-inspired pinball machines, and some have grown so impatient, they’ve made their own. The anime market offers huge pieces of IP with built-in fan bases, so what’s the hold-up?
Brad Milison
From Game Console to Pinball Machine: 12 Video Game Themes Fans Want to See
HBO is having a moment thanks to the success of their drama The Last of Us, based on the 2013 game. It’s received critical acclaim and a growing fanbase, so it’s only a matter of time before we see other video game adaptations pop up in TV and film and, hey, why not in pinball, too?
Brad Milison
10 Retro Arcades From the 1970s-1990s: Mostly Gone But Not Forgotten!
The 1970s to 1990s was truly the golden era for public arcades. Take a stroll through arcade history with our roundup of 10 arcade chains that people still reminisce about today.
Colin Alsheimer
Ten Degenerate Pinball Machines Fans Actually Want to See
Sure, it’s easy to make a pinball machine based on a blockbuster movie, hit TV show, or other successful IP, but what about turning to more niche themes?
Brad Milison
Ten Music Themed Pinball Machines Fans (Under 50) Want to See
Look, we love all pinball, but we're kinda tired of the Grandpa rock bands. Here are 10 (slightly younger) music themes pinball fans actually want to see.
Brad Milison
The 10 Best Steve Ritchie Pinball Games, Ranked
Steve Ritchie has made some epic games. He's often in the running for best pinball designer of all time, alongside other industry greats like Pat Lawlor, Keith Elwin, Barry Oursler, and others. But which ones stand out as the best of the best? Let's find out.
Colin Alsheimer
10 Horror Themed Pinball Machines Fans Are Dying to See
At Kineticist, we track the hottest in pinball IP demand over at our Hype Index, and these are the top 10 horror themed pinball machines that fans are absolutely dying to see.
Brad Milison
44 Best Affordable Used Pinball Machines to Buy in 2024 ($5k or Less)
If you dig deep enough, it's still possible to find the right pinball machine for your collection at a fair price point. We'll help you get started with our roundup of affordable pins.
Colin Alsheimer
The Best Pinball Websites to Feed Your Pinball Obsession
We've put together a list of the best pinball websites on the internet, broken down into easy-to-digest categories. Whether you're looking to dive headfirst into the scene or just want to buy a shiny new machine, we've got you covered.
Colin Alsheimer
Uncut Gems: 21 Best Gottlieb Pinball Machines of the Modern Era
We apply our Pingorithm® rankings to Gottlieb's modern pinball machines.
Colin Alsheimer
Get Your Game On: 11 Must-Play Arcade Games of the '90s
Step back in time and relive the glory days of arcade gaming with our list of the 11 must-play arcade games of the '90s. From classic fighting games to addictive shooters, these timeless arcade classics are sure to get your nostalgia and competitive spirit going.
Brian Saa
11 Must-Have Pinball Apps For Your Home Screen (Plus 5 Games to Avoid)
If you're a pinball player or collector, these are the must-have pinball apps for your phone or tablet (plus a few apps you can skip for now).
Colin Alsheimer
13 Totally Radical 1970s Era Williams Pinball Machines
Taking a look at 13 totally radical pinball machines produced by Williams Electronics Company from 1970-1979.
Colin Alsheimer
105 Awesome Ideas for Game Room Names
Check out our comprehensively creative list of the 105 coolest game room and arcade names.
Colin Alsheimer
The Best Online Pinball Communities (other than Pinside)
One of the best parts of getting into the pinball scene is discovering the great community behind it. Check out our roundup of the best places to find the pinball community online (besides Pinside.com).
Colin Alsheimer
The 10 Best George Gomez Pinball Machines, Ranked
The pinball world is a small one. If you're in it, you know all the names. And if you know all the names, you probably also know that George Gomez is one of the biggest names in the business. In this post we take a look at his 10 best games before the release of James Bond.
Colin Alsheimer
Ranking the 50 Themes Pinball Fans Really Want for Stern's Next Pinball in 2022
Stern Pinball is one of the most popular pinball manufacturers in the world. Every year, they release instant classics (or sometimes maligned misses) with fans. With so many amazing titles under their belt, it's hard to imagine what could be the next Stern for 2022. But we'll try our best!
Colin Alsheimer
The 50 Best Pinball Machines of All Time: A Comprehensive Guide
If you're a fan of pinball, then you know that there are some machines that are just better than the rest. They often have high ratings from fans and collectors alike. Here, we will take a look at the highest-rated machines of all time.
Colin Alsheimer
Ranking the 33 Best Pinball Machines from the 1990s
Was there a better decade for pinball and all-time great pinball machines than the 1990s? It feels like almost every year, particularly early and midway through the decade, has multiple total bangers that would be the jewel of a game room collection even today.
Colin Alsheimer
The 27 Best Pinball Machines from the 1980s: A Great Era for Pinball
The 1980s were a great time for pinball. Manufacturers continued the switch from electromechanical machines to solid states, and as a result, some of the best pinball machines ever made were produced during that decade. Here, we will take a look at some of the best pinball machines from the 1980s.
Colin Alsheimer
Ranking The Best Bally Pinball Machines from the 1970s: A Roundup for Arcade and Pinball Fans
When you were growing up, do you remember the hours spent at the local arcade playing your favorite pinball machines? If that's you, and you've still got an eye for the legendary silverball, then you'll love this roundup of the best vintage Bally pinball machines from the 1970s.
Colin Alsheimer
The Best New Pinball Machines of 2019: Retrospective and Rankings
2019 was a year. The last of our "normal" years, you could even argue, and one of the last years of normal production cycles for pinball machine manufacturers. Looking back on the 2019 release, what's stood the test of time? Here, we apply the tier list format to pins from 2019.
Colin Alsheimer
Top 10 Smoothest Shooting Flowiest Pinball Machines
As voted on by the pinball community.
Jeff Patterson
Top 10 Favorite Pinball Machines and Dream Themes based on AGE and How Long You’ve Been in the Hobby
As voted on by the pinball community.
Jeff Patterson
Top 10 Bash Toys in Pinball Machines
As voted on by the pinball community
Jeff Patterson
Top 10 Toys in Pinball Machines
As voted on by the pinball community.
Jeff Patterson
Top 10 Pinball Dream Themes!
As voted on by the pinball community.
Jeff Patterson
TOP 10 BEST PINBALL WIZARD MODES
As voted on by the pinball community.
Jeff Patterson
Top 10 Limited Edition Pinball Machines
As voted on by the pinball community.
Jeff Patterson