We’re Mike & Steph from the Punk Rock Pinball Podcast, and it’s safe to say we’ve gone off the deep end when it comes to pinball. What started as casual curiosity quickly morphed into a full-blown obsession. We’re not just players. We’re collectors, competitors, and full-time pinball nerds with a growing lineup of 15 machines and counting.
Our home collection includes titles like Black Knight: Sword of Rage, Jaws Pro, Foo Fighters Pro, Led Zeppelin Pro, John Wick Pro, Avatar LE, Cactus Canyon Remake, Firepower, Beatles Gold, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Pirates of the Caribbean (Stern), X-Men (2012 Stern), Munsters Pro, and Venom Pro. Each one tells a story, scratches a different itch, and gives us new ways to grow our skills.
We’re constantly rating and ranking games, checking out others’ lists, and diving deep into the Pinside Top 100, which many in the hobby use as a benchmark for what’s hot. It’s not the end-all-be-all, but it’s a great snapshot of what players are loving. Here’s the current Pinside Top 20 pinball machines:
- Godzilla – Stern, 2021
- Medieval Madness – Williams / CGC, 1997
- Jurassic Park – Stern, 2019
- Evil Dead – Spooky Pinball, 2024
- Harry Potter – Jersey Jack, 2025
- Attack from Mars – Bally / CGC, 1995
- Iron Maiden: Legacy of the Beast – Stern, 2018
- Deadpool – Stern, 2018
- Jaws – Stern, 2024
- Elvira’s House of Horrors – Stern, 2019
- Metallica Remastered – Stern, 2024
- Elton John – Jersey Jack, 2023
- Twilight Zone – Bally, 1993
- Monster Bash – Williams / CGC, 1998
- Lord of the Rings – Stern, 2003
- Star Trek – Stern, 2013
- The Big Lebowski – Dutch Pinball, 2016
- King Kong: Myth of Terror Island – Stern, 2025
- Metallica – Stern, 2013
- James Bond 007 – Stern, 2022
The Best Pinball Machines (according to the Punk Rock Pinball Podcast)
We love an underdog. If you take a look at our current lineup, you’ll see several machines that often get criticized by the pinball community. But we tend to enjoy the more punishing, high-skill games that some folks shy away from. Titles like John Wick, Black Knight, and Firepower keep us coming back with their tight shots and high stakes.
We’re big fans of Stern, Jersey Jack, and Spooky Pinball, and after much deliberation, we’ve put together our own list of what we think are the ten best pinball machines out there today.
1. Jaws (Stern, 2024)
This was our first machine and it’s been our favorite since day one. We love the movie, the layout, and the deep code. Between the two of us, we’ve racked up nearly 3,000 plays. It’s brutal, fast, and addicting.
2. James Bond 007 (Stern, 2022)
We’ve owned both the Pro and the Premium. We miss having it in our lineup. George Gomez nailed the layout with tons of satisfying shots. The code is super deep and the game has incredible replay value. Mike even cracked 1 billion on it once.
3. Foo Fighters (Stern, 2023)
Designed by Jack Danger, this game has a creative layout that breaks the mold. Steph’s the current grand champ on ours with a score over 850 million. The upper loop is incredibly fun to rip, and the game just oozes personality.
4. Elvira’s House of Horrors (Stern, 2019)
We don’t own it yet, but it’s high on our wishlist. The callouts, the art, the humor, and the gameplay loop are all top-tier. It’s a simple layout with amazing flow.
5. Pirates of the Caribbean (Stern, 2006)
Everyone loves the JJP version, but we prefer this earlier Stern release. It’s just more fun to shoot. The rules are simple and you can actually develop and execute a strategy without getting lost in the weeds.
6. Evil Dead (Spooky, 2024)
An absolute blast. Spooky crammed this game with toys, shots, and depth. It’s one of the best Spooky titles ever made, and the artwork is stunning. We’re hoping to add one to our lineup soon.
7. Cactus Canyon Remake (Chicago Gaming Company, 2021)
This one flies under the radar compared to Attack from Mars and Medieval Madness. But we think it’s the most fun of the three. It may not have the nostalgia factor, but the humor and gameplay make it a keeper. Ours will never leave the collection.
8. Stranger Things (Stern, 2019)
The theme is killer, and the game is surprisingly beginner-friendly. We love how the demogorgon shot right up the middle is always tempting. It’s a fun challenge and a great game to bring new players into the hobby.
9. The Big Lebowski (Dutch Pinball, 2016)
Theme integration on this game is next-level. The music, the humor, the quotes, the rug that really ties the playfield together — it’s all perfect. The layout has an old-school vibe that we really enjoy.
10. Firepower (Williams, 1980)
A true classic and a tough one to beat. This was one of the first games with multiball and one of the first to talk. It’s a brutal game, but so satisfying. You’ll hit start again and again chasing that perfect game.
Final Thoughts
We know everyone’s list will look a little different, and that’s what makes pinball so awesome. Whether you love long ball times and deep rulesets or quick, brutal games that test your reflexes, there’s something out there for you.
If you’re looking for more pinball content, check out our location reviews, our latest updates in pinball news, or learn more about the best pinball companies currently making machines.
We’re always flipping, always ranking, and always on the hunt for our next favorite game. Come along for the ride by listening to the Punk Rock Pinball Podcast.
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