If you’re getting into pinball and considering buying a machine for your home, you might be wondering who makes the best pinball machines. A great place to start is our post on who currently makes pinball machines. It’s a good way to get familiar with the main players in the industry. Once you know which companies are actively producing machines, you can dig deeper to find out which one might be the best fit for you.
Determining the best pinball manufacturer can be tough because it’s such a subjective topic. It’s highly debatable—several companies make incredible machines, and the right theme can really make one stand out to you. What we’re offering here is simply a starting point for those coming in with little pinball knowledge. We want to help you choose a machine that’s fun, reliable, and hopefully gets you hooked on pinball for life.
With that in mind, we’ve created a pinball company grading scale to help evaluate manufacturers as objectively as possible.
Pinball Manufacturer Grading Scale
To rank the current pinball companies, we’ve developed a four-category grading system. This scale is based on each company’s overall lineup, not just individual titles. There may be outliers that don’t perfectly reflect the company’s average score, but we think this is a solid framework.
- Playability – This is a big one. Do their machines shoot well, and are the code and rulesets engaging and fun?
- Reliability – This is also key. All pinball machines need maintenance, especially if played often, but some brands are generally more dependable than others.
- Affordability – Modern machines are pricey. “Affordable” here is relative—how a company’s pricing compares to others in the market.
These three categories cover the most important factors when deciding where your pinball dollars should go. Now that we’ve laid out the grading scale, let’s take a look at who we think makes the best pinball machines today.
Pinball Manufacturer Rankings: Who’s the King of the Silver Ball?
Stern Pinball | Overall Grade: A+
When surveying the current landscape of pinball manufacturers, Stern is by far the biggest name. That visibility sometimes brings criticism from hardcore collectors, but the truth is that Stern still makes the best pinball machines on the market today when you look at the full picture.
Stern Playability: A+
Modern Stern machines shoot better than anything else, period. Their flipper feel and power are unmatched, and their design team includes some of the most experienced names in the business. It’s rare to find a Stern that feels clunky or has bad geometry. Love them or hate them, you can’t deny that Stern machines play the best.
Stern Reliability: A+
We might be relatively new to the hobby, but we play a lot of pinball. Over the past couple of years, we’ve visited dozens of locations across the U.S. and the UK, play regularly in leagues and tournaments, and currently own 15 machines. We’ve also heard plenty from longtime collectors. Based on all that, we believe modern Stern machines are by far the most reliable—especially their Pro models, which don’t include some of the more complex, failure-prone mechs. We’ve owned more than 10 Stern Pros and haven’t had a single one go down for major repairs.
Stern Affordability: A+
Stern offers three models for most games:
- Pro: $6,999
- Premium: $9,499
- LE: $12,999
The Pro model gives buyers the best value in modern pinball. While Premium models add some bells and whistles, the Pro versions often shoot just as well and save you $2,500. No other manufacturer offers a new-in-box game close to $7,000. That makes Stern the affordability leader too.
Jersey Jack Pinball | Overall Grade: B-
Jersey Jack makes the most beautiful modern pinball machines—no question. They have the best sound and lighting, and their cabinets look amazing thanks to Rad Cals. With massive LCD screens and packed playfields, their machines often look more impressive than Stern’s at first glance. But when you dig in, JJP trails Stern in a few key areas.
JJP Playability: B+
While stunning visually, not all JJP machines shoot smoothly. Many feel clunky compared to a Stern. Flipper power and response have long been a weak point, though their more recent titles like Elton John, Avatar, and Harry Potter have made some progress. Still, they haven’t matched the snappy Stern flippers yet.
JJP Reliability: B
JJP machines generally hold up well in a home environment. We’ve put nearly 900 plays on our Avatar without any major issues. However, we’ve seen more JJP machines down on location compared to Stern. Stuck balls also seem to be more common with JJP, which we’ve factored into their reliability grade.
JJP Affordability: C
Most JJP games are available only as Limited Edition ($12,000) or Collector’s Edition ($15,000). Their Harry Potter release includes an Arcade Edition at $9,999, which is competitive with Stern Premium, but they don’t offer anything close to Stern’s $7K Pro. That puts them lower on the affordability scale.
Spooky Pinball | Overall Grade: B-
Spooky is a rising star in the pinball world. They build machines around themes they’re passionate about and go all-in on integrating those themes. Their games are often packed with mechs and toys, and their creativity keeps improving. Their new Evil Dead release might even be the best machine of 2025—we’ll likely write a full post on that soon!
Spooky Playability: B
Spooky machines are fun but don’t yet match Stern in shot flow or flipper feel. They can feel clunky or floaty at times. That said, Spooky nails theme immersion. Their use of sound, animation, and custom toys draws players deeply into the experience. We don’t yet own a Spooky machine, but we’re actively looking at Halloween, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Evil Dead. Hopefully we’ll add one to our lineup soon.
Spooky Reliability: C+
This grade is based on limited firsthand experience, plus feedback from owners and what we’ve seen on location. Their reliability has been improving with newer titles, but we’ve still heard of issues. We’re optimistic, though, and still plan to buy one.
Spooky Affordability: C+
Spooky typically releases one trim level priced at $9,699. This puts them right around a Stern Premium and under JJP LE pricing. They include features like a shaker motor and interior art blades, which helps justify the price. Still, at nearly $3K more than a Stern Pro, it’s not the most budget-friendly option for first-time buyers.
Chicago Gaming Company | Overall Grade: C+
CGC is hard to rank because they mostly remake classic Bally and Williams titles (Attack from Mars, Cactus Canyon, Medieval Madness). They also produced Pulp Fiction. Their games are excellent, but delivery timelines can be very long. Because of that, we’re lowering their grade a full letter. If you’re interested in a CGC machine, we suggest checking the used market rather than waiting for a new run.
CGC Playability: A
Their machines feel like true recreations of the originals. That’s because many parts are specced to match exactly. If you loved Attack from Mars in the 90s, you’ll love the remake. The flippers feel like classic Bally/Williams flippers—not quite as sharp as modern Stern, but still great.
CGC Reliability: A
Their remakes are extremely solid. Pulp Fiction has had a few issues (drop target mech, etc.), which brings the grade down slightly. But overall, these machines are built to last.
CGC Affordability: C
CGC games are offered in two trims: Special Edition ($7,999) and Limited Edition ($9,499). The SE is the lowest price here after Stern Pro, but CGC’s games don’t match the depth of code found in newer titles. Pulp Fiction is a single-level game without an LCD screen. It’s fun, but we’re not convinced it’s a great value at $7,999.
Summary
Wow! This turned out longer than expected—but hopefully it gives you a helpful overview if you’re starting your search for a pinball machine. If you want more pinball content, we’ve got plenty. Check out our pinball blog for more posts, reviews, and recommendations. Thanks for reading!
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