Top 10 Greatest Pinball Machines of All Time

Top 10 Best Pinball Machines

Electronic pinball machines were all the rage from the 70’s through the 90’s, and they’re still beloved by fans of retro video games today. WatchMojo ranks iconic pinball machines that make us nostalgic for the glory days of the arcade.

List rank and entries:
#10: “Pin Bot” (1986)
#9: “Ripley's Believe It or Not!” (2004)
#8: “The Addams Family” (1992)
#7: “Funhouse” (1990)
#6: “Revenge From Mars 3D” (1999)
#5: “Black Knight” (1980)
#4: “Tales of the Arabian Nights” (1986)
#3, #2 & #1: ?

For this list, we're ranking the most iconic and beloved pinball machines from the glory days of the arcade.

Check out the voting page here:

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[VideoArchiveGuy]

A very strange ranking; most players would put Funhouse, The Addams Family and Twilight Zone at the top of the list.

[captainneo]

whoever made this, doesn't really know pinball at all. Ripleys should not even be close Some games were revolutionary and top for certain reasons. The fact that he says you should try to avoid shooting the moat, means he doesn't know what the hell he's doing, since that is one of things you need to do to progress.

[jfwx]

"Twilight Zone" as honorable mention? Your whole list is a fail.

[makeminefreedom]

When I was a kid my parents took me to a Greyhound bus station to pick up a relative. While there I was lured into a carpeted game room with the sounds of bells and flippers. I had never seen anything so beautiful as the chrome ball bouncing around the flashing lights and bright colored backgrounds. Thank you for making this video.

[brandonaughtman]

To all of you "They Are Running Out OF Ideas" groups, remember that Pinball was AMAZING back in the day and is still loved.

[aerodynamicpunk]

My list:
10: Space Shuttle
9: Fish Tales
8: Pinbot
7: Fire Power
6: Taxi
5: Whirlwind
4: Sorcerer
3: Black Knight
2: Gorgar
1: Black Knight 2000

I know, I have a weird taste in some of these machines but, whatever! It's MY personal list.

[popsicle]

Williams had some of the greatest machines. I love High Speed

[hendrixnut]

top 10 from someone who has owned the best 1-Twilight Zone, 2-Addams Family, 3-Monster Bash, 4- Medieval Madness, 5- Circus Voltaire, 6-Creature From The Black Lagoon, 7-Terminator 2, 8-Fun House -9-Lethal Weapon3, 10-Back To The Future

[johnpooky]

My personal top 10 list:

10. Demolition Man (I used to play it at the pool, but I haven't done that in a time)
9. Addams Family
8. Central Park
7. Fathom
6. Terminator 2
5. AC/DC
4. Bride of Pin Bot (of all the Pin Bot games, this is my favorite).
3. Star Trek: The Next Generation.
2. Mustang

Honorable Mentions: Cue Ball Wizard, Fireball, Black Knight 2000, Flight 2000, F-14 Tomcat, Xenon, TX Sector, Space Shuttle, Taxi, Diner, Gorgar, Haunted House, Black Hole

1. Attack From Mars

[zombiTrout]

No "Creature from the Black Lagoon" or "Haunted House"?

[wrinkleneckbass]

Some of my favorites as a youngster, all Bally machines:
Night Rider - 1976
Playboy - 1978
Paragon - 1979
Space Invaders - 1980
Eight Ball Deluxe - 1981

[eddierools]

For me? It's Black Knight 2000 and its hardcore soundtrack that really gets my heart pumping!

[digbybaines]

Great choice for Medieval Madness in the top spot. Twilight Zone deserved better than just an Honorable Mention, far better than Ripley's. Xenon is a nostalgic favorite for me. Props to Suzanne Ciani for making it unforgettable.

[zsciaeount]

OK, so I don't normally criticize top 10's, but I can't bite my tongue for this one. Do you even play pinball, or did you base this off the first season of The Pinball Arcade??

Let's break this down:

1) Pinbot? No. Not a top 10, not even a top 100, not even the best game of the Pinbot series.
2) Ripley's Believe it or Not. This is where you lost all credibility. Not only is this game mediocre, it's one of the most forgettable modern machines out there. AC/DC, Simpsons Pinball Party, Lord of the Rings, Star Trek, Metallica, AC/DC... these are the games that Stern is known for. This is simply laughable.
3) Addams Family is good. It's better than #8
4) Revenge from Mars is fun. I own one, and I love it. Is it a top 10? No. Is it better than Attack from Mars? No. No. No.
5) Black Hole... OK, now I know you're basing this off your iPad experiences. I'm now a little embarrassed for you.
6) Indiana Jones, Twilight Zone, and Star Trek: The Next Generation as honorable mentions? You dishonor yourselves.

Only your choice of Medieval Madness as #1 is remotely in line with the pinball community. Seriously, check Pinside or the Internet Pinball Database. Those top 100's are carefully curated, and are the result of years of community ratings and oversight.

This list is terrible. Just terrible.

[xxxx]

My top five:

5. Funhouse
4. White Water
3. Attack From Mars
2. Medieval Madness
1. Monster Bash

[THEDEEJ]

Terminator 2 Judgement day was an excellent machine!

[Slaterbrah]

What about GORGAR, the first talking pinball machine...

[LakeFX]

"Ever since I was a young boy, I've played the silver ball..."

[dwtdwtdwt]

I've played all of these. 'Theatre of Magic' is the best one of them all. It had a magnetized ball and was completely original.

[gioknows]

OMG...where are the games "Playboy"..."Strikes and Spares"..."Fire Power" and "Eight Ball Deluxe"?