Dungeons & Dragons: The Tyrant's Eye is a licensed pinball machine manufactured by Stern Pinball, released in January 2025 as their flagship cornerstone title for the year. Designed by Brian Eddy with programming by Dwight Sullivan and artwork by Vincent Prost, the game combines D&D intellectual property with innovative pinball mechanics including an animatronic dragon toy, character progression system, procedurally-generated dungeons, and deep rule set with 30+ modes. Available in three production tiers (Pro, Premium, Limited Edition with 740 units), the game features integration with Stern Insider Connected app for weekly dungeon updates and character progression carryover, and includes an acclaimed voice cast featuring Michael Dorn, Kevin Smith, Gerard Way, Matthew Mercer, and Luke Gygax.
Dungeons & Dragons: The Tyrant's Eye includes account-based progress tracking, character leveling, and sign-in functionality
D&D: The Tyrant's Eye motivated a non-owner to seriously consider purchasing a pinball machine
D&D: The Tyrant's Eye emulates RPG video game mechanics through character progression, leveling, and gear acquisition
The D&D rulebook does not contain information about shield mechanics
Stern Pinball game that has reached 1.0 code with Challenge Mode; second of three planned major code updates completed
Stern title mentioned in newsletter highlights
2025 Stern Pinball release; features character progression and Stern Insider Connected integration
Recently released Stern pinball machine; primary subject of pricing debate; features dragon mech as main toy; available in Pro/Premium/LE configurations
New Stern Pinball cornerstone title in early code; features dragon toy, character selection, progressive difficulty
Stern Pinball game; Spike 3 platform; designed by Brian Eddy; coded by Dwight Sullivan; expected release end of December; subject of speculation about casual approachability
No linked glossary terms
D&D: The Tyrant's Eye Limited Edition production is limited to 740 units total
The D&D machine is noticeably heavier than typical Stern pinball machines due to the dragon mechanism
D&D: The Tyrant's Eye's shots are well-positioned and more hittable than John Wick's shot geometry
The dragon mechanism in D&D:LE actively blocks shots during multiball by dropping its chin
The D&D:LE back glass features glitter/sparkle elements that are difficult to capture on camera
Topper-exclusive DLC model should offer à la carte purchasing (DLC-only or board-only options) for collectors without ceiling space
D&D topper will unlock exclusive character class via Stern Insider Connected app
Dungeons & Dragons experienced unexpected sales surge post-Texas Pinball Festival
The shield feature (center lock bar button) deploys a metal deflector between flippers to prevent straight-down-the-middle drains
Single-player progression can be toggled off for a classic tournament experience
After days of playing D&D, the machine still has unseen modes and unexplored map areas
D&D has eight pinballs, which is significantly more than the typical four or five found in most pinball games
Wrath the Relentless is voiced by Michael Dorn, known for playing Worf in Star Trek: The Next Generation
Dungeon Crawler mode is pinball's first rogue-like mode
D&D: Tyrant's Eye features a large motorized dragon mech with moving parts and gold targets
Gelatinous cubes in the game use magnets to grab and hold the ball
The shield is a player-controlled mechanical element that pops up during play and is fun to use
D&D is a 'really complicated mech' which explains the early failure rate
Two D&D pinball machines have already experienced mech ('dragon') failures after shipping began
Dungeons & Dragons: The Tyrant's Eye LEs are selling at a good clip and may be sold out from distributors
Shield is player-controlled by an action button and duration varies by character and level
The save system was enhanced compared to Venom to track story position and completed content
The Dungeon Crawl physical pop-up feature is not on the Pro model but is software-emulated
The Pro model dragon only moves vertically and does not shoot pinballs
Dungeon Crawl is procedurally generated and produces a completely different dungeon on each play
The game has three different story endings based on player choices
Party members are visible on screen and can be killed during battle modes
The game features four playable characters with unique bonuses
Players can choose to play a 'one-shot' game starting from scratch even with saved character data
Gelatinous Cube multiball requires six hits to the dragon before draining 15 balls
New Stern Pinball release (early 2025) designed by Brian Eddy and Dwight Sullivan. Features three-flipper layout, complex articulated dragon toy (Premium/LE), character progression via Insider Connected, weekly randomized dungeon crawl modes, and local co-op. Available in Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition (740 units) variants.
Pinball machine announced in title; debuted at CES 2025
Stern Pinball release with official reveal scheduled for 10am dealer call and 11am public reveal; features dragon mechanism and Michael Dorn voiceover
Stern Pinball's newly confirmed 2025 title; $13K LE with 740 units; features dragon mechanism; designed by Brian Eddy, programmed by Dwight Sullivan
2025 pinball release, mentioned in Jared's top 3 list as offering something different from typical licensed movie themes
Stern Pinball's newly announced D&D-themed pinball machine featuring dragon animatronic, gelatinous cube mechanic, pin save campaign system, and Critical Role voice talent
Limited Edition pinball machine by Stern; features interactive dragon mechanism, Michael Dorn voiceover, character selection (Anya, Frey Curlyfoot), trapdoor mechanism, shield feature, multi-ball modes with dragon blocking shots, map-based progression, mode selection, and progressive difficulty
Stern Pinball licensed game released early 2025; subject of detailed code/design discussion
Stern Pinball game; referenced for Bishop roaming shot mechanic that worked well but was adapted differently for X-Men's playfield
Stern Pinball licensed title being played in Pro Edition, version 0.92; subject of detailed gameplay and code discussion
Stern pinball game; players frustrated with meaningless leveling mechanics and battles with no consequences; Kaneda criticizes design philosophy
Scheduled Stern release, delayed in favor of King Kong; designed by Brian Eddy; known for lengthy development cycles
Stern's next cornerstone title announced as officially in development; features dragon mechanism, character progression, RPG mechanics, and themed around D&D lore.
Referenced for shield ball save mechanic; Mrs. J expresses difficulty with timing similar to magnetic save concern
Licensed pinball game by Stern; features dragon mechanism, multi-ending narrative, progression system, co-op support; discussed at factory with designer interview
Stern Pinball game experiencing Dragon mechanism wiring harness issues in LE models
2025 Stern Pinball cornerstone title; Pro $7,000, Premium $9,700, LE $13,000 (740 units); features gelatinous cube, articulating dragon, pin save, RPG progression
New Stern Pinball release; praised for complex code, spectacular dragon mechanic, and overall design quality; positioned as Stern's reputation recovery game
Recent Stern Pinball release; positive early reception and strong sales; designed by Brian Eddy and Dwight Sullivan; reduced LE count vs. X-Men
Stern Pinball release; had launch party at Lumberjack Johnny's; described as powerful machine; listener John purchased used unit with only 100 plays
Stern Pinball release played in Premium version at TPF 2025; featured articulating dragon toy and full-motion callouts; both hosts found it engaging but wanted more playtime to form final judgment.
Ten new machines from Marco Specialties booth at TPF 2025
Previous Stern title referenced as having Insider Connected saved progression feature that Star Wars lacks at launch
Stern pinball machine on location at Nowhere Entertainment Center
Newly-announced Stern Pinball game making its first European appearance at EAG Expo in Pro and Premium models
New Stern pinball game collection celebrating 50 years of D&D
Stern Pinball's recently released D&D-themed pinball machine, subject of this comprehensive tutorial
Stern Pinball game; demonstrates exceptional reliability with minimal maintenance issues in operator experience; drove continuous play at Electric Bat (20+ hours daily for first 72 hours)
Stern pinball expected within couple weeks on Electric Bat floor (referenced as 'Dungeons & Dragons'); Rachel planning themed tournament series leading to D&D release party
Stern game with active sweepstakes and January 2026 promotion
Stern, January 2025, designed by Brian Eddy, coded by Dwight Sullivan, features animatronic dragon and PinSave system
Newly revealed Stern Pinball title; designed by Brian Eddy with co-designer credits; features dragon mech, 11,000+ voiceover lines, 12 modes, 7 playable characters, accessible dynamic layout; subject of media day event
Stern game shipping LEs early February, Pros early February, Premiums mid-late February; code name 'Ropes'
Stern Pinball release scheduled for late January 2025; designed by Brian Eddy and Dwight Sullivan; anticipated as tournament addition for competitive play
Stern game experiencing strong post-TPF sales surge; new code version .89 added artifacts and items
Licensed Stern Pinball machine recently acquired by RetroRalph in LE form
Recent Stern Pinball release; blends D&D theme with pinball mechanics featuring dungeon exploration and monster battles
Stern Pinball title compared against Harry Potter and unreleased Elwin game 'sight unseen'
Modern pinball game designed by Brian Eddy; hosts express optimism this represents Eddy's comeback
Stern game receiving topper-exclusive character class DLC unlockable via Insider Connected app; Don advocates for à la carte DLC sales option
Stern game receiving new code update improving dragon multiball accessibility; Don suggests enhanced dragon interactivity
Stern game by Brian Eddy (design) and Dwight Sullivan (code); underperforming sales; criticized for lack of in-game currency system
Newly revealed Stern Pinball cornerstone release; features dragon mechanism, character progression, procedural dungeons, available in Pro/Premium/LE tiers
Stern Pinball licensed game released early 2025; fantasy RPG theme with procedural dungeons, party mechanics, and extensive narrative; all three variants (Pro/Premium/LE) available for play at media event
Recent Stern Pinball Limited Edition release; praised by Don for code quality, shot design, and fairness compared to John Wick and X-Men
LE/Premium/Pro models; Node 10 wire harness defect in Dragon mechanism causing chip overheat; code 0.84 added Tiny's Dice mini wizard mode
Stern pinball machine with motor/wiring issues on node board 10; Premium/LE production paused, shifted to Pro
Stern Pinball recently shipping; multiple units arriving at RPC; early reports of mech failures ('dragons dying'); four of five RPC owners purchasing units
First cornerstone game from Stern Pinball; features dragon that spits pinballs in Premium tier (moves all directions) vs Pro tier (left-right only); subject to weekly dungeon changes via Insider Connected
Referenced as exemplary modern deep rule set with good tutorial/progression; uses carryover progress and mode locking for clarity.
Stern Pinball's 2025 flagship with animated dragon toy and depth-heavy ruleset; hosts' favorite of year along with Portal
Stern game; mentioned as alternative available to Europeans (but not their preferred choice)
Stern Pinball game; ranked #5 on Don's top 5 list for 2025
Stern 2024 release; noted as only current Stern game without accessories yet available; licensing unclear as potential factor
Recent Stern release; exhibited at both CES and EAG Expo
Stern Pinball 2025 release; dragon toy criticized as underutilized; only activates for dragon multiball, not integrated into quests
Stern's officially announced cornerstone pinball title for 2025
Stern Pinball release with poor code state at launch; upcoming software update focused on character progress feature within Insider Connected app; criticized for app-integration priorities over gameplay
Recent Stern release featuring advanced dragon mech; praised for creativity and theme integration but criticized for LE design and 740-unit production run
Stern Pinball game referenced for superior mechanical innovation (Dragon feature) compared to Kong's mechanical offerings.
Upcoming Stern title launching by January 7 at CES, designed by Brian Eddy; expected 500 LE units only
Stern release that Kaneda identifies as first of three consecutive misses; reportedly satisfactory only to dedicated D&D fans
First of three consecutive Stern cornerstone games criticized as lukewarm with limited replay value
Stern game selling strongly to new-to-pinball customers per Gomez
Stern Pinball; $13K MSRP LE; now $9,800; Seth Davis design reference
Newly announced Stern Pinball machine based on D&D IP
Licensed Stern Pinball title; Pro Edition being demonstrated; features narrative-driven progression, character selection, multi-town gameplay, equipment upgrades, and dragon multiball endgame
Referenced via Beholder-themed merchandise available at booth
Recently released Stern pinball game heavily featured at expo with dedicated seminar and playable units
Licensed pinball game manufactured by Stern; designed by Brian Eddy with programming by Dwight Sullivan; features interactive dragon mechanism and character selection mechanics; partnership with Wizards of the Coast
Premium pinball machine manufactured by Stern Pinball, featured at IGN Fan Fest
Pinball machine being showcased at Gary Con 2025 with six units on display
Licensed pinball game in production at Stern; features dragon mech, gelatinous cubes, shields, and dungeon-themed mechanics
Stern pinball game with hand-illustrated artwork animated by multiple artists; involved 16-person art team from various countries
Stern pinball; considered as potential purchase over next 3 months pending Kong release; noted for good bone structure and passionate code team
Stern's flagship 2025 title; Spike 2 platform; designed by Brian Eddy, rules by Dwight Sullivan; features randomized weekly dungeons, gelatinous cube multiball, dragon multiball
New Stern Pinball release featuring dragon mech, player-controlled shield, gelatinous cube magnet, three-flipper layout, zero pop bumpers, three ramps, multiple modes, character selection system, and dynamic dungeon map. Released in three tiers: Pro, Premium, Limited Edition (740 units). Game designed by Brian Eddy with programming by Dwight Sullivan, art by Vincent Prost. Features voice cast including Michael Dorn, Kevin Smith, Gerard Way, Matthew Mercer, and Luke Gygax.
Stern release in post-repair production; LE units rolling out, Premium model launching, code at .85; described as 'darling' game with strong sales momentum
Surprise Stern bestseller exceeding expectations; receiving V86 code update with Tavern Brawl wizard mode; Dragon Fix kits distributed to address issues
Stern Pinball game receiving code update (v.89) post-Texas Pinball Festival with new artifact features; noted strong sales bump after TPF
Stern Pinball title receiving V.91 code update with legendary glass item rewards; Production continuing through August
Stern title shipping LEs this week, Pros early February, Premiums mid-late February; code name: ROPES; experiencing one-week production delay due to dragon parts
Stern Pinball 2024 release; Premium version has $2,500 upsell for moving dragon head; code incomplete with limited/repeating callouts; owners already selling secondary market
Stern Pinball's major licensed title launched January 2025, featuring dragon mechanic and weekly dungeon updates via Stern Insider. Premiered at CES Las Vegas and EAG London. Early show builds exhibited technical issues and balance concerns.
Stern's critical hit game; code updates February 7 and 18; exhibits ongoing dragon movement reliability issues; featured at Toy Fair and MagicCon Chicago
Stern's next cornerstone release (Jan 3 reveal); designed by Brian Eddy; programmed by Dwight Sullivan; features dragon bash toy; three-tier pricing model expected
New 2025 Stern pinball release. Designed by Brian Eddy, coded by Dwight Sullivan. Features character progression, gelatinous cube mechanism, dragon toy, three flippers, map-based playfield. Available in Pro/Premium/LE (740 units). Artwork by Vincent Prost.
Unreleased Stern Pinball title featuring gelatinous cube magnet mechanic, dragon head articulation, dungeon mode with weekly resets, four-character progression system; released in Pro/Premium/LE tiers
Stern release; described as 'okay' performer, marking improvement in recent Stern output trajectory
Recent Stern release with 1,974 LE units; experiencing dragon parts delays but strong sales momentum; board failure reported at Kickback Cafe Madison
Stern Pinball release ranked #3, features role-playing mechanics with Stern Insider Connected progression
Stern's first 2025 release; praised as best theme integration with Critical Role voice cast and Michael Dorn
Stern Pinball 2025 release; rated 13/15 by Megan (layout 4/5, art 4/5, vibe 5/5); praised for storytelling and D&D theming; Insider Connected integration felt essential; inspired Megan to join D&D gaming group
Primary featured game at Stern's CES booth; highlighted for digital integration features
Stern 2025 release; listed among recent cornerstone titles with mixed reception
Stern title receiving code update to version 0.98 adding Undermountain wizard mode, Rime the Ranger character, lighting effects, score rebalancing
New Stern pinball machine combining D&D IP with pinball mechanics; features complex story, 30+ modes, innovative dragon toy
New pinball machine from Stern Pinball, subject of gameplay premiere video
Stern Pinball's official D&D licensed pinball machine; subject of gameplay overview video
New pinball machine from Stern based on D&D IP featuring advanced dragon animatronic and connected gameplay
Stern pinball machine; subject of annual sweepstakes; themed around D&D with dragon/fantasy elements
New Stern Pinball release featuring animatronic dragon, procedurally-generated dungeons, character progression, and choice-driven story; center of this livestream analysis
Licensed pinball machine from Stern; features Proce's artwork; has LE and Pro versions with different backglass designs