Top 5 Greatest Pinball Machines From Stern Pinball (SDTM, 2025)

Straight Down the Middle·video·7m 4s·analyzed·Mar 11, 2025

Analysis

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TL;DR

SDTM ranks top 5 Stern games: Jaws, Ghostbusters, Walking Dead, LOTR, Godzilla #1.

Summary

Two hosts from Straight Down the Middle rank the top 5 greatest Stern Pinball machines of all time: #5 Jaws, #4 Ghostbusters, #3 The Walking Dead, #2 The Lord of the Rings, and #1 Godzilla. They emphasize design philosophy, rule set quality, layout innovation (particularly Keith Elwin's contributions), and how these machines taught them to play pinball through challenging but rewarding gameplay.

Key Claims

Jaws is still at code 0.98 and already performing at the top tier of Stern games, with premium edition being particularly strong
high confidence · Host directly states Jaws code status and performance at time of recording
Ghostbusters and The Walking Dead were the two games that taught the hosts how to play pinball through their demanding gameplay requirements
high confidence · Host explicitly states this twice: 'Walking Dead and Ghostbusters were the two games that I truly learned to play on'
The Walking Dead features one of the best wizard modes ('Horde') that is one of the furthest away wizard modes to achieve
high confidence · Host describes Horde as 'exhilarating' and 'one of the furthest away wizard mode you're ever going to'
The Lord of the Rings would likely rank #1 if it were remastered on a modern system rather than White Star
medium confidence · Host speculates: 'this might pop up to number one if they ever remastered it'
Keith Johnson's rule set for The Lord of the Rings is 'Keith Johnson's greatest rule set ever done' with optimal multiball balance
medium confidence · Host opinion about rule set quality and design philosophy
Godzilla is considered by some to be not only the best Stern game but the best pinball machine of all time
high confidence · Host states: 'some argue that this game is not only the best Stern game of all time it's the best pinball machine of all time'
Keith Elwin fundamentally changed what people think about pinball layouts, moving beyond simple fan layouts to comprehensive design innovation
high confidence · Host explains Elwin's impact: 'Keith Elwin came into this industry and changed what people think about layouts'
Godzilla surprised the community as a strong game despite initial low expectations for the theme
high confidence · Host describes community reaction: 'no one was really thinking about Godzilla... but then when it came out it was such a good game'

Notable Quotes

“Walking Dead and Ghostbusters were the two games that I truly learned to play on because if you're not nudging and you're not you're not manipulating that game you're not playing pinball”
Host (SDTM) @ ~middle section — Core philosophy about what makes these games great teachers of pinball fundamentals; emphasizes skill development through demanding gameplay
“Ghostbusters that little right ramp people hate that I love it y I love that it's a freaking fantastic game”
Host (SDTM) @ ~#4 game discussion — Contrasts community opinion with personal appreciation for design choices
“The Walking Dead... it's ugly to me... but there's just something about it”
Host (SDTM) @ ~#3 game discussion — Acknowledges theme/aesthetic weakness but prioritizes rule set quality and gameplay
“it would probably been number one if it just wasn't such a long journey”
Host (SDTM) @ ~#2 game discussion (LOTR) — Identifies specific limitation of LOTR despite rule set excellence; suggests remaster potential
“Keith Elwin came into this industry and changed what people think about layouts like they're not just fan layouts anymore they're not just rule sets with mods it's like he knows how to do so much of everything in each little category”
Host (SDTM) @ ~#1 game discussion (Godzilla) — Articulates Elwin's design philosophy shift and comprehensive approach to game design
“it's got that depth for that that that very good player but it's also so approachable for anyone else it's very easy to understand what you need to do”
Host (SDTM) @ ~Godzilla analysis — Describes Godzilla's accessibility-to-depth balance as ideal design principle
“no one was really thinking about Godzilla like H okay Godzilla who cares you know it's cool but whatever it's fine but then when it came out it was such a good game”
Host (SDTM) @ ~end of Godzilla segment — Documents theme skepticism overcome by game quality; theme licensing strategy validation

Entities

Jawsgame Ghostbustersgame The Walking Deadgame The Lord of the Ringsgame Godzillagame Keith Elwinperson

Signals

~
sentiment_shift: Godzilla overcame initial community skepticism about theme choice to become universally praised upon release; theme licensing strategy validated by game quality
high · Host describes surprise reception: 'no one was really thinking about Godzilla... but then when it came out it was such a good game you're like oh it's got humor'
?
competitive_signal: Ghostbusters and The Walking Dead require fundamental nudging and game manipulation skills; mastery of these games teaches pinball fundamentals applicable to broader competitive play
high · Host explains: 'Walking Dead and Ghostbusters were the two games that I truly learned to play on because if you're not nudging and you're not manipulating that game you're not playing pinball'
?
design_philosophy: The Walking Dead theme has aged poorly and game is aesthetically unappealing, but exceptional rule set and shot design overcome these limitations in community regard
high · Host admits: 'it's ugly to me... you're not wrong there's just something about it' and later identifies it as top 3 despite theme weakness
?
design_philosophy: Optimal rule set design balances depth for advanced players with accessibility for casual players; Godzilla exemplifies this balance, LOTR praised for similar approach
high · Host describes: 'it's got that depth for that that that very good player but it's also so approachable for anyone else it's very easy to understand'
?
design_philosophy: Keith Elwin's comprehensive approach to game design (layout, art, toys, rules, accessibility) represents evolution beyond traditional rule-set-focused design; hosts position this as industry-changing innovation

Topics

Designer philosophy and layout innovationprimaryRule set quality and complexity balanceprimaryWizard mode design and difficulty progressionprimaryGame difficulty and learning curve as teaching toolprimaryTheme aging and aesthetic appeal vs gameplay meritsecondaryPro vs Premium vs LE edition differentiationsecondaryCode maturity and post-release improvementssecondaryCommunity expectations vs reality for new releasesmentioned

Sentiment

positive(0.87)— Hosts are enthusiastic and appreciative of all five games, despite acknowledging flaws (aged themes, long play times, difficulty). Critical but respectful tone focused on celebrating design merits. Some tension between theme/aesthetic concerns and rule set/gameplay quality, but resolved in favor of gameplay.

Transcript

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these are the top five Stern pinball machines of all time this is it top five we'll start at number five number five this is a tough one for us it is tough because there was a couple that didn't make the list that we were like should Star Trek we wanted it to make the list should Jurassic Park make the we wanted to make the list number five is Keith elwin's Jaws yes Jaws the newcomer and Jaws is very much like that it was a little sneaky because it started off a little slow we wondered and then and and then at this time of this recording it's not even at 1.0 I think like code 98 and it's still already in the top on it could go big game yes especially the premium the pro the pro I mean you still get the Cod but still the premium is where it's at I wonder if people agree with us on this next one number four of the top five Stern pinball machines ever made Ghostbusters love Ghostbusters love ghostb that's a straight down the middle game it is listen and hey like don't complain that it's too hard they will it's unfair yeah that game will teach you how to freaking smack a game how to say like it will teach honestly that and another game on this list are the two games that truly taught me how to play Pinball Ghostbusters will you can't you can't rely on a lot of those bounc cuz the flipper like yes it will it will SC you can't shimmy it out of but the things that make it great the code it's Ghostbusters the call outs the shots on there again that left orbit you you look at it you should never you you it's as wide as the ball we even prefer the pro I do Ghostbusters that little right rant people hate that I love it y I love that it's a freaking fastic game Magnus slings take Rel Le but they're cool Innovation but still got the hologram on the premium you got the subway like it's got a l it's a hard game it's a mean bastard of a game it is but it deserves to be one of the greatests so rewarding what's better than that well the number three uh greatest STM pinball machine is The Walking Dead that's the other that's still my favorite game love it still my favorite pinball machine it's ugly to me it's one of lyman's best rule sets yeah that was ever created it's my favorite L and roll set it is ugly like you said you're not wrong there's just something about it it's something yes it's mean it's unfair at times yeah but there's just something about it doesn't have the most toys ever no it's a theme that hasn't aged well no the theme is horribly aged there's just something about it it is but but the shots are just good the shots are so good like what board did with that yes like it's just like you know when you got the well Walker you can bash it's up close it's still fun bashing the barn doors till the barn doors open drop targets that that matter yes that you truly need to hit to be able to get into um oh my gosh I went blank what's the's blood bath blood bath yes you're going into and those shots are smooth the ramps are smooth the ramps right at your face but it's still smooth sometimes it goes all the way but maybe not and you can actually get some flow working on the game too if you start hitting some of those you have to move it is you got to beat around but that's what I said that's why I brought it up but I didn't want to give it away too soon Walking Dead and Ghostbusters were the two games that I truly learned to play on because if you're not nudging and you're not you're not manipulating that game you're not playing pinball some of the best wizard modes of all time yes oh my gosh H is dude it's exhilarating it is one of the furthest away wizard mode you're ever going to I've never been there it's tough It's Great does it get better than that it's does doeses the number two greatest STM pinball machine of all time The Lord of the Rings oh get your little baging froto again cuz you're going on a journey so much going on that's I'm looking at it right now off the screen here bog the magnetic ring you've got uh the my favorite wizard mode and it's a mini wizard mode is destroy the ring such an epic moment especially whenever you complete it yes and the story in and of itself the theme is wonderful the story Line's wonderful uh one of the hardest wizard modes to get to Valor it is and honestly this game it would probably been number one if it just wasn't such a long journey it's a very long journey it's an old system it's a white star it is you know what I think this might pop up to number one if they ever remastered it if they yes yeah I can see that cuz that would help it would take that even though that it's still a long playing game if you still upgraded some of those things the rules are Keith P. Johnson's greatest rule set ever done it's not overly saturated with multiballs it's got that depth to it but fun and you have to complete the multiballs is not easy and then the gifts from the elves that you're trying to get as well yes I've told Keith he's a friend of ours I've told him like don't be afraid just to repeat that in your next year's j% just do the same rules that's it we don't want nothing more that's perfect no cuz it's one of the best rule sets in all pin he laughs and makes fun of me when I say that but but you're not wrong it's true you're not you do it at all but it's not the number one greatest some argue that this game is not only the best Stern game of all time it's the best pinball machine of all time it's Keith El one it's Godzilla it's got a little bit of everything y just like Lord of the Rings it's just got everything it's got art it's got toys it's got rules it's got layup Keith Elwin came into this industry and changed what people think about layouts like they're not just fan layouts anymore they're not just rule sets with MO it's like he knows how to do so much of everything in each little category and you know what is so great is it's it's got that depth for that that that very good player but it's also so approachable for anyone else it's very easy to understand what you need to do with the monsters and you know the r hit a building and then start the multiball exactly like it's just it comes crumbling yes it's so much it's just so easy to understand but yet it's not it's not just like got oh wow it's not much to it no there is probably the best well-rounded game very much in any category there's not a bad category in that entire game no there's not art is fantastic everything in it is fantastic the worst to me would be theme because easily but that's still an iconic classic and that's what I was going to say it's one of those things that took people by surprise because no one was really thinking about Godzilla like H okay Godzilla who car you know it's cool but whatever it's fine but then when it came out it was such a good game you're like oh it's got humor yeah now I'm my godzill F I like that's really look good so that's the top five Stern pinol machine games great lineup [Music] t