Williams

Whirlwind

Pinside Rating

This game received 601 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 8.134 _/10

8.134

Top 100 ranking

This game ranks #64 in the Pinside Pinball Top 100.

Score breakdown

Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:

Game Design: 8.33

Artwork: 7.895

Sounds/Music: 7.378

Other Aspects: 8.409

Pinside staff rating

This is how we, the very knowledgeable (wink wink) Pinside.com staff & moderators rate this game. 8 of us have rated this game.

7.781

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Found 332 ratings (with comment) on this game

There are 332 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 8 of 14.

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6.969/10

9 years ago

DAG

Toyguy

Inactive member

9y 58,400 869 20 14

It's a cleverly designed game but I found it rather boring and 1 dimensional. Fun to play now and then but not one I would want to own.

8.984/10

9 years ago

BIG

firediver

Pinside member

Kill Devil Hills, NC

9y 21,650 6 5 8

I have played this game from 1990 till now and still just as fun. Was able to add one to the collection and it is for sure a keeper!

firediver has owned this game in the past.

9.700/10

9 years ago

JUS

jdzwir123

Pinside member

Carson City, NV

9y 45,300 504 2 7

Best system 11. Definitely a great game!

jdzwir123 has owned this game in the past.

7.323/10

9 years ago

RAP

RyanStl

Pinside member

Fenton, MO

9y 134K 12,004 1 108

With a lot of other better games available this one couldn't hold my attention. The fan felt nice though when it was blowing.

Edit: spending time on another one I upped my score. This one has more going for it than originally thought.

RyanStl edited previous rating on January 18, 2015.

9.800/10

9 years ago

CCB

Chance

Inactive member

Atlanta, GA

9y 11,250 2 10

This game is on my wish list. I love the game sayings like: "The storm is coming! Return to your home!" and "Well, looky here!" I used to play this game inside of a grocery store in front of the pharmacy. The fan topper is also very cool. Later on this month I am going to the best pinball museum in the USA and the entire world to play this game!

Chance edited previous rating on November 12, 2014.

7.476/10

9 years ago

ARS

thedefog

Pinside member

10y 93,350 5,673 72

This is a unique game and one of the better system 11 games made. The theme is a little cheesy, music is so-so, and the artwork isn't the greatest, but it has a great layout and the platters make for some unique gameplay with lots of variation. Innovative for sure.

thedefog edited previous rating on April 19, 2016.

4.242/10

9 years ago

???

benys13

Inactive member

Montréal, QC

9y 32,650 16 1 41

not really my game

9.634/10

9 years ago

JLH

Hougie

Pinside member

Marysville, IN

11y 103K 3,102 12 34

This may be my favorite game. I love the music, shots, call-outs, and rules. It is frustrating but rewarding. This game has made me play better. People that rate it low probably have played a bad example. It is lame when the upper flipper is weak or the level is off. Top notch game. Thank you Pat!!

Hougie currently owns this game.

8.640/10

9 years ago

S

pinballholder

GoldenStatePin

Rocklin, CA

10y 102K 1,447 5 25

Considered by many to be the deepest and best System 11 game. I really enjoyed owning it, but after some time, I was ready to try something new. I think this is a great SS pin to own in a small collection or as the only pin in a collection.

pinballholder edited previous rating on December 24, 2015.
pinballholder has owned this game in the past.

7.983/10

9 years ago

EHL

lyonsden

Professor Pinball

11y 126K 3,128 156

Classic PLD and one of the originals that set him up as a great pinball designer. Of his designs, this one ranks middle for me, but it is an older game with less ability for him to program various effects. Still, it has 6 pops, three spinning disks, two scoops, and a great setup for multiball.

lyonsden edited previous rating on February 05, 2016.

9.500/10

9 years ago

BW

indybru

Pinside+ Frequent

Barrington, IL

9y 105K 1,681 9 11

What a great game, every chance I get to play one I do. It's lots of fun and when the fan and spinning disks kick in for locking the ball or multilball it is a blast. I just love the play field and the feel of the game.

It is such a classic and one I hope to own one day.

7.495/10

9 years ago

GJB

gjbwalker

Pinside member

12y 46,450 423 18

It has all the things I like about a Pat Lawlor game, and I remember playing it back in the day, but when I got it home, it just didn't have the magic I remembered.

I know many people who love this game and would rate it a lot higher and justifiably so, but for me I just can't.

7.346/10

9 years ago

DOC

drsfmd

Pinside member

10y 76,550 3,156 108

I don't like this game as much as I'm "supposed" to, given the high ratings it receives. It's not bad at all, but I just don't think it's one of the greats.

7.904/10

9 years ago

???

rubendub

Pinside member

Sint-niklaas

10y 31,000 4 53

what a game :)

rubendub edited previous rating on June 06, 2016.
rubendub has owned this game in the past.

8.459/10

9 years ago

DMS

PinWolf

Pinside member

Franklin, TN

9y 19,400 27 3 12

Love the fresh breeze.

9.600/10

9 years ago

???

aussilverball

Inactive member

Onkaparinga Hills

9y 14,500 3 6

The 3 spinning disc,s on whirlwind are one of the best idea,s a pinball machine could have. They make the game transform into a totally unpredictable event. That silver ball defies logic and gets thrown in all directions . What a blast ! A very addictive machine , a real classic.

aussilverball currently owns this game.

6.479/10

9 years ago

DXV

chadderack

Pinside member

Sandy, UT

10y 108K 2,851 15 43

An overrated game, tbh. The spinning discs are cute but not really that interesting. Seems like there are about two shots in the game; the right ramp and the skyway ramp. The multiball modes aren't really as fun as they should be considering the work one has to go to to get them.

Not a bad game; but I would pass on owning one.

7.287/10

9 years ago

DOC

Davidus56

Pinside+ Addict

9y 82,300 384 59 1

I guess the fan is nice on a hot day, but other than that, not much going for this game. Tornados are probably not the best theme for folks who have gone thru one - Jarrell Texas 1997. This game is average IMO on all accounts. I used to own one - I haven't missed it one day.

10.000/10

9 years ago

LAS

HighNoon

Pinside member

11y 80,100 1,144 54

I think Whirlwind is quite possibly the best pinball machine ever made. I don't think that there's anything I would change about it. It is the standard by which I rate other machines so, yes, I believe it deserves the score I gave it.

Some of my (many) favorite things about the game:
*The attract music/light show after you finish a game.
*The fan.
*The spinners.
*The great ruleset.
*The fantastic artwork.

7.756/10

9 years ago

SJD

muzikman

Pinside member

10y 58,400 142 88

Now that I have added one to my collection I have revisited my rating, but it is practically unchanged. I still think it is a fun game and has good bang for your buck. But I rate many other classics higher for overall fun and coolness.

Pros: A couple different multiballs to go for. A challenging million jackpot shot. I really like the way you can change the cellar award with the right orbit spinner. Great theme integration - the spinning discs and the fan are very cool. Very family friendly. The center post adds an interesting element.

Cons: The call-outs are kinda cute, but not the greatest. The same is true for the music. I compare both of these to my other system 11, Taxi, and I like the Taxi sound package more. The layout is just OK.

muzikman edited previous rating on February 06, 2016.

9.239/10

9 years ago

DIK

davewtf

Pinside member

Madison, WI

12y 84,400 9,740 1 114

top three game for me. I have never started a game on this and not wanted to finish and i've literally played this game a thousand times on location. Simple rules but hitting the jackpot ramp is always a thrill for me.

davewtf edited previous rating on October 28, 2014.
davewtf currently owns this game.

8.656/10

9 years ago

BJF

colorado_cabrio

Pinside member

Boulder, CO

10y 29,150 49 5 16

Great machine, appreciating in value and player ratings!

colorado_cabrio currently owns this game.

8.410/10

10 years ago

BRI

LEE400

Inactive member

10y 40,650 186 4 25

Fun Fun Fun, the three rotating discs, the funny quotes, add a couple tough ramp shots and an awesome looking playfield and translite and you have Whirlwind!

9.900/10

10 years ago

DES

derek533

Inactive member

Edmond, OK

10y 25,650 140 2 7

Without a doubt, the one pin that got me hooked on pinball back in my youth. Played it a ton then, and judging by all the machines I'm seeing in the wild for sale now, I wasn't the only one who played the heck out of it. This one will be in my collection some day. Beautiful and well executed theme and matching playfield. Sound is great too.

9.689/10

10 years ago

BRM

TheDonnyKey

Pinside member

Knoxville, TN

10y 29,650 8 1 9

Classic drain monster. The multiball moments are ones to cherish, and the lower playfield is extremely unpredictable.

Mini-orbit and left ramp are extremely satisfying, and shooting the left ramp during 3 ball multiball is super difficult and very rewarding.

Left orbit to mini orbit, then finally to left ramp produces a 3-way combo that's quite satisfying, as well.

This one keeps me coming back. Would never get rid of this classic.

TheDonnyKey currently owns this game.

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There are 332 ratings (that include a comment) on this game. Currently showing results page 8 of 14.

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