1/ ELVIRA ATPM
2/ SWORDS OF FURY
3/ ROLLERGAMES
4/ F-14 TOMCAT
5/ WHIRLWIND
6/ HIGH SPEED
7/ BANZAI RUN
8/ JOKERZ
9/ TRANSPORTER
10/ CYCLONE

It's not the "best" but my favorite is BK2K... the best has gotta be Whirlwind. I WOULD say Space Station but I think the unconventional slingshot arrangement really does hold it back.

1) Mousin' Around

2) Banzai Run

3) Elvira ATPM

4) Diner

5) Dr Dude

6) Whirlwind

Of the one's I've played at least a decent number of games on there is a group that are all really close. This is my list now, but ask me tomorrow and 2-9 could basically be in any order. However, F-14 Tomcat will remain in it's place.

Whirlwind
Taxi
Earthshaker
High Speed
Swords of Fury
Black Knight 2000
Elvira And The Party Monsters
PinBot
Rollergames
...
...
...
...
...
F-14 Tomcat

Just picked up and F-14 as my first System 11 a few weeks ago. That caused me to go out an try to play every other one I could get my hands on.

So far F-14 is still my favorite due to its crazy speed. Followed by Pinbot , High Speed & Big Guns.

Wow, so you can't stand F14?
I really like mine. Took me a little bit to figure out how to maximize bonus and such, but man, fast, crazy light show, constant feedback.

Honestly, what's not to like other than shallow rule set?

Part of it might have to do with my expectations. It is such a nice looking game with a cool theme, but I'm disappointed that all of those chrome wireforms all lead to ball locks. While I'm a fan of physical ball locks, the two in the center take up a lot of real estate. If I were releasing F-14 Tomcat 2.0, I'd have the ramp still feed into the diverters. If they all stay closed the ball is fed directly back to the left flipper. If the second diverter triggers the ball is fed back to the right flipper. If the first diverter triggers the ball is sent to a single physical ball lock, which holds three balls. Somehow this machine doesn't live up to the sum of it's parts.

PS: I don't hate F-14. It's still pinball. I bought it, played it, and after a fairly short period of time knew it wasn't going to be a keeper. I wouldn't fault anyone who enjoys it, but for me it's on the bottom of the System 11 games that I've played.

I feel the same way about F14 as lpeters82 does.

Fair enough. I've only played 2 Sys11, so I don't have much to go on.

Whirlwind
Earthshaker
Mousin Around
Banzai Run
Honestly, though, I love all system 11's. Something about them is just so fun.

Pinbot is king.

Then ww and taxi.

Then the rest.

Love almost all the System 11 games.

But, Elvira is near and dear to my heart and a legacy machine to boot. First of the run of Elvira machines.
That counts for a lot in my book.

Can we do a list solely on music?

1. SoF (everything is SO GOOD)
2. BK2K (everything except jackpot theme, why is that such a downer?)
3. Rollergames (best jackpot theme in pinball)
4. Space Station (that bass)
5. Earthshaker (underrated Granner soundtrack)
6. Pin*Bot (the multiball theme is so classic that it made it into Taxi, Jack*Bot)
7. Taxi (so goofy and amazing, it feels like a Seinfeld episode)
8. Bad Cats (meow meow meow meow)
9. EATPM (nice organ)
9. Diner (it's goofy, also a great Granner effort)
10. High Speed (multiball theme is pretty epic)

the rest... eh. What do you guys think?

I miss Banzai Run on this list. Another amazing Brian Schmidt soundtrack, like Space Station, SoF and BK2k are.

Oooh thanks for the tip- I've only played that in a really loud arcade, I'll definitely have to re-listen to it.

Well I’ve had a few sys11 games. F-14 tomcat and Banzai run are the only ones left and going nowhere so I’ll say those. Whirlwind in for third.

Diner.

It's amazing. Enjoy!

Cyclone
Space Station
Rollergames

Oh this is awesome. Definitely sounds BK2Kish. Once again, Brian Schmidt... hats off to you sir.

High Speed.

Simple, fast, and very brightly obvious and noisily rewarding if you're going for multiball. No pressure!? Make that ramp for jackpot! Good luck! But you better get it!

The game that saved pinbal, imho. 'nuff said. Thanks, Steve Ritchie.

Sorry for disturb...
I have idea to remake the classic sys11C for restore many 80 pinballs...
Someone have idea about who have the real (orcad or similar) diagrams?
Thanks

1. Taxi - slight edge over Whirlwind based on fun factor
2. Whirlwind - classic design
3. Pinbot - find it challenging to reach the sun despite the simple design.
4. High Speed - FAST!
5. Diner - quirky, fun design

Others...
Earthshaker - Whirlwind's younger sibling
Swords of Fury
Cyclone
Police Force - maybe the most underrated system 11 of them all
Jokerz!

Your first 3 are very close to mine. I had Taxi and Whirlwind at the same time. I’m not sure if it’s the 3 flippers vs 2 or that the shoot into the scoop reminds me of Funhouse which I also love. But I liked how much more complex WW is compared to Taxi. On Taxi, every game, you knew Pinbot and Gorbie were gonna be lit up then Drac, then Marilyn, Then Santa. Multiball was hard to keep two balls in for more than a few seconds. It is very good at making you want to keep playing though when you’re one passenger away from lighting jackpot or you have them all but can’t make the jackpot shot and it times out. Fun game, but I don’t think it stands up to the Power of the Wind.

Valid points. It was a struggle to choose between those two, razor thin margin between first and second. Whirlwind is even my grail game because of the more complex design and theme (I'm a storm geek). I love the precise shot placement WW requires. Big fan of the System 11 stuff - I would rather bring home a WW before Taxi just because it would take longer to master WW.

Pinbot (has 2 sequels, a Nintendo cart and made it into Taxi!) - the people have spoken! First, he is pretty to look at - we get a rainbow of colors. Space and robots are cool. Wait? Toppers just came with the game? Simple but challenging and hit so many notes of a great machine. Come on - the eyeball lock idea is genius. Simple and effective. The backglass light show! Like how did they do so many things on this machine so well - damn them! It is like crystalized perfect 1980s pinball. A robot, a pinball machine - both!... and what was going on in Python's mind to even think about this art. Yikes. I also have never reached the sun. A perfect pinball machine - no, but there isn't one. Its imperfections only work to give it more charm.

High Speed - nailed it, this game was everywhere and super approachable and fun... and also got a great sequel. Wait? Another free topper?

Taxi - never loved the theme, but damn addictive and the humor - what a collection of characters! I would have loved that brainstorming session. How about Gorbachev? Wait, what if we include Santa? Huh?!!! It is one of those machines that you suddenly find you have been playing over and over for an hour.

Whirlwind - come on, this is just so fun and the fan will make a newb laugh out loud the first time. Like, are you kidding me?! Wait? More toppers?

But lets keep it quite folks, our system 11s are still affordable so if too many people find out how awesome these are, it will be harder for me to get more of them. LOL!

1. Taxi
2. Banzai Run
3. Whirlwind
4. Earthshaker
5. Pinbot
6. Rollergames
7. Big Guns
8. High Speed
9. Elvira and the Party Monsters
10. Dr Dude

Alright I’ll be the first to name the real #1 System 11…

Riverboat Gambler!!!

“Ridin’ on that lucky riverboat!”

Also it’s my first machine and the whole family is obsessed

And my only machine

“Go for the hill”…….”BANZAI!!!”

Whirlwind

1. Whirlwind
2. Taxi
3. High Speed
4. Black Knight 2000
5. Cyclone






































3742.Millionaire

Rollergames

old topic... but OK

Transporter The Rescue is very nice in all aspects, but a quite rare game, and than not evbd has ever seen/played it...

In the other end, i understand the love for BK2K, but if you're a quite ok/good player, this become boring as h*ll, as you only have to keep the ball on the upper PF, grab it right flipper when she cames down, and shoot the easy left ramp to put her above again...

Even if i like it, Earthsaker has the same prob, while nonstop looping the center ramp with the left flipper (here you have a home ROM available to avoid this)

1) Taxi
2) Whirlwind

After that I can't choose... so many great titles.

1. Pinbot. King.
2. Taxi.

Really enjoyed putting time on bk2k.

Transporter is bizarre and unique. Wicked cool theme and the sos sounds are cool.

Whirlwind I’ve owned twice. Diner once. Both do nothing for me.

I’d like to own another hs, but honestly road kings I like much much better. Go figure.

Eatpm looks cool. Has great sound and music. But gets stale fast. Overpriced imo.

Cyclone is fun but not much going on with it. Would own again for nostalgia.

Banzai run is fun as hell to play. Lots going on. Need more time with it.

Bad cats. Well, ya. Couldn’t wait to sell. Pretty pin but I found it boring. And the music irritates me. No clue why.

Mousin is a great game. Definitely one of the best and still good priced. Great flow and cool traps. Def worth owning.

F14. Too fast and too much going on w multiball. Hate theme.

Radical! Wish I had. Played it a ton and the ramps are some of best in pinball and certainly the best of system 11. Super amazing game.

Riverboat gambler. Owned a diamondplated one. Fun game with playing through each casino game. Stale kinda fast.

That said, anyone selling bk2k or sof? Hahhaa

Where is F-14

Whirlwind
HS
F14
Millionaire (yes this is a fun and challenging game give it some time and you’ll see)
ES
Fire!
Cyclone
Pinbot
Dr Dude

Taxi, Pinbot, High-Speed, Whirlwind…in no order.

These are the best of the best when it comes to replayability, rules, and fun.

But how can you argue with the best generation of pinball as a whole?

Sys11
Wpc
SS Stern
Whitestar
Modern Stern
SS Bally
Wedgeheads
SS Williams
Gtb sys3
Everything else

Fight me!

Can't really fight you when everything you say is true!

I thought I'd punish myself and talk up all things System 11 that nobody asked or wanted me to say. This has all been said before in various ways and places by people much smarter and more experienced than me. I guess I just love this era so much that I'm putting this out there for someone who's trying to absorb as much history, knowledge, and varied opinions as I did when I found Pinside 3 years ago way after randomly owning Eros One for 7 years just because I wanted to own a pin and having no idea that this all existed.

BAD CATS: Classic Ousler long left ramp that's satisfying to hit. I love the music, weird SFX, and just plain weird theme. Not a bad layout, definitely worth putting a few games on. Seafood table is a fun little addition and the backglass is appropriately nuts. Probably not a game I'd buy for the price it still goes for, but I like it for how out there it is. Respect given.

BANZAI RUN: One of the greats. The awesome music pumps you up with clear but simple rules and callouts. And what else can you say about the awesome 2nd playfield that hasn't been said? If I only could own one game, this may be it for the sheer amount of square footage of stuff to do with double playfields, granted how safe the upper playfield is. A pretty amazing first game from Pat Lawler.

BIG GUNS: Good tunes, cool gimmick with the double cannons. I'm not a huge fan of the symmetrical layout and the playfield separated into 2 doesn't quite work for me as well as it does on Grand Lizard. Python's art is truly unique. He loves birds eye little peoples. I don't know much I do... Worth a play but I wouldn't want to lug it into my house to lug it out a month later when I've done the thing. That bagatelle in the back box is very neat and deserves praise for the chaos it brings to multiplayer games. Also a fan of the lifting fire plug between the flippers in this and Fire! (and am glad it came back in GTF, but that's another story).

BLACK KNIGHT 2000: Some of the best System 11 sounds. It may be right flipper heavy, but once you figure out your shots and can keep it going, it really pulls you in. Great to play with friends with such short ball times hoping to get multiball working in your favor. 

BUGS BUNNY BIRTHDAY BALL: I played an extremely nice one a few times. Glad I got to. I appreciate the swing at a different playfield. Don't think I'll ever need to play it again.

CYCLONE: Beautiful. quirky, and charming. Theme does nothing for me, but I see why so many people like it. I could never quite get the hang of some of the tighter shots so I haven't really opened it up, but I like playing it a couple times whenever I see it. Tiny little people haunting my sleep.

DINER: Maybe one of my absolute favorites. Repeatable left ramp with the ball lock underneath feels so good. Getting a great spin on the cup feels so good. Maybe it's the music, but this game really puts me into a chill feel-good mood when I owned it. Eye-catching, funny (and un-PC of bygone era making fun of a more bygone era), and just rock-solid layout with good rules depth for a System 11. Many people prefer Taxi for the harder layout and criss-cross ramps, but it's dine time for me.

DR. DUDE: Clear shots, easy to understand rules, some really fun features and stuff on it. I owned Party Zone for a long time but never quite liked this theme quite as much, as funny and odd as it is. Definitely worth playing for its uniqueness alone, but I don't think I'd own it in my small collection.

EARTSHAKER: Great look! People usually like Whirlwind more as it's more the total package with better rules and relightable jackpot, but this game speaks to me just as much. And I've owned Whirlwind. The fault line diverter, shaker motor, and dropping building really make this game rule the theme, just like Whirlwind does. And it says "Bitchin!", so what's not to like?

ELVIRA AND THE PARTY MONSTERS: I love Halloween, so this is a hit. I've owned Scared Stiff and this game has been on my short list for a while, not sure if I'd snag one unless it was in great shape or a good deal though due to not a ton to do. Great ramps and personality throughout. It's a party game through and through.

F-14: I have yet to play one. I would like to so I could get pissed at it!

FIRE!: Another symmetrical layout, but a ball buster. The old timey music, the corny callouts, and the art and color of it all make it very unique and special thematically. Not a very complicated game but it just feels good when you get multiball going your way. I wouldn't own it, but my buddy does and I always like playing 7 or 8 fast games barely beating each other until one of us gets in the groove. A good game for a good price.

GAME SHOW: A funny, weird little game. I dig the music! I beat it my first time playing it and never felt the urge to play it again.  Applause is funny and Keith McTeeth and gang are an eye catcher. Stay out of my house, Keith.

GRAND LIZARD: The amount of drops, the layout with the separated playfield that makes it feel like it's an actual upper playfield is pretty impressive. The music and sounds are immersive, if just a bit simplistic. I really like the magna saves that force you to time them to throw the ball with purpose (and chaos). A great little game and a good price. Underrated.

HIGH SPEED: Only ever played one in bad shape, but it's the start of all the good things yet to come, including this layout Steve Ritchie will use forever. I really like Rollergames and The Getaway so it stands to reason I should find a good copy and appreciate it.

JOKERZ!: I think the sound effects and music would drive me nuts pretty quickly. This game is weird, in a weird way. I need to play it more. Kinda reminds me of an adjusted Fire! Weird art with a stacked queen and fat king Santa just because. The Play Again Joker insert between the flippers makes me want to barf. Brush your fucking teeth, Play Again Joker!

MILLIONAIRE: Never seen one. Don't have a strong desire to find one.

MOUSIN' AROUND!: Had this game on temp trade for a few months. What a layout! Great rules, fast, and challenging. The theme can be a turn off for some because it's dumb, but maybe that's why I like it (and the humanoid big boobed cat because why not?) The music is so so so good. The cheese locks are amazing, and another thing I can't believe more games don't do. I really like this game. I think it's Top 5 System 11 for me (looks like not quite).

PIN*BOT: Shopped one out for a buddy and got to hold onto it a few extra weeks. Another truly "pinball" machine. The layout is pretty mean with those Ousler lanes to boot. Not a ton to shoot for with some quick games, but if you can keep multiball going, you feel good. I own Jack*Bot so I must like the layout, but I also hate the layout. Still, it's a classic and a good representative for pinball.

POLICE FORCE: Haven't played one, but I'm very curious at what was almost Batman. This game gets dogged on for the center ramp, but I think I'd like this weird swap job of a theme.

POOL SHARKS: Another haven't played, but the idea of 2 separate rulesets is always appealing. I think I'd get a kick out of this game for a couple hours and be glad to have played it. And probably not rush off to play it again.

RADICAL!: A game that totally embraces itself! Not a lot of rules, but the 4 flippers, the crazy ramps, the endless annoying guitar riffs when you hit shots, I love it. They don't make 'em like this anymore. A game you must try if you can find one. I almost bought one and kinda regret that I didn't for the rarity and uniqueness. Everyone in my house would have HATED this game.

RIVERBOAT GAMBLER: The first time I played this game, I went nuts for it. I think I like annoying earworm lyrics in my pinball music. A great, HARD, skill shot and a fun use of the backglass. It's just very charming all around. It's not too hard to spell CASINO once you find your shots, but I just like this game. On my short list to own. I wish Ward Pemberton did more games...

ROAD KINGS: Pinbot sounds in a motorcycle game. Hmm. I've played it maybe a dozen times early on into my pin obsession. It was okay. Seems like a good garage game to drink and eff around on with your buddies though.

ROLLERGAMES: The 2nd game I bought once I was truly into pinball because I loved how painfully 1990 it was with the ridiculous art, music, and jackbot KICK BUTT song. Fast, furious, High Speed 1.5. My buddy bought my game and still has it 2 years later as his only pin. You can't beat locked balls skating around the wireform waiting for multiball. This game is ridiculously fun and the magnet makes that ramp approachable for friends and family. DON'T FLIP, FLIP!

SPACE STATION: No inlanes makes this game a winner for me. I love the drop target in front of the ramp. The music, art, and callouts are excellent. Condition Green is amazing, and that more games don't do things like this is surprising. I'd probably own this game someday for what it does. Clear rules that are easy to explain and satisfying to achieve. The bonus ball time at the end of your game is so fun! I really should think about this game more...

SWORDS OF FURY: My longest owned re-intro into pinball game (2 years...which isn't much but most of my games are gone 3-6 months so there's that). Everyone knows the music is great. The layout is unique all the way around with some shots I still struggle hitting (the tunnel especially). Probably my favorite little upper playfield. Art and theme really hit me in the 80's nostalgia. I don't play this game too often anymore, which speaks to the not overly exciting rules, but I just don't think I'd be likely to sell it easily. It may be the last game to go.

TAXI: I didn't like this game at first as it always ate my lunch. But the last few months, I've found a few good playing examples on location, and just fell in love with it. I understand why it's one of the best and most respected pinball machines. Taxi IS pinball. Easy to understand, hard to master, a game all unto itself. If my collection was only a few System 11 games, this would be high up there. I may like Diner more, but it's so very close.

TRANSPORTER THE RESCUE: The ship lock is cool! It takes up a ton of real estate though and you don't interact with it really. A total nightmare art package. Cool music and light show.  A buddy has it and I'm always eager to play it. If the art wasn't an acid fever dream and the game was titled something not purposefully fucking confusing, like "Star Trek: The Saving of 3 Away Team Crew Members", maybe it would be more known and liked. What the fuck is this game???

WHIRLWIND: I bought this game without really playing one based on reputation alone. Great layout that was reused many times by Pat Lawler (him and Ritchie had their thing). I appreciate that it wants you to shoot all the various stand ups and shots eventually. Good music, callouts, and art of course. I got through it quite a few times and after a couple months, I was done with it. I'll play it when I see it and respect the hell out of it. It just doesn't do it for me anymore. It deserves to be one of the best System 11's, but...it's not you, Whirldwind, it's me.

If forced to rank my Top 10...
1. Diner
2. Banzai Run
3. Swords of Fury 
4. Taxi
5. Riverboat Gambler
6. Mousin' Around!
7. Elvira and the Party Monsters
8. Radical!
9. Space Station
10. Black Knight 2000

Not what I thought my ranking would be when I started this.

Out of the System 11 machines that I have played, I am in the club where Millionaire is dead last. I've played it at several shows and can't stand it.

My current ranks are:
#1 Taxi. I love the characters, their call outs, their shots to pick them up, and the music.
#2 High Speed. Just a well done pinball machine all the way around. So much fun when you get the jackpot shots during multi-ball.
#3 PinBot. The sounds and music are great.
#4 Black Knight 2000. Again, the music and sounds are top notch. The machine is beautiful and very cool looking. It feels solid like a tank when playing it.
#5 Space Station. I like the theme, sounds, and music.

I need more time on Mousin' Around, Whirlwind, and Swords of Fury.
I've never played Diner, but it looks fun.

These would be my top 9.

I own High Speed and plan to get a second System 11 one day.

DanMarino you absolutely need to find a Diner! There's one at the Richmond Pinball Collective, reasonably not too far from you.

And get more time on Mousin' and Swords. Seems like Millionaire or BBBB are usually dead last for most everyone.

Whirlwind

After picking up a BK2K, i revise my earlier standings.

Yes, i'm in the honeymoon, but i know system 11 greatness when I see it, as I have time on most.

This thing is fantastic. 2 and 3 ball multiball. FAST as hell, which I love. Increases skill. Loving that upper loop. Magnet is awesome, and just one side, which is less chaotic in going for. Gorgeous looking machine.

The sound speaks for itself. I AM THE BLACK KNIGHT. Just BAD ASS when you start a game.

Absolutely loving this one.

Millionaire along with BBBB is garbage compared to all other system 11 games. It's about all you need to know. All the others are all worth owning at least once. Transporter and Radical! might be the best 2 BUT, they are difficult to find these days and that really keeps their ranking and "known greatness" down. Most pinball nerds gravitate towards Whirlwind because of the theme integration and the fact is that the game really shows the Lawler progression into a much more complex modern pinball like TAF and TZ. Now, Whirlwind is not MY favorite system 11 but, I recognize why it's both important and fun. I like High Speed, Grand Lizard, and Mousin' the most for a bunch of different reasons that I don't feel like I need to explain. You either "like a game" and "get it" or you just don't and never will. I feel that Whirlwind and Grand Lizard are both the total package: art,layout,sound,one of a kind theme,flow... a lot like BSD.

snyper2099 Awesome point on "the total package". They are a lot of great games out there with amazing parts to them, but there's always something about a game that is more than just the sum of its parts, which System 11 has in spades thanks to the kind of themes we saw less and less after their era. And BSD is definitely of the System 11 era with a DMD and mutliball rules on steroids.

Nice list! Riverboat Gambler I feel is underappreciated too - a hidden gem among the System 11 lineup. The theme is very well integrated with this one - and fun to play. Different types of shots...has an addictive, "one more game" feel to it.

I've haven't played that many System 11 games. If I could own 3 it'd be
Diner
Taxi
Bad Cats

Correct