I think you should find both and play them. Personally they are too simple for my taste.

Mata Hari gets my vote

My vote: Mata Hari!

Fast, simple game that is fun. Always has whispered to me "just one more game, ok?"

Genie + powerball

Mata Hari all day, everyday.

They’re both good games. I think Mata Hari has the edge for the artwork, Genie might be slightly better in terms of shot variety since it’s a wide body and has more on the playfield. That said, Mata Hari can be a tough game. I’d get both....lol.

I can’t wait to add a Genie to my collection!

I have a Mata Hari but would rather have a Genie

Mata Hari isn't on Pinball Arcade but is the better game. Don't just pick a name and search. See what's out there first then make a decision. Early Gottliebs that are better are Joker Poker and Countdown. Ballys, Flash Gordon, Power Play,EK, Paragon, Eight Ball and deluxe, Skateball, too many to name really. Stern Meteor or Stars and Williams Flash are all great options too.

Between those two games I would have to go with Genie but Mata Hari is still a very fun game. If I was looking for a good early SS (which I am) Joker Poker or Paragon would be my pics as stated above.

Genie.

Mata Hari kind of sucks. All you do is shoot up top for the glory hole and then work around the pf later if you survive.

Genie way cooler all around. Art too.

Without the inlines of Viking there ain't much going on.

I also own both.

Genie is a far better looking game in my opinion, but Mata Hari plays much faster and even has an "orbit" shot. The drops being front and center are both fun and a challenge.

Play both and then decide - as they are very different playfields.

There is no denying that Gordon Morrison's art package makes Genie one of the most beautiful pins to ever roll off the assembly line.

I vote genie.

In thinking more about it, I think the big difference between the two in terms of play style, is that MH requires you to work the machine a lot harder. It’s faster and has more dangerous shots, especially when you go after the drops, so you’re constantly trying to work the ball out/away from the outlanes and keep control. Genie can have a slower pace I think and is more about making your shots as opposed to working the whole game physically.

Let me make it real easy for you.

A. Mata Hari...or
B. Some other Bally.

Never add a system 1 Gottlieb before a SS Bally, that's just silly speak.

Based on units produced, Mata Hari is one of the ten most successful pinball machines ever made. It is fast and deceptively simple, but it keeps you coming back for one more game. I would love to find a nice example of Genie to add to the game room, but I wouldn't get rid of my Mata Hari for it.

Both good games, but very different as others have stated. The widebody Genie plays slower but has more things to do. Art is very good. Mata Hari represents the early times of Bally SS games. Simple yes, but challenging. How often do you get an extra ball?? I don't get many on mine compared to other games? The drops are always a challenge to get 'em all on the same ball and again for specials. I vote Mata Hari. But I am biased............

Real ballpark, I’d say $800 to $1200 for players depending on specific condition. They should be somewhat similar in price range I believe. If you get a MH, you’ll want to figure out some way to protect the arch plastics across the top. It’s common for these to be/get broken from the ball hitting the center saucer from the flippers and bouncing/flying up into them breaking them. I ended up cutting custom protectors for mine.

8 ball is #2. I don’t know anybody who fiends for it.

MH sold a lot but it just doesn’t have much to offer.

I never tire of Mata Hari. Fun fast game.

If your Genie has the Pascal board (w/skill shot, ball save, and high scores), and your Genie has extra strong coils in the flippers and pops, and if your Genie is set nice and steep with fresh wax and rubber, and if your Genie is set on 3ball... Genie by a mile.

That's my fat girlfren! You'll go home sore and happy after wrastling her around all night.

Not if your machine is set up like mine. You be having ball times as short as those 2" flipper games. If'n you ain't nudging for your life over by that left lower pop, you be dead.

I vote Genie always chuckle when people say its a slow easy game must not have played one set right is super fast hell no but fast enough the see the ball drain. You can have great game or a crap game where you see it just goes down the drain. Have enjoyed watching people get handed by genie on a 5 ball game. They can't clear 250,000 meanwhile current high is 1.4 million
+ have a pascal board in it the only way to play. Had Count-Down for a while i got to a point were if you didn't do at least 350 k by the 2nd ball you were done because i was passing you up. was set at 5 ball when i got it so i left that way.

Setting up your Genie correctly, Step One.

IMG_20180609_173443 (resized).jpg

Both of these games are imperfect. Genie has too much going on and is oddly divided and "choppy". Mata Hari desperately needs a spinner, or some other shots. It is very "vanilla".

Seems like there's always a Mata Hari or two for sale within a short road trip from here. If you have a line on a well-priced Genie, get that and worry about Mata Hari later. There'll always be a Mata Hari.

Keep looking for both games
buy the first one you find

I have a nice Genie that is in line for me to do an overhaul on. I just finished a Close Enounters (Solid State version), and about to finish a Silverball Mania. I wasn’t sure if I would jump on Countdown or Genie next, but if you are interested, I can easily do Genie next.
I love the way the FLIPP board breathes new life in to Close Encounters, so I was going to put it in Countdown and Genie as well. As a previous person mentioned in this thread, the FLIPP board adds so much to the game. Plus, it is only one board, it fixes many System 1 issues associated with the stock boards, and adds more troubleshooting features. Heck, there is even the add on option of using a universal tv remote to navigate the board’s menus...lol.
If you are interested, let me know—Close Encounters, Silverball Mania, and Countdown ar also available too. I’d be happy to do something if you are interested in more than one.
I’m located in NY, on Long Island. I would be fine with using a shipping service if you don’t want to do the drive.
Let me know,
—Ed

I own a Genie and it gets my vote for sure. But if you want an "EM" and are shopping for a "SS" then I say get a Breakshot!