GoldenEye

Definitely Goldeneye, although Baywatch is still pretty fun.

I own both, but Goldeneye would be my choice

Baywatch for me. Still a keeper nearly 10 years later in our house. Great, packed layout with excellent shots and pretty good code (get the updated custom code).

Goldeneye is fun too, for sure.

Never had a Baywatch, but I would say Goldeneye if this is a first pin and you have not been playing for more than a year. I breifly had a Goldeneye and it has something that Baywatch does not, a really neat "moment in pinball". Goldeneye has a pop up jump ramp that shoots into a satellite dish that catches the ball and waves back and forth, absolutely stealing the show. It is a neat mechanical trick that never gets old. Goldeneye also has a cool ball save that catches the ball between the flippers and throws it up. It's average on gameplay itself but unless you are a pinball wizard you are fine. Note the art on Goldeneye (especially the sides) is pretty risqué. If you are looking at a Goldeneye make sure both magnets work as those are not easy to fix and they add alot of the charm to the game.

I love Baywatch. I hope to rotate one through my basement on a temporary trade some day. I don't have as much time on one, just at pinball shows, but I think it is a better "player" of a game. Note the XL DMD screen on that is expensive to replace if it breaks, so make sure there are no lines out or issues with it or adjust your offer accordingly. If your wife is into the theme, that is another plus in its favor. I believe that Baywatch has more staying power as a solo pin.

In short, Goldeneye if it is, "Gee, wouldn't it be neat if we got a pinball machine?" and Baywatch if it's "I love playing pinball at the local joint and want to hone my skills".

Please note that buying/selling/trading pins is relatively easy, and if you get tired of either someone will come to your house and pick it up for about what you
have in it if you pay and ask market rates. You could get one for 6 months, sell it, then get the other.

Good luck and welcome to the hobby.

Here is my old ad. https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/for-sale-goldeneye-wife-says-must-go

Easy answer: get both

Both are great games, but I vastly prefer Baywatch. Baywatch is the longest I’ve consecutively owned a pin.

Goldeneye has great art and is pretty fun to shoot, but doesn’t have the variety of shots and staying power of BW.

I have been fortunate enough to play a great condition well kept Baywatch and I will say it was a blast. Probably played north of 25 games on it. Great multiball action and lots of cool shots. Good theme integration too. I think it is a top 5 Sega pin. However I had a chance several years ago to trade for a Goldeneye and I'm very happy I did. Playfield layout is great. Artwork is great. Call outs are great. Toys are great. And if you just happen to be a Bond 007 fan as it sounds like you are then this is a WIN WIN WIN.

GoldenEye

I much prefer Goldeneye.

Bond. James Bond.

I mean if you SIMPLY FOCUS on the raw gameplay of Goldeneye and remove the two magnets, the game is just good, not amazing. I like the game a lot but when you get over gimmicks on both games, Baywatch is just a better game overall. Theme is not all that important to me. Both of these are dated and cheesy so from that aspect, it’s a draw.

I'm in camp Goldeneye... but only by a hair.

If you are getting Baywatch, make sure the display has already been replaced by a LCD version.

All the original Dot Matrix Displays for Baywatch are going to fail eventually, and colordmd replacements are $549... but they are out of stock.

I honestly think that the shots are better in Baywatch, but the sheer joy of the satellite and 'give your ball back' toys on Goldeneye push it over the top. Magic stuff here.

You like those things? For me, they just take away from the experience, not add to it.

I'm a sucker for pinball moments. The dinosaur eating the ball in DE JP, the crane moving in LAH, the building collapsing in Godzilla. Yeah you don't play it but I never tire of watching the mechanical joy of it.

Owned both like both!

Goldeneye is a cooler theme

Bay watch is a better game with better shots

Thank you baby Jesus, someone gets it.

Having just played several games of my Baywatch, I still conclude it is a fantastic, loaded game with every square inch dedicated to pinball fun and also built vertically.

Goldeneye is also very Sega fun and has the better theme, but Baywatch is by far the better overall pinball machine.