Baywatch

Absolutely. Max loop multiplier the exterminate the droids. Never gets old for me.

I have to chime in with Baywatch as well. The game feels like it has a ton of shots like a wide body without the clunkyness of one. The modes are good and there is plenty to do. Multiple choice skill shot as well with appropriate risk/reward scoring. Chads rework has made a good game even better.

-"Locked ball. . .ALRIGHT!"

XMLE

It's not going anywhere anytime soon from my collection.

X-Men LE - one of the most loaded Stern’s ever with incredible artwork, dots and great music. I believe it was the second to last Stern with a true backglass. I miss mine.

It takes time to dial it in, but once the work is done, the shots flow like butter.

idk .....f14 to me is pretty lame for a system 11, it would barely make the top 10 in system 11s for me

I’ve always thought Mustang was underrated.

Fun game and first wizard mode was a hoot.

Easy choice for me. With Houdini @ 82nd, it is underrated and belongs in the top 30.

I totally agree. How many pins have been made over how many years. Anything in the top 100 is worth owning.

There are games I would definatly swap out of the top 100-200 and replace with 100 games. Actually, I think these fun 100-200 games should stay were they are so prices can stay good. Let's move Congo, WCS, DW, Jurasic Park (DE), CP, Getaway, and HS to 100-200 for anti-price pumping. (that's a joke of course.)

With that said. Games I believe really should be in the top 100 from 100-200.

BDK, BW, JM, DM, and TF. From the games I have played, I would displace, BR, Beatles, Star Gazer, Taxi, and EBD.

JM has already been mentioned - one of my favorites.

But this one hasn't: JackBot. Killer game!

yes. Houdini is sweet!

Another shout out to Hardbody here. If we're talking about underrated, it's hard to do any better than a bottom 5 game that I find to be addictive beyond any reasonable explanation. Double playfields, flex saves, 4 flippers, and not much else, but the scoring rules are simple enough and the objective is pretty fun to achieve. You can buy this gem for 1000-2000. I got mine for 1100 late last year. I can't think of another game where I've had this much fun, dollar for dollar.

I own one and I'm actively looking for a second one that's in better shape, if anyone has one. Plus if you put in a color-changing bulb in the backglass, you get an effect that's pretty freakin sweet!

I've played nearly every game mentioned on that 300-350 list, and Hardbody is easily the best of that group. I'm shocked it's rated that low. It doesn't look pretty but boy is it fun!

And I don't think anyone mentioned it yet, but I had a blast playing Nitro Ground Shaker, rated around 300. I really liked that one too. It doesn't deserve to be rated so low.

Hardbody still better.

Disagree. It's hard to make pinball that is not fun. Stern managed to do that with the Avengers. One of the worst pins ever made. I've played it many, many times trying to find something to like.

At least you’ve played it more than once and made up your own mind. Hope others keep an open mind. Don’t understand how Hulk toy with a lifting ramp bridge, unique versus modes, cross playfield spinner ramp and beautiful Hulk back glass aren’t likable or fun but everyone to their own.

Houdini is CRIMINALLY underrated. It has everything people say they like in pinball. It's big knock? "It's too hard"
Give me a break. Most people complain about games being too easy. I specifically look for games that are more challenging for my home collection.

Well it is too hard though, to the point i started hating playing it and sold. Shame, because the theme and artwork are amazing.

Jackbot also rocks!

I agree…. Specifically, TF Pro is the most underrated modern Stern. Sharkey’s Shootout is 2nd. “Most underrated game” can’t be a game in the top 100.

There are other games way underrated …(many games in the 200’s and 300’s). But most “pinball players and collectors” entering into the scene in recent years with more money than sense, would not know a good game even if it cut off the sticky ego attached to their shoulder. Recently, Pinside actually has almost nothing to do with having fun playing or talking about pinball.

I have better and more interesting pinball conversations with the owners of games I fix who have only had one Classic Bally in their basement for 30 years and don’t even know companies still make pinball machines.

Take another look if you have a chance. The game is set up too hard by default as I pointed out to AP twice, back in the day. Last year I heard Josh on a podcast admitting the major flaw to Houdini code was setting the game up too hard. Anyways, it has always been very adjustable in the game menu and now the default has been made “normal”.

elvis is a great game. Le in todays terms.

Stern POTC

I'd have to go with Sharky's Shootout. I keep coming back to that game again and again. I own over a dozen Sterns and it's the one I play the most.

It is not likely worthy of Top 100 but I gotta toss another vote in for Nascar. It was the game that got me back into the hobby so I'm probably biased.

Always use to be TFTC for best bang for the buck many years ago

I basically looked at list and worked from dead last 361 and worked toward 250.

1st thing I wonder is how many people actually played the game that they are rating? Or are they rating games based on looks/what others say? Because I see some glaring discrepancies.

Hardbody at 358 is way under. I can play it or bmx all day long. Can never find/afford a bmx so actively looking for a $1000 range hardbody.

Raven at 354 is another one. Granted it's not deep. But it's a straight up target game. If you enjoy your late 70s em target pins then you would enjoy this game.

Spring break at 346- install version 2 1 ball rom and will change game dynamics. Not saying top 200 but higher than 346. If it has the version 1 multiball rom, then yeah I could see the low 346 rating.

Al's garage band at 332 is way to low. By no means not a top 100 yet deserves better than 300.

Strikes n spares at 326 is odd because It's not really a pinball. It's like playing shuffle/ball bowling but in a pinball cabinet. It's the bowling version of a baseball pitch & bat game. We play the shit out of it on location. Playing by yourself I can see it not being as fun. As it's way better with friends/gambling/talking shit deal.

Cactus Jack's at 270. How can you dislike singing cacti! Easy top 200. It's just cheezy fun.

Genesis at 260. I'd say arguably best of 80b and deserving of top 100. Genesis is the poor mans bride of pinbot. Bop is currently 93rd. I feel genesis is better than it.

NBAFB is so underrated.

Dirty Harry has not been mentioned yet. Definitely should be in the top 100. Great theme, call outs, dots and modes. "That's how we do things in San Francisco"

I absolutely love Indy 500. It has always been overlooked when talking about the 90's B/W greats.

I never really looked much in the 200-300 range, but why is LW3 205?

Genuine question - what has changed? (I bought my first pinball machine in July).

Black Hole is massively underrated IMO, although I’m only judging based on the app.

I have played two copies and couldn't get up the side ramp consistently. It was nearly impossible in both cases. Has this issue been resolved? Other than that pretty significant issue, the game is fun and quirky.

This IS an underrated thread right?
Gold wings all day long

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Just picked up my second, made the mistake of selling the first.

First class ass kicking machine, you earn that multiball.

Another System 80 I miss time to time, siren never gets old. Cool layout.

Looking over the bottom half of the list I see a few oddities.

DE Playboy rated 353? That is criminal, its a far better game than Hook which is rated 275 and Mr and Mrs Pacman rated 343. I could NOT WAIT to disassemble Pacman to restore a Flash Gordon. I'm playing the game going WTF, there is nothing to hit and it has the worse "video mode" ever. I would vote it dead last for all the games I have played.

Gold Wings at 329? Also better than Hook or Pacman, though I'd call it close on Hook.

Checkpoint at 313 but Bally Trek at 305? I have owned two Bally Trek's, Checkpoint beats the title like a rented mule. DMD game with speech, ramp, shaker, choice of soundtrack and autolaunch. Trek might as well been an EM for what it brings to the table, matter of fact might have been better as an EM with chimes instead of those Gawdawful early Bally tones.

Space Invaders at 256? Great art, cool sound effects.. and shallow as a cookie sheet. Boring! I rolled it on the first day it was here and lost all interest shortly after.

Wow Genesis is 260?

This game has multiball, playfield multipliers, super catchy music, bright & well-placed flashers, and a pretty neat objective to boot. Sure that translite isn't pretty, but it's easily replaceable.

I agree. Very under-rated.

Shadow is my vastly underrated suggestion.

Outstanding game example, but very polarizing to players. I am in the camp that loves it.

No pop bumpers. The most amazing ball lock. Variable back glass options.
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Torpedo Alley.

Amazing game with easy to understand rules, fun campiness, awesome multiballs, under playfield animations and the best sound package of the 1980s. I would place this game next to any other A/N game and strongly recommend it. It is also still dirt cheap. I have the most expensive Torpedo Alley in my basement in the history of confirmed game sales... I paid $2300 for it. The reason I believe it isn't a higher rated game is that they only delivered 200 to the states. There are only around 50 left in existence...

Super fun game I'd highly recommend and an awesome bang for your buck!

I paid 16k to obtain mine

Out of the five purchased, TA is last man standing though I'd like another Stern Trek.

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While I too love my XMLE mentioned previously, if you haven't played Wheel of Fortune (#243) you are missing out....

I went to the PHOF with one plan in mind, try every Stern SAM machine to find one I'd like. When I stepped up to WOF, I had seen the reviews on pinside and wasn't expecting it to be so much fun. While the top is a simple fan layout with inline drops, the bottom is an ass kicking challenge that plays unlike any other pin. Try it, you won't be disappointed (unless you like long ball times).

It's a game that needs to be set up in a very specific way... if its off just a tad, the shots are annonyingly difficult. My knock on it is that it doesn't have enough latitude, design-wise, to shine without a very specific setup parameters. There's a Houdini at a location near my home... I played it several times and absolutely hated it. Pops were dead, the game's pitch was way too flat, and the game clunked like no other. So, what did I do? Naturally, I bought one! . 180-deg difference once I got it in the home and meticulously dialed it in.

It really has everything - amazing rules, great pinball moments, fun mechs. A+. One of the better games made in the last handful of years.

RBION. I’m on my second.

I got to agree with this, Maverick never gets boring, I still get that rush when I play it time after time! I’ll probably never let it go.

We all have different tastes. I think SW is better than at least 14 of the top 20 games.

XMEN LE. Most underrated and misunderstood game out there. And a screaming value for a loaded LE with a real mirrored backglass.

For me, it's two that have already been mentioned...

Alien Poker - Absolutely forces you to aim. Can't just bat the ball around and get anywhere.

NBAFB - This is just plain fun. I've had and sold it twice. Would love to add another to the collection at some point.

I'm with johnny mnemonic too

TWD prem/LE, easy top 3
Alien, top 15
Baywatch, top 50
Stargate, top 50

Dolly makes for the best dollar games. The rule set is so stupidly simple, but is incredibly hard to execute consistently. She can be so sweet to you sometimes, and then absolutely evil. I also put a powerball in mine, which makes things even more fun.

Next time I’m working on it I’m going to change the settings so that the drops don’t collect “Parton” letters, to incentivize you shooting the spinner to get up to the scoop.

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BM66….should be top 5