Houston, TX
I am going to be in Phoenix last week in July.
Other than checking Pin Map what are the good locations to play some pinball in Phoenix?
(Topic ID: 296636)
My house ! LOL
Depending on where you are in Phoenix, make sure to check out Starfighters (the ABSOLUTE best selection of pinball), TILT or electric bat arcade.
Starfighters has limited hours but has 30-40+ pins in great condition if you can visit on Friday and Saturday nights or Sunday daytime.
Starfighters is for sure the biggest location.
However be aware that this is a weekend only location.
Also, this is an all ages arcade, meaning if you are the type that like to have a few drinks while playing they do not have alcohol.
If you’re not a drinker then Starfighters is where it’s at.
Basically every other location is either a bar or tied to a bar.
https://pinside.com/pinball/map/where-to-play/8018-starfighters-arcade-mesa-az
Electric Bat would get my vote for best pinball location in the valley (30+ pins)
Really well curated and maintained collection spanning many time periods and manufactures with a great mix of old and new.
https://pinside.com/pinball/map/where-to-play/11724-electric-bat-arcade-tempe-az
Level One has about 10 pins and a ton of arcade games.
Pins are mostly newer Sterns, but they did just get a JJP GNR LE.
I like to go here and eat Gyro tacos and play a few games before heading over to Electric Bat to do a deep dive.
https://pinside.com/pinball/map/where-to-play/13710-level-1-arcade-bar-gilbert-az
Don’t bother going to Castles and Coaster.
The machines are beat to shit (if they are even still on the floor).
Nobody I know even wants to go there to check it out and update the pin map it’s so bad.
I may stop in there next time I’m down that way just to update the pinside map, but it’s really not a players location and more of an amusement park.
Grumpy’s Ice Box I don’t think has opened yet (maybe somebody can chime in on this).
Looking forward to hearing more about this place as they seem to have some really bitchen early Bally’s.
https://pinside.com/pinball/map/where-to-play/15013-grumpy-s-ice-box-glendale-az
Tilt Studio is Tilt Studio.
Good franchise locations that all over the country and some abroad.
https://pinside.com/pinball/map/where-to-play/9348-tilt-studios-arizona-mills-mall-tempe-az
Haven’t been to Dangerzone yet as they are fairly new and over an hour from where I live.
https://pinside.com/pinball/map/where-to-play/14805-dangerzone-arcade-gilbert-az
Ready Player 1 is a bunch of pins and arcade games located in a comic book store.
Not the best maintained, but a big collection.
https://pinside.com/pinball/map/where-to-play/10337-ready-player-1-games-glendale-az
Those all all the places with 10 or more pins.
A few smaller places that are worth checking out.
HOP Cental
https://pinside.com/pinball/map/where-to-play/11071-hop-central-brewery-and-taproom-chandler-az
Stardust Pinbar
https://pinside.com/pinball/map/where-to-play/11071-hop-central-brewery-and-taproom-chandler-az
Quoted from Coindork:Starfighters is for sure the biggest location.
However be aware that this is a weekend only location.
Also, this is an all ages arcade, meaning if you are the type that like to have a few drinks while playing they do not have alcohol.
If you’re not a drinker then Starfighters is where it’s at.
Basically every other location is either a bar or tied to a bar.
https://pinside.com/pinball/map/where-to-play/8018-starfighters-arcade-mesa-az
Electric Bat would get my vote for best pinball location in the valley (30+ pins)
Really well curated and maintained collection spanning many time periods and manufactures with a great mix of old and new.
https://pinside.com/pinball/map/where-to-play/11724-electric-bat-arcade-tempe-az
Level One has about 10 pins and a ton of arcade games.
Pins are mostly newer Sterns, but they did just get a JJP GNR LE.
I like to go here and eat Gyro tacos and play a few games before heading over to Electric Bat to do a deep dive.
https://pinside.com/pinball/map/where-to-play/13710-level-1-arcade-bar-gilbert-az
Don’t bother going to Castles and Coaster.
The machines are beat to shit (if they are even still on the floor).
Nobody I know even wants to go there to check it out and update the pin map it’s so bad.
I may stop in there next time I’m down that way just to update the pinside map, but it’s really not a players location and more of an amusement park.
Grumpy’s Ice Box I don’t think has opened yet (maybe somebody can chime in on this).
Looking forward to hearing more about this place as they seem to have some really bitchen early Bally’s.
https://pinside.com/pinball/map/where-to-play/15013-grumpy-s-ice-box-glendale-az
Tilt Studio is Tilt Studio.
Good franchise locations that all over the country and some abroad.
https://pinside.com/pinball/map/where-to-play/9348-tilt-studios-arizona-mills-mall-tempe-az
Haven’t been to Dangerzone yet as they are fairly new and over an hour from where I live.
https://pinside.com/pinball/map/where-to-play/14805-dangerzone-arcade-gilbert-az
Ready Player 1 is a bunch of pins and arcade games located in a comic book store.
Not the best maintained, but a big collection.
https://pinside.com/pinball/map/where-to-play/10337-ready-player-1-games-glendale-az
Those all all the places with 10 or more pins.
A few smaller places that are worth checking out.
HOP Cental
https://pinside.com/pinball/map/where-to-play/11071-hop-central-brewery-and-taproom-chandler-az
Stardust Pinbar
https://pinside.com/pinball/map/where-to-play/11071-hop-central-brewery-and-taproom-chandler-az
Great write up! I’m heading to the area in November for golf and may get in a day early than my buddies for pins and coaster credits. Once I knock off the 2 credits at Castles, I know to run elsewhere for pins.
Quoted from Yoko2una:Great write up! I’m heading to the area in November for golf and may get in a day early than my buddies for pins and coaster credits. Once I knock off the 2 credits at Castles, I know to run elsewhere for pins.
What I like to do when I have friends in town is plan out a night where I can hit a few locations in one night back to back to back.
Basically a pinball pub crawl.
Plan a little more time for the places with bigger collections, where you plan to eat etc, but it makes for a really fun evening.
Also new places are starting to pop up now that we’re getting 2020 behind us.
I know a couple more are in the works.
I’m thinking in the next couple years the greater Phoenix are is going to turn into a little pinball Mecca.
We already have a pretty good community out here and it’s growing fast.
Starfighters for sure. Had a chance to check it out this past feb & really enjoyed it. Unique location with pins and arcades cabs.
Not the biggest pin lineup ever, but they have a good mix of games in nice shape. I’m not a huge arcade guy, but the arcade cabinets were a fun break in between pins.
I was there a couple weeks ago. Electric bat is great! Ziggy Stardust in downtown Phoenix has a smaller high end collection and was also pretty cool.
2 months later
Enjoying Ziggy Stardust Pinbar tonight...Love the entrance through the pizza shop! Wings are great! Pins could use a little better leveling here and there, otherwise playing great. Lots of single ladies hanging out on a Tuesday night....
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2 years later
Starfighters and electric bat arcade as others have mentioned.
Across the street from Starfighters is an air museum where you can go inside of a B17 Bomber.
https://www.azcaf.org/
51250027945_7c1cc43358_b (resized).jpeg
Quoted from trauma:Starfighters and electric bat arcade as others have mentioned.
Across the street from Starfighters is an air museum where you can go inside of a B17 Bomber.
https://www.azcaf.org/
[quoted image]
My wife gave the no go to electric bat since we had our kids. Location may be fine but looked sketchy when we drove by.
Quoted from jorge5240:My wife gave the no go to electric bat since we had our kids. Location may be fine but looked sketchy when we drove by.
Ya, Definitely has that seedy bar out of movies entrance. The actual pinball room inside is a different story.
Quoted from kciaccio:Ya, Definitely has that seedy bar out of movies entrance. The actual pinball room inside is a different story.
I agree with you. I was there last week. The place is great.
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