Quoted from StratDoc:I guess the budget depends on the sale of some of my existing pins. Right now I am leaning toward selling -
Black Knight
Space Shuttle
Breakshot
Pinball Lizard - love the look of the game and the bg is pristine
Meteor - has a new cpr installed
Elektra
Space Riders
Hot Shot - a little rough, with not so great pf touch up but really fun player
A-go-go
have to keep Aztec as my wife bought that one for me. Might consider parting with Medusa - new cPR pf and terrific bg but seldom play the game.
This is a difficult question since there are just so many great games out there in the 31 year span history of DMD/LCD games. I also don't have a clue of what you favor or your budget...so I will go through what a budget might be first, since that will likely be your most important factor.
I will first guesstimate the possible values of the games you are potentially selling using approximate average prices (assuming all are working and in decent condition):
Black Knight - 3000
Space Shuttle - 2500
Breakshot- 2500
Pinball Lizard - 1000
Meteor - 1800
Elektra - 2250
Space Riders - 1000
Hot Shot - 800
A-go-go - 500
Medusa - 3500
F-14 - 2500
= 21,350
So let's say with some not realizing full prices, maybe some won't sell quick (or at all), and considering traveling/driving/shipping and other potential costs...we can simplify it to $20,000.
Assuming you are sticking with just 2 machines, that puts them at 10k each, which will get just about anything. I would focus on the top machines for home use, highest quality, best condition, replayability, differing gameplay, and ones that are pretty universally acclaimed.
The top 100 was mentioned, and I would agree that is a GREAT place to start.
If you are going more to the DMD side...that means either twilight zone, Addams family, Indiana Jones, Monster Bash, Medieval madness, or Attack from Mars. I certainly think the cgc remakes are superior to the originals if you choose the latter 3. For the criteria I mentioned above, however, I would go with either TZ or Medieval Madness.
If you are going the LCD side, I would primarily suggest either stern or JJP. Godzilla, Jurassic Park, Deadpool, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Ghostbusters, Elvira house of horrors, AIQ, TMNT, Batman 66, and the walking dead are the standouts for stern. All JJP games are worthy, but WOZ, WW, and POTC are their best...but they also cost a ton these days (especially POTC).
If you get one of each, I would suggest WOZ for JJP and either JP, GZ, or DP for stern... depending on which style of gameplay you prefer. I agree with most, and I think Jurassic Park is the class act of the group.
Final thoughts:
If it were me...I would actually try to get 3 or 4 games. You seem to have the budget for it, but you would have to tighten your budget/search criteria. I think it would be more fun in the end.
If you do stick with 2 games, I would probably recommend going with newer (as opposed to older DMDs) with as few plays as possible, and selecting one from JJP, one from Stern. When I consider availability as well, WOZ and JP would be my suggestion...but it may be far easier to get a GZ.