From my customers point of view. Stern Pirates is fun. I no longer have LOTR. Game times on it can get long.

If you ever head south of the sticks. I'm in Hopkins MN. 4 hours from you. If you'd like to try Pirates.

LTG : )

Lotr. No question.

Add a poll.

10 years ago, I had to make the same decision. For me, it was POTC, which I still have.

A lot of new people, who come by my house, play POTC more than any other games I have.

I like both. I enjoy lotr more but as Lloyd states above the game times can be very long!

This one has a clear correct answer.

LOTR is head and shoulders above Stern POTC.

It plays better, has better rules, WAY better call outs.

It also holds its value better. Stern POTC was a $4k pin just a couple years ago and once this pinflation calms down it will be a $4k pin again. LOTR on the other hand has consistently risen in value over the years and remains a sought after title.

Picked up both NIB and still have. When I picked up LOTR playwise I was not good at all but seemed to play POTC more as my guests did too. Don’t get me wrong LOTR is a masterpiece but get one of those long plays going then it’s off for a while. Currently play more LOTR these days but would choose Pirates if just getting into it and think it would compliment JP well.

Own both and prefer POTC

LOTR is ranked #13 best of all time. Pirates is #88. If you want opinions, then that is the sum total of many many pinsiders opinions.

I have both pins. Pirates has an awesome toy- a freaking pirate ship that breaks apart and sinks down into the playfield! That's pretty awesome. But setting that aside, lotr dominates on the rest of the topics, and is much more of a keeper. The ship shot on pirates seems to be easier to hit than any shot on lotr for new players, but once the ship is mastered and the ship sink thrill wears off, you will wish you had bought lotr. Especially if you love the movies. Although guests are drawn to pirates over most others.

Value- I bought both for the same price which i considered both at market value and they both seem to have started to shoot up 2-4k in the last year.

Shots- Lotr is considered by many to be a "top 10 all time shooter" and the legolas ramp shot still gives me happiness after the 1000th shot. So smooth. And hitting the center ring shot never gets old either. None of the pirates shots are memorable IMO.

Theme- lotr is movie themed. Pirates is just, well, 'pirate' themed.

I like pirates but honestly it is my current least favorite game that I own (something has to be last) and I have almost traded it off twice now on deals that fell through. Lotr is bolted to the floor.

They are both fun, as a new hobbyist I’d suggest pirates just because they are cheaper. LOTR is definitely the deeper pin rules wise though. Pirates is kinda a one shot (left ramp) game..tortuga multi ball wash rinse repeat kind of deal but I definitely think it’s fun and the theme is cool.

LOTR, but it will cost you more. However, if you only have room for two pins, it’s as good of a choice as any.

Believe it or not they aren’t that far apart in price right now. Stern POTC is running $5800-6500 while LOTR is $6500-8000. If you hunt around you’re probably looking at around $1000 difference.

LOTR is much deeper and a long play game for good players POTC is much more just about fun and a game even non pinheads love to play.

POTC is underrated, in my opinion. That said… LOTR.

Both are fun games but as others have said LOTR is the better game. The rules in LOTR are significantly deeper and there’s more variety to them as opposed to the rules in Pirates. Pirates is a very approachable game but I found there to be little variety to the rule set when I owned one. In Pirates you are pretty much just trying to sink the ship over and over. That can get old but at the same time it’s a fun and very approachable game.

One is a journey pin where you need 30+ minutes to go through and one is a nostalgic wood chopper with a bad ass toy and a fun theme that guest love.

Lord of the Rings!

Lord of the Rings is deep enough that you will never beat it. However, there are still plenty of goals for an intermediate player. You have 3 main multiballs representing the different movies to go for. If you complete all 3 you hit the first mini-wizard mode, Destory the Ring. You make it to “there and back again” mode if you complete all of the modes. The sound and the dots on the game are awesome. The theme integration is top notch. It is a longer playing game, but bear in mind the folks that say that often have a basement full of pins so how much are they practicing before stepping up to the machine.
Pirates does win on the cool toys that do neat stuff factor. That sinking ship is cool.
Overall, you would do well with either machine. You could always pick up one and then trade/sell it down the road for the other. You will have fun with either machine, but my vote goes to Lord of the Rings.

LOTR is an amazing game. I’ve owned it twice, and loved it both times. It is a horrible competition game, but an amazing quest to play alone. I’ve always assumed the people who say they play hour long games on it were either Keith Elwin in disguise, or were setting up their game absurdly easy, to try to get deeper into the game.

The rules and callouts on LOTR are almost perfect. The genuine miracle of the game is that you can do almost anything you focus on. You can complete the modes. Except for Return of the King, you can complete all the multiballs. You can collect all your cheese wedges. You can destroy the ring. You can go There and Back Again. However, you can’t do them all in the same game… and that’s the great part. The game makes you think you can do it though.

POTC is a fun game. When I see one, I’ll play it. But it’s no LOTR. That’s just my opinion. When I finish playing it, I’m ready to move on. But with LOTR, I’ll be ticked if I didn’t destroy the ring, so I’ll head right back into the fray for another try.

Owned LOTR first and still own it. Deep and fantastic game but with multiple pins I don’t play it when I’m wanting a short amount of casual play. Have to dedicate time and effort to really enjoy it.

Had Stern POTC for about 5 years. Very popular when causal players came over. Simple to understand. Just mash the ship. But gets old after a while. Love the POTC movies so traded mine for the JJP version.

LOTR. Best Stern ever made.

POTC

No question. LOTR. 1 of the best pins ever made, and still the best classic Stern. Bought ours NIB in 2004, the only pin from that era we still own. See my LOTR review for specifics.

LOTR. Pirates gets old fast

Actually, ROTK can be finished as well. Get all 4 jackpot shots 7 times and it lights the super JP, that awards a gift of the elves and is a requirement of Valinor.

Both are great games and I've owned them both, but POTC gets old fast and LOTR will take so long to finish a game, you'll long for the solace that death will bring. (Not to mention you'll want to claw your eyes out everytime you hear "The Path!...of the Dead!" and have to watch the ball roll down that useless upper playfield. POTC has one of the best toys in pinball (the ship) and LOTR has one of the coolest features (the ramp magnet, where you can knock one ball out with another ball...VERY cool). So pick your poison...you'll pay more for LOTR, though.

Hahahahaha. Yup, just 29 accurate shots to complete it… I didn’t finish it a single time in all the years I owned the game. I’m sure better players finish it all the time (right).

I'm surprised POTC is getting so much love. I don't hate the game, but I also don't have any desire to ever play it.

Y'all need make your LOTR more difficult. Open the outlines, tighten the tilt, make it steep and fast.
Failing rhat make our MB options tougher.

Own both and prefer POTC.

With the way the market is I'd just buy whichever one pops up first, then if you don't like it track down ThE other one.

I purchased both titles new. Still own both. If you are into flow the pop bumpers POTC will be a turd in your punchbowl. Both games fun and ball time can last what seems lengthy on both titles.

LOTR flipper strength sub par. Pinball life has/had upgraded strength coils which helps with this issue.

You and family/friends will be happy either title.

LOTR better investment if you are into that perspective.

Enjoy the day Shane

PS for small advisor fee likely most anybody in the forum could help you fit at least 4 more pinballs into your available floor space

Owned both. If there’s one that I regret selling- it LOTR. Great game.

a mediocre pin (POTC) vs one of the best Sterns ever made (LOTR).
It's not even really close.

Owned POTC and loved it for a few years until I picked up LOTR. I unfortunately have to keep my POTC in the collection it's my wife's favorite.

Nahh, those rankings you cant take it to seriously. Cactus no. 2, haha..

owned both , pirates is gone, lotr is still here.

Come on! You’ll get a couple lucky ones at least! Plus, it does carry progress each time you play it.

not if you set it up harder.

game times are long if you have it set up easy, there are ways to make any "long playing" games more difficult via software settings and physical and more enjoyable.

Its really a personal choice. Like what shade of blue do you like for a house. The theme is really what drives my buying choices, and since I've never seen the LOTR franchise movies, it wouldn't be a hard choice for me given those two choices. That said, I loved the PoTR movies, so picked up a machine when I found the right one.

I can’t think of another pin made from the 90s to now that has no more than one shot that returns cleanly back to a flipper, maybe Thunderbirds? Sterns POTC fits that bill, so if you want a game where you shoot the ball and wait for some stuff to happen, and then wait even more, and then it comes back to your flipper to finally make a shot only to wait again; POTC is a great game for that and integrated well for that type of play.

Otherwise, LOTR is a classic and one of the best for a reason.

LOTR is a masterpiece. POTC is okay.

One month in and two machines. That’s an itch just starting to be scratched.

Lol final game? You have no idea what you're store for enjoy the ride!

i think the level of the player and what they call fun. pirates is a fun game good shots and toys. Has a great walk up and play level. i would say it is a great game for beginner to intermediate player. great call outs and humor. lotr can be a lot to consume rule wise. its an intermediate to advanced player. both hold their value. so what is a better game for you? well only you know that because its your decision on what is fun. what we like will change as we grow with skill an knowledge. What i liked when i first got into the hobby is way different than what i think is fun now.

the good thing is that you have 2 really good games to choose from. play both if you can. spend 20 bucks on each. see what makes you want to play 1 more game ever time.

I owned LOTR and love the movies. I didn't love the pin. I really wanted to.

Pirates I've only played on location and have maybe a dozen games on. It's a fun game.

You really need to find it in the wild and play them if you can.

ROTK is my personal Achilles heel on LOTR. Have owned the game since 2003 and have only completed ROTK about 4-5 times.

I own both these games and won’t part with either. I think they compliment each other VERY nicely. POTC has (arguably) the best toy in pinball with its sinking ship. It never gets old for me.

When I want an epic battle by myself it’s LOTR.
When I want a quick fix or to play with friends, I always roll to POTC.

Either game will make you smile so let fate dictate your choice. Nicest one that becomes available “locally” at a good price is the one you should buy.

I am babysitting a friends POTC that is in great shape at the moment. He’s on the fence about selling it so if you are interested let me know. I’m just about 40miles straight west of Chicago.