The Big Lebowski

Pinside rating

This game received 378 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 8.718 /10

8.718

Top 100 ranking

This game ranks #12 in the Pinside Pinball Top 100.



Score breakdown

Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:

Game Design: 8.644

Artwork: 8.696

Sounds/Music: 8.585

Other Aspects: 8.794


Pinside staff rating

This is how we, the very knowledgeable (wink wink) Pinside.com staff & moderators rate this game. 2 of us have rated this game.

8.71

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Found 185 ratings (with comment) on this game

There are 185 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 3 of 8.

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10.000/10
1 year ago
The perfect pinball machine does exist!
8.416/10
1 year ago
I can definitely see why people say this is one of the best theme integrations ever. If you like the movie Big Lebowski then all of the callouts and animations will have you cracking up the entire time. The game has great flow once you figure out the geometry, and with it being a lot like Willy Wonka and collecting kids for multiball, you can really rack up multi balls back to back to back. Once you learn how to set your White Russians onto the meaningful shots your points really start going up big time. It's really sad this company hasn't put more machines out so more people haven't had a chance to play it, super awesome machine. If they added the ability to stack modes into multiballs the code would be near perfect imo
10.000/10
1 year ago
I bought it without ever playing it....just to keep the surprise alive. I read the comments below, love the movie, it is the only machine made here in the Low Countries and read the rocky road history of the DP company...enough good reasons to take the plunge.

Barry and the team make something unique in the world of pinball. It is a full modern machine with a lot of the feel of the later Bally Williams era. I plays smooth with an enormous choice of shots. The many callouts and movie clips, the relaxed music, the upper playfield, the bowling alley, the nice little details all over.......too much to mention. It is not an "Elwin" style machine, that I also love btw, it is a category on its own and so it is something else in a line up of my machines that keeps the hobby refreshing. Imho pure pinball art.

I just realized it is a unique and fantastic time to live in for pinheads...all the modern tech like leds, lcd screens, fast chips, solid state electronics making possible the deep rules, great lightshows and visuals, updatable software etc. Everything we couldn't even dream of 30-40 years ago. That combined with many young companies doing the best they can to compete with the big boys. More choice and variety than ever before.You just need the cash and space.....:)

Anyway....if you love pinball and you get the chance then don't hesitate to try or buy it.
8.524/10
1 year ago
Now I own this. It's quirky. Yes. You may want to be able to work on your own machines. But it's becoming my favorite game out there. It's funny and hard and we just keep playing it with friends. We routed it and people from all over are coming to play it.
7.340/10
1 year ago
I played a very new example, and I was somewhat shocked at all of the 'gremlins' in the system. Both flippers would just stop working during certain modes/shots, but with no obvious issues... just occasionally. Other shots didn't seem to line up well. The display straddled the line between DMD and a grainy old color television.

As a whole package, it's amazing... quirky, and not quite ready.
7.832/10
1 year ago
Very interesting layout and design, fun to play
10.000/10
1 year ago
Best pin of all time for me. Considering I’ve played well over 500 different pins since 1980, that may put my ‘best’ vote into context.

Code 1.10 put it way over the top. Check out the YouTube video of the CEO (Barry) giving you thoroughly guided tour of the entire Dutch Pinball factory, all dedicated to TBL. It’s a family run biz and all people associated with it just ooze joy, skill and fun.

All the top reviewers held back calling TBL one of the best ever because of the code. That’s code is now fixed. Watch the new reviews after 1.10 code is played. Superb.

The game is a blast. B/Williams build with Buttery flow. Can be clunky with post bashes, air balls and failed ramp shots but that’s manageable. Just dial in your flipper work, the leveling of the game and coil strengths and you are good to go.

This game can be very challenging as far as completing all 6 modes to get to The Dude Abides Wizard mode but it’s a ton of fun trying. I have yet to do it. No center post, so watch the Donny loop because it can be a SDTM drain. Gotta quick flip it into the left Mark It Zero Saucer. Too sweet!!! Bury that baby nine times into the saucer and extra ball trap door lights. Nihilist mode is hilarious. The red light show and videos made my wife pee herself. So damn funny. Rug modes are varied and bring lots of good challenge. Love pounding the rug roll back until the big tunnel opens and poof…your in! Gotta have the machine dialed in or the rug hits won’t register and SDTM is possible.

The Walter ramp to the upper playfield feels so good when you fling it from the left flipper. Then it’s multiple times around the upper playfield loop and you get Let’s Go Bowling…one of the best features of any pin. Then the ball enters The lower playfield - AN ACTUAL 10 pin BOWLING ALLY! C’mon!! Again, not simple to complete the frame well, but with 3 options for the frame challenge (spare/strike, complete the split or hit the roaming pin) NEVER GETS BORING. Good luck on hitting the 7-10 split. The roaming pin is hilarious and tough. Completing a spare is very satisfying. Completing the frame successfully gives you one of the character balls. That’s part of the main and ultimate wizard mode of the game. You can also collect balls when you hit the mysteries shots… Levels one through three. Mystery is a shot into the trap door and is leveled up through the spinner up to Maude.

The Big Lebowski theme is a 1000/10. My favorite movie of all time. The cult following gets bigger each year for good reason. The R rated callouts and 200 movie clips are the greatest. Just watch kids and sensitive folks. Some of them are really dirty but you can turn family mode on to knock the dirtiness down to PG.

The overall scoring is simple to get. Character multiballs simply require shots up their loops/ramps for Jackpots and super jackpot is actually one of the six main goals/modes to complete. There is an option to opt out of a single character multiball or anytime you don’t want to do that multiball. That’s cool. Strategic.

The in-play guidance is terrific. A voice actor takes the place of Sam Elliott’s voice, but he does a great job, and he tells you exactly what to do and leads you through each mode well. The music is great and the sound quality is excellent.

The way you get immersed in this gem of a game immediately hooks you and you want to light all characters before going into multi ball. After that occurs, all hell breaks loose and you feel like you are in the middle of a pinball tornado of lights, sounds, speed, scoring and saves. It’s ridiculous.

The build quality is unsurpassed. It weighs a ton but plays like sweet melting chocolate. Watch the bumpers. They will f*Ck you in the *ss on any day of the week baby! Liam and Jesus make sure of that.

Too much else to write. I’ll add and edit another time.

To put this into perspective, my wife is addicted to it and we sold Godzilla to get to TBL.

BEST EVER.
10.000/10
1 year ago
I have waited months to rank this pin. I have played this pin as much as I possibly could over the past couple months in a home environment and do believe this is the best pin of all time. True masterpiece.
The new 1.0 code is phenomenal.
And, the immediate tech support from Rens and the crew at DP is just incredible.
I have had the fortune to own most every pin up and down the top 100 list and truly believe this pin deserves a 10 rating.
There is simply nothing I would do to change/improve the playing experience. I could go on and on about theme integration and shot selection and how it plays like a solid Bally Williams from the mid 90s with an incredible theme, but that’s all been said before, and is completely true.
Incredible pin. Outstanding work from Dutch Pinball.
7.868/10
1 year ago
Finally got to play this beast and wow, what a sight. Amazing theme and definitely looks like something special.

Game play was decent but nothing fantastic. Flippers were a bit on the weak side, sorry I usually play Sterns. I feel like theme and exclusivity sell this machine, all good. I will never own one (mainly due to cost) but always happy to play one. One of my favorite movies.

The dude abides!
9.520/10
1 year ago
Never thought bowling would work inside a pinball.
But it is just georgeous
9.580/10
1 year ago
Theme and fun factor at the top of the list for me.
9.820/10
1 year ago
This game is a triumph. I don't think I know of any better theme integration in a pinball machine!

Not only that, the 1.0 code makes the rules and depth perfect. Tons to go after here, tons to learn and explore.

This machine came very close to getting a perfect rating from me, which is a first. The only category I dinged it on was layout where I awarded 5/6.

5/6 is still an outstanding rating, but the reasons I dinged layout 1 point:

- The flipper power (even maxed) is just a tiny bit too low for the game as designed. This causes missed ramp shots and rug hits that are mild irritants. I run the game at 6.3 degrees and would not dare going any steeper. It's not bad enough to ruin the experience at all, but it's noteworthy. A code update that allowed another +5 or 10ms of coil time would probably fix it.

- The shots are fairly tight. This is not a bad thing, and we're not talking Houdini tight, but you do rattle or brick at times.

- Hitting the rug will sometimes suck out all the ball momentum, then drop it directly SDTM. Be prepared to slide save!

If this sounds like harsh criticism, it's not.
This was all I could come up with critically on an otherwise masterfully executed pin in all aspects.
9.820/10
1 year ago
I've had the game since April 2022 and resisted rating it until the 1.0 code was released, and all I can say is they have knocked it out of the park with this one! The callouts, movie integration, and overall flow of the game and the shots is truly remarkable. The build quality is unlike anything I've seen, and this game is never leaving my home. My only hesitation on giving a perfect 10 is on game play, it needs stacking of multiballs and modes. Great job here Dutch Pinball, keep doing what you're doing and get all those EA's covered so that we can unanimously support everything you do going forward!!
7.992/10
1 year ago
Smooth as a white Russian to play. So smooth. And even more beautiful. It's an experience for sure.
7.976/10
1 year ago
Played it more than any other pin at Yegpin this year. Enjoyed it a lot.
9.704/10
1 year ago
The best pin I have ever played.

I played it at Pincinnati before the 1.0 code was released and was unimpressed (was actually a bit nervous about the order I had placed for one). But with the new 1.0 code I cant stop playing it...and neither can my friends. The callouts are spot on, the shots are fun; DP absolutely nailed it.
9.760/10
1 year ago
Wow has this game come a long way with 1.0 code! This is a must have and a very well theme integrated pin! you need to own this one
8.576/10
1 year ago
Found this machine in the wild, much to my surprise, and in solid working condition at a local brewery... The game is fun! There are some challenging shots and tasks (especially for a novice like me) and the pin is absolutely locked in step with the movie.
Would love to play it a few more times to get a better feel but I had a blast the half-dozen times I played this past weekend.
10.000/10
1 year ago
I only played this one time, but I couldn't stop and played for many hours. I may come back and revise once I get to play it more, but it was my most memorable pinball experience. The theme is perfectly executed. I don't usually like full videos on the backglass, but this one timed them very well. Adding to the experience rather than distracting. I thought it was incredibly fun to play and loaded with great toys. Toys are rarely done tastefully but they nailed it. That rug that rolls back is so satisfying and the upper playfield destroying the car was a blast.

If I ever can afford one, I would want an extra rug toy because it seems to be the first to go from wear.
9.700/10
1 year ago
I have played Lebowski on location many times but held back from leaving a review until I was able to get one in a home setting. After 15 months of waiting Lebowski came home last week and I can tell you that it was worth the wait! This is by far the best theme integration I have ever seen in a pinball machine. Built rock solid and I agree with what others have said about it feeling like a mid 90's Bally Williams but even better. The code is indeed a little shallow but I do know they are working on releasing a code update in the near future. I HIGHLY recommend this machine and I do not ever see this machine leaving my collection.
9.900/10
1 year ago
This is the Holy Grail pinball. Not as fast and flowey as Godzilla but it’s the best theme in pinball and an incredible game. Totally unique and Williams like. Amazing toys. Also the best looking pinball I’ve ever seen. The best.
9.520/10
1 year ago
This game is easily the crown jewel of my lineup and my all time favorite pin to play to date. New code update added so much to the game-play, that it required an update to my rating. Game play is fast and the combos come easily, the upper play-field is easily accessible and fun. The bowling alley under the play-field is the perfect add-on for this theme and actually suits the theme better than any of the other lower fields I have played. (ex. Munsters, AC/DC) Call outs and animations are great and the IP assets are well used. The machine is extremely well built, like a tank, and I have yet to have a single problem with the machine, including zero adjustments needed out of the box. Even if you're not a fan of the movie, this is still a fun game to shoot, although being a fan of the movie really enhances it. Nobody likes the price of this game, but after picking one up NIB, I've had absolutely zero regrets about it! To use old the cliche, this one is 100% bolted to the floor!!
9.500/10
1 year ago
Dutch Pinball nailed it.

I'll admit I enjoy the movie but don't love it so I was nervous on purchasing this pin for that reason.

Theme integration this pin absolutely nails it. I'm not sure if there is better theme integration out there. There are other great pins that integrate theme but Dutch nails it.

Layout is fun and simple. When I say simple it's easy to understand what shots are needed and what to do.

Playfield art, toys, and gimmicks are IMO amazing. These are very subjective I get as is this review lol I really enjoy the light show especially the attract mode. Something about the yellow/orange lights on this pin excite me.

I've had zero issues with my pin so far and when this pin is between your hands it just feels like quality. To me how it feels adds to the experience.

I'm excited for the code release to come and make an already fun game even better. Yes things like music/call-outs could be improved but that's true on almost every pin that is released.

Very excited to see what Dutch Pinball does next.
7.612/10
1 year ago
Great Little game here with some great original shots and game play. Not the prettiest game in the world and is lacking quality build parts in areas. Great theme and some great call outs. I do not think it is a top 20 pin of all time and the current market value is ludicrous for what you are getting. Fun pin to play on location, own maybe not.
9.300/10
1 year ago
It is a really beautiful pin! The theme is epic.
Three skill shots available. But my absolute favorite is the one where you start bowling
The one with the bigger points probably is the rug.
I really don’t mind the music is not original. They did a great job with it. And well, the Dude doesn’t like the eagles lol, so it’s great.
The Donny shot is killing for me. Maybe we need some adjustments because it’s almost always a drain through the middle.
Also love that the game comes with the rug. Not a real Persian quality though. We hanged it on the wall beside the machine to keep it intact.
This pin is not going anywhere for the upcoming years :)
There are 185 ratings (that include a comment) on this game. Currently showing results page 3 of 8.

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