Stern

Lord of the Rings

Pinside Rating

This game received 1186 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 8.706 _/10

8.706

Top 100 ranking

This game ranks 2nd in the game group "Lord of the Rings ". The group itself ranks #14 in the Pinside Pinball Top 100.

Score breakdown

Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:

Game Design: 8.96

Artwork: 8.273

Sounds/Music: 8.466

Other Aspects: 8.821

Pinside staff rating

This is how we, the very knowledgeable (wink wink) Pinside.com staff & moderators rate this game. 9 of us have rated this game.

9.145

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This title is part of group: "Lord of the Rings "

Lord of the Rings

Lord of the Rings Limited Edition

Found 748 ratings (with comment) on this game

There are 748 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
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9.378/10

2 years ago

MSL

SantaEatsCheese

Pinside+ Pro!

Crofton, MD

5y 209K 9,666 6 85 1

Holy cow is this an amazing game!

I picked up one about a month ago with a ton of uninstalled mods and this game is fantastic, my current favorite (it's still new to me), but definitely a top 5 all time game. First and foremost the theme integration on this game is amazing. There are several moving toys like the Balrog and tower, the magnet grabber is neat, it has amazing animations for the time, the voice work is great, the music is varied, and the layout is nice. It really comes together as a complete package. I would also like to say that as a huge Tolkien fan and a fan of the motion picture trilogy, it is a grand slam.

The only complains I have on the machine are the photo shopped art, the lack of weapons on the toys, and the lack of integration of the "path of the dead". It would be cool if it moved like in Indiana Jones... but I understand BOM is a thing.

This game is/can be super deep, but has a really nice intermediate challenge that is just my level. In addition to the ring modes, the gifts of men, Golumn multi ball, and many other smaller goals, there are 3 main multiballs to go for, one for each movie. The first movie is activiated by collecting the characters, the second by spelling keep multiple times and locking balls, the third by reaching 5,000 souls on the path of the dead. Complete this and get to destroy the ring multiball, the wizard mode for my level of skill. There is also a "time attack" high score of how quickly you can get to this mode and destroy the ring. There are also there and back again wizard modes and valinore for the experts.

From a modding, maintenance, and usability point of view this game is excellent. If you look online at most of these for sale, they almost all have original boards meaning they are reliable. Cliffy's are made for this game and are reliable. Additionally, the inserts in this game are in removable plastic cups under the playfield making replacement extremely easy. My only complaint from a usability standpoint in this is that the post rubbers are hard to replace.

I would solidly recommend this game as a first game, a game for a large or small collection, and for just about anyone. The only detractor to it overall is that if you are a pinball wizard the games can be pretty long. However, if you are only occasionally able to destroy the ring, this won't be a problem.

To war!!!!!

Last night, I let LOTR go after 22 months, an eternity in my collection (traded with cash for Elvira). It is/was/has been a great machine. In all this time, it has been rock solid reliable other than a broken leaf switch in the shire (easy fix) and a replaced ring magnet fuse (easy fix). I would venture to say its the most reliable machine I've ever had and easiest to work on. Amazing theme integration and sound. Never came close to Valinor, but I've destroyed the ring countless times and done there and back again a few. Great game I'd solidly recommend for just about anyone from expert to novice. I like mods and all are optional, but if you consistently get to destroy the ring I would solidly recommend upgraded flipper coils and add flipper fans. I'm sure I'll miss it, but its a new pin for someone else to experience now. Top 5 pin by any definition.

SantaEatsCheese edited previous rating on April 07, 2023.
SantaEatsCheese has owned this game in the past.

4 Pinsiders starred this!

1.345/10

2 years ago

XQZ

douggalecawitz

Pinside member

Naperville, IL

11y 62,900 45 85

squeezes all of the boredom of the overly long movies into 3 minute games

2 Pinsiders flagged this.

9.708/10

2 years ago

WAD

Morgoth00

Morgoth's Mods

3y 77,550 941 9

This game brought me to pinball. Bolted to the floor for life!

8.031/10

2 years ago

CBS

roar

Pinside member

Hamilton, ON

8y 70,050 1,797 1 15

I remember playing LOTR back in the arcade when it was first released and enjoying the heck out of it. I can still remember the first time I put a quarter in it actually. I got to play it throughout the years in peoples homes and always wanted to own one. That day came... and in all honesty it became a lunch bag let down for me. To say the game is too easy is unfair as making it to Valinor is considered by many as one of the greatest pinball achievements... and I didn't get there... but... I got close once and that was all I needed to convince myself I didn't need to make it there again. I distinctly remember the moment I decided to sell the game and that was after coming off a fantastic first ball, accomplishing a lot of the objectives and when it drained after 40 minutes of playing I turned the game off... I was bored... I didn't want to play any more. I didn't want another trip around the multi balls, I just didn't want to shoot the same shots again and bash on balrog or bash on the plantier or wait for the ball to trickle down the path of the dead. It was time to move on. I wouldn't have LOTR back, I had my spin.

2 Pinsiders starred this!

9.236/10

2 years ago

MEF

WildRover

Pinball Party Podcast

Eau Claire, WI

6y 80,050 824 1 6

My favorite game. The theme is top notch for me, but that aside...it really is the full package like a lot of people say. Rules/code are tremendous and really fit the LOTR story(s). Most shots are super smooth and very satisfying. Lighting is fantastic for the theme...its not a Star Trek blinding RGB show, but a more subdued mood lighting that really fits the universe.

It has a bunch of modes, 3 main multiballs, an awesome Destroy The Ring 'wizard mode', an almost unobtainable final wizard mode, wonderful music and callouts (although the stock quality isn't great). Overall, great in the home environment!

WildRover has this game on the wishlist.

9.376/10

2 years ago

EB_

derekmudd

Pinside member

Bellefonte, PA

4y 27,900 13 2 16

Minor point deductions for the low quality (design and pritning) playfield artwork and for Frodo repeatedly counting down, otherwise a close to perfect long-shooting adventure of a game.

derekmudd has this game on the wishlist.

7.165/10

2 years ago

EJH

ehex9

Pinside member

Saint Albans Town, VT

3y 46,650 5 7 179

This game plays and feels like a cheap toy pinball. Just not impressed with Stern this time. Theme is epic.

5 Pinsiders flagged this.

9.516/10

2 years ago

DAD

Superpops1

Pinside member

La Habra Heights, CA

4y 47,050 109 5 7

The game is well loved for good reason. One of the best games to have in a home setting. If you only could have 1 game its an excellent candidate.

LotR has a deep rule set, kickass theme - game looks and sounds great. Long play times. Anyone can walk up and hit stuff, but when you know the rules and shoot for there and back agains - destroying rings - the elusive Valinor - its amazing

Superpops1 currently owns this game.

7.723/10

2 years ago

???

GezTheHealer

Pinside member

Trowbridge

5y 17,250 3 20

I like the film, I've played this game a few times and both times was put off by the long ball times. It didn't feel like a challenge and though it looked nice, it was a bit of a tired machine. The second time I played one, it was a nice one in a home collection, though I felt almost chained to it with the long ball times again - and when another machine came free I wanted to play... I left it mid-ball. I haven't found it fun, but given all the positive reviews - I will give it another chance when I see one next, and it is a very pretty machine.

2 Pinsiders flagged this.

6.808/10

2 years ago

BOD

Crazysurfkid

Pinside member

Halifax

5y 26,800 39 5 10

In the right place at the right time, I managed to purchase this from a forum member within minor it being listed. Prior to having it delivered to my home, I had never played LOTR - my purchase being driven purely by the ratings (> top 10 at the time).
I found the theme to be good. Not brilliant as I would have expected, but good. The shooting the ring shot and the sword rail are excellent and visibly pleasing. The Path Of The Dead (POTD) I though a waste of time. Unlike Indiana Jones, you can't move this as the ball travels, relying on gravity, and often the ball travels the same path.
Due to the long ball times, amendments are need on the flippers to ensure strong enough to hit the ring later on, however - 1 draw back is that you start the game with flippers that are too powerful and subsequently you get a few air-balls.
The most satisfying part is the start of the various modes, with great sound and light effects. Destroying the ring is also a great feature (I thought I broke the machine first time I did it!) - and there lies the problem. I'm not a great pinballer, yet I managed to destroy the ring often and frequently.
I had the machine < 6months before I stopped it for an Aerosmith, which I much prefer (visually/sound/build quality etc).

Crazysurfkid has owned this game in the past.

9.740/10

2 years ago

FRD

Freshderf

Pinside member

Acampo, CA

5y 20,000 1 7 12

It's a great game to have in your collection. Very deep and you'll want to play aging and again to try to beat it. Not easy at all.. I think the variation in the game is some of the best. I keep coming back to this game.. For me, top 5 games out there!!

Absolutely love my LOTR. The cabinet and backglass artwork are stunning and the playfield artwork pretty good. Especially love the music and theme to the book and movie. Lighting programming is also very good. Combo shots are awesome. Toys... New games copy this game its that good. Overall I am very pleased.

Freshderf edited previous rating on July 27, 2022.
Freshderf currently owns this game.

7.551/10

2 years ago

AJC

DeprivedFallacy

Pinside member

3y 20,150 23 7 14

Wish my dad keeped it many years ago now covid prices threw the roof we will never own one again but If u ever get the option to buy one at a fair price do it with a few mods it stands against many new machines loved our Lotr

DeprivedFallacy has owned this game in the past.

9.376/10

2 years ago

JAY

JasonThompson

Inactive member

2y 24,500 6

I absolutely love this machine. The gimmicks are a lot of fun and keep me coming back.

9.036/10

2 years ago

PO

pat4race

Inactive member

Unknown

3y 19,000 1 73

Lots of unique features, with excellent gameplay

pat4race edited previous rating on May 14, 2021.

9.279/10

2 years ago

???

fabien06

Inactive member

Unknown

3y 2,750 6

Incredible pin that will stay home forever if i can. Immersion is great, flow amazing, multiballs are awesome.. This is a near perfect pinball, except for the playfield artwork which is ugly (in my opinion).

9.700/10

3 years ago

MAT

mpdpvdpin

Pinside member

Providence, RI

6y 95,050 4,431 6 97 1

This game will always be in my top 5. I’m not sure anything could knock it out. Just a phenomenal pin.

mpdpvdpin has owned this game in the past.

9.580/10

3 years ago

VCK

vikeking27

Pinside+ Frequent

3y 49,050 344 23

This is easily one of my favorite games, would love to have one in my collection. It's a perfect balance for casual and serious players - casual players can have a lot of fun with the long ball times, serious players can try to make it through all the modes and complete the game. The toys/mechs on this game are fantastic, and the multi-ball modes feel extremely well integrated to the overall 'story' of the game - less chaotic feeling, more purposeful. The only 'issue' with this game is that the playfield artwork is pretty lame (not the sculpts or plastics, just the art on the playfield itself) and the overall art package in general is lacking. Outside of that, this is about as perfect as a game can get in my opinion.

vikeking27 edited previous rating on April 08, 2024.

9.000/10

3 years ago

BJD

Nesman

Pinside member

Colbert, WA

5y 35,800 1 32 16

I will admit at first I didn’t really care much for the game, my girlfriend loved it. So when I came across one for sale she told me to get it. ( you can’t pass up a pin when you get the green light) after it had been in the collection for a while the game really grew on me. And now this game is bolted to the floor, It’s not leaving the collection. Great use of toys, fantastic shots easy to get a multi ball, it’s a complete package. But everyone already know that.

Nesman currently owns this game.

8.420/10

3 years ago

???

stargazor156

Pinside member

Claremont, NC

3y 26,500 2 1 14

After having played The Hobbit the Lord of the rings didn't seem as fun but it's a really fun game

9.800/10

3 years ago

MDF

frenchmarky

Pinside member

Moreno Valley, CA

5y 79,800 3,113 7 30

I bought one brand new, enjoyed it a lot. Shoulda kept it, very well executed. Only thing that bugged me was the ring hole up top where a clean shot would bounce around and the magnet couldn't grab it and it would not make it thru the ring, but maybe there are fixes for that now. Maybe should have had another switch or opto where as long as it made it all the way up and off the ramp it would still score it.

9.680/10

3 years ago

???

TheFalconCacaw

Inactive member

Unknown

3y 5,750 6 6

Great long play pinball

TheFalconCacaw currently owns this game.

9.480/10

3 years ago

???

Tbmcgregor

Inactive member

Unknown

3y 1,000 20

I played this at a restaurant near my cabin and once it left, I really missed it. The theme is amazing, this is one of the best Stern games out there. I can overlook defects in machines if the theme is good and I don't have to do that with this game. One knock on this game is that you can play for a long time on a single play, so it is not one you would choose to play in a tournament. This game is one of my favorites. I have destroyed the ring once and will play it any time I see it.

9.840/10

3 years ago

NJD

NJDevils30

Pinside member

10y 38,150 147 9 6

Deep rule set, tons to do for beginner or advanced player. Great theme, great fun.

NJDevils30 currently owns this game.

9.460/10

3 years ago

HJB

Hjbondar

Pinside member

10y 57,550 481 8

Like TZ, a classic. the only drawback is the long ball times - mostly when i am playing my son and watching him shoot!!

8.348/10

3 years ago

JEC

Berserk

Pinside member

Kincardine, ON

12y 51,650 262 4 23

When I think of LOTR pinball, I immediately think deep ruleset. There is so much to do in this game and lots of great modes and multiballs to earn. This game is a lot of fun and will keep you coming back for more just for the gameplay alone. Some really great shots in this game, something about locking a ball on the sword is quite satisfying. Art and Sound is really strong on this game, although if there is one weak point (which really isn't that bad) is the music... It does a good job bringing the feel of LOTR, but the movie soundtracks were filled with amazing and beautiful music that it's too bad that the pin didn't incorporate them more. But that's a really minor gripe, and doesn't take anything away from the game. It's a keeper in my opinion, I think the biggest challenge with it is convincing the wife to own one.

Berserk has this game on the wishlist.

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There are 748 ratings (that include a comment) on this game. Currently showing results page 4 of 30.

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