Williams
Pinbot Pinside Rating
This game received 476 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 7.920 /10
Pinbot
Score breakdown
Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:
Game Design: 7.845
Artwork: 8.053
Sounds/Music: 7.463
Other Aspects: 8.063
Pinside staff rating
This is how we, the very knowledgeable (wink wink) Pinside.com staff & moderators rate this game. 6 of us have rated this game.
Found 263 ratings (with comment) on this game
There are 263 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 3 of 11.
List options
8.720/10
3 years ago
Evansville, IN
I recently played Pinbot after not seeing one for many years. I had forgotten how much I liked the machine.
It is really a compelling design with the cool lighting effects and how it all ties into the gameplay. For me, I wish it were a three-ball multi-ball game, but at least it has multi-ball.
The cabinet art is so-so, but the playfield and back glass are great - with the playfield being the better of the two.
It is really a compelling design with the cool lighting effects and how it all ties into the gameplay. For me, I wish it were a three-ball multi-ball game, but at least it has multi-ball.
The cabinet art is so-so, but the playfield and back glass are great - with the playfield being the better of the two.
9.389/10
3 years ago
Now I see you!! This machine was the one that started it all for me. I can remember spending summers at Mountain Lakes resort as a kid. They had an arcade on the property with many options, Pinbot was my favorite by far. Now I own one that is in amazing condition, even replaced the translite with the new licensed backglass. This one will never leave my collection.
9.750/10
4 years ago
PinBot is exactly what I think of when I think of Pinball. A great timeless theme, fun game play, great music, and a lot of replay value. There are so many different ways you can play the table, from getting to the Sun, to growing that Solar Value, to opening the visor, and getting multiball. The ramp shot feels really good and the mini playfield will keep you guessing where the ball will come out. PinBot also has a great and satisfying skill shot. I never get bored with this table! A true classic!
9.612/10
4 years ago
Pinbot is one of my favorite games and the first game that I've ever owned.
I prefer the non-licensed games, as it opens up the artists to a wide range of possibilities. And the robot-space theme is surely one that many people can get behind. The art work, sound design, and playfield design work perfectly together.
The visor is an awesome gimmick and being awarded multiball feels like an accomplishment. The two different jackpots are fun and hitting the left ramp after locking a ball in multiball is very satisfying.
This is 100% a sharpshooter style game. There is next to no flow to it. You make a shot, and then scramble to regain control of the ball.
There are a handful of small things I don't like about the game. Primarily, advancing through the planets do not give enough points. These are risky shots, and the value is just too low to warrant going for them if you are trying to get a high score. They do make for a fun side objective if you aren't worried about points. Secondly, the skill shot rarely functions the way that it should. It is nearly impossible to get the skill shot to work the way they intended. This is a design issues.
The jackpot rolling over between games and ball steal aren't the most conducive to a competitive style pinball experience, but they are fun for a casual players.
Pinbot tends to have an unforgiving left out lane that you'll quickly have to learn how to nudge out of.
I don't expect that this game will ever leave my collection.
I prefer the non-licensed games, as it opens up the artists to a wide range of possibilities. And the robot-space theme is surely one that many people can get behind. The art work, sound design, and playfield design work perfectly together.
The visor is an awesome gimmick and being awarded multiball feels like an accomplishment. The two different jackpots are fun and hitting the left ramp after locking a ball in multiball is very satisfying.
This is 100% a sharpshooter style game. There is next to no flow to it. You make a shot, and then scramble to regain control of the ball.
There are a handful of small things I don't like about the game. Primarily, advancing through the planets do not give enough points. These are risky shots, and the value is just too low to warrant going for them if you are trying to get a high score. They do make for a fun side objective if you aren't worried about points. Secondly, the skill shot rarely functions the way that it should. It is nearly impossible to get the skill shot to work the way they intended. This is a design issues.
The jackpot rolling over between games and ball steal aren't the most conducive to a competitive style pinball experience, but they are fun for a casual players.
Pinbot tends to have an unforgiving left out lane that you'll quickly have to learn how to nudge out of.
I don't expect that this game will ever leave my collection.
8.905/10
4 years ago
This is a challenging game that has some real subtlety to the rule set. For example, advancing planets is best accomplished on ball one because each planet will give you a bonus on drain, meaning you could get 4 or even 5X the planet bonus with extra balls. The skill shot is great, the sound and theming are extremely well done, and with lit up posts and leds, this game is an absolute blast in a dark room.
The outline drains are hungry but the game rewards nudging and if you put in the plays, pinbot will reward you by making you a better player.
Probably not the best choice if you’re only gonna have one game because of the difficulty...could be frustrating for a casual walk up and play scenario with guests coming over to play. But in a small collection of 3 games or more, it’s a great one to own.
(As a bonus, the game is pretty easy to strip down and work on, even the central chest target mechanism.)
The outline drains are hungry but the game rewards nudging and if you put in the plays, pinbot will reward you by making you a better player.
Probably not the best choice if you’re only gonna have one game because of the difficulty...could be frustrating for a casual walk up and play scenario with guests coming over to play. But in a small collection of 3 games or more, it’s a great one to own.
(As a bonus, the game is pretty easy to strip down and work on, even the central chest target mechanism.)
7.954/10
4 years ago
Ottawa, ON
Love my pinbot. simple fun still to this day (2020). colorful lights, love the topper light bar!
8.415/10
4 years ago
"Pinbot circuits activated!" This game was ahead of its time. Toys and tricks abound: a hidden saucer shot concealed by the ramp entrance. The corkscrew skill shot. The iconic visor and matrix of lights to fill. And this under-appreciated gem: the upper playfield is an amazing callback to pinball’s roots in bagatelle...and why they call it pinball. The electronic music is stunning, and there’s a great payoff for touring the entire solar system. Just watch out for those outlanes!
9.057/10
4 years ago
A Granner/Oursler/Python masterpiece... with metaphorical robotic phrases like "we control the universe" intermingled with an epic and tripped out deep space score, what's there not to love about this game!? The game really does come to life when you pay attention to the depth of the sounds, music, and art. It's not the deepest game ever made as far as rules, and in some cases it can get repetitive, but it could be one of the more beautiful and cerebral.
9.660/10
4 years ago
One of the most underrated games in all of pinball. Great backglass, cabinet, and PF. Tons of shots. Simple to understand...but hard to execute game. Built like a tank. The robotic voice is killer!
This game should cost double.
This game should cost double.
7.441/10
4 years ago
Many people absolutely LOVE this machine but I have to say it isn't my favorite. The ramp on the left is pretty hard to hit and the payoff for hitting it isn't particularly interesting. The ball comes around the back and drops though various possible holes in a bagatelle on the right side of the playfield. It LOOKS like it would be cool but always ends up being anticlimactic and seems like it drops through the same middle hole 80% of the time.
The main novelty of the game is the opening of the visor so you can lock both "eyes" of pinbot and go into multi-player. The left eye seems much easier to lock than the right. The sound is pretty cool when it opens, the "I see you" is cool when you lock both balls but the actual multi-ball play is a little meh.
If you are really into hitting specific targets as part of the game play you may find like Pinbot more than I do. I prefer ramps and locks over having to hit specific targets that don't do much at the time you hit them. They do advance the planets bonus and open the visor but as there are multiple ways to open the visor it almost feels like it randomly opens without any input from you as the ball randomly bounces around the playfield knocking into things. The targets aren't even drop targets so you don't get the satisfaction of watching them pop down into the playfield.
The spiral ramp you can shoot the the beginning of each ball is a nice novelty but of course, you only get to do it at the beginning of each turn. In theory when you hit the ramp there is a chance the ball will be returned to the shooter lane after returning through the bagatelle. In my experience though that rarely happens and being that the left ramp is so hard to hit anyhow the odds are even worse.
In spite of all this it is a fun game I am glad I own, I'm just not in love with the game as many others are.
The main novelty of the game is the opening of the visor so you can lock both "eyes" of pinbot and go into multi-player. The left eye seems much easier to lock than the right. The sound is pretty cool when it opens, the "I see you" is cool when you lock both balls but the actual multi-ball play is a little meh.
If you are really into hitting specific targets as part of the game play you may find like Pinbot more than I do. I prefer ramps and locks over having to hit specific targets that don't do much at the time you hit them. They do advance the planets bonus and open the visor but as there are multiple ways to open the visor it almost feels like it randomly opens without any input from you as the ball randomly bounces around the playfield knocking into things. The targets aren't even drop targets so you don't get the satisfaction of watching them pop down into the playfield.
The spiral ramp you can shoot the the beginning of each ball is a nice novelty but of course, you only get to do it at the beginning of each turn. In theory when you hit the ramp there is a chance the ball will be returned to the shooter lane after returning through the bagatelle. In my experience though that rarely happens and being that the left ramp is so hard to hit anyhow the odds are even worse.
In spite of all this it is a fun game I am glad I own, I'm just not in love with the game as many others are.
4.780/10
4 years ago
Fun game from the 80's though it gets old to me pretty quickly. Fun game to play, good machine for the game room because of the price, but a classic game that iI enjoy playing some days and other days I do not.
8.524/10
5 years ago
Pinbot theme and music is amazing for it's age. The use of color and sounds makes this interplanetary game really cool. The back glass reveals a image behind the "mask" during certain levels in the game. Cool overall game for the 80s...
7.929/10
5 years ago
A robot themed pinball machine? Sign me up! This game is at the limit for machine age for me, but has a lot going for it. First of all, the theme is well integrated. It looks like the pinball arms go all the way down to the flippers. I love the way the visor opens to create shots. The ramp pops up to allow shots to go under, and the spiral skill shot is unique. The rainbow target bank screams 1980s, but I still have not figured out what the rainbow target lights are used for. I am not a big fan of the stenciled art on the side of the machine or the playfield art, but the back glass is gorgeous and the topper is well integrated. There is a lot of bang for your buck with this one.
I would like to add, that this is the best game from 1986 or earlier IMHO.
I would like to add, that this is the best game from 1986 or earlier IMHO.
8.909/10
5 years ago
Pinbot is a excellent game and well deserved the term 'Classic'. Lots of challenging shots, excellent music & sounds and the layout is great! A very satisfying pin to play and own. I would love to add it back into my collection one day
You too can add your own comment by rating this game! Click here to rate this game!
Over the years
Visualizing this game's rating and rank over the years
Hey there! Welcome to Pinside!
Donate to PinsideGreat to see you're enjoying Pinside! Did you know Pinside is able to run without any 3rd-party banners or ads, thanks to the support from our visitors? Please consider a donation to Pinside and get anext to your username to show for it! Or better yet, subscribe to Pinside+!
