Stern

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Pro)

Pinside Rating

This game received 376 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 8.300 _/10

8.3

Top 100 ranking

This game ranks 3rd in the game group "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles". The group itself ranks #34 in the Pinside Pinball Top 100.

Score breakdown

Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:

Game Design: 7.963

Artwork: 8.809

Sounds/Music: 8.074

Other Aspects: 8.304

Pinside staff rating

This is how we, the very knowledgeable (wink wink) Pinside.com staff & moderators rate this game. 1 of us has rated this game.

8.56

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This title is part of group: "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
(Pro)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
(Premium)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
(LE)

Found 160 ratings (with comment) on this game

There are 160 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
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5.353/10

2 years ago

DSG

dravenscott

Pinside member

Hazard, KY

3y 27,400 9 15 8

Not a fan, which is a disappointment considering how much I love TMNT. The artwork, music, sounds, animation, etc are all excellent. I haven't played with the 87 cartoon mod, but I thoroughly enjoyed the stock package. The game itself, however, is a mess. Shots are extremely tight and I never felt there was a good flow as a result. Worse, if you miss, this game will absolutely punish you for it. Almost every post the ball hits causes a drain. Extremely frustrating layout. Shots feel "off", and I could never get into a good rhythm as a result. Selecting turtles based on skills is interesting, but you'll only use 1 or 2, depending on your play style. The foot combo is atrocious and will trigger almost every turn. The shots are brutal and it will override your progress on building right ramp shots for multiball. Stacking modes isn't a possibility, so activating multiball isnt as much fun as it should be. Scoring is very low and unrewarding. Stringing together multiple shots or going ham on multiball has little to no payoff. 50 million was the highest score I ever had (Michaelangelo) and I never came close to that again, usually averaging 20-30 million on a decent game. When you drain a good ball only to look up and see a few hundred thousand points, it's a hard pill to swallow. Code could use improvement, but the added "race home" feature provided in a recent update was a welcome addition. I'd give this one a hard pass. It only stayed in my collection a very short time and served no purpose beyond eye candy, or checking someone's ego after playing a good game on another machine. Beautiful game, lousy gameplay.

dravenscott has owned this game in the past.

4 Pinsiders flagged this.

9.280/10

2 years ago

WCB

WesleyB

Pinside+ Frequent

Marietta, GA

3y 39,150 79 19 6

This is a love/hate game for me. Everything about it brings back some great memories when I was a kid and was really into TMNT. I am glad stern did the classic TMNT theme and not the newer Japanimation style. This game is HARD and takes a while to get a solid grasp of the rules, scoring and what to do to maximize your score. The layout and flow of this game is very well designed and is a blast with all of the competitive modes when you have friends over. Music is spot on and theming cannot be beat. The animations need some work but I hardly look at the screen during gameplay. I can nitpick pretty hard but no reason to do so...all pins have their issues and none of them on this machine stand out as killers. Be aware that this game may not be fun for kids younger than 7. It took my son a while to figure out what to do but he currently holds the high score and has kept it for a few months.

WesleyB currently owns this game.

5.244/10

2 years ago

TKC

Tdawgcole

Pinside apprentice

Unknown

2y 6,250 1 12

Hardest game I have ever played. Not fun for me.

4 Pinsiders flagged this.

7.174/10

2 years ago

ECW

Ecw0930

Pinside member

Fredericksburg, VA

4y 69,550 1,016 2 113

I mean.... It looks sooooo good. But it loses in the fun to play area.

It's soooo fast. Which is good. But for a Stern to be this weird about scoring is bonkers. It's so unbalanced (maybe a code update?). Sure you can play for a good time, but scoring is just out of whack.

It is fun to shoot. The ramp is super tight. The truck is a fun shot but honestly all it has going for it. Spinning pizza is what it is.

Cool features, cool theme, but doesn't add up to a great game.

2 Pinsiders flagged this.

9.536/10

2 years ago

TJB

Tbates

Black Diamond Collectabl

Nanaimo, BC

9y 32,650 8 28 9

Game is very fast and shots flow well together. This is a tough but rewarding layout. Love the theme and it is very well represented by stern. Middle ramp and krang combos are both very fast shot and fun to hit. Lair shot is one of the most unique shots I have seen.
Artwork by zombie yeti is near perfect for the tmnt theme and all the musics is very well done. Code is the one spot where it could be better and that will improve with updates. Pro is great value for a new stern. Highly recommend!

Tbates currently owns this game.

3 Pinsiders starred this!

8.964/10

2 years ago

SJP

peely

Pinside+ Frequent

Melbourne

9y 48,550 106 6 18

Can I say that I hate the theme. I'm a pinball player and not a collector, so my rating is based on the game play and because of that I rate it one of Sterns best. The loop combo you can hit and a hundred miles and hour is satisfying as is the ruleset which is probably slightly generic. The ability to play different characters also adds to the game.
Compare this to one of my faves from the 90s - congo, its an enhanced version of that game with new rules. Also compares to Tron with that loop shot - another fave of mine. I can understand people not liking it if they don't really play much pinball as the shots can be tight. If however, you're an ok pinball player, buy one. if you're a collector you'll only like it if you like TMNT.

peely has owned this game in the past.

9.820/10

2 years ago

CRK

Charles_Kline

Pinside+ Frequent

4y 68,050 1,076 6

This is a surprisingly fun game. I enjoy the flow of Pro a lot more than the premium.

10.000/10

2 years ago

ATL

Lemank

Pinside member

8y 70,050 470 9 63 1

This game is hard but rewarding. Borg pumps out another instant classic.

Lemank has owned this game in the past.

9.480/10

2 years ago

???

ZanesAwesome

Pinside member

Moss Bluff, LA

2y 23,400 3 1 6

This is my first pinball machine and I love it! Sure it's brutal and that LAIR shot seems kind of flawed, but I can't stop playing it. It's fast, fun, and I love the theme. I was born in the 80's, so TMNT was a huge part of my childhood. It took about 20 or so games till I finally started finding my rhythm and nailing the shots. This game is never leaving my collection!

ZanesAwesome currently owns this game.

8.368/10

2 years ago

SUS

Grayont

Pinside member

Encinitas, CA

6y 51,550 84 1 129

TMNT is a very fast a flowy game with many things to tackle. It's easy to tell that the game was designed to have combos in mind, with both the layout and software. It feels really incredible to chain together just the right shots in a row for completing the foot combo, and grabbing your weapon hurry up, and scoring a Krang combo all at the same time. There are 4 shots that feed the upper flipper, so it always feel like there is ample opportunity to make the shots there. The modes are fun and interesting. While the game might not be as deep as some, the speed and difficulty of the outlanes will keep you coming back to make it to the final Cowabunga wizard mode, and I appreciate that the rules are easily understandable.

Grayont edited previous rating on October 30, 2021.
Grayont has owned this game in the past.

7.217/10

2 years ago

SAA

shaub

Pinside member

9y 66,050 1,815 21

The game has a lot going for it: A solid (but difficult layout) with mostly tight shots and pretty steep ramps, it definitely has the patented Borg double inlane which leads to a lot of bad bounces to the outlane, especially when the ball comes out of the pop bumpers. The shot under the Upper Flipper is very satisfying to hit and even though it is tough, a missed shot isn't especially punishing. The art, sounds and theming are all well done. The biggest issue with this game is the code, in a number of ways it just doesn't seem to work. The score balancing is completely off, if you want to go for points then you just need to focus on MB and could essentially just ignore Episodes. If you want to go for game progression though, the episodes are quite fun, all unique enough to feel like their own thing with good theme integration. Training modes are also fun, but they lack incentive for points and game progress though this is slightly rectified by code V1.41 with the addition of Neutrino Pizza Party which is qualified after you've completed two of Training modes. Additionally, there are "side modes" to the game as well: 123 Foot, April Hurry Ups, Weapon Hurry Ups, and the Krang Kombo. The problem with these modes, however, is that they don't really contribute to much in the way of points (at least not relative to their difficulty) and they provide little sense of game progression outside of being part of the requirements to qualify the ultimate wizard mode: Cowabunga. Qualifying Cowabunga feels out of place and sort of just tacked onto the core game rather than integrated in a way that feels like a logical progression through the game. Luckily, Final Battle (the wizard mode for playing through all the episodes) feels much more like a logical conclusion to the game from a theme and typical gameplay perspective, although viewing the game this way makes the "side modes" feel essentially worth ignoring.

Overall, if you look at the game as Multiballs, the Episodes, and the Mini- and Main-Wizard Modes (TeamUp MB and Final Battle) for playing the Episodes, it's a tough but fun experience. If you are looking for more depth, strategy, and a "well-rounded" game, this is probably not the one for you. Luckily, some code polish, score balancing, and "side-mode" refocusing could definitely elevate the game beyond where it currently stands. That is, if Stern/Dwight ever decide to put the work in to make that happen. Like many Dwight games, I'd have to say that the game has potential but falls short on a lot of the finer points that it's contemporaries get right.

4 Pinsiders starred this!

8.780/10

2 years ago

JMO

PinDaddyDrain

Pinside member

Unknown

3y 25,500 1 54

This is a really fun table. Truly easy to play. Artwork is awesome.

7.840/10

2 years ago

RGJ

bigguybbr

Pinside+ Frequent

3y 100K 3,225 6 17

One of the best value Pro models out there next to Dead Pool. The pro offers great features without feeling like it is missing out on some of the toys from the Premium/LE models. It's also great to look at. There is so much going on in the artwork and playfield layout with ramps, toys and wire forms that it feels like it is worth every penny when compared to some other more recent Sterns like Led Zeppelin.

For a title based on a children's cartoon, it can be a tough game. When your aim is on, the flow is great, and chaining ramp shots feels really gratifying. When hit perfectly, the Krang combo, 1-2-3 foot combo, or chaining left ramp to right ramp to ninja pizza to start a mode is lightning fast and feels amazing. That being said, if your aim is off, shots like the lair, ninja pizza, and the tight right orbit can feel clunky and add to frustration. Not that you need more frustration, since the gaping left outlane provides more than enough frustration for most players. The spinning pizza disc adds chaos to the playfield and forces the player to stay on their toes as it imparts spin or throws the ball towards outlanes and drains. If the game has too much pitch, some shots can no longer be backhanded (left ramp). The right ramp seems to always be accessible by backhand, and feels good doing so.

Since the 1.41 code update adding final battle and half shell challenges accessible from the start, and some tuning, it has really helped the game. Half shell is a blast, and is great to start up for the younger or more beginning players as it will keep relaunching the ball until they make the shots giving a more forgiving experience. The Co-op feature is also great to get younger players into the game, or just to have fun with friends with the ability to have 1v3, 1v2 and 2v2 battles.

Some tuning still needs to be done. Multiball modes have some blinding lighting effects that make you lose sight of the ball, which seems a bit unfair. The 1-2-3 Foot combo needs to be reworked since it seems to constantly trigger, and has what feels like a meager payout for the effort. Scoring in general is low, and some of the Turtles could use some rebalancing as Raphael is really the only character to choose if you are chasing a high score. Donatello is almost handicapped since it all but forces you into turtle power multiball before you can start a mode and really build up your score. The lair ball save timer is a must to set, and really should be the default. Stern should also add a launch ball save timer option as it can be frustrating to lock a ball, and then the launch sends it for a center drain.

All in all, it's a hugely addicting game that challenges the player with a lot if fun shots to explore. While it can be frustrating at times when not on your game, I find myself coming back to it again and again.

*Edit* I updated my ratings after I owned it for a year or so. Scores dropped on lastability (I played it a lot but ultimately let it go), lighting (those flashers blind you), and layout (there are some clunky shots that required too often)

bigguybbr edited previous rating on June 01, 2022.
bigguybbr has owned this game in the past.

3 Pinsiders starred this!

8.596/10

2 years ago

DLS

dstickler

Pinside member

5y 47,400 29 4 10

For me, the Pro Model is the way to go. The Premium and LE didn't provide enough extras when it came to the cost. As far as gameplay goes, I think it is fun. It is fast! The shots are not easy, but thats what brings me back to the game. When I post a good score it feels deserved. Maybe not the game for someone who is new to pinball... You might get frustrated. Stick with it!

dstickler has owned this game in the past.

7.987/10

2 years ago

J

Pinicus

Pinside member

Victoria, BC

6y 40,100 12 5 9 1

I was very excited to try one at my local spot but covid hit and they stopped pinball. I was so eager to play and finally found a great deal on a used one. I was very eager to check out the co op mode. What a great idea. It’s very well done with the theme in that it’s fun like how the turtles are. Fun for anyone and every level. Kind of reminded me of an inverted whirlwind. The pizza multi ball magnet when the pizza spins is awesome. Shots are a bit tight but there are some good ones. The lair shot was a cool one but the ball would drain coming out of it. Love how the shots change with each turtle. I found it drained a lot. I would lose almost every ball via drains every game which got to be frustrating. Call outs got to be a bit repetitive after awhile but I thought the music was good. I found myself singing the turtles song all the time. Eventually parted ways with it but I would still play it out if I saw it.

Pinicus has owned this game in the past.

6.286/10

2 years ago

WIZ

WizardsCastle

Pinside+ Frequent

Toronto, ON

5y 81,550 2,056 10 18 1

On theme alone, I was expecting this one to be bolted to the floor. Borg put together a pretty decent layout, but it was all put to waste with the Dwight phoned in, completely uninspired coding. As much as I liked hitting the shots, the code sucked out the joy. After two weeks, I didn't even turn it on. Dwight needs to put more time into these games, and actually FINISH them! No more Dwight games for me. Hopefully they partner Borg with someone else for his next game.

WizardsCastle edited previous rating on May 15, 2022.
WizardsCastle has owned this game in the past.

7.274/10

2 years ago

EGG

Flipper_Ripper

Pinside apprentice

Unknown

3y 26,150 144 2 11

Wanted to love this game. The whole art package is amazing. Just feels like I played this game before with a different art package. Think Tron. Right ramp was not so fun to hit. I actually love the animations, some people don’t. Wish the layout offered more. Tough shots too.

7.230/10

2 years ago

KDZ

kool1

Pinside member

Oakville, ON

2y 101K 3,417 5 53

It's not a bad game but I didn't grow up with TMNTs so I have no connection to this game really.

Usually it doesn't matter to me that much but I just couldn't get into it. It's not bad but I think it mostly for players born in the 80's.

3 Pinsiders flagged this.

6.242/10

2 years ago

AOK

NetherFredo

Pinside apprentice

Cushing, MN

3y 35,400 7 9 92

It’s a modern Stern, they all feel pretty much the same. Nothing too original or groundbreaking. That said game flows well, plays well and is fun. Highlight is the pizza lock that holds 3 balls.

6 Pinsiders flagged this.

7.729/10

2 years ago

DEL

Kronnix

Pinside member

Santaquin, UT

11y 28,400 40 3 13

I wanted to put at least 200 games into TMNT at home before I gave it a review.
Pros:
The layout is fun and when you get some flow going it's fantastic!
Sounds, voices and music are excellent!
Artwork is perfection! The colors! The characters! All of it! I don't believe you could get better artwork on a pin for this theme!
Theme: I'm a child of the 80's and I think the theme is great! Every time I play this pin I get Saturday morning cartoon vibes! I understand it's not for everyone though.

Cons:
When you hit consecutive shots in a row they feel great, but when you don't it can feel frustrating. This pin is PUNISHING! It will kick your ass over and over! Left drain, left drain, LEFT DRAIN! Ugh!
The music gets pretty repetitive. I challenge anyone who plays this pin NOT to get the TMNT theme stuck in their head for hours.
Animations are so so. I think I'd prefer traditional animation over the stiff CG stuff on this pin.
Rules are pretty tough to understand and scores are generally low. You can feel like you're having the best game of your life only to look up and see 35M or so. Completing modes means hitting lots of tough shots. Which brings me to my last point:
A couple of these shots just feel clunky. While the ramps feel really good, the Lair and pizza parlor shots are often clunky. I may not be the most skilled pinball player but I have zero issue hitting the orbits or the other ramps (including the 3rd ramp most of the time).

Overall, I'm glad I rented for a month instead of buying. When you are hitting back to back ramps the flow feels great, but when you aren't it can be pretty frustrating.
Overall this is still a really good pin but I probably wouldn't add it to my lineup.

4.039/10

2 years ago

GSC

tk375

Pinside member

Chula Vista, CA

12y 61,050 819 2 25

If you are thinking about buying one of this, play it as much as you can and ask for feedback. Loving the theme will not do much for you. This is one of those pinball machines were the shots strangely feel very repetitive. This is not a great shooter and not easy if you are planning on getting this for your kids. Code is pretty bad.

9 Pinsiders flagged this.

10.000/10

2 years ago

FRE

PinWiL

Pinside apprentice

Kissimmee, FL

3y 17,750 5 15

This game is beautiful; it shoots well, fast gane, beautiful playfield, great artwork. All in all, I love thid game.

5 Pinsiders flagged this. 2 Pinsiders starred this!

9.104/10

2 years ago

SAH

onemilemore

Pinside+ Frequent

San Marcos, CA

4y 80,050 1,052 4 18

Difficult, but rewarding shooter with a ton of modes and objectives and a huge variety of ways to tackle the game. Borg's layout here is phenomenal, and when you finally dial in the shots to start comboing it's just a rush. Some people find 1-2-3 Foot annoying because of how often it's triggered, but it's incredibly satisfying to complete. Theme integration is fantastic and the ability to choose a turtle based on what you want to achieve (I take Raph to have an easy episode start and my daughter chooses Donatello for the one-shot multiball) sets it apart. Music and callouts can be cheesy, but it's a cartoon! The nostalgia and immersion are super high. Co-op, Half Shell Challenge, Final Battle - just a ton to do if it starts beating you up too much in standard play or you want to mix it up. Mode ojectives/variety are great - Slash and Ray Gun are standouts imo. And even though you skip it after a few times seeing it, the intro to Ninja Pizza Multiball is one of my favorite pinball moments.

My only gripe is a common one: For how much work some of the modes and shots are, base scoring is incredibly low. I've gotten over it and play mostly to get deeper into modes, but I also know it would be a nice mental boost to feel like those shots you just chained together for the first time really paid off.

All in all a fantastic pin we'll be hanging onto for awhile.

onemilemore has this game on the wishlist.

3 Pinsiders starred this!

7.838/10

2 years ago

JBG

MacGruber

Pinside member

Kiel, WI

2y 75,800 1,098 8 22

Trending up!

MacGruber edited previous rating on May 15, 2023.

7.189/10

2 years ago

???

Pinchild

Pinside member

Eagle, ID

5y 54,800 737 12 44

Got board almost immediately.
For me it's just ok.
Will never own it but was ok to flip.
I do like art and 1980s throwback.

9 Pinsiders flagged this.

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