Pinside rating

This game received 333 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 7.984 _/10

7.984

Top 100 ranking

This game ranks 2nd in the game group "The Walking Dead". The group itself ranks #18 in the Pinside Pinball Top 100.

Score breakdown

Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:

Game design: 7.981

Artwork: 7.917

Sounds/Music: 7.466

Other Aspects: 8.184

Rating comments

There are 165 rating comments for this game.

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.

7.854

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This game is part of a group

Note! There are multiple versions of this game!
This is "The Walking Dead (Pro)".
The other version is: The Walking Dead (Premium/LE)

Ranking history

An overview of this machine's ranking over the last years. Lower is better.

Rating history

An overview of this machine's rating over the last years. Higher is better.

Found 165 ratings (with comment) on this game

There are 165 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
Currently showing results page 1 of 7.

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8.964/10

16 days ago

GMS

gmanrulz46

Pinside member

Yonkers, NY

<1y 12,250 6 13

i won this pin by raffle project pinball.com sold to brother . great game this is one of the best pins in our collection

9.552/10

41 days ago

GRG

Grg

Pinside member

Auckland

5y 58,550 312 6 12

Played it when first released and even though it shot well, I never liked the game because code was baron. Since then I played a couple of premiums/le and disliked the clunky left ramp or the right ramp crossbow pause. Recently played a pro and wow it just flowed with fast combo shots. Huge difference not have the stop/start of the crossbow and the clunk of the BG ramp. Code is just awesome. I've achieved Horde, Last man standing but yet to start siege. Games super fun, very challenging, lymans best code and pro being the version to buy in my opinion.

9.096/10

41 days ago

JCA

JamesUK

Pinside member

Norwich

<1y 15,650 19 2 7

Simply incredible game, the ruleset is nothing short of a masterpiece, layout is incredible and the game just draws you back in for one more game.

Artwork is the only element that could be perceived to let it down.

JamesUK currently owns this game.

7.896/10

54 days ago

???

CptUniverse

Pinside apprentice

Unknown

<1y 6,500 12

A solid fun game with a cool Theme!

6.920/10

57 days ago

FAU

ParisPinballAdct

Pinside member

Paris

<1y 14,250 3 2 9

Not sure about The Walking Dead: I think it potentially is a great pin, and at the same time the one machine I did get to play on it a few games had poor lighting, virtually no sound, and the flow of the shots wasn’t really that satisfying...still I know I would come back to play on it if I had the chance. Bit mad.

8.630/10

3 months ago

MEH

MEuRaH

Pinside member

Essex Jct, VT

4y 43,400 167 1 16

I was a huge Walking Dead (AMC) fan when this show first came out. This pin came around the same time as my peak interest in the show, so I was a big fan when I walked up to the machine.

The Bad:
-- The music, or lack-there-of. It's forgettable.
-- Where's all the cool toys?
-- The animations would be better in color. Come on, Stern. Stop skimping!

The Good:
-- Layout is awesome.
-- The rules are great.
-- Sounds & Lights work together very well.

Given what the designers had to work with, I think this is a very fun pin. It has me coming back every time. It's fun to play and anyone can play it. The sounds are great and when paired with the lighting and shaker motor, it really immerses you into the game. The downside is that there's no cool toys, so there's nothing that makes you turn to your friends and say "watch this!" There's also nothing stuck in my head after I play it, nothing that makes me hum a tune or anything.

It's fun to play, it's reliable and hardly needs maintenance, cleaning is simple. It's a little bland overall, but it's just fun enough to make me come back every time I'm around it.

9.900/10

3 months ago

MMH

mannymasy

Pinside member

Málaga

5y 40,300 230 3 14

Beast game

mannymasy currently owns this game.

9.740/10

3 months ago

JAS

jetmechinnc

Pinside member

2y 45,400 302 12

Here is a game that gets the same amount of plays as my Iron Man, which is saying a lot. I don't know about the old coding, but my pin came with 1.60. Great code! Plus after adding the sound callouts from the TV show, game is perfect. Yes it is a gruesome looking pin, but that is the point, it isn't supposed to be bright like guardians of the galaxy or iron maiden. Having so many leader boards in one game means you can compete for multiple top spots with your family and friends. If you are remotely a fan of this show, the one must mod you need to do is add the new sound code with the TV show call outs. Without this sound, the game falls a little short, but the music is still there. With the sound, you'll snicker at times with callouts from the cast members including Negan! Best of all, my wife is a huge fan of the show and this pin is her first go to pin now.

9.660/10

4 months ago

???

noob-a-tron

Pinside member

Melbourne

1y 13,500 2 1 7

would own this if i had more space

noob-a-tron has this game on the wishlist.

7.571/10

5 months ago

LMS

Tranquilize

Pinside member

3y 42,550 394 28

I have a love/hate relationship with The Walking Dead, and it mostly has to do with Stern's consistency in build and how it affects game play.

__________________________________________________
DESIGN
__________________________________________________

-- This machine has two pretty good toys - fat-boy and the magnet shack
-- Center magnet bashes are often annoyingly random, but they allow a workaround in code
-- The playfield has an original design and some cool shots - love the x-ball shot
-- The ramps have strange physics to them, which is really cool
-- The bumpers are interesting and accessible

__________________________________________________
THEME/LIGHTING/SOUND
__________________________________________________

-- I'm not a huge fan of licences, and this one is no exception. It is done well though
-- The animations of zombies getting killed never get old
-- Lighting is typical for this era of Stern: the bare minimum but functional
-- Sounds are good

__________________________________________________
GAMEPLAY
__________________________________________________

-- The rules on this game are strange at first, but different ends up being good
-- The focus on the drops is both good/bad
-- Newbs can smash the shack and fat boy and still have a decent experience
-- I enjoy smashing fat boy, but not the shack
-- It's tough to get going, but when you do, this game has great flow
-- Because of the tougher rules (modes), I find this to be a player's pin

__________________________________________________
CRITICISMS
__________________________________________________

-- Stern seems to have had an inconsistent run on this at the factory
-- If geometry is off at all on this game, it can suck big time. Bumper drains anyone?
-- Same goes for levelling - if it's off just a little, hello SDTM
-- The drops are hella-dangerous, which makes playing this on location less desirable
-- The shack malfunctions on quite a few machines
-- Half ramp SDTM is pretty common on the copies I've played

In the end, The Walking Dead would be a pretty good machine in a home environment as it is touchy with regard to setup. I've also found the copies to be inconsistent to the point of almost being different games, which reminds me of the occasional Addams Family. When I see this title on location, I usually pass unless I'm in the mood to get my ass kicked, sometimes fairly, others not so much.

Tranquilize edited previous rating on August 13, 2018.

8.236/10

6 months ago

BAD

Spiderpin

Pinside member

Tabb, VA

<1y 37,300 471 13 9

I owned this game over three years. About 5 code updates. I liked it at the start and it keeps getting better with every code update. I'll keep this pin. I put so color LED's (Green) for the walkers, (Red) for Blood Bath. To dress it up and make it easier to spot walkers. This is just a fun game.

Spiderpin edited previous rating on August 06, 2018.
Spiderpin currently owns this game.

9.744/10

7 months ago

EMB

wxforecaster

Pinside member

Pittsburgh, PA

5y 62,800 1,553 15 31

If you played the game initially and haven't lately, do so. The ruleset and coding updates have revolutionized this game. There are several Pinsiders which have contributed to ROM updates making for an AMAZING music/callout integration. That aside, this game has great shots that are difficult, yet rewarding. ColorDMD is a must given the awesome animations. While I'm not a fan of the crossbow in the premium/LE, there is a large scoring difference between the two games owing to the spinner contribution to switch-hit based modes as well as the lockdown button for cashing in "bombs". Replacing the stock lighting with reds/warm whites really makes a difference, and there are some phenomenal functional mods to integrate the TV show more into the playfield (tower, CDC ramp, prison, flame bulbed barn, etc).

wxforecaster currently owns this game.

6.954/10

7 months ago

W*W

Lawlor_and_Order

Pinside member

2y 67,400 21 85

The way I feel about this game has oddly mirrored the way I feel about the series that inspired it. At first, I was really interested in the premise and impressed with some of the odd twists. Then the structural flaws and lack of plot consistency started to get a little annoying, but still I came back for more because I was hooked on the characters. Then a certain sameness started to take over, and I got bored and just turned it off and didn't think in the end I had missed much.

In terms of the gameplay, this translates as follows. First off, I've never played a Walking Dead that didn't have some tuning or mechanical problem, usually relating to the barn magnet or the right outlane leading to too many drains not associated with player skill or lack thereof. The theme only follows the first three seasons of the show, and the modes seem to place outsize emphasis on parts of the show that weren't, in the end, that memorable. I love zombies, but I found "Scared Stiff" and "Monster Bash" a lot more campy fun for the monster hunt, and "Dracula" creepier as a pin.

The one thing that oddly the designers got right, IMHO, was the black and white stark color scheme in the artwork and design. This glare adds a little uneasiness, which reflects the theme well and adds a little player anxiety. That may not be the best formula for getting somebody to put more quarters in, of course, but it's a striking change from the usual incredibly overbusy splotches of vivid colors on Sterns.

And, the rules -- while somehow not terribly compelling -- at least make for a good tournament game, that is, if everything works.

6.352/10

7 months ago

LEW

sleepygtr

Pinside member

Hudson, OH

8y 33,650 75 9 20 2

Love the show and really want to like this game but the sewer zombie is just too damn big and the game is a not your fault drainer which I hate mainly because 30% of your shot area is consumed by the stupid bash toy…

8.505/10

8 months ago

MRB

XxindiCAddictxX

Pinside member

Fontana, CA

<1y 17,250 4 11

This game requires alot of nudging do to the poor layout ...you better hope the tilt control isn't sensitive!

XxindiCAddictxX edited previous rating on February 09, 2018.

7.972/10

10 months ago

PPD

Boat

Pinside member

Calgary, AB

2y 65,800 485 3 75

I really like the sounds and the theme. Most games played on this are alot of fun. Enjoy the bash toys and the magnet. Killing zombies is always a good time.

9.700/10

10 months ago

???

Rush2112

Pinside member

Dover, PA

4y 34,400 269 2 10 1

Though our entourage doesn't follow The Walking Dead episodes, this title/theme & gameplay is pinball at it's finest. Actually, this machine is quadruple AMAZING!!!
When approaching this machine, the challenging mode objectives coincide w/ The Horde (mini) wizard rule. In order to achieve horde, one must light all six weapon inserts to advance. Doing well is a must w/ Bloodbath, Well Walker, Bicycle Girl & The Modes to achieve one of the greatest most intense sub wizards of all time. Your excitement & adrenaline will surge w/ Horde achievement. But doing well throughout will be the challenge, as this machine is tough from beginning to end.
The modes are very well done in coalition w/ the dark theme. Barn, Riot, Arena, & CDC are all great in their own way, but Tunnel is another over the top thrill that separates & makes this machine shine!
Prison is another facet that will frustrate & fascinate w/ determination, but to totally complete is a long shot ~ S-O-O-O-O-O- Good Luck!
Well Walker is Multiball is definitely the easiest to accomplish of all the mini's & when stacked w/ Blood Bath, the entire playfield just explodes & lights up w/ anticipation.
I personally have not made it to Last Man Standing & to be honest, I really do not need to. Because to make this Saturn Planet Quest would be quite epic & extremely rare.
I need to emphasize that the theme induced ambiance & phenomenal gameplay make this title a winner! This incredible machine actually has my wife playing pinball. > What A Miracle!!!
As others have stated many times > Frustrating, Challenging, Difficult, etc.... But my personal spin on a typical gameplay experience is ~ This is a machine that will unconsciously force Mother Mary To Cuss!!!
Ball control & hitting your shots precisely is the only way to progress within reason. But to make each individual quest is another motivation to Keep Going.... As the silver ball goes, the question is > Will your Temper/Frustration overwhelm your conviction to progress further into this challenging pinball journey??? I wish you well in your pursuit YOUR pursuit of the perfect machine.

8.676/10

10 months ago

JIM

Tungs10

Pinside member

San Marcos, CA

1y 21,900 35 1 7

Tough game that just has you pressing start over and over to get further in it. Love this game.

Tungs10 currently owns this game.

4.633/10

11 months ago

STE

SDanowski2000

Pinside apprentice

Unknown

1y 14,250 1 6 8

I played this machine for about a half hour in Gatlinburg this summer. A half hour only because it was the only pinball in the arcade, else Id've only played it once. The constant 2-ball multiball is probably ok for the truly walking dead, though maybe you become the walking dead if you play this long enough. The ruleset became ruined by the fact that your turn is over when you lose just one of the 2 balls.

5 Pinsiders flagged this rating/review.

8.475/10

11 months ago

RAK

rkelley17

Pinside member

Jeffersonville, IN

7y 40,650 200 3 13

Love how intense this game is!!!

rkelley17 currently owns this game.

9.060/10

11 months ago

WWW

Shadrac

Pinside member

2y 36,300 244 3 19

Pros: Best code ever created for a pinball machine, great layout, hard game but very addictive.
Wizard modes are excellent, Horde is epic, and scoring on modes is very well implemented.
Animations are the best i seen on a dmd.
I love musics and callouts, and don't find them annoying like others pinsiders.
I think it's the best effort by Stern for now. Game is epic like LOTR but in a different way, you can play 5 short games and do nothing and play another and bam! Huge scoring and intensity like no others pins.
Many things to do, many ways to attack the game.
I think it's a masterpiece and one of the best pin for PLAYERS

Cons: stock lighting is too white, you have to change somes leds for more warm colors, red, yellow, orange.
The flow of the ball sometimes is not smooth a the ramps exits and the game is really too hard on stock settings.
The ball can spend too much time on the bumpers area, but it's not really important.

I really don't understand why this game have no better ratings, there's more collectors than players here.

Shadrac edited previous rating on May 19, 2018.
Shadrac has owned this game in the past.

7.161/10

1 year ago

ERC

Ericc123

Pinside member

Pittsburgh, PA

2y 66,400 703 5 16

So I played this game while on vacation for the first time. I found a bowling ally with TWD, GOT, and SM. First night I played all three, second night TWD and GOT, and on the third night I was all in on TWD. Most fun of the three by far. Admittedly not my favorite theme as I don't watch the show and am not a huge zombie fan, but it was just such a sweet shooting pin with a deep rule set that kept me coming back night after night. I can't stress how much I enjoyed playing it but I don't know that I'd ever own one.

8.400/10

1 year ago

SAG

pinballprincess

Pinside member

2y 30,050 54 15

Like the graphic novel and show it's themed after, The Walking Dead can be a brutal, intense game. No one shot can be called "safe" - a failed shot on the steep ramps can easily go screaming down the middle; the right orbit feed is highly variable, where the ball can drip out to aim perfectly, again, straight down the middle; the two main bash toys are precariously positioned to make every hit's rebound precarious. Furthermore, perhaps because they seem to be rather steep, the ramps have been responsible for some amazing airballs. I have seen a ball go flying up the right ramp, jump over to the descending habitrail of the left ramp, and make its way up that, around, and down the left ramp. The ball feels wild and is incredibly difficult to get under control.

That said, when you do manage to get control, the shots are incredibly satisfying to make. Hitting a shot repeatedly to progress a mode, because of the game's speed, is a rewarding experience with each success. The sound effects add drama to each shot, as well; hitting the Well Walker bash toy is all the more satisfying with the deep bass boom that accompanies each hit, for example. The prison toy can be frustrating, both due to the magnet which holds the ball when you start qualifying for Prison Multiball and the tendency of the prison toy to become unresponsive, but the multiball start sound animation is worth it.

The rules are not terribly complicated, and the multiballs are rather obvious, which makes this somewhat accessible to the novice player. However, the wildness of the ball makes this game rather difficult. It seems like an ideal game to practice nudging on, especially big nudges and slide saves, considering how frequently the ball goes towards the middle. This can be frustrating, but making a big save is rewarding, so a player with good recovery will have an advantage. (Then again, the lack of control could mostly be my play style, though it seems like every TWD I've played has some amount of the wildness to it for everyone.)

Overall, it's a fairly fun game.

7.076/10

1 year ago

BIL

KingBW

Pinside member

3y 76,650 1,493 59

I never watched the show (don't get that cable channel) so the theme and back story I don't follow in the game. However, they probably did a great job with theming. The artwork fits the theme. It seems like you just keep hitting the same targets/toys over and over again to get anywhere in the game. That is just it - most games are that way, but this one gets monotonous with that. I would play a few games on location every time, but I would not want to own it. The LE plays better than the pro because there is a little more action and a couple more things to shoot for.

9.080/10

1 year ago

STV

MrSerious

Pinside member

Kansas City, MO

1y 22,650 3 19

I have played the bejesus out of this game. It was the first pin that I really had to shake around to keep the ball in play, and boy do you have to shake it. The game is really difficult, but it keeps you coming back for more. If I were to purchase a machine, I might choose TWD. Its deep rule set and variety of strategies have yet to become tiresome for me, and I've dumped at least 50 hours into the thing. Which is to say that getting good at this pin is the equivalent of running with a backpack full of rocks. I've found other pins to be much more forgiving after spending a good deal of time with TWD.

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The Walking Dead (Pro) (Stern, 2014)

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Ranking history

Rating history

Found 165 ratings (with comment) on this game

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