What We Do in the Shadows
WantedFans keep asking for it. No machine has been announced.
#212of 1,162 on the Hype Index, our daily ranking of themes fans want as machines
Reader hype shows at 5 ratings · 4 so farPeak #29, Aug 2026
Rank updated Oct 10.
Vampire roommates and Staten Island chaos offer comedic multiball madness with coffin locks and familiar targets.
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What We Do in the Shadows has 4 ratings so far; its reader hype score shows at 5.
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About This Theme
What We Do in the Shadows pinball machine is a concept that has gained traction among pinball enthusiasts as a potential licensed theme based on the mockumentary horror comedy franchise. The property originated with a 2014 New Zealand film directed by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, which followed the mundane daily lives of vampire roommates living together in Wellington. The franchise expanded into a critically acclaimed FX television series that premiered in 2019, relocating the premise to Staten Island and running for six seasons. The show has won multiple Emmy Awards and developed a devoted cult following, with particular praise directed at its ensemble cast including Matt Berry, Kayvan Novak, Natasia Demetriou, Harvey Guillen, and Mark Proksch. The series has achieved significant cultural relevance through its blend of supernatural horror tropes with dry, character-driven comedy and its mockumentary format that parodies reality television conventions.
Pinball community discussions about What We Do in the Shadows as a potential machine theme have surfaced in online forums, with the concept receiving 34 mentions across enthusiast communities. Fans have specifically highlighted the appeal of Matt Berry's distinctive voice and comedic delivery as ideal for pinball callouts and narration, while others have noted the franchise's inherent compatibility with horror-themed pinball aesthetics. Some community members have expressed enthusiasm for the property's connection to Flight of the Conchords creators and its New Zealand comedy roots, though opinions differ on whether the television series or original film would provide better source material. Discussions have acknowledged both the natural thematic fit for a vampire-themed machine and questions about how the show's character-driven, dialogue-heavy comedy would translate to pinball gameplay mechanics.
The franchise offers substantial possibilities for pinball adaptation through its rich visual and audio elements. The mockumentary format provides extensive video content featuring the main cast, which could be integrated into display screens for modes and callouts. Character-specific gameplay mechanics could be built around each vampire's distinct personality traits and abilities, such as Nandor's warrior background, Laszlo's eccentric schemes, Nadja's seductive powers, Colin Robinson's energy-draining abilities as an energy vampire, and Guillermo's secret vampire-hunting skills. The show's memorable locations including the vampire residence, the Vampiric Council chamber, and various Staten Island settings could translate into playfield features and multiballs. The property's extensive catalogue of quotable dialogue and Matt Berry's theatrical vocal performances would provide abundant material for entertaining callouts, while the original score and licensed music from the series could create an atmospheric audio experience. Visual elements such as the show's period costumes, gothic aesthetics mixed with mundane modern settings, and recurring motifs like familiar transformations and supernatural creatures would offer distinctive playfield artwork and toy opportunities that could appeal to both fans of the franchise and pinball collectors seeking unique horror-comedy themed machines.
