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Original pinball journalism — game reveals, industry analysis, interviews, tutorials, and opinion from the Kineticist editorial team.

Staff Picks

The Best Pinball Websites to Feed Your Pinball Obsession

Ten Pinball Machines Even Weirder Than You

Pinball for Dummies

Volunteers Needed: Why You Should Volunteer as a Scorekeeper for a Pinball Tournament

Interviews

From Callbacks to Kickbacks: An Interview with Comedian Matt O'Brien

LA comedian Matt O'Brien on the pinball obsession that turned into viral videos — and got Stern to loan him a machine. Benjamin Plotkin met him at Walt's Bar to talk comedy, getting hooked on pinball, and the road to "getting good."

Benjamin Plotkin

July 14, 2026

News

A Dungeon Crawler Carl Pinball Launch Feels Imminent

The Dungeon Crawler Carl pinball teasers are escalating fast, from the book's own creative team, and a launch now looks like 2026. Here's who might be building it.

Colin Alsheimer·Jul 10, 2026

Staff Picks

The Best Pinball Websites to Feed Your Pinball Obsession

Ten Pinball Machines Even Weirder Than You

Pinball for Dummies

Volunteers Needed: Why You Should Volunteer as a Scorekeeper for a Pinball Tournament

Interviews

From Callbacks to Kickbacks: An Interview with Comedian Matt O'Brien

LA comedian Matt O'Brien on the pinball obsession that turned into viral videos — and got Stern to loan him a machine. Benjamin Plotkin met him at Walt's Bar to talk comedy, getting hooked on pinball, and the road to "getting good."

Benjamin Plotkin

July 14, 2026

News

A Dungeon Crawler Carl Pinball Launch Feels Imminent

The Dungeon Crawler Carl pinball teasers are escalating fast, from the book's own creative team, and a launch now looks like 2026. Here's who might be building it.

Colin Alsheimer·Jul 10, 2026

Pinball Tutorial

The Full Story of Williams’ Tales of the Arabian Nights Pinball

Learn how to play Williams' Tales of the Arabian Nights pinball in our detailed tutorial.

solar_espeon·Jul 8, 2026

Interviews

'Creators Gotta Create': James Cardona on the Business of Pinball 2.0 Kits

James Cardona of Cardona Pinball on the business of building officially licensed 2.0 upgrade kits for classic Bally/Williams machines.

Colin Alsheimer·Jul 7, 2026

The Score Card

The Score Card 16: Flipping Up North and a Super Showdown

On this edition of The Score Card, we're diving into a pair of competitions unlike any other: one that pulls hundreds of players to Alberta, Canada for a hefty amount of Match Play, as well as a brand new tournament on the Stern Pro Circuit that was held at the hottest new spot in Chicago, Illinois.

Matt Owen·Jun 30, 2026

Pinball Tutorial

Autobots, Transform and Roll Out!

Learn to play Stern Pinball's 2026 release, Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye in our latest tutorial.

Noah Crable·Jun 25, 2026

News

Slash Inducted Into the U.K. Pinball Hall of Fame

Slash enters the U.K. Pinball Hall of Fame. Hear from Chairman Gary Flower, and watch video from the award presentation.

Gary Flower·Jun 23, 2026

New Pinball

Jersey Jack Pinball Launches Sonic the Hedgehog

Jersey Jack launched Sonic the Hedgehog, and here's everything we know about the release so far!

Colin Alsheimer·Jun 23, 2026

News

First Full Image of Jersey Jack's Sonic the Hedgehog Pinball

Get a sneak peek of the full Sonic the Hedgehog game before its official release in a few hours.

Colin Alsheimer·Jun 23, 2026

Interviews

Getting Fren-dly With Pinball Frenzine

Bruce Sheldon self-publishes Pinball Frenzine, a low-tech DIY zine of handmade pinball rules guides. He talks origins, process, and what's next.

Benjamin Plotkin·Jun 17, 2026

News

Barrels of Fun Launches Barrels Reserve, a Collectors' Club That Guarantees a Shot at Every Game

Barrels of Fun's new $75-a-year Barrels Reserve club gives members a guaranteed second week to buy any machine that sells out in its first seven days.

Colin Alsheimer·Jun 16, 2026

The Score Card

The Score Card 15: IFPA21 World Championship

On this special edition of The Score Card, we're taking a quick dive into IFPA21, tracking the close calls, surprise finishes, and of course, this year's big winner.

Matt Owen·Jun 16, 2026

News

Pedretti Gaming Launches Tales of the Arabian Nights Remake

Pedretti's second Bally/Williams remake is official — a $10,999 Legacy Edition and a strictly-399 $11,999 30th Anniversary Edition with all-new Brian Allen art. Here's the pricing, the editions, and what's changed.

Colin Alsheimer·Jun 15, 2026

Interviews

Hilton Jones Talks Pinball Design and Building an Indie Arcade Game

Hilton Jones has worn just about every hat in pinball: collector, competitor, and the longest-running operator in Madison, WI. He helped write the rules for Spooky's Evil Dead and Texas Chainsaw Massacre, then built his own arcade game, Aliens of Destruction, which won Best New Arcade Game at Midwest Gaming Classic 2026. Matt Owen talks shop with him about operating, ruleset design, and indie arcade games.

Matt Owen·Jun 12, 2026

Pinball Tutorial

Kick Off the Summer with Bally’s World Cup Soccer Pinball

Get ready for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup with our expert guide to Bally's 1994 classic, World Cup Soccer.

solar_espeon·Jun 10, 2026

Interviews

Meet Daniel, the Australian Maker Bringing Space Cadet Pinball Into the Real World

The Windows 3D Space Cadet table that raised a generation is getting a real, physical build — from a maker who'd barely touched a pinball machine before. Chris Krentz talked to CNCDan about printing nearly every part himself, the skepticism his 3D-printed flipper "rubber" drew online, and how his layout stacks up against Deeproot's abandoned Space Cadet prototype.

Chris Krentz·Jun 2, 2026

Pinball

Top Ten: The Best Pinball Video Modes of the 90s

After considering which video modes were the worst efforts of the 90s in a previous list, it’s time to flip the script with our look at the best video modes of the 1990s.

solar_espeon·Jun 1, 2026

Nutter's Pinball Restoration Spotlight

Nutter’s Pinball Restoration Spotlight: Rush Fan Pinball

Meet Sam, the man behind the popular restoration YouTube channel Rush Fan Pinball. Learn about his introduction to pinball, restoration philosophy, and more!

Michael Swanson·May 27, 2026

News

Transformers by Stern Pinball: A WAR Under Glass

Impressions of Transformers: More than Meets the Eye from Stern's Media Day.

James Fremont·May 23, 2026

Interviews

On Location: Meet the Team Behind Capital Pinball in New Hampshire, Plus an Intro to Arcade Hunters

Chatting with the founders of Capital Pinball in Concord, New Hampshire, about starting up a local pinball-focused community space, plus an intro to new contributors, Gerard and Nick from Arcade Hunters.

Arcade Hunters·May 21, 2026

Pinball News

Latest Pinball News & Articles

Pinball News

Latest Pinball News & Articles

Staff Picks

The Best Pinball Websites to Feed Your Pinball Obsession

Ten Pinball Machines Even Weirder Than You

Pinball for Dummies

Volunteers Needed: Why You Should Volunteer as a Scorekeeper for a Pinball Tournament

From Callbacks to Kickbacks: An Interview with Comedian Matt O'Brien

A Dungeon Crawler Carl Pinball Launch Feels Imminent

Staff Picks

The Best Pinball Websites to Feed Your Pinball Obsession

Ten Pinball Machines Even Weirder Than You

Pinball for Dummies

Volunteers Needed: Why You Should Volunteer as a Scorekeeper for a Pinball Tournament

From Callbacks to Kickbacks: An Interview with Comedian Matt O'Brien

A Dungeon Crawler Carl Pinball Launch Feels Imminent

The Full Story of Williams’ Tales of the Arabian Nights Pinball

'Creators Gotta Create': James Cardona on the Business of Pinball 2.0 Kits

The Score Card 16: Flipping Up North and a Super Showdown

Autobots, Transform and Roll Out!

Slash Inducted Into the U.K. Pinball Hall of Fame

Jersey Jack Pinball Launches Sonic the Hedgehog

First Full Image of Jersey Jack's Sonic the Hedgehog Pinball

Getting Fren-dly With Pinball Frenzine

Barrels of Fun Launches Barrels Reserve, a Collectors' Club That Guarantees a Shot at Every Game

The Score Card 15: IFPA21 World Championship

Pedretti Gaming Launches Tales of the Arabian Nights Remake

Hilton Jones Talks Pinball Design and Building an Indie Arcade Game

Kick Off the Summer with Bally’s World Cup Soccer Pinball

Meet Daniel, the Australian Maker Bringing Space Cadet Pinball Into the Real World

Top Ten: The Best Pinball Video Modes of the 90s

Nutter’s Pinball Restoration Spotlight: Rush Fan Pinball

Transformers by Stern Pinball: A WAR Under Glass

On Location: Meet the Team Behind Capital Pinball in New Hampshire, Plus an Intro to Arcade Hunters