KISS

Name: KISS
Brand: Stern Pinball Inc.

Updated October 2026

Stern Pinball Inc.2015|Pinside IPDB

94/100

Fun Score · from 4 ratings

Ratings

172

On Location

Ranked #82 of all time · ranking score 77.6 · See the list

1 play

Game Info

The KISS pinball machine by Stern, released in 2015, offers an immersive experience that captures the excitement of a live KISS concert. The game features a vibrant playfield adorned with ramps, targets, and LED lighting, all themed around the iconic rock band. Unique gameplay elements include the "Demon" head for multiball modes and the "KISS Army" drop targets which trigger various bonuses. The machine incorporates 10 classic KISS songs, custom speech from band members, and high-fidelity audio to enhance the rock-and-roll atmosphere.

Game type: Solid State

Display type: DMD

Players: 4

MPU: Stern SPIKE System

Tags:Celebrity,2010s,Licensed,Solid State,Music

Editions

Edition	Year	MSRP	Model
Premium Pinside	2015	$7,595	PINBALL I-00H3
Pro Pinside	2015	$5,995	PINBALL I-00H1
LE Pinside	2015	$8,795	PINBALL I-00H2

Game Info

Design Team

Design: John Borg
Art: Kevin O'Connor
Software: Waison Cheng, Tanio Klyce, Mike Kyzivat, Lonnie D. Ropp, Jack Benson
Mechanics: Robert Blakeman
Animation: Zac Stark, Chuck Ernst, Mark Galvez
Sound: Bob Baffy

Design Team

How to Play

Kineticist tutorial

Modern Kiss: Learn to Play Stern’s 2015 Refresh of the Classic Kiss Table

Learn how to play Stern's 2015 release, Kiss pinball.

Read our full tutorial

Prefer a rulesheet?Pinball Rule Sheets (opens in a new tab)

Keys to the Game

Choose a mode at the start of your ball - modes are untimed shot sequences which run until complete. New modes are started at the scoop.
- Most modes are comparable in difficulty - Deuce is usually the first mode players choose (shots move from left to right), followed by Lick It Up or Shout It Out Loud. The only unusual modes are Black Diamond (one shot lit, bumpers move lit shot) and Detroit Rock City (all shots lit, leftmost shot worth double).
Completing any mode doubles all scoring for the remainder of the ball. Completing a second mode in the same ball triples all scoring, another mode quintuples it, and a fourth gives 10X playfield.
- Beating modes is the most important part of high scores on Kiss. Reaching 5X or 10X playfield in a game assures victory against anyone who is unable to do the same. A great ball will almost always beat a good game.
- If you have no mode running, starting a new one at the scoop should always be your top priority. Similarly, if you’re close to finishing your current mode, consider finishing it and starting a new one before starting a multiball. More modes completed will mean more points for you!
All shots made as combos are worth double. Given how easy the center ramp is, any left-flipper shot you want should be preceded with a center ramp for maximum value.
There are two major multiballs:
- Love Gun is lit by shooting STAR over and over, started at the left ramp. During Love Gun, all shots are lit for jackpots, except each jackpot must be collected twice in a row.
- Demon Multiball is lit by locking three balls in Gene Simmons, lock is lit by hitting the targets surrounding the shot’s entrance. All shots are lit for two jackpots a piece; collect enough jackpots for supers. You can lock balls in the Demon during this multiball for a brief 2X or 3X playfield multiplier (additive with the mode completion multiplier).
- Love Gun is easier to start and has much higher potential, but is substantially harder to play out and pretty worthless if you don’t get far. Demon is trickier to start, but will be better than Love Gun on average.
Completing the grid in the center of the table lights Heaven’s On Fire, a mini-wizard mode worth a substantial number of points. Complete the grid by completing the two target banks (KISS and ARMY), advancing all four bumpers (shoot right orbit), and collecting all four instruments (lit at various shots by shooting right ramp).
- In practice, the instruments are the only element which requires intent; everything else tends to just complete itself. Figuring out where the right ramp is will give you access to this very lucrative feature!
Completing KISS or ARMY also starts a hurry-up at the left orbit and center ramp, respectively. The hurry-ups aren’t too valuable, but collecting both will light a permanent shot multiplier at whichever shot you hit next.
Completing KISS and ARMY will light “Backstage Pass,” a mystery award at the scoop. This is an add-a-ball during multiball, but during single-ball play can award lucrative Super Scoring features.

Video tutorial

How to Play

Where to Play

On the floor at 172 locations · 102 in our directory

Pinball Hall of FameLas Vegas, NV Pinball PerfectionWestview, PA Next Level Pinball MuseumHillsboro, OR Game GalaxySmyrna, TN The Pinball PalaceBrunswick, GA

See all 102 in our directory

Where to Play

Documentation

KISS (Premium)

KISS Premium Service and Operation Manualpdf8.6 MB
August 2015 edition, longest at 52 pages
3 downloads

KISS (Pro)

KISS Pro Service and Operation Manualpdf6.7 MB
July 2015 edition, shortest at 46 pages
3 downloads

KISS (LE)

KISS LE Service and Operation Manualpdf7.3 MB
August 2015 edition, 50 pages
3 downloads
Model Comparison Chart (Pro, Premium, Limited Edition)pdf132 KB
Check-mark grid of lighting, art and hardware features

Documentation

Mods & Toppers

PINBLASTER for Stern SPIKE 1 & 2

Mod$199.95

Mods & Toppers

Takes

No takes yet. Be the first.

Community Photos

Flyers & Promo Media

Featured Videos

Stern Pinball: Making of Kiss Pinball 2015

Articles

Modern Kiss: Learn to Play Stern’s 2015 Refresh of the Classic Kiss Table

Learn how to play Stern's 2015 release, Kiss pinball.

Feb 12, 2025

Mentioned in

Stern Pinball Inc.Manufacturer11y ago

Mentioned in

More From This Manufacturer

Choose a mode at the start of your ball - modes are untimed shot sequences which run until complete. New modes are started at the scoop.
- Most modes are comparable in difficulty - Deuce is usually the first mode players choose (shots move from left to right), followed by Lick It Up or Shout It Out Loud. The only unusual modes are Black Diamond (one shot lit, bumpers move lit shot) and Detroit Rock City (all shots lit, leftmost shot worth double).
Completing any mode doubles all scoring for the remainder of the ball. Completing a second mode in the same ball triples all scoring, another mode quintuples it, and a fourth gives 10X playfield.
- Beating modes is the most important part of high scores on Kiss. Reaching 5X or 10X playfield in a game assures victory against anyone who is unable to do the same. A great ball will almost always beat a good game.
- If you have no mode running, starting a new one at the scoop should always be your top priority. Similarly, if you’re close to finishing your current mode, consider finishing it and starting a new one before starting a multiball. More modes completed will mean more points for you!
All shots made as combos are worth double. Given how easy the center ramp is, any left-flipper shot you want should be preceded with a center ramp for maximum value.
There are two major multiballs:
- Love Gun is lit by shooting STAR over and over, started at the left ramp. During Love Gun, all shots are lit for jackpots, except each jackpot must be collected twice in a row.
- Demon Multiball is lit by locking three balls in Gene Simmons, lock is lit by hitting the targets surrounding the shot’s entrance. All shots are lit for two jackpots a piece; collect enough jackpots for supers. You can lock balls in the Demon during this multiball for a brief 2X or 3X playfield multiplier (additive with the mode completion multiplier).
- Love Gun is easier to start and has much higher potential, but is substantially harder to play out and pretty worthless if you don’t get far. Demon is trickier to start, but will be better than Love Gun on average.
Completing the grid in the center of the table lights Heaven’s On Fire, a mini-wizard mode worth a substantial number of points. Complete the grid by completing the two target banks (KISS and ARMY), advancing all four bumpers (shoot right orbit), and collecting all four instruments (lit at various shots by shooting right ramp).
- In practice, the instruments are the only element which requires intent; everything else tends to just complete itself. Figuring out where the right ramp is will give you access to this very lucrative feature!
Completing KISS or ARMY also starts a hurry-up at the left orbit and center ramp, respectively. The hurry-ups aren’t too valuable, but collecting both will light a permanent shot multiplier at whichever shot you hit next.
Completing KISS and ARMY will light “Backstage Pass,” a mystery award at the scoop. This is an add-a-ball during multiball, but during single-ball play can award lucrative Super Scoring features.

KISS