Bookmark These: The 50 Best Pinball Websites to Feed Your Growing Pinball Obsession
Pinball, that quintessential American pastime. There's just something about the combination of flashing lights, the sound of the silver ball bouncing off the bumpers, and the satisfying thunk of hitting a high score that makes it impossible to resist. It's the perfect blend of skill and luck, a game that requires quick reflexes and a steady hand. And let's not forget about the artistry of the machine itself - each one a unique and mesmerizing work of mechanical genius. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a newcomer to the scene, pinball is a timeless treasure that will never lose its appeal.
Pinball isn't just a game from your childhood, it's a goddamn modern gaming cultural phenomenon. The pinball community has never been bigger, with more and more people getting in on the action. And it's not just about playing, either - these days, you've got manufacturers cranking out new pinball machines left and right, a thriving competitive scene, a bustling market for parts and mods, and all sorts of news and commentary floating around. It's a scene that's alive and well, folks, and if you're not already a part of it, it's time to jump on board and see what all the fuss is about.
While the community may be thriving, let's be real - it ain't exactly the most welcoming place for outsiders, especially those with limited time. It's a goddamn mess out there, and if you're new to the scene or just don't have the time to sift through all the noise, good luck trying to find your way. But don't worry, we've got your back. We've put together a list of the best pinball websites on the internet, broken down into easy-to-digest categories. Whether you're looking to dive headfirst into the scene or just want to buy a shiny new machine, we've got you covered. And if a website happens to be killer in more than one category, we'll let you know with a little "also great" note.
The Best Pinball Websites
Alright, let's get down to business. These are the cream of the crop, the websites that every self-respecting pinball fan should have bookmarked. These are the places where the real enthusiasts hang out, chatting on giant community forums or reading up on the latest pinball news and happenings. These sites cover it all, from hardcore technical stuff to cool lifestyle content. If you're just getting into pinball, these are the places to start. Trust us, you won't be disappointed.
Pinside
Pinside, it's the goddamn hub of the pinball community. Yeah, it's not for everyone - it's got all the usual forum drama and moderation issues you'd expect from a place like this. But it's also got the biggest, most active community around, and for that reason alone, it's worth checking out. But it's not just about the forums - they've also got a ton of info on pinball machines, a directory of businesses, a marketplace for picking up used machines from other collectors, and all sorts of other useful stuff. It's a must-visit for any pinball enthusiast.
Nudge Magazine
Nudge Magazine, it's the new kid on the block, but damn if they haven't made a hell of an impression already. It's a lifestyle magazine for pinball nuts, with a fresh, outside perspective on the scene. It's got excellent photography, writing with a voice all its own, and an attitude that's sorely needed in the pinball community. Yeah, you can read it online, but if you really want to experience Nudge in all its glory, you gotta get your hands on a printed edition. Trust us, it's worth it. No wonder they've been such a hit with pinball fans.
This Week in Pinball
This Week in Pinball, it's been a fixture in the pinball world for years now, and for good reason. Every week, they bring you the latest and greatest from the pinball scene - new games, mods, production updates, coding stuff, you name it. They do some killer deep dives on new game releases, and they're also known for putting on the TWIPY Pinball Awards every year. If you're serious about pinball, this is a website you don't want to miss.
Tilt Forum
Tilt Forum, it's not as big or flashy as Pinside, but that's okay. They've got a different focus - this is where you go for in-depth discussions on the competitive side of pinball. Rules, tournament strategies, the latest in the pinball competition and event scene - it's all here. And if you're into the rulesets of newer games, particularly from Stern Pinball, Tilt is an invaluable resource. It's a smaller community, which means it's a little less toxic than some of the other forums out there. Definitely worth checking out if you're into the competitive side of pinball.
Reddit Pinball
If you're on Reddit (and let's face it, who isn't these days), you'll know exactly what to expect from their pinball sub-reddit. It's smaller than Pinside, but bigger than Tilt, and covers a lot of the same ground as Pinside. The vibe is a little more welcoming to newcomers and more conversational, as you'd expect from Reddit. Definitely worth a visit if you're into pinball and you're already on the site.
Knapp Arcade
Knapp Arcade, it's the personal website of Jason Knapp, and let me tell you, this guy has been making waves in the pinball community for years now. What started out as an Instagram account with some cool pics of pinball machines and arcades has turned into one of the top sources for breaking news and juicy rumors. His site is constantly being cited in podcasts and other groups as the go-to source for what's happening in the pinball world. If you want to stay on top of things in the pinball scene, you'd better pay a visit to Knapp Arcade.
Pinball News
Pinball News, it's been a mainstay of the pinball community for a long time (since 1999!), back when pinball was just a faint glimmer in the eye of modern culture. These guys have been around the block, they've seen some things. And they're exactly what you'd expect - a consistently updated resource for the latest and greatest in pinball news. Industry stuff, new game reviews, reports from pinball shows, info on where to play - it's all here. If you're looking for a comprehensive resource on what's happening in the pinball world, look no further than Pinball News.
Pinball Magazine
Pinball Magazine, it's got a monthly digital newsletter and they've been publishing online for years now. Yeah, they cover the usual pinball community and industry news, but what sets them apart is their printed editions. They don't put them out very often, but when they do, it's not just a magazine - it's a goddamn glossy book. They take their time with these things, but it's worth it, because the content is top-notch. Whether you're into the digital version or the physical form, Pinball Magazine is worth your time.
The Best Pinball Repair and Restoration Websites
The people who run these pinball repair and restoration sites (especially PinWiki and Pin Repair) are doing a goddamn service to the pinball community. These machines are a blast, but they break down all the time. And since a lot of them are decades old at this point, it'd be a real struggle for pinball enthusiasts if they didn't have these resources to turn to. Yeah, YouTube and Pinside have a ton of good stuff on this stuff too, but these websites are the real MVPs. Also included are a couple of great sites to turn to if you're in need of replacement or reproduction parts for your repair and restoration projects - things like playfields, backglasses and cabinet stenciling.
PinWiki
PinWiki, it's an incredible resource. I mean, it's got everything you need to know about owning a pinball machine - how to fix it, diagnose common problems, figure out what tools you need in your repair kit, the works. It's organized really well too, which is a godsend. This is the go-to resource for a lot of people in the community.
Pin Repair
Pin Repair, it's a lot like PinWiki, but with a focus on fixing and diagnosing issues with older pinball machines. You know, the electromechanical stuff and some of the early solid state machines. If you're into those old EM machines, Pin Repair is a goddamn lifesaver. Definitely worth checking out if you're into the maintenance and repair side of things.
Planetary Pinball
Planetary Pinball, they own some of the licenses for those old Bally/Williams game IPs, so they're a good place to go for official reproduction parts. But a lot of people in the pinball community use them for another reason - they've got a massive library of game manuals and parts catalogs. If you ever need to find a specific part number or look at an OEM diagram to figure out what the hell is going on with your game, this is the place to go.
Home Pinball Repair
Home Pinball Repair, it's another one of those comprehensive pinball repair resources. Yeah, it covers a lot of the same ground as Pin Repair and PinWiki, but these sites are few and far between, so we figured it's worth mentioning as many as we could. Home Pinball Repair has been around for over 20 years, so they've got a ton of experience and knowledge to share.
Classic Playfield Reproductions
Classic Playfield Reproductions, you might know them better as CPR. They're the go-to resource for high quality reproductions of pinball playfields, plastics, and backglasses. Yeah, they ain't cheap, but they're worth every penny. The pinball community, especially those of us who love the older machines, owe a lot to this company. They're helping keep some of these classic games alive. For those who are inclined, instead of trashing a beat-up roached out machine, they can get some of the most important parts as if they were new old stock to facilitate full or partial restorations of pins in distress.
Pinball Pimp
Pinball Pimp is a great complement to what Classic Playfield Reproductions is doing. They're all about fully authorized stenciling kits for classic pinball machines. These kits let you do full cabinet restorations, touch up any wood damage, and restore the beautiful artwork to practically original condition. Yeah, Pinball Pimp does a little restoration work and sells some mods here and there, but he's mostly known for those stencils in the community
Outside Edge Products
Outside Edge offers a unique and competitive alternative to CPR's full playfield reproductions. They make these things called pinball Hardtops, which are essentially thin plastic adhesive coverings for pinball playfields with officially licensed artwork. You strip down the playfield, sand off the original artwork, apply the hardtop, rebuild the machine, and boom - you've got a playfield that looks almost new. Yeah, there are some drawbacks, but it's a great option for those who don't want to do a full playfield swap or can't afford CPR's products.
Also great:
- Pinside
The Best Pinball Resource Websites
Pinball machines have a ton of data associated with them. From secondary market pricing to production details, it's a gaming historian's dream niche. There are several important resources in the hobby. Like many other categories on this list, the primary player is Pinside, but there are several others worth highlighting
Pinball Prices
Pinball Prices is a pinball website that's exactly what it sounds like. They track and log publicly available sales data for pinball machines on the secondary market. If you need to figure out how much a machine is worth, either one you own or one you're thinking of buying, this is a super helpful resource. Because they track data from other sites (like eBay) it's a little more comprehensive than what you might find on Pinside.
IPDB aka the Internet Pinball Database
This is like the IMDB for pinball machines. It's an exhaustive, ancient (in internet years, at least) database with detailed information on pretty much every pinball machine ever made - images, links to associated materials, the works. If you're into pinball, you don't want to miss this one. It's a goldmine of reference information and fun trivia.
OPDB aka the Open Pinball Database
The OPDB isn't quite as comprehensive or well known as IPDB, but it's still an important piece of digital infrastructure for those building digital products in the pinball community. IPDB is kind of closed off, but the OPDB is open source, so anyone can use and contribute to their extensive database of pinball machines.
Pinball Map
Pinball Map might have the highest utility value of any site on this list. It's a comprehensive, crowd-sourced database of every physical location in the United States (and some international markets) with pinball machines, including detailed breakdowns of the specific machines at each location and their condition. This site (and their app) keeps the community engaged with pinball operators and locations, which is invaluable.
Also great:
- Pinside
The Best Competitive and Tournament Pinball Websites
One of the things that keeps the pinball community alive is the competitive and tournament scene. Besides the hardcore collectors, it's one of the groups most responsible for keeping interest in pinball alive after the industry almost died out at the end of the 90s. If you're interested in the competitive side of pinball, these are the sites you need to know.
IFPA Official Website
The IFPA, the governing organization of competitive pinball, has the best website to learn about the rules of competitive pinball, see player rankings, and find upcoming tournaments near you. If you're interested in the competitive side of pinball, this is the place to start. They run a tight ship and keep things organized, so you don't want to miss out on what they have to offer.
Pinball Videos
The competitive pinball scene has a ton of great tournaments that get streamed to YouTube and Twitch. Pinball Videos is an ongoing archive of these tournaments, organized by tournament and by specific games. It's an amazing resource for anyone looking to study up on rules and gameplay strategies.
PinTips
PinTips is a crowd-sourced database of gameplay tips for specific pinball machines. It's a great resource if you're playing in a tournament and need a quick overview on how to approach a specific machine, or if you just want a refresher on your strategy.
Matchplay Events
Matchplay is the go-to pinball tournament software provider. Tournament organizers and players use this software frequently to manage their competitions. The development team behind Matchplay has been an incredible resource for the pinball community, and they also offer a helpful guide to some of the more popular tournament formats on their site.
Pinball Statistics
Pinball Statistics is a newer effort spearheaded by Tim Sexton, a game developer for Stern Pinball. Pinball Statistics focuses on statistical analysis of competitive play, including its own Pinball Power Rankings list for the current top players in the game. They also run a popular Fantasy Pinball game for some of the larger competitions, like INDISC.
Also great:
- Tilt Forum
The Best Websites for Buying Pinball Parts and Mods
The pinball community is full of people who create pinball parts and mods, from companies that specialize in replacement parts for common repairs to component upgrades and more. The creativity in pinball is reflected in the work of mod makers, who produce visually interesting or functionally useful improvements for new and old games. There are many great places to find pinball parts and mods, but these are some of our favorites.
Titan Pinball
Titan Pinball is known mostly for their line of upgraded silicone rubbers, which come in a variety of colors. They also sell other game accessories like LED lights and repair tools.
Pinball Life
Along with Marco Specialties, Pinball Life is one of the major sources for replacement parts for just about any pinball machine you can think of. They have a large selection and approachable site, and are generally just a pleasure to do business with.
Cointaker
Cointaker is one of the better known distributors in the pinball community, offering new machines for sale plus a large selection of mods.
Pinball Resource
Pinball Resource headed by the legendary Steve Young, is the best place to find parts for your Gottlieb pinball machines.
Marco Specialties
One of the best and largest pinball parts provider. They also sell new machines and accessories. Marco is known to be supportive of the pinball community broadly.
Comet Pinball
Comet Pinball is known for their line of replacement LED lights for pinball machines. Like others on this list, they are known to be very supportive of the pinball community and are very easy to work with. The go-to resource for LED lights.
Mezel Mods
Mezel Mods is one of the best known mod makers in all of pinball and offer a variety of cool mods for both new and old machines.
Lermods
Lermods is another well known mod-maker in the pinball community that specializes in playfield and lighting accessories for new and old games.
Pinball Monk
Pinball Monk makes their own line of pinball mods for games like Deadpool, Big Lebowski, and others.
Pinstadium
Pinstadium makes a unique line of playfield lighting mods that improve visibility of your game, add to the overall light show, and help illuminate the playfield for activities like streaming.
ColorDMD
Buy upgraded and replacement DMD screens through ColorDMD. This is a great vendor if you're looking to upgrade the display on your game.
The Pinball Scientist
The Pinball Scientist is a bit of a specialty player, focused on mods and other products for working with classic EM machines.
Also great:
- Pinside
The Best Websites for Buying Pinball Machines
When it comes to buying a new pinball machine online, these are some of the best places to start. It's not an exhaustive list by any means, but these are all reputable places with a strong digital presence and positive reputation in the community. Trust me, you don't want to end up with some sketchy pinball dealer - stick to these guys and you'll be good to go.
Flip n' Out Pinball
Flip n' Out Pinball is a very well known distributor in the pinball community with national reach. Headed by pinball influencer Zach Meny, Flip n' Out is associated with many of the top content creators in the space.
Little Shop of Games
Little Shop of Games is a longstanding distributor offering new and used machines, plus arcade games. Based in Florida, Little Shop of Games does offer shipping to other parts of the country.
Maine Home Recreation
Based out of Maine, Maine Home Recreation is a very reputable dealer that could be a good option for your pinball purchasing needs, particularly if you happen to live in the North East.
Also great:
- Pinside
- Cointaker
The Best Websites for Buying Pinball Merch & Accessories
Pinball isn't just a game, it's a lifestyle! And what's a lifestyle without some swag? These are some great places to find merch and creative accessories from your favorite podcasts and pinball companies. Buy a hoodie and a hat and become one with your inner pinball bro.
Silverball Swag
Silverball Swag is the go-to resource if you want some pinball themed merch or something with the logo of your favorite pinball creator. Find merch for notable creators like Wormhole Pinball, Triple Drain, The Wild Dog Arcade, and many others.
Lit Frames
Lit Frames offers a series of LED backlit frames designed to house pinball translites. These things look phenomenal in a game room or arcade.
The Stern Shop
Yep, we had to go there. The Stern Shop offers a huge selection of Stern branded goods, from pint glasses to puzzles. It can be a little expensive, but you gotta rep the brand of your favorite manufacturer, right?
Pinball Machine Manufacturer Websites
If you're going to be a serious pinball player, you should know the websites of the major active manufacturers. These are the guys who are making the games you'll be playing, so it's worth checking out their current and past offerings, and see what they're up to.
Stern Pinball
Jersey Jack Pinball
Chicago Gaming Company
Dutch Pinball
Spooky Pinball
American Pinball
Haggis Pinball
Pinball Brothers
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