Godzilla vs King Kong: The Ultimate Pinball Monster Clash

Two Titans. Two Masterpieces. One Impossible Choice.

For more than fifty years, Godzilla and King Kong have battled for the title of cinema's greatest monster.

Their rivalry began with the Japanese film King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962) before returning in Legendary Pictures' Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024).

Today, that rivalry continues in the pinball world.

Designed by Keith Elwin, both machines are widely considered among Stern's greatest modern games. They share incredible gameplay, breathtaking artwork and endless replay value—but each approaches pinball in a completely different way.

If you'd like to learn more about the designer behind both machines, don't miss our Keith Elwin Pinball Designer article.

The Layout Battle

Although both games were designed by Keith Elwin, they couldn't feel more different.

Godzilla revolves around its famous upper-left flipper, opening up flowing combo opportunities and creating one of the most satisfying layouts ever designed. Every shot naturally feeds into the next, making the machine approachable while still rewarding incredible precision.

King Kong, on the other hand, pushes the concept even further.

With four flippers, including a dominant upper-right flipper and a smaller flipper on the opposite side, the game constantly asks players to think differently. It feels fresh, original and unlike almost anything else in modern pinball.

Rather than competing, the two layouts almost complement one another, showing Keith Elwin's incredible versatility as a designer.

Artwork Worth Extending

Both machines feature spectacular factory artwork packed with colour, movement and destruction.

That's exactly why they respond so well to custom pinball mods.

Our Godzilla Premium WizPanels extend the original artwork beautifully across the speaker panel, while the King Kong Premium WizPanels continue Kong's dramatic jungle scenes and create one of our favourite front-of-machine transformations.

Choosing between them isn't easy.

They're two completely different artistic styles, each perfectly matching its own machine.

WizBlades: Destruction Beyond the Playfield

Inside the cabinet, the battle continues.

Our Godzilla WizBlades surround the playfield with explosions, city destruction and vibrant colours that perfectly match the game's incredible energy.

Meanwhile, the King Kong WizBlades extend Skull Island's dramatic scenery, making the machine feel even larger and more immersive.

Both sets transform the player's view every time the ball enters the cabinet.

The real winner simply depends on which monster you want standing beside your flippers.

Insider Connected... or Hidden?

Interestingly, Godzilla also marked an important moment in Stern history.

It was one of the first machines to introduce Insider Connected, bringing player profiles, achievements and online features to modern Stern pinball.

For collectors who prefer a cleaner look while still keeping Insider Connected fully functional, our Godzilla 70th Anniversary Insider Cut Out WizAprons feature an Insider Cut version designed specifically for this purpose.

The same approach is available on King Kong Premium/LE WizAprons, allowing owners of either machine to keep the scanner visible while replacing the factory apron artwork with something much more immersive.

A Shared History

Although today's Stern machines are the most famous versions, neither monster is completely new to pinball.

Sega released a Godzilla machine in the late 1990s based on the American film.

King Kong almost reached pinball too.

During the late Data East era, prototype artwork was produced for a planned King Kong machine that never entered production. Interestingly, part of that original lower playfield artwork inspired the final design of Stern's modern King Kong, creating a subtle connection between a machine that never existed and one that finally became reality decades later.

Which Monster Wins?

That's the impossible question.

Godzilla offers one of the smoothest and most perfectly balanced layouts ever created.

King Kong introduces bold new ideas with four flippers, fresh shot geometry and a completely different rhythm.

Both are masterpieces.

Both feature incredible artwork.

Both are among the finest examples of Keith Elwin's work.

Whether you're upgrading your Best Godzilla Pinball Mods collection or exploring our Best King Kong Pinball Mods, one thing is certain:

The greatest monster battle in cinema has become one of the greatest rivalries in modern pinball.

So...

Which monster wins on your playfield?