Top 10 Best Pinball Machines for Two Players

Pinball is usually a one-player game, but some machines become even more entertaining when two people are playing.

The best two-player pinball machines create competition, encourage different strategies and, most importantly, make you want to play again as soon as the other person finishes. And with some of the newest games, multiplayer pinball is becoming more interesting than ever.

Here are ten machines that are particularly fun when two players take on the same game.

1. TRANSFORMERS: More Than Meets the Eye

This one has to be at the top of the list.

The latest code for TRANSFORMERS: More Than Meets the Eye introduced something genuinely unusual: Optimus vs. Megatron Split Flipper Mode.

Instead of simply taking turns, both players are involved at the same time. One player controls the left flipper as Optimus Prime, while the other controls the right flipper as Megatron. The two players battle each other across timed rounds, creating a completely different kind of pinball experience.

It is competitive, chaotic and very easy to imagine becoming addictive once you have a friend standing beside you.

We recently looked at why Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye feels different, and this new mode is another excellent example of that philosophy.

And if you own one, you can take the visual side even further with our TRANSFORMERS: More Than Meets the Eye pinball mods.

2. Godzilla

Godzilla is fantastic for competitive two-player games.

There is always something happening, and players can approach the game in completely different ways. One player might concentrate on monsters and battles while another focuses on scoring opportunities and multiball.

That creates plenty of opportunities for one player to suddenly overtake the other.

It is also a machine that remains entertaining to watch, which is an underrated part of good two-player pinball. And naturally, our Godzilla pinball mods give owners plenty of ways to add even more character to the cabinet.

3. Pokémon

Pokémon is almost tailor-made for competitive games between friends.

The whole game revolves around collecting Pokémon, progressing through story modes, battling rivals and building towards bigger achievements. That gives two players plenty of different ways to attack the game.

One player might be focused on completing collections while the other is simply trying to put together the biggest score possible.

And because Pokémon is such a universally recognisable theme, it is also an excellent machine for introducing someone to modern pinball.

If you are looking at customisation, our Pokémon pinball mods bring a completely different level of artwork to the machine.

4. Sonic the Hedgehog

Sonic is a particularly fun choice if both players like fast pinball.

The game is built around movement, speed and constantly changing objectives, which makes it exciting even when you are watching someone else play.

The newer code has also added substantial new content, including the Master Emerald Mission and the seven Chaos Emerald powers, giving players even more to chase during a game.

That makes Sonic a great machine for two players who enjoy comparing how they approach the same objectives — and then immediately trying to beat each other's score.

And yes, it looks even better with the right Sonic pinball mods.

5. Deadpool

Deadpool is another machine that works brilliantly when two players are competing.

It is fast, funny and aggressive, with plenty of opportunities for a player to suddenly put together a big scoring run.

That is exactly what you want in a two-player machine: you should never feel completely safe just because you are ahead.

The result is the classic pinball experience of one player saying, “I've got this,” immediately followed by something going terribly wrong.

6. Iron Maiden: Legacy of the Beast

Iron Maiden is particularly good when two players have different levels of experience.

There is plenty of depth for an experienced player, but the game is also immediately exciting enough for someone who is still learning.

It is fast, visually spectacular and packed with objectives, so there is always something to chase.

And for owners who want the cabinet to look as impressive as the game plays, our Iron Maiden pinball mods add some serious custom artwork.

7. Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park is another excellent multiplayer machine because there are so many things competing for your attention.

Players can choose different approaches, chase different objectives and build their scores in very different ways.

Then there is the obvious advantage: dinosaurs.

A machine with a huge theme like Jurassic Park is particularly entertaining for two players because even when you are waiting for your turn, there is plenty to watch.

8. Fallout

Fallout is an interesting addition because it approaches pinball in a very different way.

Rather than simply throwing players into a series of disconnected scoring opportunities, the game encourages exploration and experimentation. The S.P.E.C.I.A.L. progression system also gives players another layer of development to chase across games.

That makes Fallout particularly interesting when two players have different ideas about how to approach the machine.

One player might concentrate on exploration and progression while the other goes straight after scoring opportunities.

We have already written about Fallout being one of the most original pinball machines in years, and its unusual design is exactly what makes it so interesting for multiplayer.

Of course, you can also give the cabinet some serious post-apocalyptic attitude with our Fallout pinball mods.

9. Avengers

Avengers is a great example of a machine that makes competitive games easy to understand.

The Marvel characters, objectives and different modes give both players plenty to chase, while the theme makes the machine immediately accessible even to someone who doesn't know much about pinball.

It is also the kind of game where a player can suddenly have an incredible ball and completely change the scoreboard.

That unpredictability is exactly what makes two-player pinball so much fun.

10. Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters rounds out the list with another machine that is incredibly easy to enjoy with two players.

It is fast, colourful and energetic, with enough depth to reward experienced players without making the game intimidating for newcomers.

The action also comes thick and fast, which means there is very little downtime between exciting moments.

For a casual game with a friend — especially when neither player wants to spend ten minutes explaining the rules — Foo Fighters is a great choice.

Why Two-Player Pinball Is So Much Fun

The best two-player pinball machines don't necessarily have the biggest rulesets.

What matters is interaction.

Sometimes that means directly battling your opponent, as with Transformers. Sometimes it means taking completely different approaches to the same game, as with Pokémon or Fallout. And sometimes it is simply the tension of watching someone build an enormous score while knowing that your turn is coming next.

That is what makes multiplayer pinball special.

And once you've found the machine that brings out your competitive side, adding some custom pinball mods from Wizard Mod is a pretty good way to make your machine stand out as much visually as it does on the scoreboard.