Top 10 Best Pinball Machines to Buy Used

Buying a brand-new pinball machine has obvious advantages.

Everything is fresh, you get the warranty and nobody has had years to change, adjust or modify anything.

But buying used has one enormous advantage:

Somebody else has already done the hard part.

A machine that has been owned for a few years may already have had its common issues sorted, software updated, flippers adjusted and minor improvements installed. You can simply find a well-maintained home-use machine and start playing.

Or, for the more adventurous collector, you can go in the opposite direction and buy a machine that needs work and restore it yourself.

These are ten machines we think are particularly interesting to buy used.

1. Godzilla

Godzilla is a fantastic used purchase because the machine has already proven itself.

You know the game is excellent, the rules are mature and there is a huge amount of knowledge about maintaining and improving the machine.

You also have plenty of choice on the second-hand market, from lightly used Pros to heavily customised Premiums and LEs.

And because the machine is still desirable, it should remain relatively easy to sell later.

Our Godzilla Pinball Mods collection also gives used owners plenty of ways to make an older machine feel completely fresh again.

2. Iron Maiden: Legacy of the Beast

Iron Maiden is a particularly good example of why buying used can make sense.

The machine has been around long enough for owners to discover its little quirks and common fixes. Certain opto-related improvements and other small upgrades have become well known, so buying an older machine that already has them installed can save you some work.

More importantly, you're buying one of Keith Elwin's first great designs at a price that can be considerably more attractive than a new premium machine.

And because the game has such a strong visual identity, our Iron Maiden Pinball Mods are an easy way to make a well-used machine feel special again.

3. Deadpool

Deadpool is one of those machines that makes a lot of sense on the used market.

It's extremely fun, has mature software and has been owned by enough players that you can often find machines with useful upgrades already installed.

The Pro is particularly interesting if you want a relatively affordable entry into high-quality modern Stern pinball.

You are also buying a game with a very strong reputation and plenty of long-term appeal.

4. Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park has now been played and maintained by thousands of owners.

That matters.

Any little setup or maintenance questions that might have seemed mysterious when the machine was new have usually already been figured out by the community.

You're also getting one of Keith Elwin's most respected layouts, with mature code and a huge amount of information available for owners.

Our Jurassic Park Pinball Mods collection is another bonus for second-hand buyers: custom artwork can make a previously owned machine feel very different from the one you just bought.

5. Ghostbusters

Ghostbusters is a particularly interesting used purchase because it has developed a strong following despite being an older Stern.

It's no longer a machine you need to buy new to enjoy the complete experience. The software is mature, the game is well understood and there are plenty of owners with experience maintaining it.

And because the artwork is so distinctive, it responds beautifully to customisation.

Our Ghostbusters Pinball Mods can turn a well-used machine into something that looks much more personal.

6. Elvira's House of Horrors

Elvira's House of Horrors is another excellent candidate for the used market.

The Premium and special editions were expensive machines when new, and some collector versions remain highly desirable today. But the second-hand market gives you an opportunity to find a machine that already has years of ownership experience behind it.

That's particularly attractive if the previous owner has already installed upgrades and taken care of the little details.

And there is an enormous amount of custom artwork available. The Elvira House of Horrors Pinball Mods collection covers everything from WizBlades and WizPanels to WizDoors and WizWings.

7. The Lord of the Rings

This one is different.

You're not necessarily buying Lord of the Rings used because it's cheap.

You're buying it because a good used machine can be incredibly difficult to find, while a project machine can offer an alternative route into one of the greatest games ever made.

A beautiful, fully restored Lord of the Rings can be extremely expensive. But someone willing to do the restoration themselves may be able to build the machine gradually and end up with something exceptional.

And that's a big part of the fun of collecting.

Our Lord of the Rings Pinball Mods collection also gives restorers plenty of opportunities to personalise the finished machine.

8. The Sopranos

The Sopranos is exactly the sort of machine that makes sense as a used purchase.

It's old enough that the initial depreciation has already happened, but good examples still offer tremendous gameplay.

George Gomez's layout remains fast and enjoyable, the licence is superb and the original cast voices give the machine an atmosphere that newer games can't quite reproduce.

It's also one of those machines that is increasingly appreciated once people actually spend time playing it.

9. Transformers (2011)

The original Transformers is another excellent example of a machine that can be much more attractive used than new.

It's a mature Stern with a strong layout, two distinct sides of the playfield and a very different personality from most modern machines.

You can also find machines that have already had years of maintenance and tuning done by their owners.

And if you're buying one as a long-term project, there is plenty you can do with it afterwards. Our Transformers Pinball Mods collection covers the Pro and different LE versions.

10. Batman '66

Batman '66 is a great example of buying used for the collector experience.

The game is visually spectacular, exceptionally deep and no longer available as a new production machine.

Finding a well-maintained example gives you access to one of the most impressive modern pinball machines without having to wait for another production run that may never come.

And because the original artwork is already so strong, custom artwork can turn an excellent used machine into something genuinely spectacular.

Our Batman '66 Pinball Mods collection gives collectors plenty of options.

Buy Used or Buy a Project?

There are really two completely different ways to buy a used pinball machine.

The first is Home Use Only.

Find a machine in excellent condition, preferably with low plays and documented maintenance, and you may get a machine that is essentially ready to go.

The second is the restoration project.

That is where older or damaged machines can become extremely interesting. If you enjoy repairing, cleaning, adjusting and rebuilding machines, you can sometimes create something spectacular for considerably less than buying a perfectly restored example.

The important thing is knowing which type of buyer you are.

Why Used Can Be Better

A new machine is new.

A good used machine is experienced.

It's already been played, adjusted and tested. Any obvious weaknesses may already have been addressed, and the previous owner may have installed exactly the upgrades you would have bought yourself.

That doesn't mean every used machine is a bargain.

A neglected machine can become a money pit very quickly.

But a carefully chosen Home Use Only machine — or a restoration project bought at the right price — can be one of the smartest ways to enter pinball collecting.

And sometimes, the best pinball machine to buy used is simply the one that somebody else has already made perfect.