Top 5 Pinball Machines of 2026 - Who Will Rise to the Top?

Let's make one thing clear before we start: this is just for fun.

It is far too early to seriously rank the new pinball machines of 2026. Their software is still evolving, and judging a modern pinball machine before its ruleset is finished is a little like reviewing half a video game.

So this isn't a definitive ranking.

Instead, let's imagine that all five machines eventually receive the kind of spectacular code they appear capable of delivering. Based on what we've seen so far — the layouts, the themes, the gameplay concepts and the direction of their software — how would we rank them if everything comes together?

And honestly, this might be one of the hardest Top 5 lists we've ever made.

Because we could quite happily put all five at number one.

1. Fallout — The Wild Card

Fallout takes the top spot in our completely unofficial 2026 prediction.

Why?

Because it feels like one of the most original new pinball machines we've seen in a long time.

Keith Elwin has once again taken a very different approach to layout design, with unusual shot geometry, unconventional gameplay areas and features that make the machine feel less predictable than a traditional modern pinball layout.

But the really exciting part is what happens when you combine that hardware with a deep ruleset.

Fallout already has an enormous universe to work with, and the machine's design seems to encourage exploration rather than simply following one obvious path. If the software continues developing in the right direction, the combination could become something genuinely special.

We've already written about why Fallout feels so original, and our Best Fallout Pinball Mods collection is already available for collectors who want to take the artwork even further.

Our completely speculative prediction: #1.

2. Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye — The Deep Dive

If Fallout is the wild card, Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye is the machine that could easily steal the top spot.

The reason is simple: the software already looks remarkably ambitious.

The game has missions, characters, combinations, multiballs and progression systems — and the latest Prime Training update adds an entire practice environment with skill drills, mission preparation and multiball training.

That's a lot of depth for a machine that is still receiving major code updates.

We've already looked at Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye in detail, and the machine's combination of flow, accuracy and progression makes it very easy to imagine the ruleset becoming one of the defining features of the game.

And if the code keeps expanding at this pace?

This could become an extremely difficult machine to move down the list.

Our Transformers MTMTE Pinball Mods are already available for collectors who want to extend that G1 artwork throughout the cabinet.

3. Sonic — Speed, Chaos and Emeralds

Sonic the Hedgehog takes third place in our imaginary ranking, although this is another machine that could easily move upwards.

Everything about Sonic is built around speed.

The machine has the visual language of the games, the Zones, Rings, Chaos Emeralds, Dr. Eggman and a huge upper playfield designed to keep the ball moving.

It's a completely different philosophy from Transformers.

Where Transformers feels more like an adventure that you gradually learn, Sonic wants to throw you into the action immediately.

That's exactly why the final code will matter so much. The hardware already gives Sonic an enormous amount to work with. If the rules eventually turn all those elements into a genuinely deep progression system, this could become one of the most replayable machines of the year.

We've also explored Sonic vs. Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye, because the two machines are fascinating precisely because they take such different approaches to modern pinball.

And, naturally, we've got Sonic Pinball Mods to match the machine's colourful visual style.

4. Pokémon — An Almost Infinite Toolbox

Putting Pokémon fourth feels almost unfair.

This is probably the machine on the list with the biggest amount of potential material for future software.

The Pokémon universe is enormous, and the current code is already expanding the collection and progression systems. Version 0.86 added 31 Pokémon, new modes and the ability to view your Pokémon Collection and earn Achievements through Insider Connected.

That gives Stern an enormous amount of room to keep building.

And that's exactly why we're putting Pokémon fourth for now.

It isn't because we think the machine lacks potential. Quite the opposite. We're basically betting that its future code could completely change where it belongs on this list.

If you're already building your Pokémon machine, you can explore our Pokémon Pinball Mods, including custom artwork for several areas of the machine.

5. Bon Jovi — Still Too Early to Call

And finally, Bon Jovi.

This might be the most difficult machine on the list to rank because there simply hasn't been enough time yet.

Barrels of Fun has brought its own visual and design identity to the machine, and the combination of music, artwork and gameplay gives it plenty of potential.

But this is exactly where the disclaimer at the beginning becomes important.

We don't know what the finished Bon Jovi ruleset will look like.

So putting it fifth isn't saying that it will ultimately be the fifth-best machine.

It's simply our September 2026 guess.

Give it more time, more code and more games played, and this entire ranking could look completely different.

The Impossible Part of This Top 5

The funny thing is that we genuinely don't want to put any of these machines in fifth.

Fallout has the originality.

Transformers has the depth and progression.

Sonic has the speed and spectacle.

Pokémon has an almost unlimited universe to explore.

Bon Jovi has an entirely different kind of personality and presentation.

And that's why this is only a game.

We're basically asking:

If everything goes right, where could these machines end up?

Maybe our order will turn out to be completely wrong.

Maybe Pokémon's future code will transform the game. Maybe Transformers will become even deeper. Maybe Sonic will turn out to be one of the most addictive games of the year. Maybe Bon Jovi will surprise everyone.

Or maybe Fallout really will end up being the machine that everyone remembers from 2026.

For now, we'll stick our necks out and make the prediction: Fallout, Transformers, Sonic, Pokémon, Bon Jovi.

Ask us again when the codes are finished.