Which Modern Pinball Machine Will Become the Next Classic?

Pinball has always had its classics.

Machines like The Addams Family, Medieval Madness, Attack from Mars and The Lord of the Rings have survived decades because players never stopped wanting to play them.

But what about the modern era?

Which machines released in the last few years will still be talked about twenty years from now?

It is impossible to know for certain, but some games are already making a very strong case.

Godzilla

If we had to pick one machine as the safest bet, it would be Godzilla.

Released in 2021 and designed by Keith Elwin, Godzilla brought together almost everything modern pinball does well: an outstanding layout, deep rules, spectacular toys, great flow and an instantly recognisable theme.

The machine is already ranked at the very top of most of the pinball charts, with thousands of player ratings, which is an extraordinary position for a game only a few years old.

The interesting question may not be whether Godzilla becomes a classic, but how high it eventually ranks among the classics.

Our Godzilla Pinball Mods are designed for a machine that already has a huge visual presence.

JAWS

JAWS might be the most obvious successor to Godzilla.

Another Keith Elwin design, it takes a completely different theme and creates an equally distinctive playing experience.

The shark mechanism, boat, upper playfield and unusual shots give the machine an identity that is difficult to confuse with anything else.

It is already extremely highly regarded by players, and current rankings put it among the very best modern machines.

Years from now, JAWS could easily be remembered as one of the defining machines of this generation.

You can see our JAWS Pinball Mods for ideas on taking the visual side even further.

Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park has something that every future classic needs: longevity.

Released in 2019, it has already had several years to prove that its gameplay holds up. The layout is challenging, the rules have enormous depth and the dinosaur theme gives the machine a timeless visual identity.

It is also one of the games that established Keith Elwin as one of the defining designers of modern pinball.

Our Best Jurassic Park Pinball Mods looks at how owners are customising one of the most popular machines of the modern era.

Iron Maiden: Legacy of the Beast

Iron Maiden is another very strong candidate.

Elwin's first Stern game from 2018 combines an unusual, highly memorable layout with incredible music and some of the strongest artwork ever seen on a modern Stern.

It has also aged exceptionally well. Players who bought one years ago are still talking about it, playing it and improving their skills on it.

That is exactly what you want from a future classic.

Our Best Iron Maiden Pinball Mods shows just how much visual personality the machine has.

Harry

Harry Potter is the wildcard on this list.

Jersey Jack Pinball's 2025 machine is still very new, but its early reception has been remarkably strong. Although it is worth remembering that newer machines naturally have fewer years of history behind them.

The combination of an enormous worldwide theme, Jersey Jack's hardware and a deep modern ruleset gives it everything needed to become a collector favourite.

The real test will be whether players are still talking about it a decade from now.

Deadpool

Deadpool is perhaps the least obvious choice here, but it has one of the things that future classics need most: people genuinely enjoy playing it.

Released in 2018, it has developed a reputation for fast gameplay, humour, great shots and excellent flow.

It also continues to appear very high on modern-machine popularity lists, with more than 1,000 tracked locations in 2026.

That kind of longevity matters.

The New Machines: Too Early to Know

Then there is the newest generation.

Pokémon, Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye, Sonic the Hedgehog, Fallout and Bon Jovi are all too new for anyone to seriously call them future classics yet.

Pokémon launched in early 2026, followed by Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye in May, Sonic from Jersey Jack in June, Bon Jovi in July and Fallout in September.

But that doesn't mean they should be ignored.

Pokémon already has an enormous audience and is one of the most widely placed new machines. Transformers has one of the strongest licences in pinball history, while Sonic brings Jersey Jack's hardware and design approach to another huge gaming franchise. Fallout is one of the most anticipated new Stern machines of 2026, and Bon Jovi gives Barrels of Fun another major music-themed machine with serious collector potential.

It is simply too early to know which of them will still be considered exceptional years from now.

And that is what makes this period of modern pinball so exciting.

We are watching the next generation of classics being created right now.