Pinball Expo 2024 brought manufacturers, operators, collectors and home players together in Chicago. The event leaned towards the residential market, but its expanded show floor still offered plenty for commercial arcade professionals to examine.
This was my first time attending the Expo in person. My time on the floor was limited because I was there on behalf of Alan-1, which was exhibiting Asteroids Recharged. AVS Companies and Bandai Namco also had booths, although both were concentrating on home products.
A charity display of Pinball Cups was among the early highlights. Several panels covered pinball development, business and related topics, while the Free Play Zone provided a welcome opportunity to play without sales pressure.
There were people I missed during the event, and the show deserved more time than I could give it. The following is a manufacturer-by-manufacturer look at the games that stood out.
Stern Pinball
Stern Pinball occupied an unusually large space, roughly two to three times the size of the company’s typical commercial-show footprint. Almost every production title was available to play: The Uncanny X-Men, John Wick, JAWS, James Bond 007, Venom, Deadpool and Star Wars.
Metallica Remastered was also present, but only on the final day, after I had left. The clear centrepiece was The Uncanny X-Men, with multiple machines available and a particularly striking themed “cave” installation.
I enjoyed The Uncanny X-Men. The offset flippers looked as though they might take time to master, but the adjustment was straightforward. I also did not notice a dramatic difference in overall feel between the Pro and Premium versions.
A factory tour was available from Stern, although I did not visit the facility. I instead spent that time visiting Raw Thrills. Hopefully Metallica Remastered would be available to play at IAAPA 2024.
Jersey Jack Pinball
Jersey Jack Pinball also expanded its booth substantially. The company’s main attraction was AVATAR: The Way of Water, represented by several playable machines and a pair of Collector’s Edition models positioned beneath a tent.
The rest of the line-up included Elton John, Toy Story 4, The Godfather and Guns N’ Roses. Steve Ritchie was present, although I did not speak with him. I did not manage to play AVATAR: the machine in the Free Play Zone was not fully operational when I visited. It looked vibrant and inviting, so IAAPA was the next opportunity to try it.
American Pinball
American Pinball had more floor space than I had previously seen from the company. There was no entirely new title on display, but the larger presentation made it easier to revisit games that some visitors may have missed.
The selection included Barry O’s Barbeque Challenge, Galactic Tank Force in its enclosed tank configuration, Legends of Valhalla, Hot Wheels and Houdini. Oktoberfest was not visible. American Pinball was scheduled for IAAPA, although a new-game unveiling there seemed unlikely compared with the Expo.
Spooky Pinball
The Expo offered a rare chance to see a dedicated Spooky Pinball display. Its line-up featured Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo and Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I did not get to play them, but each was new to me despite having previously encountered other Spooky games.
No brand-new title was unveiled by Spooky at this event. Additional videos of these machines were planned after the initial Expo coverage had been edited.
Pinball Brothers
Pinball Brothers displayed ABBA, Alien and Queen. ABBA received most of the attention as the newest and wholly original title, while Alien and Queen were Heighway Pinball acquisitions.
I only played Alien, which was enjoyable but deserved more time to properly learn its flow.
Dutch Pinball’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland from Dutch Pinball was one of the event’s busiest machines. A queue formed as soon as the doors opened and generally remained throughout the day, with waits of around 20 minutes or more.
The game made a strong visual impression, although its price would make it difficult to justify in a commercial location without exceptionally strong long-term earnings. I wanted to play it, but the schedule did not allow enough time.
Barrels of Fun
Barrels of Fun showed its only current title, Jim Henson’s Labyrinth, at a distributor booth. Two models were present, including one fitted with an impressive topper.
The machine was not working when I first tried it, but it was operating later when I recorded it. It is an impressive debut from a newcomer whose main audience is collectors. An earnings sheet covering only three locations suggested strong performance, although a much larger sample would be needed to judge its commercial potential.
AtGames digital pinball
AtGames returned to the Expo after appearing inconsistently at events such as IAAPA and Amusement Expo. Its range places digital pinball software in cabinets from full-size formats through to compact desktop models.
The company mentioned a new software platform, but I could not follow up. Several machines were undergoing software updates during the time I was at the booth.
Homebrew pinball
The homebrew section was one of the strongest parts of the show. These independent-style projects presented unusual themes, original ideas and, in several cases, a high level of finish. Overwatch and SAW deserved more time than I could spare, and I hope to encounter them again.
Free Play Zone
A dedicated play area without sales staff or commercial pressure is an excellent addition to a pinball event. The zone covered machines from earlier eras through to current releases, creating useful variety.
It made particular sense for an Expo aimed heavily at residential buyers, but similar spaces would also improve operator-focused events such as IAAPA and Amusement Expo.
Other games on the floor
Two additional pinball titles were filmed and edited after the main coverage: The Princess Bride by Multimorphic and Ninja Eclipse by Turner Pinball.
The Princess Bride is a digital and physical hybrid pinball game, and it was my first experience with a Multimorphic machine.
Ninja Eclipse was unfamiliar before the Expo, but its theme looked appealing and the game appeared enjoyable.
For something outside pinball, Fels Games presented Oceanfront Helicopter Rides, a new electro-mechanical game inspired by 1969’s Whirly Bird from Midway.
The player guides a helicopter towards as many illuminated metal rods as possible before the timer expires. The concept is not entirely new, but its physical character is difficult to reproduce faithfully in software. A sticker described the machine as a money-maker, while its real location performance remained an open question.
Licensing and retro hardware notes
A separate company was displaying retro arcade products featuring properties associated with major companies including Konami and Nintendo. The licensing position appeared questionable, and the absence of visible coin acceptors did not resolve those concerns. Buyers and operators should always verify that a machine is properly licensed before purchasing or installing it.
There were also retro-console products at the event, although time constraints prevented me from playing them. The same limited schedule meant missing local arcade venues such as Galloping Ghost Arcade.
Final thoughts
Pinball Expo 2024 delivered an impressive mix of major manufacturers, collector-focused releases, homebrew projects and free-play opportunities. A longer visit would have made it possible to play more of the headline machines, particularly AVATAR: The Way of Water and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
For Australian arcade fans comparing physical pinball with other home entertainment options, RETROCADE’s virtual pinball machines provide another format to consider. Readers planning a broader home setup can also explore the arcade machine buying guide, browse arcade machines or review available arcade parts for maintenance and upgrades.
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