Stern Pinball has opened 2025 with Dungeons & Dragons: The Tyrant’s Eye, a fantasy-themed pinball game built around the Dragonshield Guild’s battle against the dragon queen Tiamat and the coming War of Dragons.
Dungeons & Dragons in arcades
The franchise has appeared in arcade form before. Its earliest listed pinball appearance was a Bally Midway machine released in 1987. Capcom later produced two D&D brawler video games during the 1990s, with the second title generally regarded as the more sought-after of the pair.
Stern’s new table is a very different interpretation from that earlier Bally release, using modern physical effects, character progression and a more elaborate fantasy adventure structure. The game also draws on the long-running tabletop role-playing game, which many Australian players first encountered through D&D or Advanced Dungeons & Dragons during the 1990s.
A campaign beneath the glass
Players take the role of selected Dragonshield Guild members as they attempt to stop Tiamat from returning and igniting the War of Dragons. Xanathar, Balinor and Sammaster are also competing for power, adding several opposing forces to the game’s fantasy storyline.
The original story is credited to Dwight Sullivan and Zack Brose. Stern’s design combines the campaign narrative with a range of physical objectives and changing game modes, making it a notable release to follow for collectors and operators considering a new pinball machine or a broader arcade machine collection.
Key features
- Three flippers.
- Seven selectable characters, with three initially hidden and additional characters unlocked through Insider Connected.
- Individual character plots and bonuses, with characters also able to level up.
- A multi-axis dragon toy with omni-directional sensors. On Premium and LE models, the dragon can fire pinballs from its mouth.
- The dragon is voiced by Michael Dorn, known for playing Lieutenant Worf in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
- A Gelatinous Cube toy uses a magnet to capture a ball, which must then be released within the required time.
- A player-controlled shield positioned between the flippers.
- A Shopkeeper feature that places items at random points around the physical map.
- A pop-up Dungeon Crawl entrance with a scoop target and video mode.
- A procedurally generated Dungeon Crawl map with five levels that changes every Sunday.
- Multiple ramps featuring layered shots.
- A Critical Hit captive ball and a concealed Temple Shot behind the upper flipper.
Voice cast and model details
The announced voice cast supports the game’s character-led campaign and fantasy setting.
Early reaction has been strongly positive, although some players have questioned aspects of the dragon toy. The LE model also does not include a D20 plunger, a detail some fans may have expected from a Dungeons & Dragons-themed table.
For a detailed comparison of the available versions, you can find the full Features Matrix PDF here. A shorter trailer provides another look at the table’s rules, artwork and major mechanisms.
Arriving as Stern’s first 2025 release
Dungeons & Dragons: The Tyrant’s Eye is expected to begin shipping soon, making it Stern Pinball’s first game release of 2025. For anyone planning a home setup, it is worth comparing the table’s features with an arcade machine buying guide before deciding how it fits into a collection or commercial location. Ongoing maintenance and restoration considerations can also be reviewed through arcade repair services.
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