Following Dungeons & Dragons: The Tyrant’s Eye earlier in 2025, Stern Pinball has introduced King Kong: Myth of Terror Island, its second entirely new game design of the year. The announcement follows the separate reveal of RUSH Vault Edition, which is an updated release rather than a completely new design.
King Kong: Myth of Terror Island trailers
Stern has released two videos for the game: a short launch trailer and a longer feature overview covering its playfield, toys and modes.
Three King Kong cabinet editions
King Kong: Myth of Terror Island follows Stern’s usual three-tier format: Pro, Premium and Limited Edition (LE). Their listed US MSRPs are US$6,999, US$9,699 and US$12,999 respectively.
The Premium and LE models add several interactive elements. Kong has articulated movement, the biplane features a spinning propeller, and the gong is presented as a three-dimensional sculpt. A large spider toy attacks the ball, a New York City train car functions as a ball lock, and a Log Bridge diverter sits in the left outlane.
The Pro model does not include those additional articulated toys, but it retains the broad playfield flow rather than becoming a fundamentally different game. For Australian buyers comparing full-size pinball with other arcade machines, the three editions provide distinct feature levels to consider.
Artwork for the game comes from Kevin O’Connor, Greg Freres and Jeremy Packer, also known as ZombieYeti.
How the King Kong pinball game plays
The game draws on the original 1932 King Kong film, using its characters and situations across two settings: the jungle of Terror Island and New York City. Keith Elwin designed the game, with the three credited artists contributing to its visual direction. Custom speech was recorded by Brian “Q” Quinn of Impractical Jokers.
Per the Features Matrix (off-site PDF link), the three editions share many core features. The common specifications include four flippers, six pinballs, a magnet for the Spider Pit, and the same apparent targets and game modes. Stern Insider Connected is also included, allowing players to track scores and pursue achievements that encourage repeat play.
The game’s manufacturer announcement describes it as available now. That indicates orders should move into shipping quickly, subject to the buyer’s preferred Stern Pinball distributor. Operators already running a King Kong machine from Raw Thrills or UNIS may also find this Stern release a complementary addition.
For readers weighing a physical pinball table against a digital alternative, our guide to virtual pinball machines offers another angle. You can also browse the RETROCADE arcade blog for further industry coverage, or review the arcade machine buying guide when planning a home game room.
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