Stern Pinball has officially unveiled its long-rumoured Pokémon machine, following the teaser that sparked widespread discussion the previous week. The licensed table brings the globally recognised Pokémon franchise into a modern pinball format.
Three Pokémon pinball models
Stern’s Pokémon Pinball range includes three models: Pro, Premium and Limited Edition. The detailed differences between those versions are set out in the company’s Features Matrix.
The machine is based on the original Pokémon cartoon series, giving the theme appeal across multiple generations. Its central objective is to “catch ’em all”, with players completing catches by hitting the Poké Ball target. The Premium and Limited Edition versions add an enhancement to that target, while its basic function remains the same.
Players who want to record their catches will need Stern’s free Insider Connected app, which lets them build and track their Pokémon collection.
How the playfields differ
The three versions share broadly similar playfields. The main variations are found in the mechanisms and animatronics rather than in completely different layouts with extra ramps, playfields or flippers.
The most obvious Premium and Limited Edition addition is the “whirlpool” bowl at the lower right of the playfield. Those models also include a magnet beneath the arena, creating further gameplay effects. As a result, the versions should feel related rather than like entirely separate games.
Jack Danger and George Gomez are credited as the machine’s principal designers. Having two principal designers is unusual for a pinball title. Danger subsequently left Stern for personal reasons, with Gomez understood to have stepped in to complete the project, including work needed for the licensing process.
Stern’s press release states that the Pokémon machines are released and available. The company’s announcement can be found here.
A reaction livestream was also made available after the trailer reveal. The initial stream had a microphone problem, which was corrected afterwards.
Watch the Pokémon Pinball trailer
The first trailer provides a closer look at the theme, artwork and gameplay direction:
Additional footage comes from Stern Pinball’s Media Day, held at the company’s headquarters on the Thursday before the announcement. The event was attended by members of the pinball community, while the writer of the original report was invited in January but did not attend after not realising the event would focus on Pokémon.
Why Pokémon makes sense for pinball
The length of time between the early rumours and Stern’s formal reveal made the announcement particularly notable. An industry contact had suggested several years earlier that Pokémon was likely to be Stern’s next game, leading to speculation that the licence might not proceed when no announcement followed.
As a licence, Pokémon has strong potential to introduce new players to pinball. Its audience extends beyond a single anime, film, card game or video-game audience, reaching older fans as well as younger generations. That broad recognition could be valuable for operators and venues trying to attract visitors who usually head straight for ticket redemption games.
The relatively approachable concept may also help. The basic aim of catching Pokémon is easy to understand, while the theme provides room for deeper play without requiring newcomers to learn an excessively complicated ruleset.
Whether Pokémon becomes Stern’s best-selling title, or the best-selling pinball machine of all time, remains unknown. The licence gives it a strong starting position, although the quality of the launch code will be important for the first production run. A card dispenser would have been an interesting addition, but it may have introduced unwanted complexity.
For Australian collectors and operators comparing pinball with other arcade machines, the Pokémon launch is a useful reminder of how powerful a recognisable licence can be. Those planning a home game room can also consult RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide, while readers interested in pinball alternatives can explore virtual pinball machines.
Would Pokémon Pinball suit your game room or an operating venue?
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