Pokémon
Year: 2026, Manufacturer: Stern Pinball, Genre: Pinball
Pokémon is a highly anticipated, officially licensed pinball machine released by Stern Pinball in February 2026. Designed by George Gomez and Jack Danger, the game brings the beloved franchise to the silverball arena for the very first time. The machine invites players to take on the role of Pokémon Trainers, exploring habitats to catch and train Pokémon, battle rival trainers, and thwart Team Rocket. It integrates video clips from the original animated series alongside the iconic “Pokémon Theme” song and custom voiceovers for characters like Pikachu and Team Rocket’s boss, Giovanni.
One reason the game has generated immense excitement is its approachable, story-driven progression combined with deeply interactive toys. The layout boasts a mechanically animated Poké Ball, an animatronic Pikachu that reacts to gameplay, and an interactive Meowth Balloon. The balance between collecting Pokémon and triggering chaotic multiballs makes it a modern standout for both nostalgic fans and serious pinball players.
How to Play Pokémon
The game focuses on an unforgettable journey across distinct biomes, steady progression through Gym Battles, and building your ultimate team. The primary objectives are to discover and catch Pokémon, complete activities to unlock battles, and stop Team Rocket.
- Shoot the illuminated, mechanically animated Poké Ball to catch Pokémon and add them to your collection.
- Hit the proper targets in your current biome to discover and train new Pokémon partners, including Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, and Pikachu.
- Complete specific activities in a biome and score enough points to unlock Gym Battles against rival parties.
- Battle your way through rival trainers across the biomes to eventually enter the Pokémon Arena.
Starting the game
The game begins by immersing players directly into the world of Pokémon. Rather than a traditional skill shot, the initial plunge dictates the start of your journey.
- Enter a Biome: The game begins with the player entering a random habitat: forest, water, mountain, or desert.
- Insider Connected Setup: If players sign in using their Stern Insider Connected Account, the Pokémon they catch during the game will be permanently added to their digital Insider Connected Pokémon Collection.
Missions and Progression
Progressing through the game involves mastering each of the four biomes and overcoming villainous encounters. Players will face dynamic, custom battle sequences as they move forward.
- Gym Battles: Once a player completes the necessary activities and point thresholds in a biome, they must take on a Gym Battle against a rival party.
- The Pokémon Arena: Successfully completing the Gym Battles across all the biomes allows the player to enter the ultimate Pokémon Arena.
- Boss Fight: The most skilled pinball wizards will have the opportunity to face off against Team Rocket’s infamous leader, Giovanni.
Multiball and major scoring
Pokémon features chaotic encounters and specialized features that can dramatically increase your score:
- Team Rocket Multiball: Occasionally, players will encounter Team Rocket, and they must prevent them from stealing Pokémon during a frantic, high-scoring multiball sequence.
- Electromagnetic Chaos: On the Premium and Limited Edition models, an interactive electromagnet captures and unpredictably redirects the ball, adding chaos and challenge to the battle arena.
Beginner tips
- Focus on the mechanically animated Poké Ball and illuminated targets to efficiently build up your ultimate team.
- Keep an eye on the animatronic Pikachu, as it cheers you on and dynamically reacts to your gameplay progress.
- Don’t forget to sign in with Stern Insider Connected so you can view your expanding Pokémon Collection in the app long after the game ends.
History of Pokémon Pinball
Pokémon was manufactured by Stern Pinball and released in February 2026, serving as the first authentic, full-size pinball machine for the franchise. It was created in collaboration with The Pokémon Company International. The machine is available in three tiers: Pro, Premium, and a Limited Edition (LE) restricted to just 750 games globally.
The game is notably the first to be powered by Stern’s new SPIKE 3 technology. This upgraded system features a larger DMD display and delivers a better overall graphical and sound experience.
Hardware and Playfield Features
Every element of the playfield was meticulously crafted to honor the rich legacy of the Pokémon franchise. The machine features a variety of thematic ramps, spinners, and targets.
- Animatronic Pikachu: A sculpted figure that moves, speaks, and reacts dynamically to the player’s actions.
- Interactive Poké Ball: An illuminated, central mechanism used to physically catch Pokémon during gameplay.
- Meowth Balloon Toy: An interactive bash toy representing Team Rocket that swoops down into the battle arena to challenge the Trainer.
- Electromagnet (Premium/LE exclusive): A magnetized playfield feature that adds unpredictable ball movement during arena battles.
Important Info
| Manufacturer: | Stern Pinball |
| Release date: | February 2026 |
| System: | Stern SPIKE 3 |
| Design: | George Gomez & Jack Danger |
| Models: | Pro, Premium, Limited Edition (LE) |
| LE Production run: | 750 units |