We’re here! All the way from England to attend the Ann Arbor Michigan Pinball Show 2025—and honestly, I’m beyond excited. This trip had been circled on the calendar for ages, and it’s already blowing expectations out of the water.
The venue? Absolutely fantastic. The sheer volume and variety of machines is just mind-blowing. From classics to rare gems, it was like stepping into pinball heaven. And the condition of the games? Seriously impressive—everything played beautifully, fast, clean, and smooth.
We were lucky enough to grab VIP tickets, which meant early access Friday night in addition to Saturday and Sunday. That made such a difference—less crowded, more time on the machines, and a proper chance to soak it all in. We had an absolute blast.
The vibe was super friendly—everyone we met was welcoming, laid-back, and just genuinely into the hobby. Got chatting with loads of cool folks, swapping stories and sharing tips between games.
And as for the highlights? Where do I even start…
Grand Lizard – hadn’t played it in a while, still an absolute joy.
Meeting Clay and his team – genuinely lovely people, so welcoming and clearly passionate about what they do. Huge thanks to them for pulling off such a well-run event.
Big Bang Bar – first time playing it! Amazing experience, and seeing how excited Paul was when he spotted it was priceless.
Sorcerer – another first for me, and it did not disappoint.
Fire! – that bell! I kept getting drawn back to it—such a fun and satisfying machine.
Safecracker – love that game’s unique energy and style.
Stern’s King Kong – had a few games on Friday (when the queue was big), but by Sunday it was wide open. Funny how things change! Great game, but I focused more on the older titles by then, knowing I’ll have more chances to play Kong back in the UK.
And the mechanical arcade games—wow. I finally got to try some of the vintage bowling and baseball games, and they were so much fun. There’s something so satisfying about those mechanical clunks and clicks, and how surprisingly addictive they are. I could’ve played them for hours. It’s wild how well they’ve held up after all these years—like stepping back in time.
Honestly, there were too many great moments to list. I was constantly filming, just trying to capture the magic of it all. And spending the whole weekend immersed in pinball fun with Paul made it even better.
Special shoutout to the amazing BBQ food—seriously hit the spot between long sessions flipping.
Massive thanks again to Clay and everyone involved. You created something really special here. I’d absolutely love to come back next year—already thinking about it!
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