Kicker pinball rules and strategy
Strategy summary
The goal
Complete the six numbered lanes to light Special at the top-center rollover and the middle captive-ball target. The two side holes award extra balls while lit; the outer captive-ball targets and side lanes also light the red and blue bumpers.
Complete the six numbers: Roll through lanes 1–4 across the top and lanes 5 and 6 beside the central target area. Lighting all six changes the unnumbered top-center rollover and the middle captive-ball target lane to Special.
Collect a lit Special: Pass through the top-center rollover, or shoot the middle of the three captive balls so it strikes its target at the back of the lane. Use the Special lamp to distinguish the award from the normal 30 points.
Use the colored targets: Shoot the left or right captive ball into its target for 10 points, or 100 while lit, and to light the matching red or blue bumper. The red and blue numbered side lanes also light their matching bumpers for 10-point hits.
Collect an extra ball: Shoot either side kick-out hole to score 50 points. When that hole’s Extra Ball lamp is lit, it also awards an extra ball. The verified instructions do not explain what lights these hole awards.
Need to know
- Replay version
- Kicker has separate replay and add-a-ball versions. The score and match replay awards apply to the replay version.
- Score and match replays
- The confirmed five-ball card awards one replay at each of 1,200, 1,400, 1,600 and 1,800 points. Matching the last score number to the backglass number at game end awards one replay.
- Numbered lanes
- The outside top lanes are 1 and 4; the inner pair are 2 and 3. Lanes 5 and 6 sit on the left and right below the side holes.