Mars Trek pinball rules and strategy

The Strategy

In Mars Trek, build Bonus through the top saucer, E and K return lanes, upper-left star rollover, and right spinner. Complete E and K to double the end-of-ball payout. Avoid the center and upper-right MARS targets. When Bonus is high and doubled, do not collect it at the right saucer—the saucer pays only the base value.

The goal

Shoot the safer Bonus advances, complete E and K for Double Bonus, and preserve a large doubled value for end of ball. Use the right collect saucer only when taking the base Bonus now is better than risking the rest of the ball.

  1. Plunge for the top saucer or a useful E or K lane, using a light Move the cabinet briefly so the playfield shifts under the ball, changing its speed or path after contact with a post, rubber, or wall. to improve the upper feed.

  2. From the flippers, favor the right spinner and safe feeds into the E and K return lanes to build Bonus.

  3. Complete whichever of E or K is missing so the end-of-ball Bonus becomes doubled.

  4. When base Bonus is high and doubled, keep it for end of ball instead of shooting the right collect saucer.

  5. Shoot the MARS targets only when a short completion can reach an enabled Extra Ball or Special without abandoning the safer Bonus route.

Need to know
E and K lanes
Complete both to double end-of-ball Bonus.
Bonus advances
Top saucer, E and K returns, upper-left star, and right spinner.
Right collect saucer
Collect the current base Bonus, then add one Bonus advance.

Machine setup

  • Confirm three- or five-ball play and whether Extra Ball and Special are enabled, converted to points, or disabled. Tournament settings often remove the award value without changing the Bonus route.
  • Test the top saucer, right collect saucer, E and K lanes, upper-left star rollover, spinner, Bonus to 100,000, Double Bonus lamp, 50,000 Extra Ball qualification, runway award, MARS and TREK target scoring, and all saucer kickouts.
Sources and references3 source links and outbound references.
Report a correctionTell us what’s wrong

Your email is stored privately and only used to follow up about this report.

Playbooks

Mars Trek playfield

100%