PlayMates pinball rules and strategy
The Strategy
Domino and PlayMates share a playfield but not the same scoring. On PlayMates, soft-plunge the top-center lane to light both 10X lanes, clear the four Aces and shoot the center target twice for Double Bonus, then clear the Aces again and collect a lit 10X side lane for 50,000.
The goal
Soft-plunge the top-center lane to light both 10X side lanes, send the ball back to the upper playfield, and take a lit numbered side target only after its rebound proves safe.
Soft-plunge the top-center lane to light both 10X lanes and do not use a full plunge.
Drop all four Ace targets, then shoot the center target to reset the bank and build bonus.
Clear the four Aces and shoot the center target a second time to earn Double Bonus.
Clear all four Aces again, but do not shoot the center target after this completion.
Send the ball to the upper playfield and collect either lit 10X side lane for 50,000.
Repeat the safer upper feed while avoiding the 50-point roto-target and watching for straight side-drain exits.
Alternative route: Safe lit side target
Use this plan on PlayMates when upper exits are unsafe and one lit side target has a tested return.
- Identify one lit numbered side target.
- Shoot it only from a controlled ball.
- Prepare both flippers for the target rebound.
- Stop after one unsafe rebound and return to top play.
Need to know
- Skill shot
- A soft plunge can collect the top-center lane that lights both 10X lanes, while a full plunge is not recommended.
- Roto-target
- The roto-target scores only 50 points regardless of the numbers shown in its windows.
- PlayMates Ace cycle
- Clear all four Ace drops and shoot the center target twice to earn Double Bonus. Then clear the Aces again and leave them down for the 50,000-point 10X side lanes.
Domino and PlayMates use different scoring on the same layout, so the installed edition determines the useful route. On PlayMates, soft-plunge the top-center lane, complete two Ace-bank and center-target cycles for Double Bonus, then clear the Aces again and leave them down. Return up top for a lit 50,000-point 10X side lane while avoiding the low-value roto-target.
The goal
Soft-plunge the top-center lane to light both 10X side lanes, send the ball back to the upper playfield, and take a lit numbered side target only after its rebound proves safe.
- Soft-plunge the top-center lane to light both 10X lanes and do not use a full plunge.
- Drop all four Ace targets, then shoot the center target to reset the bank and build bonus.
- Clear the four Aces and shoot the center target a second time to earn Double Bonus.
- Clear all four Aces again, but do not shoot the center target after this completion.
- Send the ball to the upper playfield and collect either lit 10X side lane for 50,000.
- Repeat the safer upper feed while avoiding the 50-point roto-target and watching for straight side-drain exits.
Builds toward: Double Bonus and a 50,000-point 10X lane
- Soft-plunge the top-center lane to light both 10X side lanes.
- Complete the Ace bank and center-target reset twice for Double Bonus.
- Complete the Ace bank a third time and leave it down.
- Return the ball up top and collect a lit 10X side lane for 50,000.