Snow Queen / Snow Derby pinball rules and strategy

In Snow Queen or Snow Derby, shoot the side spinners and keep the ball in the upper bumpers. Every 10 points adds one advance; 10 advances make a lap. Favor lit top saucers, especially on the last two balls when the installed five-ball setup can double and then quadruple the 50-point lap value.

The goal

Build laps through repeated spinner rotations and upper-playfield scoring, then preserve the end-of-ball collect. Late-ball lap value can outweigh early scoring, so favor a controllable side shot and a safe lit-saucer rebound over direct bumper contact.

  1. Plunge for a top lane or lit saucer that keeps the ball among the bumpers.

  2. Shoot either side spinner and aim through it rather than directly into a bumper face.

  3. Use gentle nudges to turn upper rebounds into another spinner pass or a lit saucer entry.

  4. On later balls, repeat the safest spinner route and avoid lower-risk detours that threaten the built lap collect.

  5. Ease off the cabinet before the drain so the completed laps score at end of ball.

Need to know
Advances
Every 10 playfield points adds one advance; a 50-point switch adds five.
Laps
Every 10 advances completes one lap, up to the installed maximum.
Lap collect
Completed laps score when the ball ends; do not tilt away the collect.

Machine setup

  • Identify Snow Queen versus two-player Snow Derby, confirm three- or five-ball play, lap maximum, and the per-ball lap values shown by the installed feature adjustment.
  • Test both spinners, the rotating rollunder target, all top saucers and kickouts, advance and lap units, late-ball value lamps, bumpers, end-of-ball collect, and tilt behavior.
Sources and references
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Playbooks

Snow Queen / Snow Derby playfield

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