Even Stern Pinball is joining the (adventuring) party for the 50th anniversary of the world’s premier tabletop RPG. At CES Unveiled 2025, the home pinball machine manufacturer announced Dungeons & Dragons: The Tyrant’s Eye, combining the gameplay of pinball with the narrative and character growth of D&D.
Players assume the role of members of the Dragonshield Guild and are tasked with defeating no less than the dragon queen Tiamat (hot off her cameo in Amazon Prime’s Secret Level). Her machinations have triggered “the War of Dragons,” bringing out infamous legends like Xanathar, Balinor, and Sammaster to vy for power.
This also includes Rath the Relentless, rendered by Stern Pinball as the most advanced animatronic mech seen in pinball to date, and voiced by Michael Dorn. Hitting the 3-bank target will steal his treasure, while players will need to deploy a metal shield between the flippers when his fire breath unleashes multiple pinballs.
Other iconic Dungeons & Dragons figures making an appearance include owlbears, gelatinous cubes, and mimics, while familiar locales from the Forgotten Realms—all illustrated by the venerable Vincent Proce. The Tyrant’s Eye even includes a host of voice talent, such as Kevin Smith, Gerard Way, Luke Gygax, and Critical Role‘s Matthew Mercer, Laura Bailey, and Marisha Ray.
Stern Pinball’s new quest sounds truly ambitious, with dungeon levels accessed through a disappearing playfield trap door, a store for acquiring new items, and mysterious hidden passageways. Just make sure that gelatinous cube doesn’t freeze your ball!
True to the Dungeons & Dragons experience, decisions and random dice rolls will factor in. There are multiple story paths, giving players’ shots the power to affect the narrative and creating unique experiences for each adventurer. Once its main “campaign” has concluded, even more characters can be unlocked.
This is partly possible thanks to Stern Pinball’s Insider Connected platform, enabling players to interact with both the game and a global network of fellow players. Through ongoing code updates, The Tyrant’s Eye can be extended and improved over time, while players can retain experience points, inventory, and campaign progress with the new PinSave System.
Dungeons & Dragons: The Tyrant’s Eye will be available in three different editions. The Limited Edition, limited to 740 units to honor D&D‘s creation in 1974, includes a Speaker Expression Lighting System to bring more game effects, a full-colour mirrored backglass, a reflective foil treatment on Tiamat and Xanathar’s cabinet decals, and other luxury upgrades.
The Limited Edition will also cost $12,999 USD; if that’s too rich for your coffers, it will also be available in a Premium Edition for $9,699 USD, or the (most basic) Pro Edition for $6,999 USD.
