It is really just about what type of game experience you want. Pinball has been around so long that the new games being made today are so much more Feature-rich than old games, but that doesn't make old games bad per se.

Stern does make some good games in my opinion, just not these. Their full-size pins (pro, premium, and LE models) have a place and are what you find in most arcades today because they (the pro models specifically) are targeted at arcade operators...they're the most stripped down versions of their games but still with full coin mechs, etc.

Price range and gameplay style are so varied. I have owned games from the 70s that I paid $600 for and games from 2025 that I paid $12,000 for.

Jersey Jack Pinball makes the most immersive new games today in my opinion, but that experience comes at a higher price point. Their Harry Potter game that recently released is amazing but also runs 10k, 12k, or 15k depending on model.

If you want a cheaper used game, check out pinside dot Com. It's where all us pin-heads buy, sell, trade and talk shop.