Godzilla

Stern Pinball, 2021 — shot-by-shot rules and strategy guide.

Open Godzilla in the Pinball Genie app →

Designed by Keith Elwin, Godzilla is a campaign-style machine built around destroying four cities (Tokyo, New York, London, Paris), fighting a roster of kaiju, and chasing the game's signature Destruction Jackpot. It ships in Pro, Premium, and LE editions; all three share 3 flippers (including an upper-right flipper) and 1 pop bumper. Premium/LE add a powered building elevator that physically locks 3 balls, a rotating Mechagodzilla toy with a magnetic-chest ball-lock, and a breakaway Bridge ramp (a 3rd ramp). Pro has 2 ramps and routes Bridge Attack through the right ramp instead.

The core loop

Play is organized as a city campaign. Each city has an objective tracker on the Monster Monitor — RAID (start a Kaiju Battle), POWER (complete the Tesla/Powerline targets), BRIDGE (destroy the bridge), and TANKS (Tank Attack). Completing these across cities is the spine of wizard-mode qualification. Conquering a city grants +1 Bonus X, +1x on the Super Spinner, and a scaling award. Leaving a city banks the Carnage Bonus.

Kaiju Battles (RAID)

Shoot either ramp twice to light a Kaiju Battle at the scoop, where flippers + the action button pick the fight. The four Tier-1 monsters are:

• Gigan — eight ramp shots, any mix (the safest battle; alternating ramps combo 2x/4x).
• Megalon — hit a random flashing shot before a ~10s window closes; miss and he hides (shoot a ramp to recall).
• Ebirah — a spinner battle across the three spinners; final blow at the pop bumper.
• Titanosaurus — five targets in strict sequence (three Powerlines left-to-right, Maser Cannon, Magna-Grab captive ball); the precision battle.

Winning conquers the current city and adds +1x to the Destruction-Jackpot multiplier. Tier-2 battles (Ghidorah/Gigan/Megalon match-ups, some 3-ball multiballs) unlock as you rotate cities, several using the classic "Fight or Flee" risk/reward decision. Winning two Kaiju Battles awards an Extra Ball.

The five regular multiballs

• Godzilla Multiball (cornerstone, 3-ball) — damage the building to 0% integrity with ramps (upper floors) and building shots (lower floors), then start at the building. Six jackpots light the Super Jackpot; scoring it qualifies the Monster Zero mini-wizard.
• Mechagodzilla Multiball (3-ball) — spin the right spinner to deploy (~20 spins), knock down the three Neo-Barrier shield targets, start at the right spinner. Its Super Jackpot qualifies Terror of Mechagodzilla.
• Bridge Attack Multiball (2-ball) — switch hits light Bridge Attack at the Magna-Grab captive ball; four attacks destroy the bridge, then "Bridge Out!" on either ramp starts it.
• Tank Attack Multiball (2-ball) — destroy ~10 tanks via lit TANK shots; starts at the scoop. Tanks advance toward Godzilla on a timer, dropping the Super multiplier if they arrive.
• Saucer Attack Multiball — destroy 6 saucers via the pop-bumper feature; the next bumper hit starts it, and each Saucer Jackpot adds a ball.

Award and collect systems

The Destruction Jackpot is the big-points chase: shoot the building when lit, then bank it on the upper loop. Its multiplier is fed by battles, saucer/Jet-Fighter thresholds, loops, and combos — but it resets when you change city, so cash before switching. Other systems include Jet Fighter Attack (inlane missiles → hurry-ups), Trains (left-ramp train-wreck; Prem/LE 5th train = Super Train Loops, Pro = 50M), Monster Rampage (spell R-A-M-P-A-G-E at the left spinner), Magna-Grab / Imposter Battle (magnet capture released for 5x loops or a left-spinner award up to 250M), Hedorah, and dozens of City/Secret Combos.

Allies and multipliers

Allies are lit at the halfway point of any battle (and via the Super Secret skill shot, Jet-Fighter milestones, etc.), cycled with the right flipper and collected at the scoop: Rodan (2x playfield, the only whole-playfield multiplier, ~60s), Mothra (left-outlane save), Anguirus (action-button add-a-ball). Other multipliers: Bonus X (+1 per conquered city), in-mode shot color ladders, and the Super Spinner — the first center-spinner rip after firing Heat Ray scores 2x/spin +1x per conquered city. Heat Ray itself is charged on the center spinner and, when the meter fills, held-and-released to collect everything currently lit (disabled during Planet X and Tier-2 battles).

Skill shots

Every skill shot scores points and adds ball-save time, and each unique type raises the multiplier on all of them — variety beats repetition. Easy ones feed the pop bumper; the money shots sit near the upper flipper. The best is the Super Secret Skill Shot: full plunge into the left spinner lane, then reflex to the scoop for ~10M, 2 Power-Ups, and an instant Ally.

Power-Ups and wizard modes

Godzilla Power-Ups are earned from dozens of tasks and collected at the scoop (choose 1 of 2). They gate the wizard modes: level 4 lights Monster Zero or Terror of Mechagodzilla (given the matching multiball Super Jackpot), level 8 lights King of the Monsters. The wizard ladder runs: the two mini-wizards → Planet X Multiball (complete all four city objectives) → King of the Monsters (final wizard: all four monsters at once, then a 4-ball bounty multiball) → Monster Island Madness (ultra-wizard: a 75-second 6-ball frenzy).

Recommended play

The consensus opener is the Gigan ramp line: plunge for a skill shot, shoot both ramps to light the scoop, start Gigan, and loop ramps — the safest path, which simultaneously damages the building toward Godzilla Multiball. Grab Mothra first for outlane insurance, hold Rodan for your biggest scoring window, spend Heat Ray whenever the playfield is well-lit, and cash the Destruction Jackpot before changing cities.

Goals in Godzilla

Every goal below is tracked step-by-step, with shot paths drawn on the playfield map, inside the app.

• Super Secret Skill Shot skillshot · Hard

  The single best opener if you can execute it: a full plunge into the left spinner lane, then an immediate reflex to the scoop for ~10M, 2 Power-Ups, and an instant Ally.

  Reward: ~10M + 2 Power-Ups + collect an Ally immediately; boosts future secret skill shots by +2M

• Bumper Skill Shot skillshot · Easy

  The safe, easy plunge: a short plunge that dribbles into the pop bumper. Low value, but each unique skill-shot type you make raises the multiplier on all of them.

  Reward: ~750K x unique skill shots + ~5 sec ball save

• Rage Combo combo · Hard

  The Heat-Ray-fed five-shot combo. Charge Heat Ray to level 3 to light the left inlane, roll it to arm the right ramp, then run right ramp - left ramp - center spinner - upper loop - tail whip.

  Reward: ~20M on the final tail whip + +1x Destruction-Jackpot multiplier and lights the building to collect; 3 shots in lights an Ally

• Magna-Grab into 5x Loops combo · Medium

  Complete the three Powerline targets, pass the right inlane to light Magna-Grab, let the magnet catch the ball, then drop it by releasing both flippers for a window of 5x-value loops.

  Reward: 5x-value loops after the drop

• Imposter Battle combo · Hard

  Instead of dropping the Magna-Grab ball for loops, time the release into the left spinner for one of four escalating awards - up to 250M on the fourth.

  Reward: Escalating in order: 15M + Ally, 20M + Annihilation%, 30M + Destruction-Jackpot x, 250M

• Destruction Jackpot Collect combo · Medium

  The main big-points bank: with the Destruction Jackpot lit, shoot the building to stage it, then shoot the upper loop to bank the value times its multiplier.

  Reward: Base ~5M + 1M per lit Monster-Monitor insert + temp base x multiplier; also +1% Annihilation and lights the left spinner for a Monster Rampage letter

• Super Train Loops (Prem/LE) combo · Hard

  The train-wreck loop mode: light Advance Train at the left ramp (via scoop, reverse-building, or captive ball), then bank trains on the left ramp. On Prem/LE the 5th train starts Super Train Loops.

  Reward: Prem/LE: Super Train Loops mini-mode (Pro: 5 Trains = 50M); 10 Trains = +1x Destruction Jackpot

• Godzilla Multiball multiball · Medium

  The cornerstone multiball and mandatory progress. Damage the building to 0% integrity with ramps (upper floors) and building shots (lower floors), then start it at the building.

  Reward: 3-ball; six jackpots light the Super Jackpot at the building; scoring the Super qualifies the Monster Zero mini-wizard

• Mechagodzilla Multiball multiball · Hard

  The second pillar. Spin the right spinner to deploy Mechagodzilla (~20 spins), disable the Neo-Barrier by knocking down the three shield targets, then start at the right spinner.

  Reward: 3-ball; ramps + building jackpots, then a timed ~20s Super Jackpot window; scoring the Super qualifies Terror of Mechagodzilla

• Bridge Attack Multiball multiball · Medium

  Rack up switch hits (~50) to light Bridge Attack at the Magna-Grab captive ball; four attacks destroy the bridge, then 'Bridge Out!' flashes on either ramp to start.

  Reward: 2-ball; three jackpots light double jackpots at Magna-Grab, then a ~15s Super Jackpot (up to 6x per right-ramp shot); first two Supers add a ball

• Saucer Attack Multiball multiball · Medium

  Feed the pop bumper to destroy saucers; six destroyed arms the multiball so the next pop-bumper hit in normal play starts it. Each Saucer Jackpot adds a ball.

  Reward: Grows to a bigger ball count; each Saucer Jackpot (~10x base) adds a ball; 3 saucers = Extra Ball earlier

• Kaiju Battle: Gigan mode · Easy

  The community-standard first battle. Shoot either ramp twice to light the scoop, start Gigan, then make eight ramp shots in any combination - every shot doubles as building damage.

  Reward: Conquers the city + advances Godzilla Multiball; alternating opposite ramps = combo 2x, final combo = 4x

• Kaiju Battle: Titanosaurus mode · Hard

  The precision battle - dangerous on its own. Hit five flashing targets strictly in sequence: the three Powerlines left-to-right, then the Maser Cannon, then the Magna-Grab captive ball.

  Reward: Escalating values 4M -> 7M -> 10M -> 15M -> 20M; conquers the city on the win

• Kaiju Battle: Ebirah mode · Medium

  The spinner battle. Rack up spins on the three spinners (left, right, center), then deliver the final blow with a pop-bumper shot. Low time pressure but the left spinner is risky.

  Reward: Each completed spin set scores millions; conquers the city; final blow at the pop bumper

• Jet Fighter Attack mode · Medium

  A low-drain warm-up mode. Collect six missiles at the flashing inlanes to start, then shoot the roving red-arrow hurry-ups; the fifth shot lights the left spinner for a 5x final.

  Reward: ~500K+ per jet; 10 Jet Fighters = Extra Ball; 15 = +1x Destruction Jackpot; thresholds light Allies

• Heat Ray & Super Spinner multiplier · Medium

  Charge Heat Ray on the center spinner, hold the action button to fill the meter, then release to collect everything lit and arm the Super Spinner - the first rip scores 2x/spin +1x per conquered city.

  Reward: Heat Ray collects all currently-lit shots; Super Spinner = 2x/spin +1x per conquered city (Power-Up #7 adds +2x)

• Rodan - 2x Playfield multiplier · Medium

  The game's only whole-playfield multiplier. Light an Ally (halfway through any Kaiju Battle, Super Secret skill shot, Jet-Fighter milestones), cycle to Rodan at the scoop, and collect for 2x scoring.

  Reward: 2x playfield scoring for ~60s (75s via Power-Up #6); collecting Rodan again extends the timer

• Planet X Multiball wizard · Hard

  The major mid-wizard. Complete all four city objectives at least once - RAID (start a Kaiju Battle), POWER (Tesla), BRIDGE, and TANKS (start Tank Attack) - which unlocks Planet X as a City-Select choice.

  Reward: 3-ball multiball seeded by an Earth Bonus; five waves ending in a scoop hurry-up worth 175M+; a path into Monster Island Madness via its Victory Challenge

• King of the Monsters wizard · Hard

  The final wizard mode. Qualify by playing Monster Zero or Terror of Mechagodzilla, playing Planet X, and reaching Power-Up level 8 to pick Light King of the Monsters. Start at the building.

  Reward: Part 1: fight all four Tier-1 monsters at once; Part 2: 4-ball MB ending in the Ghidorah Bounty = Part-1 value x balls in play (up to 4x)

• Best Opener: Gigan Ramp Line strategy · Easy

  The consensus opening across every source. Plunge for a skill shot, shoot both ramps to light the scoop, start Gigan, then keep looping ramps - the single safest path that also pre-loads Godzilla Multiball.

  Reward: Completed Gigan battle + heavy Godzilla-MB progress with almost no drain-prone shots

• First 30 Seconds (Beginner) strategy · Easy

  A beginner's opening minute: land a skill shot for the save window, run ramp-ramp-scoop into Gigan, damage the building, and grab Mothra to insure the left outlane.

  Reward: A safe ball-save cushion, Godzilla-MB progress, and left-outlane insurance

• Cash the Destruction Jackpot Before Changing Cities strategy · Medium

  The Destruction Jackpot multiplier resets the moment you change city, so build it via battles, collect it at the building and bank it on the upper loop first - then change city, since conquering a high-value city like London adds its own DJ bonus on top.

  Reward: Banks the fully-built Destruction Jackpot before the multiplier resets; conquering London afterward adds its own DJ bonus

• Sweep Every Kaiju Battle mode · Hard

  Win the whole first-tier monster roster in one game: two ramp shots qualify each battle at the scoop, then run each monster's own shot pattern - ramp loops, the strict target sequence, and the spinner sets - before rotating to the next.

  Reward: Every battle won conquers the city and stacks Destruction-Jackpot multiplier plus Allies; a full sweep is also the backbone of wizard-mode progress

• Monster Zero Mini-Wizard wizard · Hard

  The reward for finishing Godzilla Multiball properly: collect all six multiball jackpots, cash the super jackpot at the building, then start the mini-wizard it qualifies.

  Reward: Mini-wizard mode plus one of the two qualifiers for the final wizard mode

• Terror of Mechagodzilla Mini-Wizard wizard · Hard

  The Mechagodzilla side of the same path: start its multiball, work the jackpots, cash the timed super jackpot on the Mechagodzilla shot, then play the mini-wizard it qualifies.

  Reward: Mini-wizard mode plus the second qualifier route toward the final wizard mode