Jurassic Park
One of the most beloved modern pinball machines. A choose-your-own-adventure through Isla Nublar — rescue workers, capture dinosaurs, and try not to get eaten. Deep rules but a satisfying core loop even if you only scratch the surface.
The left ramp is the most important shot on this game. It starts paddock modes (when MAP is spelled and lit), it can be backhanded from the right flipper (easier on the Pro), and it feeds predictably. On the Premium/LE, the T-Rex head will sometimes come down and grab the ball — which is awesome but also means the shot behaves differently depending on game state. This is where you start your adventure. When MAP is spelled, shoot the left ramp with the truck pointed in the direction you want to go on the map. Kineticist's tip: stick to the edges of the map when playing competitively — it's a shorter path to the Visitor Center than going through the middle.
This game has arguably the deepest ruleset of any modern pinball machine. There are paddock modes, T-Rex events, control room modes, Chaos multiball, Raptor tri-ball, supply drops, DNA combos, fossils, smart missiles, and three mini-wizard modes that feed into a final wizard mode. Nobody understands all of it. Even Joel from Flip N Out says 'there's so much in this game' about four times during his tutorial. The layout can be punishing — the {{callout:o-shot}} is one of the tightest shots in modern pinball, the {{callout:right-ramp}} is at an awkward angle, and the truck captive ball can send balls sideways unpredictably. But here's the secret: the core loop (spell MAP → rescue workers → set traps → call helicopter → capture dinosaur) is simple and satisfying even if you never touch the advanced systems.
Your Game Plan
Spell MAP, Start Your First Paddock
BALL 1Skill Shot — Left Ramp Earnable
The primary skill shot is the left ramp. If you hit it, there's a progressive super skill shot: left ramp → right ramp → tower, boom-boom-boom. It's satisfying and scores well. System-J's tip: if you're not feeling the shots yet, just go for the left ramp to get a feel for the game. Alternative: soft plunge to the flippers and try for the C shot — if you hit it, you're ahead on Chaos spelling, and missed C shots on the Premium often hit the raptor pen, which is useful too.
Spell M-A-P (Hit White Shots) You Got This
Three white shots spell M-A-P and unlock your first paddock at the {{callout:left-ramp}}. You'll often get M and A just from balls bouncing around. One more white shot and you're in. This carries over between balls, so don't stress if you only get one or two letters on Ball 1.
Point the Truck, Start a Paddock Earnable
Once MAP is spelled, the left ramp starts a paddock — but which paddock depends on which way the {{callout:truck}} is pointing. Left = left path on the map, right = right path. Check the truck before shooting. Kineticist's tournament tip: stick to the edges of the map for a shorter path to the Visitor Center. Inside the paddock: rescue workers (hit green-lit rescue shots), then set trap targets light up, then shoot the {{callout:helipad}} to call the helicopter, then capture the dinosaur at the green arrow.
Bash the Truck Toward T-R-E-X You Got This
Every hit to the truck earns a letter in T-R-E-X. Spelling it starts a T-Rex event — the first one is T-Rex Multiball (2-ball, hit red shots for jackpots, super jackpot at the T-Rex mouth). You'll hit the truck incidentally just from playing, but a few deliberate shots speed this up. It's not worth a lot on its own, but it's a multiball you can stack with paddock modes.
Capture Dinosaurs, Build Toward Control Room
BALL 2Keep Running Paddocks Earnable
Spell MAP again (white shots) and start another paddock. Same loop: rescue → set traps → helipad → capture. Later paddocks require more rescues and the dinosaurs move toward your workers faster — but the first few are quite manageable. Each captured dinosaur gives you a perk and progresses you toward the Visitor Center and eventually Escape Nublar.
Start a Control Room Mode Earnable
After completing paddocks, control room modes light at the {{callout:c-shot}}. There are three: Virus Attack (hit blue shots, cash out at control room 3 times), Restore Power (hit spinner to prime, then blue shots), and System Boot (combo mode — your first shot determines your next). Completing all three lights Secure Control Room, one of the three mini-wizard modes. These are where the real points start accumulating.
Work the C-H-A-O-S Letters Earnable
Spell C-H-A-O-S by hitting a shot then hitting the truck (alternating). Once spelled, the smart missile shot starts Chaos Multiball — a long, fun multiball where you hit red shots, collect chaos letters at the truck, and eventually hit a jackpot. This multiball can be brought into paddock modes for serious stacking. The {{callout:smart-missile}} shot is threading a needle past the truck — aim for the second captive ball to thread it.
Raptor Tri-Ball Earnable
Hit the {{callout:raptor-pen}} targets enough to lower the gate, then shoot behind it to lock balls. Bash the gate when the lightning bolts are going crazy to start the multiball. System-J tip: when ball is cradled on left flipper with no other important shot, consider backhanding the raptor pen — it's one of the more valuable multiballs and safer as a backhand.
Finish What You Started
BALL 3Complete Your Third Paddock Path Earnable
You need to reach the Visitor Center to qualify Escape Nublar. Keep spelling MAP and capturing dinosaurs. If you've been sticking to the edges of the map per the Kineticist tip, you might be close. Every captured dinosaur also gives you a perk — T-Rex capture increases all timers and gives an extra ball.
Chase Whichever Mini-Wizard Is Closest Earnable
Three mini-wizard modes: Secure Control Room (complete all 3 control room modes), Museum Mayhem (complete all T-Rex events), and Visitor Center (capture enough paddock dinosaurs). You don't need all three to reach Escape Nublar — just reaching Visitor Center is enough. But completing the others before Escape Nublar qualifies the ultimate wizard mode: When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth.
Use 2X Scoring When It Lights You Got This
The far right target lights 2x scoring for everything. The Pinside owners club emphasizes this: 2x scoring often lights somewhat randomly during multiball when balls bounce into supply drop targets. When it's lit, whatever you're doing is worth double. It's not something to chase specifically, but recognize it when it happens and make your shots count.
Stay Alive Out There
- → Escape Outlane (Left) — Earned Ball Save: Hit the Escape target enough times to light the ball save on the left outlane. It's not lit by default. Keep track of whether it's lit and relight it when it goes out — Joel specifically calls this out as something to manage.
- → Right Outlane — Standard Inlane/Outlane: Standard setup on the right side. There's a post near the left ramp entrance that pops up during certain game states and can save or redirect balls. Be aware of it.
- → The Truck Will Betray You: The truck captive ball sends balls in unexpected directions. It can also block the targets behind it depending on which way it's facing. Know which direction the truck is pointing before you bash it, because a badly-timed truck hit can send the ball sideways into trouble.
- → Stage Flipping (Upper Flipper Secret): The right flipper button controls both the lower right flipper and the upper right flipper. Press halfway for the lower, press fully for the upper. This means you can cradle a ball on the lower right flipper and still use the upper flipper independently. Pinside's owners club calls this out as a key skill for T-Rex multiball — cradle one ball, shoot the other with the upper flipper.
- → Helipad Feed Awareness: The helipad shot (far right) is also where new balls plunge. It feeds down to the right flipper. Late flips from the left flipper are your best bet for hitting the helipad reliably per Kineticist.
- → Left Ramp and Center Ramp as Bailouts: The left ramp feeds predictably and the tower shot (quick 180) feeds the left wireform. Both are relatively safe shots when you're unsure. The spinner up the middle feeds to the right side and can be hit from either flipper.
Don't Be a Hero
- ⚠ The O shot in pressure situations: It's arguably the tightest shot in the game. Kineticist says to aim for the light brown area of the Jurassic Park insignia above the flippers from a left flipper cradle. Worth practicing, but don't go for it when you're behind or on Ball 3 with no ball save. It will drain you.
- ⚠ DNA Combos and Fossils (for now): DNA combos are specific shot sequences (left ramp → right ramp → supply drop, etc.) that collect fossils for perks. Cool system, but it's a side quest built on top of a side quest. Let fossils accumulate naturally from completing modes and multiballs. Don't chase them.
- ⚠ The Smart Missile shot on Ball 1: Threading the needle past the truck to hit the amber mine target is one of the most satisfying shots in pinball. It's also one of the hardest. Kineticist calls it 'smart missile supremacy' for advanced players. For us, it's a Ball 2 or Ball 3 shot when we're feeling good — not a Ball 1 priority.
- ⚠ Chasing When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth: The ultimate wizard mode requires completing all three mini-wizard modes (Secure Control Room, Museum Mayhem, Visitor Center) and then beating Escape Nublar. Joel shows it in his tutorial, but he's playing a demonstration game. In competition, focus on reaching the Visitor Center and getting Escape Nublar lit. That alone is a massive achievement.
- ⚠ Center-of-the-map paddock paths: The center paddocks include the Spitter and the T-Rex paddock, which are harder to complete. The Pinside owners club specifically says 'if you went RIGHT on initial Paddock, avoid the Spitter and even moreso the T-Rex paddocks.' Edge paths are faster and easier.
This game's been out since 2019, so the community has it figured out. A solid tournament game is 500M-1B. Breaking 1 billion is a great achievement — Joel casually hits it during his tutorial but that's not normal play. The top players push into multi-billion territory with heavy mode stacking. For league night, consistently hitting 500M+ puts you in competitive territory.
Joel says it best: 'you can ignore it all and just focus on capturing dinosaurs and have a great time.' The paddock loop (spell MAP → rescue → set traps → helipad → capture) is the backbone. T-Rex events, control room modes, Chaos multiball, fossils, DNA combos — these are all layers on top. Learn the paddock loop first. Everything else opens up naturally as you get comfortable.
On the Pro: the left ramp is easier to backhand, the T-Rex doesn't grab balls (no motorized head), and the raptor pen gate works differently. The core strategy is identical. Premium/LE adds the T-Rex ball grab mechanic (cool but can change ball flow), the interactive raptor pen lock, and some shot differences. Joel's tutorial is on the Premium.
Hold the action button before starting a game to access co-op mode — you and another player work through the adventure together. Also available: team play and the Escape Nublar challenge mode (final wizard mode as a timed standalone). Great for league nights with a partner or for practicing the endgame.
The Research Pile
Every claim is sourced. Here's where we got our homework for this guide.
Full walkthrough on Premium model. Shows complete paddock progression, all three control room modes, T-Rex multiball, Chaos multiball, Raptor tri-ball, skill shot progression, and the path to Escape Nublar. Primary source for gameplay flow narration.
Comprehensive written tutorial covering layout, all mode mechanics, paddock strategy, and tournament tips. Key insights: edge-of-map strategy, O shot aiming tip (light brown insignia area), smart missile targeting, helipad late-flip technique.
Excellent multi-layered strategy resource with newbie through advanced strategies. Key insights: soft plunge C shot opening, raptor pen backhand as default idle shot, T-Rex multiball stacking advice, smart missile timing, spinner value mechanics.
Community wiki rulesheet with complete scoring data, paddock list, T-Rex event sequence, control room mode details, and strategy section.
Quick visual reference card for tournament play.
Community strategy discussion including 2x scoring optimization, rescue streak value, stage flipping technique for upper flipper, and paddock path recommendations (avoid center paths).
Manufacturer spec sheet with Pro/Premium/LE feature comparison, mech descriptions, and model differences.