Sky Kings

Sky Kings, designed by Jim Patla with art by Dick White, is a 1974 electro-mechanical (EM) pinball machine manufactured by Bally with a parachuting/skydiving theme — a theme Bally had also used a decade earlier on its 1964 game 'Sky Divers.' Sky Kings shares its playfield design with Bally's other 1974 release, 'Champ.'

Its gameplay is built around flippers, pop bumpers, mushroom bumpers, slingshots, and standup targets, creating a dynamic and challenging playfield. One of the more distinctive aspects of Sky Kings is its use of messenger balls, along with a kick-out hole and a spinning target, giving players varied ways to build their end-of-ball bonus. The wood framing around the backglass is notably wider at the bottom than at the top, a small but distinctive cabinet detail.

With a maximum displayed point score of 199,990 points and a replay wheel maxing out at 25, Sky Kings offered plenty of room for high scores. With 2,000 confirmed units produced, it remains a solid if lesser-discussed entry in Bally's 1970s EM lineup, of particular interest to collectors who also track its sibling game, Champ.