Catacomb

The Catacomb, designed by Joe Joos Jr. and manufactured by Stern Electronics in October 1981, is a solid-state electronic pinball machine that stands out as one of the more unusual games of its era. Its signature feature is a mechanical backbox animation: a bagatelle unit built into the backbox that contains the game's third flipper, extending play beyond the main playfield in a way few games ever attempted.

The Catacomb's array of features includes three flippers, two pop bumpers, three slingshots, a 4-target 3-bank drop target arrangement, two kick-out holes, a spinning target, a standup target, and a star rollover. The addition of multiball play adds an extra layer of excitement, as players can juggle multiple balls at once and aim for high-scoring shots. The machine also features speech, adding to the immersive experience.

With artwork by Larry Day and running on the Stern M-200 MPU, the Catacomb has a distinctive look and feel that adds to the game's mystique. Its unconventional backbox bagatelle and feature set make it a coveted piece among pinball enthusiasts and collectors.