Golden Arrow

Golden Arrow, released by D. Gottlieb & Co. in August 1977, is a single-player electro-mechanical pinball machine designed by Ed Krynski with artwork by Gordon Morison. It was one of the very last electromechanical wedgehead machines produced before the entire industry shifted to digital, solid-state technology and had a low production run of just 1,530 units.

The game features an archery and target-shooting theme, with visuals that depict a Native American archer along with bright target-shooting motifs. The striking color palette and prominent glass illustration give the machine a powerful visual presence that stands out among other machines from the late 1970s.

The primary gameplay objective of Golden Arrow centers around a challenging 1-to-10 number sequence. Players must guide the ball to strike six bullseye stand-up targets and cross various rollover lanes spread across the single-level playfield to collect each number. Completing the entire numerical sequence unlocks ten different ways to win a coveted "Special" replay, lighting up alternating targets across the board. This deep, systematic ruleset demands high accuracy, making the machine incredibly engaging and keeping players coming back for one more game.

What truly defines the machine’s identity is its dynamic, moving "golden arrow" indicator light built into the playfield. Every time the pinball hits the central star rollover or passes through the two playfield spinners, the lit yellow arrow rapidly shifts positions across the 1 to 10 numbers. If a player manages to hit a target or rollover that matches the arrow's current position, the base score doubles from 5,000 points to a massive 10,000 points.