Field guide
Start and finish nine character challenges. Each character belongs to one pictured shot.
The whole game
Hit one character’s shot three times. Then shoot the Mr. Krabs Vault on the upper right to start that character’s timed challenge. Repeat for all nine characters to raise the later jackpot levels.
Nine characters own nine shots: a ramp, lane, hole, or target bank. Hit one character’s shot three times and that character is ready.
Once a character is ready, shoot the Mr. Krabs Vault. That starts the character’s mode: about a minute where that same shot pays big.
Shoot least one jackpot in each mode before moving to the next character. Do that for all nine characters, then shoot the Vault again for the final battle.
The Pineapple is the jackpot engine. Lock two balls there for two-ball play, then relight the Pineapple for Super jackpots. Shoot ramps between modes for Mystery prizes, combo progress, and extra-ball paths.
For your first game: pick one character, hit their shot three times, and shoot the Vault. That is it.
Find your shots
SpongeBob scoop, center three-bank and Pineapple lock.
How to try it: Hold the ball still on the right lower flipper. Aim through the open channel at the bottom of Pineapple lock; the ball must pass the entrance switch and continue up the lane. If a weak shot rolls back down the same lane, let it return to a flipper before trying again.
Squidward three-bank, left orbit, left ramp, then Mr. Krabs Vault/VUK.
How to try it: Hold the ball still on the right lower flipper. Aim through the open channel at the bottom of left orbit; the ball must pass the entrance switch and continue up the lane. If a weak shot rolls back down the same lane, let it return to a flipper before trying again.
Squidward three-bank, left orbit, left ramp, then Mr. Krabs Vault/VUK.
How to try it: Hold the ball still on the right lower flipper. Aim through the two posts at the bottom of left ramp and use a firm forehand so the ball climbs the ramp. If it starts up and rolls back, let it reach a flipper before shooting again.
SpongeBob scoop, center three-bank and Pineapple lock.
How to try it: Hold the ball still on the right lower flipper. Aim at the flat rectangular faces in center three-bank, one target at a time; do not aim at the gaps or the plastic above them. Expect the ball to rebound toward the middle after contact.
Right ramp, Krabby Patty/Secret Formula target, right orbit and Patrick three-bank.
How to try it: Hold the ball still on the right lower flipper. Aim at the flat face of Krabby Patty/Secret Formula target, not beside it. A direct hit usually rebounds toward the center, so have both flippers ready.
Squidward three-bank, left orbit, left ramp, then Mr. Krabs Vault/VUK.
How to try it: Hold the ball still on the right lower flipper. Aim at the flat rectangular faces in Squidward three-bank, one target at a time; do not aim at the gaps or the plastic above them. Expect the ball to rebound toward the middle after contact.
Right ramp, Krabby Patty/Secret Formula target, right orbit and Patrick three-bank.
How to try it: Hold the ball still on the left lower flipper. Aim through the two posts at the bottom of Right ramp and use a firm forehand so the ball climbs the ramp. If it starts up and rolls back, let it reach a flipper before shooting again.
Right ramp, Krabby Patty/Secret Formula target, right orbit and Patrick three-bank.
How to try it: Hold the ball still on the left lower flipper. Aim through the open channel at the bottom of right orbit; the ball must pass the entrance switch and continue up the lane. If a weak shot rolls back down the same lane, let it return to a flipper before trying again.
Squidward three-bank, left orbit, left ramp, then Mr. Krabs Vault/VUK.
How to try it: Hold the ball still on the left lower flipper. Aim at the dark opening of Mr. Krabs Vault/VUK, not at its rim or the nearby posts. After the ball settles in the hole, watch where the machine kicks it back and regain control.
SpongeBob scoop, center three-bank and Pineapple lock.
How to try it: Hold the ball still on the left lower flipper. Aim at the dark opening of SpongeBob scoop, not at its rim or the nearby posts. After the ball settles in the hole, watch where the machine kicks it back and regain control.
Right ramp, Krabby Patty/Secret Formula target, right orbit and Patrick three-bank.
How to try it: Hold the ball still on the left lower flipper. Aim at the flat rectangular faces in Patrick three-bank, one target at a time; do not aim at the gaps or the plastic above them. Expect the ball to rebound toward the middle after contact.
Left/right inlanes and outlanes. When one inlane lights the other, guide the ball through the opposite inlane before that light goes out. Complete five left-right pairs to light Extra Ball.
How to try it: These lanes are reached when the ball returns toward the lower flippers; they are not direct shots. Use the flipper buttons to move any flashing lane light before the ball crosses a switch.
Working up the left edge: Squidward targets, left orbit, left ramp, then the Mr. Krabs Vault tucked toward the middle. The Vault is a VUK; shoot it to start modes and the final battle.
Center lane: SpongeBob scoop, the three-bank, and the Pineapple above it. Knock all three targets down to open the Pineapple; shoot it for a lock. Two locks start two-ball play.
The right ramp; the Krabby Patty target, which is also the Secret Formula shot; the right orbit, the long lane around the right edge; and a row of three Patrick targets.
The inner lanes return the ball to a flipper; the outer lanes are danger. One inner lane lights the other. Roll through the lit partner before it times out; five left-right pairs light an extra ball.
Launch deliberately
Your first useful run
All nine modes
Each mode runs about 60 seconds; Mr. Krabs gets 100. Starting one scores 500,000 and adds a step to your bonus multiplier.
The third jackpot in every mode is a Mega Jackpot: 10 million plus 1 million per jackpot level. It also raises the jackpot level by one, making later jackpots richer.
| Mode | How to make it ready | The shot that pays | What it pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do the Sponge | Shoot the SpongeBob scoop three times | SpongeBob scoop | 2.5 million, plus 500,000 per jackpot level |
| Plankton Takeover | Shoot the left ramp three times | Left ramp | 3 million, plus 1 million per level |
| Sandy’s Rodeo | Shoot the right ramp three times | Right ramp | The screen tells you |
| Mr. Krabs Money | Shoot the Vault three times | Vault | 7 million, plus 1 million per level |
| Jellyfish Party | Complete the right orbit three times | The bumpers (the game calls them Super bumpers) | 500,000 for every bumper hit |
| Boating School | Complete the left orbit three times | Left orbit | 5 million, plus 1 million per level |
| Squidward Tiki | Knock all three Squidward targets down, three times over | Squidward targets | 2.5 million, plus 1 million per level |
| Goofy Goobers | Knock all three Patrick targets down, three times over | Patrick targets | 2.5 million, plus 1 million per level |
| Krusty Krab | Hit the Krabby Patty target three times | Krabby Patty | 5 million, plus 1 million per level |
Once a mode has paid you one jackpot, or its clock has run out, you can start getting the next character ready. If your aim is the final battle, take one jackpot and move on instead of playing out the whole clock.
Mystery, Secret Formula and extra play
Two ramps light Mystery at the SpongeBob scoop; later Mystery awards need three, four, then five ramps. Shoot the scoop to earn the award.
Mystery can award points, a virtual lock, more ball-save time, ball save, an extra-ball letter, one jackpot level, one ready character, or the once-per-game random extra ball.
Outside a mode, every spinner rip makes the spinner worth more. During a mode, enough spins start a Secret Formula hurry-up.
You get about 24 seconds. Hit the Krabby Patty target before it expires for 25 million and two jackpot levels.
There are four ways to earn an extra ball: roll through the inner lanes as a left-right pair five times; start your fifth mode; make 20 combos, which are shots made quickly one after another; or get lucky with the once-per-game Mystery prize. When one is lit, the screen tells you where to shoot to earn it.
Ball save starts at 9 seconds. Each completed inner-lane pair adds time, up to 18 seconds. Each outlane also starts with two saves for each player.
End-of-ball bonus is roughly a tenth of that ball’s score, multiplied by one plus the modes started. A tilt throws that bonus away.
The final battle
Finish all nine modes and shoot the Vault, and you get a final battle; players call it the wizard mode. There are two of them and they take turns: the first time you get there you play Level 1, the next time Level 2, then Level 1 again.
Level 1 gives you three balls and 180 seconds. Every switch is worth 100,000.
Milestones pay 10 million at 30, 60, and 90 switches; 15 million at 120, 150, and 180; 25 million at 210; and 50 million at 240. The second and eleventh ramps warn for add-a-ball; the third and twelfth serve it.
Level 2 starts with one ball and 180 seconds. Hit each of the nine main shots twice.
Each hit pays 14 million plus 1 million for every shot already finished; the eighteenth hit wins 50 million. Middle-target progress adds balls: warnings at counts four and fourteen, served balls at five and fifteen.
What can play at the same time
| Trying to do both | Does it work? | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Playing a mode while getting the next character ready | Only after the first jackpot | Once the mode you are in has paid one jackpot, you can start hitting the next character’s shot. |
| Playing a mode during Pineapple multiball | No | Starting multiball cancels the mode you are in. Earn the jackpot you want first, then lock the second ball. |
| Ramps, Mystery and combos | Yes | One ramp shot counts toward all three at once. |
| Multiball and add-a-ball | Yes | Shoot the ramps when the ball comes back to you under control, rather than firing at the middle targets. |
Score higher
Pick a character whose shot is a ramp or an orbit, because those are the easiest to hit again and again. Start the mode, make all three jackpots so the third one raises your jackpot level, and keep going one character at a time. Your fifth mode start gives you an extra ball.
Push the jackpot level up first, with Mega Jackpots in the modes and the Secret Formula shot, and only then lock two balls in the Pineapple. Every Super you earn there starts 20 million higher than the last, so keep clearing the list and earning. Shoot the ramps during multiball to get a third ball added.
Ramp returns are repeatable. Let the ball bounce across from a lowered flipper, or catch it into a cradle before shooting the Vault or Pineapple.
Do not flail at the three middle targets; rebounds are fast. A ball rolling through an inlane gives you a moment to set up.
From the video
What you hear in these clips is the machine itself, not a person explaining it. Use them to learn what each mode looks and sounds like when it starts.
The full rules
Hit a character’s shot three times, shoot the Vault, and shoot least one jackpot. Do that for all nine characters, then shoot the Vault again for the final battle. The two battles alternate each time you complete the mode set.
| Mode | How to make it ready | While the clock runs | How to hit the shot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do the Sponge | Shoot the SpongeBob scoop three times | Keep shooting the scoop; the third jackpot is the Mega | Get the ball resting on a flipper first. The scoop throws the ball out with some force, so get it back under control on the flipper it comes to before you shoot again. |
| Plankton Takeover | Shoot the left ramp three times | Keep shooting the left ramp | When the ball is coming at you fast down an inner lane, flip while it is near the top third of the flipper. The ball’s speed and path as it arrives is the ball’s return path. Flip too late and the ball tends to reject: it starts up the ramp, fails, and rolls back at you. |
| Sandy’s Rodeo | Shoot the right ramp three times | Keep shooting the right ramp | Shoot it from the left flipper once the ball has settled; that is a forehand, a shot across the table from the opposite flipper. Do not force it while the ball is still bouncing off a sling, the rubber triangle above each inner lane that kicks the ball away. |
| Mr. Krabs Money | Shoot the Vault three times | Keep shooting the Vault; it has the biggest basic jackpot, and this mode gets 100 seconds instead of 60 | The Vault is a narrow shot in the middle of the table. Shoot it from a resting ball, and be ready for the kickout: the machine fires the ball back out and you have to catch it. |
| Jellyfish Party | Complete the right orbit three times | The bumpers pay 500,000 a hit | Send the ball round the orbit so it runs into the bumpers. If you have a ball resting safely on a flipper, do not give that up to chase a stray bounce. |
| Boating School | Complete the left orbit three times | Keep shooting the left orbit | A smooth, full flip from a settled ball beats a rushed backhand, which is a shot from a flipper at something on its own side of the table, taken while the ball is still moving. |
| Squidward Tiki | Knock all three Squidward targets down, three times over | Hit the targets for jackpots | With the ball resting on a flipper, aim at the outside target. Balls that bounce back off the middle targets are what send it down the drain. |
| Goofy Goobers | Knock all three Patrick targets down, three times over | Hit the targets for jackpots | Nudge the machine, a short shove of the cabinet, before the ball bouncing back reaches the sling next to it, then catch the ball instead of flipping at it straight away. |
| Krusty Krab | Hit the Krabby Patty target three times | Keep hitting the Krabby Patty | Shoot it when the ball has come to you cleanly down a lane. A glancing hit can send the ball sideways toward the middle. |
Modes normally last 60 seconds. Starting one scores 500,000 and raises the bonus multiplier for that ball. The third jackpot is a Mega Jackpot: 10 million plus 1 million per jackpot level, and it raises the level by one.
Starting your fifth mode awards an extra ball. A Mystery award from the SpongeBob scoop can mark one character as ready without you making its three shots.
How to play it: keep one ball resting on a flipper and use the other for the lit shots. Advance your jackpot level with Mega Jackpots and the Secret Formula before you shoot the Pineapple; each later Super raises the level again.
Three balls, 180 seconds, 100,000 for every switch. Milestones pay at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, and 240 switches; 240 wins the battle for 50 million.
Ramps add balls: the first is ready at two ramps and served at three. Keep one ball resting and send the others through orbits and busy switch areas.
One ball to start, 180 seconds. Hit all nine main shots twice each. Every hit pays about 14 million plus 1 million for each shot already finished; the eighteenth wins 50 million.
Middle-target progress adds balls after the fifth and fifteenth counts. Take ramps, orbits, and the scoop from a resting ball before target banks, which throw the ball back at you.
Where this came from