Originally published as an Advisory Hour Substack post on 2026-10-25. This first-party site copy preserves the text, localizes public supporting media, and connects the record to its project trail.
Original post
Midnight Ride is the next entry in TiltLab, and it brings over some of the energy from my recent horse-riding game. Excitebike, but with horses and oil paintings.
This is the first pinball machine I’ve put into a setting of its own. The cabinet stands in Boston Harbor at night, surrounded by that same painted aesthetic. I really enjoy the vibe of this one. I think you’ll see more machines turning up in interesting places as this series continues.
There’s a little customization, different rides and levels to work through, and horses to unlock. The machine itself has a cannon you can aim, along with an animated display. Hanging two lanterns in the Old North Church gets you multiball, which seems like a pretty reasonable use of the building.
I actually wouldn’t mind owning this pinball machine. The same goes for a few of the others I’ll be talking about this week. They’ve been an incredible amount of fun to play, and I keep finding reasons to go back for another round.
I’ve included a short video below so you can get a sense of the machine and its setting, along with the link to jump in and play.
See what kind of high score you can put up. Good luck.
Play now: https://www.ericrhea.com/tiltlab/machines/midnight-ride/
Connected work
- Play Midnight Ride: Light the lanterns and aim the cannon.
- About Midnight Ride: Read the rules and follow the parts carried forward from Chrome Orbit.