Pinball Arcade

About

Pinball Arcade is a single player and multiplayer casual simulation game. It was developed by FarSight Studios and was released on November 4, 2013. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Pinball Arcade" is a digital pinball game that offers exact recreations of classic tables from Stern Pinball and Gottlieb. The game features meticulously detailed graphics, sound effects, and gameplay mechanics, with regular updates adding more tables. The game includes the Mary Shelley's Frankenstein table for free and aims to preserve the historic significance of pinball.

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73%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,717 reviews

graphics94 positive mentions

stability64 negative mentions

The game features a great selection of classic pinball tables, including beloved titles like Ghostbusters and Star Trek.
The pinball physics are well-executed, providing a realistic experience that many players appreciate.
The developers have put significant effort into recreating the tables, making them visually appealing and true to their real-life counterparts.

The game has lost many popular tables due to licensing issues, which has significantly reduced its appeal for new players.
The user interface is clunky and outdated, making navigation frustrating for players.
Many players have reported bugs and crashes, which detracts from the overall gaming experience.

graphics
252 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
54%
9%
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the beautiful artwork and high-quality table designs, while others criticize the dated visuals and lack of modern graphical enhancements. Many users appreciate the attention to detail in recreating the original pinball machines, but note that the overall graphical fidelity can be inconsistent, with some tables appearing outdated or poorly rendered. Overall, while the game offers impressive visuals in certain aspects, it falls short in others, leading to a varied reception among players.
- “Every table has its unique lighting and artwork, and in such high quality.”
- “One of my favorite things about pinball is the artwork, so seeing these tables emulated with such smooth graphics is a really cool experience.”
- “The graphics and presentation are both impressive.”
- “The graphics are bare bones and dated.”
- “Now it's 2023, but no updated graphics, actual higher resolution textures and very, very, very minimal or no use of modern shader technology at all.”
- “The graphics quality is poor whilst the optimisation is terrible and taxes my machine.”
gameplay
150 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
70%
5%
The gameplay in this pinball collection is praised for its accuracy and nostalgic appeal, closely mimicking the mechanics and physics of real-life machines, particularly from the 1960s to the 1990s. However, some users note that while the visuals are impressive, the gameplay can feel shallow and lacks the immersive mechanics found in competing titles, leading to mixed feelings about its overall execution. Despite these criticisms, many find the gameplay addictive and enjoyable, especially for fans of classic pinball tables.
- “The replay value of this collection just shows how immensely satisfying and addictive pinball gameplay is, even if it's virtual.”
- “The quality of the gameplay is near perfect to the real-life counterpart.”
- “Addictive gameplay, great ball physics, feels almost like real pinball.”
- “Gameplay is very unsatisfactory.”
- “The pinball mechanics aren't even remotely accurate.”
- “While the graphics are some of the best I've seen, the gameplay itself is terrible.”
stability
65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
98%
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly detract from the experience. While some players appreciate the physics and table selection, many express frustration over the buggy interface and performance issues, leading to a general consensus that the game feels unfinished and poorly maintained. Overall, the stability issues are a major concern, making it difficult for players to fully enjoy the game.
- “Is still quite buggy and the game crashes quite regularly, which in a game such as this can be incredibly demotivating.”
- “They released an unfinished buggy product and abused Steam's 'sale' pricing so that you can't return the game via the usual channel.”
- “The game is buggy, with a lot of people reporting problems, but the free table works fine for me, until I exit!”
music
61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
56%
13%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the nostalgic soundtracks and original effects that enhance the pinball experience. However, some criticize the quality of certain tracks, noting that while some tables feature clear audio, others suffer from muffled sound. Additionally, the repetitive menu music and lack of individual volume controls detract from the overall enjoyment for some users.
- “If you like pinball, then this is the game for you... great graphics and ball/flipper dynamics along with some awesome soundtracks... get comfortable, put on your headphones and off you go...”
- “The music is great, effects are spot-on (as far as I can tell), and the graphics are neat.”
- “Great music coupled with excellent table sound effects.”
- “The sound emulation is nothing more than recorded sounds and music, and not true emulation of the sound hardware.”
- “The music and sound effects are of strangely low quality, the graphics are very subpar all across the board, there is only one free table, and to get more tables costs a lot more money than they'd ever be worth.”
- “The menu music is generic rock.”
monetization
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
34%
52%
The monetization model of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing the prevalence of ads and microtransactions that detract from the overall experience. While some appreciate the historical context and features of the tables, the clunky interface and aggressive in-game purchases have led to perceptions of the game as a cash grab. Overall, players suggest that the monetization strategy undermines the enjoyment of the game, despite the potential for fun with the actual pinball mechanics.
- “This free-to-play model leaves a bitter taste due to the prevalence of in-app purchases.”
- “A is free, with one table available for free, and you pay microtransactions to unlock each new one (about $3 - not bad considering it was $1 to $2 per game in the arcade!), with 'seasons' of tables added periodically.”
- “In-game purchases are present, allowing you to buy additional tables to enhance your experience.”
- “There are really lame advertisements in the loading screens and about 100 achievements for tables that are no longer available to play, so that sucks.”
- “Nothing has improved and it just feels like a cash grab.”
- “This free-to-play leaves a bitter taste of in-app purchases.”
optimization
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
66%
17%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users experiencing significant performance issues, including lag and choppy gameplay on certain tables, while others report smooth performance and great visuals, especially in DX11 mode. Many players suggest that the game may be over-optimized for portable devices, leading to problems on higher-end hardware. Overall, while some tables perform well, the inconsistency in optimization has left many users frustrated.
- “The game seems to be well-optimized and looks great too (even better if you're in DX11 mode); great physics, wonderful sound, and a great way to try out each table for free.”
- “I had no performance issues whatsoever.”
- “Zen Pinball has the edge as far as overall performance and presentation, but this is not far off at all.”
- “I could never get my settings correct for the ball movement to not lag - poor performance - when every other game runs great.”
- “The free stuff is very limited - like one free table per month that changes, and the optimization of the game is very bad.”
- “PC port is a complete waste and an unoptimized mess!!!”
story
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
64%
18%
The story aspect of the game is met with mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the complexity and narrative depth of the mini-games and missions tied to the pinball tables, others question the necessity of a story in a pinball game. There are mentions of bugs that can hinder progress in completing missions, which can be frustrating, and some users express dissatisfaction with the marketing and communication from the developers regarding season passes. Overall, the focus seems to be more on gameplay mechanics and nostalgia rather than a traditional narrative.
- “I always thought pinball was just about getting high scores, but these mini-games are complex and have a story to tell, and beating them is not easy.”
- “The devs really care, and I have a story relating to that.”
- “These pinball tables, more specifically the newer ones with the dot matrix display, tend to have a lot of missions and trick shots to complete in order to gain a larger amount of points in quick succession.”
- “Here's the short of the story: they misadvertised their season passes a long while back, fixed their description after the fact, and didn't give me my money back.”
- “This is very well done but has bugs which frustratingly can prevent you from completing a game - most painful when you're just about to complete the main story or attempting to break a high score.”
- “Story: -/10 why do you need a story?”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
92%
8%
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding it extremely fun and often hilarious, particularly through quirky elements like unexpected bounces and amusing character designs, such as the talking clown head. However, some critiques point out that certain aspects, like the delivery of jokes and the pricing of additional tables, can fall flat or feel like a joke in themselves. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with gameplay, making it an entertaining experience for many.
- “Extremely fun, and in some cases eye-wateringly hilarious!”
- “The sense of humor in these cracks me up (Medieval Madness and Harley-Davidson Road Trip).”
- “It's also possible to get 'funny' bounces, where things don't seem to behave properly.”
- “The only thing I can think of is that this is a big joke... except it's not funny, or delivered well.”
replayability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
9%
27%
The game boasts exceptional replayability, driven by its addictive pinball gameplay and a variety of well-crafted tables that encourage players to improve their high scores. Users particularly enjoy the iconic machines from the 1960s-1970s, which add to the nostalgic appeal and challenge. With numerous challenges and competitive elements, players find themselves returning frequently for more fun and engagement.
- “The replay value of this collection just shows how immensely satisfying and addictive pinball gameplay is, even if it's virtual.”
- “The faithfully recreated iconic machines/games themselves are what make Pinball Arcade enjoyable and infinitely replayable.”
- “With all the challenges and goals for each table, replay value is astronomical.”
- “With all the challenges and goals for each table, the replay value is astronomical.”
- “The tables within may seem pricey at first, but when you consider the replay value, it's totally worth paying for the season packs.”
- “Star Trek, Ghostbusters, and High Roller Casino are my favorite three tables, and they seem to offer a lot of replayability.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The atmosphere of the game is enhanced by its nostalgic music and animations, evoking memories of the original arcade experience, though some players feel it lacks the authentic dark arcade vibe. While the graphics and sound contribute positively to the overall ambiance, there is a desire for improved atmospheric effects, such as fog, to better highlight gameplay elements. Overall, the game successfully creates a fun and engaging atmosphere, though it may not fully replicate the real-life arcade feel.
- “Adds a lot of atmosphere.”
- “It's a very awesome and fun game to play; the graphics, the sound, and the game atmosphere are very decent.”
- “The music and animation of Pinbot appear exactly as I remember it, except for the lack of dark arcade atmosphere and the visuals of people watching and girls shrieking.”
- “Nothing will really replace the touch and feel and atmosphere of the games in real life, but the memories that come back from playing these 'replicas' can make it seem like it.”
- “Also, you have to use the DX11 mode to get the full atmosphere of the game.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players indicate that grinding in the game can be quite demanding, often requiring significant time investment or additional lives to progress effectively.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
- “I spent hours grinding, and it felt like I made no progress.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a nostalgic emotional connection to the game, recalling the joy of childhood experiences. However, there is also a sense of disappointment and heartbreak regarding the loss of contracts with beloved manufacturers, which has led to frustrating gameplay experiences marked by frequent drains.
- “Made me feel like a kid again... thanks :)”
- “Unfortunately, I think Williams/Bally machines are the best ones, so when the devs lost their contracts with the companies, it was pretty heartbreaking.”