Pinball Arcade

About

"Pinball Arcade" is a video game that offers a realistic and comprehensive pinball experience, featuring regular updates to add classic tables like Star Trek: The Next Generation, Terminator 2, Twilight Zone, and more. The game includes online tournaments and additional modes to challenge players and compete with friends. With a commitment to authenticity, "Pinball Arcade" is the most extensive pinball game available.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

73%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,684 reviews

graphics90 positive mentions

stability62 negative mentions

The game offers a surprisingly authentic pinball experience with great physics.
A good range of classic and newer tables, with many nostalgic favorites available.
The free table and monthly rotating table provide a nice way to try before you buy.

Many classic tables are no longer available due to licensing issues, limiting the overall experience.
The user interface is clunky and not user-friendly, making navigation difficult.
Table packs are expensive, making it costly to access a full range of tables.

graphics
246 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
54%
9%
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the detailed visuals and realistic physics that enhance the pinball experience, while others criticize the dated graphics and lack of modern features like higher resolution textures and shader technology. Many users note that while the tables are visually appealing, the overall presentation can be inconsistent, with some tables appearing poorly rendered or suffering from graphical glitches. Overall, the game's graphics are seen as a strong point for pinball enthusiasts, but they may not meet the expectations of players looking for cutting-edge visuals.
- “The graphics and presentation are both impressive.”
- “One of my favorite things about pinball is the artwork, so seeing these tables emulated with such smooth graphics is a really cool experience.”
- “Superb graphics, ultra smooth and realistic gameplay, as close as you'll ever get to owning the original tables and playing them in your living room.”
- “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 are bare bones and dated.”
- “The graphics quality is poor whilst the optimisation is terrible and taxes my machine.”
gameplay
146 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
72%
5%
The gameplay is generally praised for its realistic physics and faithful recreation of classic pinball tables, providing an enjoyable experience for fans of the genre. However, some users note that the mechanics can feel shallow compared to competitors, with issues like delayed flipper response and technical glitches affecting the overall experience. While the nostalgic appeal and visual fidelity are highlighted, many players express a desire for more depth and variety in gameplay mechanics.
- “Addictive gameplay, great ball physics; feels almost like real pinball.”
- “The accuracy and smooth gameplay take me back to the time I played some of these tables for real in the 1980s and 1990s.”
- “Faithfully recreated classic tables with superb gameplay.”
- “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
63 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
98%
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with users reporting frequent bugs, crashes, and glitches that significantly detract from the overall experience. Many players have experienced issues with the user interface, performance lags, and problems with table interactions, leading to frustration and a lack of confidence in the game's reliability. While some users find enjoyment in the gameplay despite these issues, the consensus is that the game is currently in a poorly maintained and buggy state.
- “Is still quite buggy and the game crashes quite regularly, which in a game such as this can be incredibly demotivating.”
- “The game is buggy; a lot of people are reporting problems, but the free table works fine for me until I exit!”
- “It's too buggy, and I could not log in.”
music
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
55%
15%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising the nostalgic soundtracks and original table music, while others criticize the repetitive menu music and low-quality sound emulation. Many appreciate the catchy tunes and sound effects that enhance the gameplay experience, but there are complaints about the lack of volume control and the presence of subpar audio on certain tables. Overall, while the music adds to the charm of the game, it can become tiresome for some players.
- “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...”
- “Great music coupled with excellent table sound effects.”
- “The music, sound, and gameplay are all top notch.”
- “The sound emulation is nothing more than recorded sounds and music, and not true emulation of the sound hardware.”
- “The menu music is generic rock.”
- “Good pinball game, but the problem is they have not added any sound options to turn music and sounds down, so if you're talking on Steam to friends, you can't hear them. Plus, after listening to the music over and over, it gets quite annoying.”
monetization
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
35%
50%
The monetization strategy of the game has received significant criticism, with players highlighting the prevalence of intrusive advertisements, particularly during loading screens, and the reliance on microtransactions for accessing additional content. Many users feel that the game feels like a cash grab, with clunky interfaces and frustrating in-game purchases that detract from the overall experience. While some acknowledge the value of table packs, the overall sentiment is that the monetization approach leaves a negative impression, especially for those expecting a more straightforward purchase model.
- “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.”
- “Nothing has improved and it just feels like a cash grab.”
- “While I do like pinball, the quarter-pumping arcade action of these microtransactions is a real killer.”
- “This free-to-play leaves a bitter taste of in-app purchases.”
story
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
67%
17%
The story aspect of the game is met with mixed opinions; while some players appreciate the complexity and narrative depth of the mini-games and missions tied to the pinball tables, others find the emphasis on story unnecessary or poorly executed. There are mentions of bugs that can hinder progress in completing missions, which detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the focus seems to be more on gameplay mechanics and nostalgia rather than a cohesive 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?”
optimization
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
65%
18%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users experiencing significant performance issues, including input 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 a decline in performance on more powerful hardware. Overall, while some tables run well, the inconsistency in performance and optimization remains a notable concern for many users.
- “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!!!”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
92%
8%
The humor in the game is widely praised, with many users finding it extremely funny and even "eye watering hilarious," particularly enjoying the quirky elements like the talking clown head and unexpected ball bounces. However, some critiques point out that certain aspects, such as the delivery of jokes and the pricing of additional tables, fall flat or feel like a joke in themselves. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with gameplay, making it a standout feature for many players.
- “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
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
30%
Overall, the game boasts exceptional replayability, driven by its high-quality tables, iconic machines, and engaging gameplay that encourages players to improve their high scores. Many users find the challenges and goals for each table to be addictive, making it easy to return for more playtime. The nostalgic appeal of classic machines from the 1960s-1970s further enhances the game's enduring fun and replay value.
- “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.”
- “The game has a good replay value as you're always going back to try and improve on high scores, and if you have friends who play it, there's even more reason to be competitive.”
- “The tables within may seem pricey at first, but when you consider the replay value, it's totally worth paying for the season packs.”
- “With all the challenges and goals for each table, the replay value is astronomical.”
- “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 game's atmosphere is enhanced by its nostalgic music and animations, evoking memories of classic arcade experiences, though it lacks the immersive environment of a real arcade. While the graphics and sound contribute positively to the overall atmosphere, players feel that additional atmospheric effects, like fog, could further improve the visual depth and distinction of gameplay elements. Overall, the atmosphere is enjoyable but could benefit from more dynamic effects to elevate the experience.
- “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.”
- “Also, you have to use the DX11 mode to get the full atmosphere of the game.”
- “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.”
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 Williams/Bally, leading to frustrations with gameplay mechanics and 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.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
200%
300%
Players indicate that grinding in the game can be quite demanding, often requiring significant time investment or additional lives to progress effectively.
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
- “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.”