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Pinball FX

The ball is still in play in Pinball FX, and we hope it doesn’t wind up in the drain early. While fun, it’s a clear step back from FX3 visually on the Switch, and in terms of content. New players should still have a blast, but for existing fans, Zen Studios has let us down.
Pinball FX Game Cover
68%Game Brain Score
stability
graphics, music
66% User Score Based on 68 reviews
Critic Score 72%Based on 10 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5Playstation 4Xbox OneXboxWindowsPlayStation
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Pinball FX Game Cover

About

Pinball FX is a single player and multiplayer casual simulation game. It was developed by Zen Studios and was released on May 20, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

Pinball FX is a free-to-play game offering a variety of pinball tables, including exclusives, classics, and those based on popular franchises like Star Wars and Marvel. Players can hone their skills on three free tables, unlock collectibles for a customizable 3D playroom, and access new tables regularly. The game provides accurate re-creations of physical pinball machines and Zen Studios' original creations for an enhanced digital pinball experience.

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Play Modes
Pinball FX screenshot
Pinball FX screenshot
Pinball FX screenshot
Pinball FX screenshot
Pinball FX screenshot
Pinball FX screenshot
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66%
Audience ScoreBased on 68 reviews
stability2 positive mentions
music3 negative mentions
  • The game offers a wide variety of tables, including excellent recreations of classic Williams tables, providing a nostalgic experience for pinball fans.
  • The graphics and audio have seen improvements, making it visually appealing and immersive for players.
  • The gameplay is addictive and fun, with new modes and features that enhance the overall pinball experience.
  • Players are required to repurchase tables from previous versions, which many consider a cash grab and a significant drawback.
  • The game suffers from input lag and performance issues, making the flipper response feel inconsistent and less enjoyable compared to earlier versions.
  • The user interface and overall experience feel like a step back from Pinball FX3, with longer loading times and a less intuitive layout.
  • graphics
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many users noting that while there are improvements over previous versions, they still fall short of expectations for a 2023 release. Critics highlight issues such as poor visual design, performance problems, and input lag, particularly when using higher settings like ray tracing. Overall, while some appreciate the enhanced textures and lighting, the graphical fidelity does not meet the standards set by other pinball simulations, leading to a frustrating experience for many players.

    • “We reworked all tables in PFX to run in the new engine, and to achieve higher graphical fidelity in textures and lighting.”
    • “Great game with nice new modes and a little bit better graphics than Pinball FX3.”
    • “Graphics and audio are great but the physics simply sucks.”
    • “The graphics need some work and the launch platform is slow and feels outdated for a 2023 release.”
    • “It's ugly and looks like programmers created it without anyone thinking of graphical UI design.”
    • “My mid-range gaming/pinball PC runs most games just fine at medium or better settings, but this game is simply unplayable even at the lowest graphics settings.”
  • music
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players have expressed frustration with the music in the game, particularly noting that the Indiana Jones table song plays continuously across all tables, overshadowing other music. Additionally, the ending music for tables is abruptly cut off when transitioning to the menu, leading to disappointment, especially for fans of specific tracks like the game over song from "Creature from the Black Lagoon." Overall, the music experience is marred by technical issues and poor transitions.

    • “I do have one major beef though: the table's ending music gets cut off after a game, the Zen menu stuff comes up and it plays the background music.”
    • “And like seriously dude, my favorite pinball song ever is the game over song at the end of Creature from the Black Lagoon, which not hearing legitimately pisses me off.”
    • “Not sure if there is a fix, but the Indiana Jones table song plays nonstop at any table I am playing on top of whatever music should be playing.”
    • “Muting the in-game music does nothing but mute the table's music.”
    • “I do have one major beef though: the table's ending music gets cut off after a game, the Zen menu stuff comes up and it plays the crappy menu background music.”
  • optimization
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has faced criticism due to low framerates, stuttering, and significant flipper lag, particularly on lower-end systems. While the new engine offers improved graphical fidelity, it demands higher system requirements, leading to performance issues for many players. However, recent updates have reportedly resolved most performance problems, especially for those with upgraded hardware, allowing for smoother gameplay at maximum settings.

    • “A recent update seems to have solved most of my performance issues; I'm now on max settings with ray tracing, and everything is working great, looking great, and without noticeable lag.”
    • “Having just upgraded to current-gen hardware (i5-13400f, RTX 4070), I no longer have any performance issues, even running a 43" 4K 120Hz screen in portrait/pinball mode.”
    • “We reworked all tables in PFX to run in the new engine, achieving higher graphical fidelity in textures and lighting, which unfortunately results in higher requirements for the game to run smoothly.”
    • “Low framerates, stuttering whenever an unnecessary special effect is triggered, and the worst flipper lag I've ever seen in a virtual pinball game.”
    • “The performance of the new engine badly needs further optimization; it is currently very taxing on the system for what is a significant, but not huge, improvement in visual fidelity. If you're using a smaller screen in landscape, you may struggle to notice much visual improvement over PFX3.”
    • “Edit July '23: a recent update seems to have solved most of my performance issues; I'm now on max settings with ray tracing, working great, looking great, and without noticeable lag.”
  • monetization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate that while the monetization strategy is not strictly a "cash grab" since players aren't required to repurchase items, there is a pervasive feeling among users that the overall approach feels exploitative and overly focused on profit.

    • “Cash grab.”
    • “And why does this all feel like a giant cash grab?”
    • “It's not a 'cash grab' in the true sense, as you don't have to buy them again.”
  • gameplay
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is generally considered fun, with improvements noted in the FX version, which also runs efficiently on lower-end machines and requires less storage space compared to its predecessor, FX3.

    • “The gameplay is incredibly fun and engaging.”
    • “The gameplay in FX3 is better; it runs on less powerful machines and takes up less space.”
    • “The gameplay feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
    • “I found the controls to be unresponsive, which really detracted from the overall experience.”
    • “The pacing of the gameplay is off, leading to frustrating moments that break immersion.”
  • atmosphere
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users note that the updated Williams tables enhance the nighttime atmosphere, creating a more immersive and engaging experience.

    • “The updated Williams tables now create a more immersive night atmosphere.”
    • “The game's atmosphere is incredibly captivating, drawing you into its world.”
    • “The ambient sounds and visuals combine perfectly to enhance the overall atmosphere.”
    • “The updated Williams tables now have a more nighttime atmosphere.”
    • “The overall ambiance feels flat and uninspired, lacking any real depth.”
    • “The game fails to create an immersive atmosphere, leaving players feeling disconnected.”
  • stability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, users report that Pinball FX runs smoothly with no significant bugs, showcasing improved stability and realistic physics compared to previous versions. Players are encouraged to try the game for themselves, despite some negative reviews.

    • “Pinball FX runs great and is a significant improvement over the previous game, so just try it for yourself if you are curious.”
    • “The gameplay seems to be bug-free and the physics response is realistic.”
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72%Critics’ scoreBased on 10 critic reviews
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Frequently Asked Questions

Pinball FX is a casual simulation game.

Pinball FX is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

Pinball FX was released on May 20, 2022.

Pinball FX was developed by Zen Studios.

Pinball FX has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its stability but disliked it for its graphics.

Pinball FX is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Pinball FX3, Zaccaria Pinball, Pinball Arcade, Stern Pinball Arcade, Zen Pinball and others.