Pinball FX3

87%
Game Brain Score Based on 904 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • story
Pinball FX3 Game Cover
Zen Studios’ pinball game is now a platform on Switch and it’s marvelous.
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Pinball FX3 is a dynamic and engaging pinball simulation game that features a variety of tables with unique themes and objectives. With stunning graphics, realistic physics, and both single-player and multiplayer modes, it provides a captivating experience for both casual and hardcore pinball enthusiasts. Customizable controls and various challenges add depth to this immersive game.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

87%
Audience ScoreBased on 904 reviews
graphics43 positive mentions
stability5 negative mentions
  • Pinball FX3 offers a wide variety of tables, including many classic Williams tables, providing an engaging and nostalgic experience for pinball fans.
  • The game features excellent graphics and realistic physics, making the gameplay enjoyable and immersive.
  • The addition of online tournaments and challenges adds depth and replayability, allowing players to compete and improve their skills.
  • Many players express frustration over the high cost of DLC tables, which can add up quickly, making it expensive to unlock all content.
  • There are reports of technical issues, including crashes and lag, particularly on certain tables, which can detract from the overall experience.
  • The transition from previous versions (like FX2) has left some tables unavailable, leading to disappointment among long-time fans who wish to access their favorite tables.
  • graphics77 mentions

    The graphics in the game are widely praised for their impressive detail and realism, with many users highlighting the vibrant visuals, smooth animations, and effective use of lighting and effects that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the high-quality graphics, especially on PC, which contribute to a nostalgic feel while accurately simulating classic pinball tables. However, some critiques mention that the flashy graphics can occasionally detract from gameplay clarity, making certain elements difficult to see.

    • “The graphics are top-notch, providing a true-to-life, realistic simulation of actual pinball tables.”
    • “Amazing graphics and most of Zen's 'extra' effects really enhance the experience.”
    • “The graphics are really nice while still managing to be performant; I haven't had any issues at all with hitching or framerate drops.”
    • “Plays okay, graphics are low to mediocre.”
    • “Graphics are cartoony with overly bright colors and special effects that all blend to make some table items hard to see (including the flippers).”
    • “After all, it uses the old px engine physics, it doesn't have all the fancy new event modes that pinball fx does, and it definitely doesn't benefit from the unreal engine 4 lighting, hdr, and other graphical bumps that pinball fx offers.”
  • gameplay51 mentions

    The gameplay in this pinball game is generally praised for its fun mechanics, great physics, and engaging tables, particularly for fans of arcade pinball. While many players appreciate the variety and addictive nature of the gameplay, some express concerns about certain tables feeling generic or having distracting animations that hinder the experience. Overall, the game offers a polished and enjoyable experience, especially for those who love classic pinball, despite some minor issues like stuttering and excessive pop-ups.

    • “I've played loads and loads of pinball games over the years... these tables are amazing, and if you love arcade pinball games, you will love these tables. I really like the Darth Vader table and the Jaws table... just brilliant... very addictive gameplay... what more could we want?”
    • “Great physics and gameplay... leaps and bounds beyond TPA.”
    • “Pinball FX3 is a blast, with a ton of great tables and excellent gameplay.”
    • “It isn't a perfect formula; however, there were many tables (the Balls of Glory pack especially) that just didn't work for me - just a lot of lazy references and generic gameplay.”
    • “What I don't like are animations that come in conflict with the gameplay or repetitive ones based on you losing.”
    • “It's very distracting and really takes the fun out of the game... they are just little millisecond stutters, but they happen every few seconds and it gets more and more pronounced, to the point where it really hinders gameplay.”
  • story22 mentions

    The story aspect of the game is noted for its intricate and engaging missions, character progression, and a variety of quests that enhance the gameplay experience. Players appreciate the depth and creativity of the narratives woven into the pinball tables, with some tables offering distinct missions and challenges that encourage exploration and replayability. However, some users feel that certain tables prioritize aesthetics over gameplay, and there are mixed opinions on the clarity of the overarching plot.

    • “The tables are inventive and elaborate, compelling you to come back again and again to unlock more missions and modes.”
    • “In the game, you navigate a haunted house, and starting different missions have you doing things like playing hide and seek with a ghost or finding your way through twisty hallways in the cellar.”
    • “Technically speaking, I guess that is still what it is, but the quests and challenges a table has to unlock to complete a table makes them far more in-depth than I originally thought.”
    • “Some of the machines focus too much on eye-candy, backstory, mini-games, etc., rather than gameplay.”
    • “The missions are generally clear, but a lot of the discovery is hidden away until you unlock.”
    • “Clueless to the plot though :/”
  • music18 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the original tracks and vibrant sound effects that enhance the experience, while others criticize the lack of licensed music and subpar voice acting on certain tables. Many players express disappointment over the absence of iconic songs and the inability to customize menu music settings. Overall, while the atmosphere and sound design can be enjoyable, the inconsistency in music quality, particularly on licensed tables, detracts from the experience for purists.

    • “This is worth the money; when they have the original music and voices, the game is amazing.”
    • “Mesmerizing visuals and epic soundtracks.”
    • “Great music, atmosphere, not too cluttered, and a similar layout to the Walking Dead table, with very fun missions and modes.”
    • “The music they were forced to put on the table now makes me want to find the people that made it and demand a change.”
    • “From the knock-off theme music to the missing Huey Lewis and the News tune, the approximations are like those cheap waters that claim to have a flavor of a fruit, but it feels like someone just shouted the name of the fruit across the street.”
    • “What hasn't changed is the lackluster voice acting and music on some of the licensed tables, but most of the tables are fun and there are so many to choose from that it's hard not to recommend this game if you're wanting your digital pinball fix.”
  • optimization10 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its smooth performance across a range of hardware, with minimal resource usage and a lack of significant glitches, particularly important for a precision-based game like pinball. However, some users have reported issues with stuttering and performance inconsistencies, especially in handheld mode, suggesting that further updates could enhance the experience. While the game runs well on many systems, there are still areas for improvement, particularly in comparison to previous versions.

    • “I get good 1920x1080 performance even on my 8th gen Intel CPU with integrated HD 620 graphics.”
    • “The game itself runs smoothly and takes little system resources.”
    • “My biggest compliment is the almost total lack of physics/graphics glitches-- when it comes to something as precise as pinball (where reactions count down to the ms) there ought not to be any tolerance for performance loss.”
    • “My biggest complaint is the almost total lack of physics/graphics glitches -- when it comes to something as precise as pinball (where reactions count down to the ms), there ought not to be any tolerance for performance loss.”
    • “Pinball FX3 leaves some things to be desired on the technical side of things, which can only be hoped to see fixed in the near future through an update since it looks and performs rougher than even its predecessor on the Wii U and, at least in terms of performance in handheld mode, worse than on the 3DS.”
    • “I'd recommend it in a heartbeat if a core gameplay issue, the stuttering, was fixed -- as the rest of the experience is polished, clean, fast, and fun as hell.”
  • stability6 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players praise its well-designed engine and minimal glitches, others report frequent crashes and freezing issues that disrupt gameplay. The inconsistency in performance, particularly during critical moments, raises concerns about the developers' focus on monetization over delivering a reliable experience.

    • “Runs great on less powerful hardware.”
    • “The game maintains a steady frame rate, even during intense action sequences.”
    • “I haven't experienced any crashes or bugs, which makes for a smooth gaming experience.”
    • “When you have to relaunch the game three times to play a single session of 'junkyard' or switch between tables, it makes me think the devs care more about milking pinball junkies out of their cash with DLC than they do about making a consistent, non-buggy experience.”
    • “And it freezes after about 5 or 10 minutes into a good ball.”
    • “My biggest complaint is the almost total lack of physics/graphics glitches-- when it comes to something as precise as pinball (where reactions count down to the millisecond), there ought not to be any tolerance for performance loss.”
  • replayability6 mentions

    The game is praised for its high replayability, thanks to engaging options, profile leveling, and tournaments that enhance the overall experience. While some tables are missing due to licensing issues, the new progression system effectively boosts replay value for existing content.

    • “Incredibly fun game with really cool options that give a ton of replay value.”
    • “It's a shame that licensing issues mean that some tables have been left behind, but the new progression system adds replayability to every other table that you already own.”
    • “This would also really improve the gameplay and replayability.”
    • “Also, the profile leveling and tournaments keep the replay value very high.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The atmosphere in "The Walking Dead" is praised for its fun and engaging elements, complemented by great music and a well-structured layout. In contrast, while the "Mars" table is highlighted as one of Zen Studios' best for its immersive atmosphere, the alien tables fall short in delivering a similar experience, lacking the captivating ambiance found in "Mars."

    • “Great music, atmosphere, not too cluttered, and a similar layout to The Walking Dead table, along with very fun missions and modes.”
    • “Mars is one of the best atmospheric tables Zen Studios has made.”
    • “The Walking Dead: very fun and atmospheric.”
    • “I was a bit disappointed with the alien tables because of their lack of atmosphere, but Mars proves that Zen Studios is capable of delivering the terrible wonder of the unknown.”
  • humor3 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by charming animations and a playful sense of fun, though some elements, like the focus on Bigfoot laughing at players, can be frustrating. Additionally, the requirement to purchase blocks of "funny money" for table buyouts adds a quirky twist to the experience.

    • “Charming animations and a great sense of humor.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    Users criticize Zen Studios for employing predatory monetization practices, highlighting that their DLCs are misleadingly advertised as being on sale while actually being sold at full price.

    • “Zen Studios is guilty of the worst kind of predatory monetization and grifting.”
    • “The DLCs keep advertising as though they are on sale, but everything is full price.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the online tournament play enjoyable, but they note that the matchmaking process can be somewhat tedious, contributing to a grinding experience.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

81% average critic score

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Play time

560hMedian play time
426hAverage play time
12-706hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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