Pinball Spire

About

Pinball Spire is a single player arcade simulation game. It was developed by Apparition Games and was released on October 2, 2024. It received positive reviews from players.

"Pinball Spire" is a pinballvania game, combining classic pinball mechanics with platforming, puzzles, and exploration. As a brave pinball named Pip, you'll explore the titular spire, conquering a strange pinball maze filled with secrets, enemies, and interactive contraptions. With mana-powered pinball abilities, overcome challenges and uncover the mystery at the spire's peak. Official game description count: 221 characters.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 220 reviews

gameplay10 positive mentions

grinding20 negative mentions

The game features solid pinball physics and unique level designs that provide a fun and engaging experience.
The art style and music are charming, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.
The combination of pinball mechanics with puzzle-solving elements creates a refreshing and enjoyable gameplay experience.

The game is quite short, with many players completing it in under 4 hours, leading to concerns about its value at full price.
The lack of classic pinball mechanics, such as nudging, can lead to frustrating gameplay moments and a feeling of limited control over the ball.
The linear progression and minimal exploration options make it difficult to classify as a true metroidvania, which may disappoint some players.

gameplay
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
82%
4%
The gameplay is generally well-received, praised for its polished mechanics and satisfying pinball experience, though some players express disappointment over the lack of traditional pinball features like table tilting and more complex mechanics. While the game offers a fun and unique blend of pinball and platforming elements, it is noted to be relatively short, with some players wishing for additional content and features. Overall, it strikes a balance between nostalgia and modern gameplay, but may leave hardcore pinball fans wanting more depth.
- “I'm only an hour or so in but it's a great little game, really well polished from UI to gameplay.”
- “A delightful little pinball adventure with some fun mechanics to give the game its own personality.”
- “What I love most is how it balances the nostalgia of classic pinball with modern gameplay features.”
- “The mechanics are solid although there's sometimes where you can feel a little out of control of where the ball is going.”
- “Also, the lack of a nudge really hurts the gameplay - you have to hope the bounce physics are in your favor.”
- “While it uses the mechanics of pinball fairly well, it's a little bit lacking in actual pinball nerdery - I was somewhat disappointed by the lack of conventional pinball mechanics like table tilting or more complex wizard mode mechanics.”
music
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
24%
6%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many players praising its quality and emotional impact, often comparing it to classic soundtracks like those from "Chrono Trigger" and "Octopath Traveler." Reviewers noted that the soundtrack enhances the overall experience, creating a chill atmosphere that complements the game's visuals and mechanics. However, some players mentioned that repetitive tracks can become tiresome during extended gameplay sessions.
- “I found myself jamming along to the soundtrack (please tell me I can listen to it on YouTube or some other music platform!) as well as sometimes my breath catching in my throat with how gorgeous every new level was.”
- “The music feels like the perfect match for a game you can just sit down with and enjoy, and reinforces the chill atmosphere of the game.”
- “While I do wish it were a little longer, it doesn't overstay its welcome and introduces unique levels with a great visual style and wonderful sound design + music (with a slightly adaptive soundtrack in subareas)!”
- “The music is fine, but when you hear the same track over and over while you're stuck in a room for ten minutes, it gets a little old.”
- “Music is just slightly too involved, but it's good so it's not a really bad thing.”
- “First though, I liked the table designs, two of the three abilities (burst and flame), and the music.”
grinding
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, with many noting that objectives feel opaque and luck-based, particularly in expansive areas like the planetary system room. The final boss battle is described as a marathon due to excessive barriers, contributing to a sense of aggravation. While some elements of the game are appreciated, the repetitive nature of gameplay leads to a lack of desire to replay after achieving certain milestones.
- “Just tedious and frustrating when it could have been so much better.”
- “The final boss itself also feels tedious; the concept is amazing and I'd love to see more pinball boss fights, but the sheer number of barriers - both literal and figurative - to dealing damage turned the battle into a marathon, taking me well over 20 minutes.”
- “Some spoilery complaints: [spoiler] the room with the sun and planets was where I started to feel real aggravation at the game, because the lack of control over the ball trajectory in such a wide-open space - even with the dash ability - made it feel tedious and luck-based.”
graphics
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
45%
15%
The graphics in Pinball Spire are praised for their professional quality, featuring gorgeous, clear pixel art that enhances the overall presentation alongside pleasing sound design. While the art style is charming and fits the game's vibe well, some players have noted issues with scaling in smaller rooms, which can affect gameplay on larger monitors. Overall, the visuals are a highlight, contributing positively to the gaming experience.
- “Both the graphic design and animations are at a professional level.”
- “Graphics are really, really nice, gorgeous, simple, clear pixel art!”
- “The art style is simple but charming, and it fits the overall vibe really well.”
- “A couple of the smaller rooms have also been annoying to play through because the graphics don't scale well, but I'm sure it's great on something like the Steam Deck instead of a big normal monitor.”
- “Tl;dr: pleasing presentation (both sound and visuals), however gameplay can get frustrating a little quickly and don't go in expecting a true metroidvania either.”
- “Pinball Spire has crisper graphics, being made in the modern era.”
optimization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
The game suffers from notable performance issues, particularly as players progress to later levels, making it a resource-intensive experience. While it runs well on the Steam Deck, many users express hope for a patch to address these mechanical and optimization problems, which detract from an otherwise enjoyable gameplay experience. Overall, the optimization concerns have led some players to hesitate in recommending the game despite its fun elements.
- “Other than this small performance issue, the game is loads of fun and I have been having a blast exploring through the spire.”
- “Hopefully the developer is able to put out a patch that will clean up this performance issue.”
- “Finally, while it plays very well on Steam Deck, it is a complete resource hog and has some performance issues in the later tables.”
- “But as it is right now - about 3 hours of play for $15, with some serious mechanical and performance issues - I can't recommend it.”
- “Despite being for the Sega Genesis (an ancient platform by today's standards), Sonic Spinball played smoother and had more consistent performance.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
Reviews indicate a lack of replayability, with some players expressing that they do not seek endless content or meaningless progression in games. The sentiment suggests that the game fails to offer engaging reasons to replay, leading to a diminished overall experience.
- “The game offers a variety of choices and paths that make each playthrough feel unique and engaging.”
- “With multiple endings and different character builds, I find myself coming back to explore new strategies and outcomes.”
- “The dynamic world and evolving storylines ensure that no two playthroughs are ever the same.”
- “There is no replayability, at least for me.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is noted to be lacking, particularly in the context of pinball platformers that players hoped would offer more amusing and tricky gameplay elements. However, the affordability of the game is humorously highlighted, especially for those who have spent significant amounts in arcades. Overall, while the pricing brings a smile, the expected comedic elements are disappointingly absent.
- “You'll find the price hilariously affordable having spent untold quarters in arcades, having purchased so many digital pinball games looking for the evolution of the format.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a chill vibe, enhanced by a perfectly matched soundtrack that invites players to relax and enjoy their experience.
- “The music feels like the perfect match for a game you can just sit down with and enjoy, and reinforces the chill atmosphere of the game.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a sense of frustration and challenge, as players must engage more actively with elements like the lamp to achieve desired outcomes, suggesting a deeper connection between effort and emotional payoff.
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews indicate a complete absence of a story, with multiple users emphasizing that there is no narrative present in the game.
- “There is absolutely no story here.”
- “There is absolutely no story here.”