Pinball Spire

About

"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 Play through the game's story or campaign solo

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 331 reviews

gameplay23 positive mentions

grinding22 negative mentions

Cute and fun little game that doesn't overstay its welcome and puts a nice spin on the pinball formula.
Delightful pinball adventure with imaginative level designs and solid flipper mechanics.
Great soundtrack and charming visuals that enhance the overall experience.

The game is quite short, taking around 3-4 hours to complete, which may not justify the full price.
Lacks traditional pinball mechanics like nudging, making some gameplay elements feel frustrating.
The linear progression and minimal exploration do not fully align with the 'Metroidvania' label.

gameplay
109 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
76%
3%
The gameplay is characterized by a unique blend of traditional pinball mechanics and RPG elements, enhanced by a slowdown feature that aids players in navigating the game. While the mechanics are generally well-implemented and enjoyable, some players express disappointment over the lack of more complex pinball features and the game's short duration, which can lead to frustration. Overall, it offers a fun, albeit brief, experience that balances nostalgia with modern gameplay, though it could benefit from additional content and depth.
- “This game is a fresh take on pinball, mixing classic mechanics with a touch of adventure.”
- “A delightful little pinball adventure with some fun mechanics to give the game its own personality.”
- “The combination of traditional pinball mechanics with a unique platformer/fantasy twist makes it truly stand out.”
- “While it uses the mechanics of pinball fairly well, it's a little bit lacking in actual pinball nerdery - sure, that's not what the game is about, and it uses its mechanics well, but I was somewhat disappointed by the lack of conventional pinball mechanics like table tilting or more complex wizard mode mechanics.”
- “Considering the price tag on this one, I find myself overall unsatisfied at the end of the day with barely under 3 hours of gameplay to do pretty much everything in this game.”
- “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.”
music
73 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
37%
4%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many praising its vibrant and chill atmosphere that complements the gameplay. Reviewers noted the soundtrack's variety, including influences from jazz and nostalgic themes, and highlighted its ability to adapt to different game areas. While some players found certain tracks repetitive during extended play, the overall sentiment is that the music significantly enhances the gaming experience, making it a standout feature.
- “The visuals are vibrant and the soundtrack adds to the fun, nostalgic feel.”
- “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.”
- “I found myself jamming along to the soundtrack as well as sometimes my breath catching in my throat with how gorgeous every new level was.”
- “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.”
- “I'm not sure if the music is the most fitting for this title, yet I also enjoyed it well enough.”
- “Some sections made me think of slow jazz music, with an emphasis on the piano, while others had a faster tempo, but without a distinct genre.”
graphics
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
38%
8%
The graphics in the game are praised for their vibrant pixel art and charming environmental design, which effectively complement the nostalgic feel of the gameplay. Reviewers highlight the crispness and consistency of the visuals, noting that the art style is both simple and professional, enhancing the overall presentation alongside the solid soundtrack. While the graphics are generally well-received, some players mention minor scaling issues in smaller rooms, particularly on larger monitors.
- “The visuals are vibrant and the soundtrack adds to the fun, nostalgic feel.”
- “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.”
grinding
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, with many expressing a lack of desire to replay it after achieving certain milestones. The gameplay is often described as boring, with specific complaints about backtracking, opaque objectives, and a lack of control over ball trajectory, which contribute to a feeling of luck-based play. While some areas, like the pinball spire, are praised for capturing the essence of pinball without excessive tedium, the final boss and certain rooms are noted for their drawn-out and monotonous design.
- “After grinding out the pinball wizard achievement, I have no desire to touch this game again.”
- “They've done the work to implement a passable, cartoonish representation of pinball, but then made the objectives both opaque and tedious.”
- “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.”
optimization
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
69%
19%
The game experiences notable performance issues, particularly in a few screens and later tables, making it a resource-intensive experience, especially on the Steam Deck. While the gameplay is enjoyable and engaging, these optimization problems detract from the overall experience, leading some reviewers to hesitate in recommending it until a patch is released.
- “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.”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The game's story is minimal and lacks depth, with some players noting it features a few metroidvania elements, but overall, it does not offer an engaging narrative or rich character development.
- “It has a bit of a story to it and some Metroidvania elements.”
- “There is absolutely no story here.”
- “There is absolutely no story here.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
43%
Opinions on replayability are mixed; some players feel the game has the potential for infinite replayability, particularly in the context of pinball, while others find it lacking, citing a desire for an arcade mode and criticizing the absence of engaging content. Overall, the game's replayability seems to depend on individual preferences regarding progression and content depth.
- “I have a feeling this could be infinitely replayable, like all good pinball should be.”
- “Without an arcade mode, this game lacks replayability, and I hope the devs will add one someday!”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a chill and cozy vibe, enhanced by a well-matched soundtrack and smooth graphics. The cleverly designed levels contribute to a refreshing experience, making it an enjoyable game to relax with.
- “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.”
- “The levels are very atmospheric and clever.”
- “A refreshing, cozy pinball game with smooth graphics and a touch of 2D lighting to add to the atmosphere.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is primarily reflected in its affordable pricing, which players find amusing compared to their past expenditures on arcade games and digital pinball titles. However, some users express disappointment that the game lacks the quirky, humorous elements they were hoping for in a pinball platformer.
- “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.”
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.