Pool Nation

About

Pool Nation is a realistic pool simulation game with stunning graphics and detailed environments. It features various game modes such as 8-ball, 9-ball, and snooker, as well as trick shots and challenges. With its realistic physics and online multiplayer mode, Pool Nation provides a great pool experience for both casual and hardcore players.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,641 reviews

graphics376 positive mentions

stability20 negative mentions

graphics
508 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
74%
24%
2%
The graphics in this pool game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals, realistic physics, and vibrant colors, often described as "gorgeous" and "shiny." Many players appreciate the attention to detail, including reflections and the overall aesthetic, which enhances the immersive experience. However, some critiques mention that the graphics can be overly glossy or simplistic at times, but overall, they contribute significantly to the game's appeal.
- “The graphics are fantastic, the sound is satisfying, and the controls are about as good as pool games get.”
- “The graphics are gorgeous and the music is very zen.”
- “This is the most graphically, physically, and stylistically impressive pool game I've ever played, and I've been playing them for almost my whole life.”
- “As far as the presentation goes, to be honest, the graphics look like something that came out 5 years ago.”
- “This game has terrible graphics; all the balls are doubled, so you can't determine which one to shoot at.”
- “The graphics are so bad you cannot even read the direction of how to play.”
music
200 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
46%
6%
The music in the game is generally described as relaxing and soothing, complementing the gameplay well, though opinions vary on its quality and variety. While some players appreciate the chill atmosphere it creates, others find the soundtrack repetitive and bland, leading them to turn it off in favor of their own playlists. Overall, the music enhances the game's ambiance, but many reviewers express a desire for a broader selection and more customization options.
- “This is one of the most accurate and realistic pool sims I have ever played; the music is very calm and soothing, the graphics are great, and the controls are tight.”
- “If you are looking for a great pool game with a gorgeous environment and peaceful background music, I have to say this game is exactly what you want!”
- “A wonderful soundtrack, great headphone support, and beautiful graphics create an engaging, colorful, and realistic atmosphere.”
- “The music is also pretty bland.”
- “The only downside is the boring game music, but this isn't a game where you need to hear what's going on, so turn it down and get the tunes on.”
- “I ended up turning the music off entirely within the first hour and I just play music in the background via iTunes.”
gameplay
182 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
42%
2%
The gameplay in "Pool Nation" is generally praised for its solid mechanics, realistic physics, and enjoyable variety of modes, making it a fun experience for both single and multiplayer sessions. However, some players have noted issues with camera angles, clunky controls, and a lack of depth in gameplay options, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, many find the game visually appealing and appreciate its user-friendly mechanics, making it a recommended choice for pool enthusiasts.
- “And the gameplay is incredible.”
- “Gameplay is great.”
- “This is an amazing pool game, including fluid 3D gameplay and multiple game modes.”
- “Wonky camera mechanics and controls.”
- “At this point I have to change my recommendation to, "try out another pool game, don't get the cheaper one just because it's cheaper" because quite frankly these issues have turned it from first 30 min "oh hey this is pretty cool um guess it takes getting used to" to "this is fucking bullshit dude" within the first two hours of gameplay.”
- “Sadly 1) you can't change how you shoot (which is weird), the whole mechanic of moving your mouse and pressing space bar doesn't really make it enjoyable to play.”
humor
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it genuinely funny and entertaining, particularly in the character bios and interactions with AI opponents. While some descriptions and character designs elicit laughter, others describe the humor as hit-or-miss, with a few finding it painful at times. Overall, it seems to provide a light-hearted break, especially in multiplayer settings, where players can enjoy trading jabs and laughing together.
- “Funny game if you need a break from studying for 5 minutes (like myself ^^)”
- “The graphics and music are great, as well as the sense of humor from the opponents (Ivan Molotov to name but one).”
- “I have had endless fun with this funny and entertaining game!”
stability
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
77%
The game's stability is a mixed bag; while it runs well on platforms like the Steam Deck and offers intuitive controls, many users report significant bugs, including crashes, slowdowns, and issues with mouse controls. Some players have experienced persistent problems that prevent them from playing, despite extensive troubleshooting efforts. Overall, while it has potential, the game suffers from stability issues that detract from the experience.
- “Best of all, it runs great on my old-as-dirt PC.”
- “This game brings back memories; it's very realistic and runs great.”
- “Positives would be intuitive controls with controller support, it runs great on Steam Deck, and provides plenty of gameplay for pool game enthusiasts.”
- “I have tried every single troubleshooting method, suggested workaround, and support option that I can possibly find about this, but it simply will not load and play.”
- “Your controls get worse as the game progresses and there are glitches that will force you to lose the game.”
- “When I first purchased the game, it indeed was buggy; there were severe slowdowns during gameplay and the occasional crash as well.”
atmosphere
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
38%
13%
The game's atmosphere is generally praised for its engaging graphics, catchy music, and a laid-back vibe created by the sounds of cue action and jazzy background tunes. However, some players feel it lacks the authentic old-time pool-hall ambiance, which diminishes the overall experience. While many enjoy the colorful and realistic setting, there are calls for more variety in music and a stronger bar-like atmosphere.
- “The sounds of cue action combined with jazzy music in the background create a laid-back atmosphere.”
- “A wonderful soundtrack, great headphone support, and beautiful graphics create an engaging, colorful, and realistic atmosphere.”
- “Played a single game and totally fell for the atmosphere and intuitiveness of the gameplay.”
- “It lacks a bit of the old-time sleazy pool-hall atmosphere, which, to me, is a big part of the game.”
- “But part of the allure of playing at the bar or hall is the atmosphere, and the game is lacking in that regard.”
- “It doesn't exactly have the atmosphere of a bar, but that shouldn't be a problem if you like to play a game of pool here and there.”
replayability
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
55%
15%
The game boasts exceptional replayability, with users highlighting its realistic physics, diverse game modes, and multiplayer options that contribute to an almost endless gaming experience. Many players find it addictive, noting the added challenges and unlockables that further enhance replay value. Overall, it is regarded as a highly enjoyable title worth purchasing for its infinite replay potential.
- “Overall, good fun with infinite replayability.”
- “Infinite replay value!”
- “Possibly one of the most addictive games I've ever played; Pool Nation emulates real-world billiards perfectly and has plenty of different game modes and unlockables to increase the replay value.”
- “Possibly one of the most addictive games I've ever played. Pool Nation emulates real-world billiards perfectly and has plenty of different game modes and unlockables to increase the replay value.”
- “And with tons and tons of replayability and a technically sound engine, this is worth a pickup.”
- “Each opponent has 3 stars you can collect as an added challenge, which can be completed for extra replayability.”
optimization
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
44%
33%
The optimization of the game is highly inconsistent, with some users experiencing significant stuttering and performance issues on decent gaming PCs, rendering it unplayable. In contrast, others praise its excellent graphics and smooth performance even on older hardware, though the interface is noted to be better suited for controller use, leading to confusion when using a mouse and keyboard. Overall, while some aspects are well-optimized, the game suffers from notable performance hiccups that detract from the experience.
- “Unlike many other games on Steam, this game is optimized extremely well.”
- “Graphics performance - 10 (runs really smooth on my old laptop (2006) on high settings)”
- “Graphics couldn't be any better and runs smoothly.”
- “But now, despite trying multiple fixes and a lack of optimization for modern systems, the game is unplayable.”
- “The best (being the only) contemporary pool simulator on Steam, Pool Nation is a reasonable sports simulation marred by controls that vacillate between twitchy and unresponsive, constant hiccups and stuttering, and a borderless windowed mode that locks the mouse to the window.”
- “Lots of stuttering, and I'm on a decent gaming PC.”
story
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The story aspect of the game has received largely negative feedback, with many users noting that the story mode is too short and lacking depth. Reviewers have called for more character background and a more engaging narrative, suggesting that the developers need to invest in improving this element. Overall, the story is seen as a weak point, with some ratings as low as 2/10.
- “Pretty, has quite a few game modes, a lot of skins for everything, story mode, even some trickshot sandbox.”
- “Cool missions, cool unlockables, and the graphics are really pristine and nice to look at.”
- “The game needs some investment from the developers to add in more character background, maybe even a good story mode.”
- “Story mode too short”
- “Story: -/10”
- “Now for a story.”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn criticism, with players expressing disappointment over the shift to a free model supported by microtransactions, particularly after initial promises of free updates. Many feel misled by the advertising that suggested a more substantial experience, leading to frustration with the game's current monetization approach.
- “I didn't think it was physically possible to be disappointed by a game specifically about playing pool, and then to have it replaced by another game that's free with microtransactions.”
- “I bought this before they knew how they were going to implement their 'box of tricks' but were already advertising what it would look like and all the cool things you could do with it, saying it would be a free update.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, particularly in the offline 8- and 9-ball tournaments, which can become repetitive over time. While the game's physics are praised for their realism and the challenge modes offer some enjoyment, a few of these modes also suffer from a lack of variety, leading to boredom as players progress.
- “That limits playability for the most part to the offline 8- & 9-ball tournaments which start to get a little tedious towards the end.”
- “I also found I enjoyed most of the challenge modes that are unlocked during the tour play, although a couple get a little tedious and boring.”
- “I've been an eight-ball player for a good 12 years now, seen many attempts at games trying to make a decent computerized version of the real thing. Normally, they are as tedious as an eight on the break (best sit down because you're not going to play that game).”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
While the reviews highlight the enjoyable and engaging gameplay of "Pool Nation," they do not specifically address its emotional impact, focusing instead on its graphics, controls, and single-player content. Overall, the game is praised for being a fun and accessible experience, but lacks a deeper emotional resonance.