Worms Pinball

About

Worms Pinball is a single player and multiplayer casual simulation game with a kids theme. It was developed by Team17 Digital Ltd and was released on October 19, 2011. It received neutral reviews from players.

"Worms Pinball" is a pinball simulation game featuring the classic Worms characters. The table is detailed with 3D LED displayed sub-games, transparent ramps, and moving mechanical parts. It offers a variety of exciting features including tilt functions, hit combinations, and animated parts, providing a deep and engaging gameplay experience.

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56%

Audience ScoreBased on 312 reviews

graphics14 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Worms Pinball captures the nostalgic charm of the Worms franchise with its fun animations and sound effects.
The game features decent physics and a well-designed table that can provide enjoyable gameplay for pinball enthusiasts.
It's a simple and straightforward pinball experience that can be entertaining for short sessions, especially for fans of the Worms series.

The game only includes one table, which limits replayability and can lead to boredom after a short time.
Graphics and audio are dated, with a maximum resolution of 1024x768, making it feel obsolete compared to modern pinball games.
Controls are not well-documented, leading to confusion for new players, and the game lacks many quality-of-life features found in contemporary pinball simulations.

graphics
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
59%
12%
The graphics of the game are generally viewed as dated, reflecting its 1998 release, with many users noting a nostalgic charm despite the low resolution and occasional glitches. While some appreciate the vibrant colors and detailed pinball table design, others criticize the grotesque depiction of characters and overall visual clarity. Overall, the graphics are functional but lack the polish expected by modern standards, leading to mixed feelings among players.
- “The graphics have a nostalgic charm, with plenty of details on the pinball table that capture the essence of the Worms games.”
- “The sophisticated table design, sounds, graphics, and physics put this game well ahead of its time.”
- “The graphics are still pretty sweet now being rendered for higher graphics cards nowadays.”
- “Beyond just being plain ugly, I find that the artwork also hinders the visual clarity of the board quite a bit.”
- “I think where this game is let down is in the fact that it looks naff graphically and the textures by today's standards are lackluster at best.”
- “Graphics feel like they are from the 90s.”
music
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
61%
10%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its nostalgic and retro vibe that aligns with the classic Worms series, earning ratings around 8/10. However, some users noted issues such as limited variety, repetitive tracks, and technical glitches that disrupt playback, which detracts from the overall experience. While the soundtrack is enjoyable and captures the game's theme, there are complaints about the lack of sound options and the music becoming tiresome over time.
- “Both the music and sound effects capture the vibe of the Worms games, making the experience very enjoyable.”
- “The soundtrack is awesome and pleasant and definitely brings the retro vibe to the table.”
- “Björn Lymne's pieces of music are always a treat for the ears!”
- “When I paused the game and then resumed playing, the sound effects were there, but the music stopped playing.”
- “I had to restart the game to get the soundtrack back.”
- “The table is unoriginal, the music grows tiresome, and it has no lasting appeal.”
gameplay
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
67%
10%
The gameplay of the Worms-themed pinball game is characterized by polished mechanics and engaging physics, providing a nostalgic experience for fans of the franchise. While it features lively animations and sound effects, the gameplay is ultimately basic pinball, which may not hold the interest of non-fans for long. Despite its limitations compared to modern pinball offerings, it still delivers a fun, albeit short, experience for casual players.
- “The physics and mechanical feel of the table are surprisingly polished for a game of its age.”
- “The worms theme helps keep the action lively: explosives go off when the ball hits certain triggers, mechanical contraptions animate during score bonuses, and familiar sound effects enhance the sense of chaotic fun.”
- “The depth of gameplay, variety of action, and sophisticated table rules ensure that Worms Pinball will have all gamers, not just hardcore pinheads, hooked.”
- “Modern pinball collections offer dozens of tables with unique mechanics and evolving objectives, so Worms pinball can feel starkly limited by comparison.”
- “However, non-pinball fans will get bored fast, and since the gameplay is pinball, you cannot really replay to have a fully different experience, which may be why I don't play this a lot.”
- “The lasting gameplay time is low, but if it weren't for it being a Worms-related game, I would pass the opportunity to play it.”
story
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
58%
21%
The game lacks a cohesive story or progression, focusing instead on a classic pinball experience with various missions and mini-games that offer random bonuses. While some missions are deemed interesting, the overall narrative is minimal, with players primarily engaged in high-score chasing rather than a structured storyline.
- “A mission in one of the areas, hell (yes, really) requires you to kill an accordion player, and the song he plays is the worms theme.”
- “There's missions, areas, all kinds of jackpot modes, four flippers, three ramps, a loop system, ball lock, etc. Most importantly, there's a special raid/airstrike mode in which the really big points are scored with 3 balls.”
- “Some missions in the game are interesting.”
- “There’s no story or progression — just the classic loop of launching the ball, keeping it in play, triggering multiballs, and chasing high scores.”
- “It was probably an okay pinball game for its time, but fails in comparison to more modern pinball machines with missions and such.”
- “There is really no main goal to the game but to complete little missions by hitting the ball in certain areas.”
humor
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in Worms Pinball is characterized by its charming integration of the classic Worms franchise elements, including silly animations, cartoonish sounds, and nostalgic audio cues that appeal to fans. While the game offers a humorous experience initially, the limited content—featuring only one table—leads to a quick decline in entertainment value, making it feel repetitive over time. Overall, it provides a lighthearted and amusing experience, particularly for Worms enthusiasts, but lacks depth and variety.
- “Developed and published by Team17 Digital Ltd, it attempts to blend the tactile satisfaction of a physical pinball table with the humor and charm of the Worms franchise.”
- “Fans of the Worms franchise may find charm in the audio cues, silly animations, and classic Team17 humor woven into the table’s design.”
- “The wacky humor and Worms themes are nicely integrated into modes of the table to make a great overall experience which is enhanced by the theme.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The reviews highlight a mixed perception of replayability in the game, with some players finding it highly enjoyable and replayable, while others criticize it for lacking depth and long-term engagement. Comparisons to other pinball games, particularly Pokémon Pinball, suggest that this title falls short in replay value, especially for those seeking more substantial gameplay experiences. Overall, the game's replayability seems to depend heavily on individual preferences and expectations.
- “One of the most fun and replayable pinball games I own (and I own 90% of all pinball games on Steam).”
- “The replayability is based on what you want.”
- “I understand that this came out in 1998, but Pokémon Pinball came out for GBC around the same time and it's vastly superior, especially when it comes to replayability.”
- “It's replayability is maybe a few minutes every blue moon.”
- “Just an old game that doesn't have much replay value.”
- “Replayability: it's a bland pinball game, what do you want me to say?”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express that the grinding aspect of the game is excessively time-consuming, often requiring an unrealistic amount of effort akin to needing a second life to fully engage with it.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
- “I spent hours grinding, and it still feels like I'm nowhere.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating it as a satisfying pinball simulation, while others criticize it as a shallow cash grab, suggesting that it feels like a poorly executed re-release of an old game aimed at quick profits.
- “Another piece of old shovelware that the publishers had lying around and decided to dump onto Steam regardless of its quality for a quick and easy cash grab.”
- “Flagrant cash grab for an old game that wasn't very good when it was first released.”
- “It doesn't quite reach those heights, but it's in the ballpark as a satisfying pinball simulation, rather than a shallow cash grab.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Users note that the game performs well on the Steam Deck, especially when utilizing its performance settings to run in fullscreen without borders, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
- “The Steam Deck's performance is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even on demanding titles.”
- “If you're familiar with the Steam Deck's performance settings, you can optimize it to run in fullscreen without borders, enhancing your gaming experience.”
- “The ability to tweak performance settings on the Steam Deck makes it a versatile device for various gaming needs.”
- “The game struggles to run smoothly on the Steam Deck, making it frustrating to play.”
- “If you're familiar with the Steam Deck's performance settings, you can make it run in fullscreen without borders, but it's still not optimized well.”
- “The optimization for the Steam Deck is lacking, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers highlight the game's impressive atmospheric lighting, which enhances immersion through realistic reflections and shadow effects. This attention to detail creates a captivating environment that draws players deeper into the game world. Overall, the atmospheric elements significantly contribute to the overall experience.
- “The atmospheric lighting creates an immersive experience, with stunning reflections and shadow effects that enhance the overall mood of the game.”
- “The game’s atmosphere is captivating, thanks to its beautifully crafted lighting and intricate shadow play that draws you into its world.”
- “Every scene is filled with atmospheric depth, as the lighting and reflections work together to create a hauntingly beautiful environment.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features vibrant graphics but suffers from notable stability issues, including graphical glitches and persistent ball trails that can detract from the experience. While some players find these quirks nostalgic, they highlight a lack of polish for a title from a well-known developer like Team 17.
- “Seriously, how could a firm such as Team 17 have the idea to create a buggy pinball game back in 1998?”
- “Unstable graphical glitches and persistent ball trails that gradually overwrite the board; funny to watch as it reminds me of the good ol' Speccy days!”
- “The game offers some pleasant graphics and really vibrant colors, although there are some ugly glitches here and there.”