Pinball M Review - Tilted Terrors

There’s a certain novelty to pinball tables that always outweighs the potential of pinball itself. Quick tie-ins to popular IPs, voice clips from said IPs characters that are semi-relevant to the mechanics of pinball itself. It’s a concept that Zen Studios has mastered with their Pinball FX series, and their newest entry wants to take their brand to horror-filled heights. Is this the multi-balled fear-fest you've always wanted? Read our Pinball M review to find out more.

This is the latest pinballing affair from Hungarian developers Zen Studios, the team behind the free-to-play extravaganzas of Pinball FX and its licensed tables. With that said, it’d be remiss of me not to mention their minor dabbling in smaller projects like the turn-based tactical roguelite Dread Nautical, and the tower defense shenanigans of CastleStorm. Pinball M sees them returning to what they know best, although that isn’t without its caveats.

Pinball M, in its purest essence, is a horror-themed compilation of pinball tables, including one in its free-to-play package which is a redux of one previously featured in Pinball FX. For this, Pinball M is a completely separate title, one which requires a different launcher.

What’s interesting to note, however, is that this isn’t even the first time Zen Studios has done this in 2023. In February, they released Pinball FX, a new “definitive” way to play their tables, with fancy new graphics, mechanics, and upgrades to tables previously featured in 2017’s Pinball FX 3.

One might question why they need two different games to play two different types of tables. After all, Pinball FX (2023) has its own set of horror-themed tables, like World War Z, and The Addams Family. Pinball M rests that particular qualm by having its own set of new quirks, like further customization tools, progression systems that aren’t readily present in any other Pinball FX titles, and its own set of new tables.

At launch, Pinball M has come with 5 tables, with the free-to-play version offering a redux of “Wrath of the Elder Gods”, previously available in Pinball FX (2023). As for exclusive premiums, you’ll be pleased to find Zen has chosen 4 unique horror IPs to bring to the land of the tilted tables, including ones based on John Carpenter’s The Thing, Dead by Daylight, Child’s Play and Duke Nukem - hey, wait a minute.

Still, Duke Nukem fits the bill more than most, and It certainly does more justice to the concept of tie-in pinball tables than, say, having Tony Soprano yelling about “gabagool” when you get a multi-ball. Indeed, I found myself chuckling at all of the little ways Zen Studios attempts to keep pinball relevant to the conversation and immerse you in the feel of it.

Even the customization options go above and beyond in attempting to establish a scene you recognize, above and beyond even previous Pinball FX titles. The star of the show is easily Duke Nukem, while not explicitly horror-themed, but draping the set around the table with all the references you want, and it’s the enticing type of vision you want; That vision being one of the super-fan, the kind of fanatic who wouldn't be above collecting trading cards based on the characters from Full House.

So, Pinball M looks the part, so far removed from simply being just a pinball table simulator, into a corner dedicated to your favorite stuff. With that in mind, you still have to play the tables, and this is where Pinball M drops the ball. As a simulator of pinball, it has some quirks on top, other than using the game space to mess you about, like passive upgrades, and daily challenges.

For example, the Dead by Daylight table has you choosing as a survivor or killer beforehand, which can provide some passive upgrades on top of the passive upgrades the game already equips you with. While you get higher scores, you could choose a survivor like Claudette Morel to get faster healing and make the table less difficult while being chased, but it’s never explicitly clear how the game is easier. You're merely told without a true visual of it.

This is a problem a lot of Pinball M's tables have; they’re so chock-full of ideas, micro-games, and secrecies, and they have their explanations. Despite this, there's still a lack of groundwork to make the player feel involved in the action, because there’s no focus. Part of this comes down to how compact some of the tables feel, with Dead by Daylight’s table, in particular, having such a small, squished field to deal with when trying to make moves.

Even when the tables decide to widen and lengthen opportunities, suddenly the spaces are flat, with bonuses packed together in tight spots far away. The Thing’s table is a huge standout in just how easy it is to make a table difficult, as your only way to bring the ball in seems to actively head straight down the middle of the table. There’s a 50/50 chance for the ball to just miss the flippers, and boom, suddenly you’ve wasted a ball.

There’s variety in the designs and unique bonuses for each table - the FPS section in the Duke Nukem table is a fantastic touch - but a fair chunk of it is buried under weird decisions, like the immense verticality of tables making the ball travel at speeds which are hard to combat against. Yeah, there are power-ups that can slow down the game speed, but if you’re a purist? You already know these tables would be wack in the field.

So why doesn’t Pinball M work? A large chunk of that comes down to immersion and recognition taking place over the gameplay itself. This is the furthest Zen Studios have taken their certain brand of arcade bar emulation, and it’s a fever pitch of references, pop culture, and swank. When it comes to actually playing the game, however, Pinball M looks the other way, awkwardly trying to court both new players and veterans alike, with alienation and patronization felt by both sides, respectively.

Pinball M Review | Final Verdict

There’s a certain point where Pinball M doesn’t want to be a simulator, and instead a screenshot. In that regard, it succeeds, but the concept of pinball takes a backseat at that point. You can still have fun, and create the space you want, but this lacks a certain je ne sais quoi that previous Pinball FX experiences offer, and indeed, most other arcade sims in general.

It’s a nostalgia you recognize, but not one you can live in like before.

TechRaptor reviewed Pinball M on Xbox Series S, using a copy provided by the developer for review over the course of 15 hours of gameplay - all screenshots were taken during the process of review.