There really is nothing quite like how Zen Studios approaches different pinball IPs. As much as I love physical tables, they are rare if not completely impossible to find in Japan for reasons that escape my understanding. So it’s been a real refuge to have things like Pinball FX for the last few years to tide me over with elaborate and sometimes beyond comprehension designs to play. The latest from Zen is a standalone iteration known as Pinball M, which seeks to capture the attention of more mature players interested in horror and horror adjacent themes. While it’s a bizarre mashup to say the least, Pinball M certainly goes out on a limb to craft something new, exciting and, dare I say, a bit spooky.

Available for free in almost every storefront, players will be able to pick up the base model of Pinball M with just one table attached in order to get the feeling and gist of what’s happening. Never content with simplicity, Zen Studios has made sure all the tables have a massive number of modes incorporated in order to create more replay value and challenge factors. There’s Classic mode for those of us who just want to smash balls, but other modes offer different takes. Arcade adds power-ups that players can passively or actively toggle to mix up the game a bit. Hotseat creates a multiplayer-ish feel of swapping players between rounds in a competitive way. Practice lets you test out the table without fear of running out of lives. 

Tables also have multiple challenges to give players targets, like how much you can score in a single live, or how far you can play with multiball constantly on. These challenges tend to be exceptionally demanding, similar to the Daily Challenges that come from online leaderboards. Pinball M makes it exceptionally clear that they have attempted to craft a game that caters not only towards mature players in terms of content, but also experienced pinball wizards who are looking for more than just table after table to bump and shake until the numbers roll over. It can be daunting if you’re not a pinball streamer (are those a thing?), but the core value of it all – the tables – more than keep you coming back for more.

The free table of Pinball M is called Wrath of the Elder Gods: Director’s Cut, a polished and spookier version of their classic table. Set against an eldritch horror theme that involves tentacles, cultists and madness, this is probably the perfect choice for a “free” addition to the game. The upper and lower tiers are separated by two ramps with medium difficulty in access, and the central gate has a decent opening in terms of being able to shoot from left or right. The different target goals for maximum scoring don’t give as many points as some of the other tables, but everything feels in vein for what the table seeks to accomplish: a medium scoring platform with some classic elements that have been nudged into slightly overboard territory.

As this is the first table of Pinball M, it’s worth noting that Wrath of the Elder Gods: Director’s Cut also sets the tone in terms of darkness. While pinball isn’t always a bright and flashy affair, Pinball M goes out of its way to be more shadowy than previous Zen Studios games, which is great for atmosphere and not great for people playing without a proper display setup. Be sure to dim the lights or even go blackout entirely if you don’t want to constantly lose track of your ball.

The next four tables are all behind the paywall, but, like most Zen tables, you sincerely get what you pay for. The lowest on the chart, Chucky’s Killer Pinball, is a fantastic homage to the creepy slasher films of Child’s Play that have spun completely out of control. If you were hoping Chucky would be alone, you’re dead wrong: Tiffany Valentine, and twins Glen and Glenda make appearances, with several clips from the different media playing in the score window above. This table is a vibrant counterpart to the others, drenched in red to create the goriest aspects of all the tables. This one, in my opinion, is also the scariest with the constant shrieks and screamed threats of Chucky reverberating across the speakers.

As this table has a tunnel that actively goes behind the flippers, a bumper trap in the upper left and a carousel in the right that all take the ball out of viewable range, Chucky’s Killer Pinball is a table where the floating camera can be a boon or a bane. On the one hand, keeping a fixed, longview perspective means not losing track, but also missing some of the details. But a tight tracker means needing to quickly memorize the general length of the table so you don’t get surprised when you get rocketed out towards the flippers. Of all the tables, this one feels most realistic, so fans who want a close to truth pinball table can get their flips off best here.

The next table, The Thing Pinball, is also realistic, but does suffer a bit from flamethrowers that probably couldn’t be in actual arcades. Based on the John Carpenter classic, this table does the best job of atmospheric presence out of all of Pinball M. Dark, spooky and frigid, there’s the feeling of haunting isolation throughout the table, even though the underscore of music and occasional voice clips from the film keep you keenly aware that you’re not alone. This table also features movie scenes, and, if you’re patient, you can watch the opening crawl of the 1982 classic before you get gaming.

Boasting three ramps and one very narrow opening for quest activation, The Thing Pinball is more spread out than Chucky, though it trades the extra space for more potential for misfiring. I’ve always hated the dead drop lanes on the far left and right of pinball tables, and The Thing Pinball not only has those lanes open, but requires them to complete some of the quests. This means you’ve somehow got to activate the quest before the initial ball save runs out, then drop into one, get a ball save to re-activate (there is an Arcade power-up to help simplify this) and then drop into the other. I think it’s important that the quests are equally accessible between Classic and Arcade mode, and I don’t feel that it’s reasonable to expect players to hit these targets without some assistance.

Dead by Daylight Pinball gets a massive nod for being purposely unrealistic and also the most replayable of all the tables of Pinball M. A crowded and busy affair with three ramps, a mini third flipper and a visible ball lock, Dead by Daylight Pinball also ups the ante by allowing players to emulate the original game in a sense. Different quests and targets are available based on whether you play as Killer or Survivor, and different survivors have different abilities, like the classic Dead by Daylight. 

As much as I’m a stickler for classic pinball, I can’t dispute the effort put into Dead by Daylight Pinball in terms of making the game pop and be exciting while still being pinball. There’s real atmospheric pressure and risk in trying to get unlocks and targets in a set amount of time, and the frustration of trying to line things up correctly without making a mistake captures the stress of the inspiration. I found myself flipping the ball into the same areas constantly in a nail biting effort to activate traps before time ran out, and that just doesn’t convey as well anywhere but in the digital pinball arena.

For many, Dead by Daylight Pinball will be the crown jewel of Pinball M, but this older player has to give it up to the silly, chaotic nonsense that is Duke Nukem’s Big Shot Pinball. Leaning into the classic 3D Realms title, players have three ramps, one cinematic drop slot and a whole lot of Duke to fight back against the alien hordes. Everything about this table feels like something that would have been made in the 90s if the technology was possible. The colors and effects scream and pop in comparison to the muted and dark tones of the other tables. Duke himself is omnipresent, both as a moving figure on the table and the constant voice over to deliver quips and lines that are very dated but still enjoyable.

The quests all center around this beloved title and make no mention of Duke Nukem Forever, which is probably for the best. Players who are great shots even get a chance to unlock the actual Duke Nukem 3D game, where you use flippers to quickly shoot aliens in a loving tribute to the original title. You want to try and achieve as many of the different cinematics as possible to relive the 1996 shooting relic, and the table is thankfully score happy enough to allow that. 

Players who are nostalgic and eager to jump into Duke Nukem’s Big Shot Pinball should also know this is the least forgiving of the tables. The tightness of the ramps and channels means that you will watch your ball get flung, with velocity, into the void if you’re not careful. The dead space between the flippers is larger than the other tables, so a wrong move can result in a no-save death if you get too eager with not timing your shots. In that aspect, Zen Studios wants this table to be enjoyed by fans of the era, not just of shooters but of arcade games in general.

Pinball M is a fantastic package for the price, and the amount of detail that’s gone into the design and care is truly exciting. While I personally don’t care to unlock all the different cosmetics, I appreciate the offerings. The upcoming tournaments and events will keep players engaged for longer times, and I imagine that the cold and dark of the winter will bring in the broodier fans who want something upsettingly fun till the world thaws. Despite long load times, this is a pinball game that keeps you on the edge of your seat from the first launch to the last, frustrating finish.

 

Graphics: 6.5 Tables are exquisitely crafted in all aspects, capturing the IPs in delightful detail. The reliance on darkness and shadows for atmosphere can lead to difficulty following the ball, which takes away from the gaming experience. Players must take time to figure out which camera angle suits them best.	Gameplay: 8.0 Excellent mix of standard pinball practice, professional approach (nudging) and arcade elements. Some tables incorporate additional details better than others, but the core pinball motif is solid throughout, and can be enjoyed by purist and contemporary players alike.
Sound: 9.0 Brilliant mixture of soundscaping, soundtrack lifting and constant drops from characters and effects of the base IPs. Chucky fans might be confused as some voice clips come from the TV series and not the movies, but otherwise the tone is excellent. Duke Nukem continues to be exactly who you’d imagine.	Fun Factor: 7.5 The act of playing pinball and enjoying the tables is top notch, but setting up the game is not. Long load times, multiple choices and lag for everything in the menus and the overwhelming number of cosmetics to unlock can drag out the time without purpose. Players who don’t participate in online leaderboards are left out of a couple menu options. Still, great pinball.
Final Verdict: 7.5

Pinball M is available now on PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.

Reviewed on Xbox One X.

A copy of Pinball M was provided by the publisher.