Screenshots & trailers
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (Metacritic) | – | 78 | 20 |
| All-time Steam reviews | – | – | 0 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | – | – | 0 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 0 reviews sampled · 0 total reviews in window · weighted 0 up / 0 down · computed 5h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (10)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 70
“Pinball M exists to provide Zen Studios with a venue to explore more mature material, but launching several months later than the underwhelming Pinball FX, it also fixes a lot of core structural problems with its peer. This is a more cohesive, rewarding package overall, and the first batch of five tables are bloody fantastic to boot.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“A more mature pinball experience, Pinball M will not only delight horror fans with its creepy machines, but also appease those who were left disappointed with the recent Pinball FX.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Thanks to being able to jump in for free, you can’t really go wrong with Pinball M. Featuring the same solid physics as found in Pinball FX along with its its comprehensive list of play modes and features, this is yet another stellar pinball offering by Zen Studios. Jump in and give the free table a go, then if any of the DLC tables pique your interest, expand your game as you see fit. Best viewed as a companion to Pinball FX, it’s going to be interesting to see which tables based on more mature properties are added in the future.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“All in all, Pinball M is off to a solid start, and while not every table in this collection utilizes a theme that I’m super into, the ones that do end up doing really well here. I’m super interested to see what other properties Zen attempts to tackle with this mature branded series of pinball, and I think Pinball M does just enough to differentiate itself from Pinball FX to make it worth checking out. ”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Bringing a new, adult spin to Zen Studios' winning pinball formula, Pinball M does enough new thing to differentiate itself from the Pinball FX mothership. Bringing a strong opening selection of tables and many ways to interact with them, Pinball M feels like the start of something new and mysterious. I can't wait to see where it goes next.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Pinball M is perfectly fine, as far as pinball games go, but its lack of content and potential over-monetization keep me from recommending it. ”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Overall, the core of Pinball M is not that much different from that of Pinball FX. If you’ve played that game, once you spend a minute or two adjusting to the new menu layout you’ll be right at home. It would have been nice if you could have kept your collection of tables all in one place, but at least this separation allows the skilled designers at ZEN Studios to explore more themes, although the studio has toned down mature licenses in the past such as Borderlands. You can take it out for a test spin for free, and if you like what you see you can pick up another table or two, or go all in for about $20 at the time of this writing. ZEN Studios has consistently been providing new content based on new franchises to Pinball FX, so it’s likely that you’ll see Pinball M’s selection of tables continue to grow in the future.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“For pinball fans, this is a home run, for everyone else though, it’s a mostly-fun arcade experience even if a little short-lived. The five tables at launch are each engaging in their own ways, and provide creative uses of classic horror licenses. The flashing lights and thrilling modes however can unfortunately be dulled at times by seemingly helpless ball-outs and odd camera angles. Despite finding itself deep within a niche, there’s still fun to be had in spite of the drawbacks, whether you're a pinball enthusiast or casual arcade-goer.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Pinball meets Horror in this niche, but enjoyable, side project from the masters of Pinball, Zen Studios.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“If you are a pinball fan, Pinball M is a no-brainer. The tables, their campaigns, and the extra play modes make for a solid package. If you’ve never been a pinball fan but have fond feelings for any of the franchises mentioned, Pinball M may be the game to convert you. ”
read full review ↗
Push Square
GameGrin
GameSpew
Gaming Age
Gaming Nexus
CGMagazine
GamingTrend
COGconnected