We’ve long been fans of Zen Studios and their pinball offerings, having played and reviewed many a pack and table over the last decade or so. But whilst we loved Pinball FX2 and Pinball FX3, what is promised for the all-new Pinball FX has us even more excited – and that game is available, for free, right now. There are an absolute ton of tables and DLC packs accompanying launch too.
Available right this minute for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and PC players to enjoy (coming to Nintendo Switch later in the Spring) is the all-new Pinball FX from Zen Studios.
Promising to usher in a whole new era of digital pinball from a team that have previously dominated the scene, Zen Studios’ Pinball FX arrives on day one with an ever-expanding line-up of tables, both free and paid, along with a Pinball Pass subscription that will see you granted access to pretty much what you want, when you want it.
The base game is free to download and this sees things play out, powered by Unreal Engine, with ray-tracing, 4K HDR visuals and Pro Physics included. That base game is complete with plenty of tables too, with the Pinball Pass (roughly $14.99 per month) allowing unlimited access to more than 70 of the 86 launch tables. Of course, if you don’t want to tie yourself down to the monthly offering, table packs are also in place.
You’ll find that Pinball FX brings forth all returning tables from previous editions of the game, along with three brand new releases – Borderlands: Vault Hunter Pinball, Brothers in Arms: Win the War Pinball and The Addams Family.
Further, console players can get their hands on more than 15 tables for the first time which Pinball FX early access players have already been able to enjoy, such as Star Wars Pinball: The Mandalorian, World War Z Pinball, DreamWorks Pinball, five Zen Originals, plus Williams classics World Cup Soccer and The Machine: Bride of Pin-Bot. Zen will release new tables regularly, many involving exciting new licensed IPs – most immediately, Legendary Pictures’ Godzilla vs. Kong.
Beyond the tables themselves, the hub area invites players to fully customize the “Pin Hall” trophy room of their dreams, with items earned from personal pinball achievements. Players can also engage with specialized tournaments and events there created both by themselves and Zen. That Pin Hall will play host to Pinball Royale later in 2023.
“I think it’s fair to say that this is the biggest single day in the history of Zen Studios – and maybe even digital pinball itself,” said Mel Kirk, Chief Operating Officer at Zen Studios. “The future has never been brighter for Pinball FX as a franchise, and we cannot wait to show you some of the other great stuff we have in store for the future.”
You’ll find Pinball FX over on the Xbox Store for free, playable on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, along with a ton of tables and Pinball Coins – you can use these to purchase the Pinball Pass and other things in-game. We’d guess you’ll probably want the 1200 Pinball Coins Pack. Alternatively, it’s on PC via the Epic Games Store or on PlayStation.
We’ll be reviewing Pinball FX real soon, letting you know which are the best tables to get shooting on. Keep an eye out for it.
Game Description:
Biggest brands in pinball form Discover brand new exclusive tables created for Pinball FX, or find your favorites among more than 80 unique and visually enhanced favorites from Zen’s extensive digital pinball library. Relive the most iconic moments from entertainment powerhouses like Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Marvel, Universal Studios, and many more. Enjoy accurate re-creations of the most famous pinball machines of all time with Williams Pinball, or have fun with Zen’s original creations. New tables arrive frequently! Build your dream game room Build up your own customizable 3D playroom with collectible items unlocked by playing. The ultimate simulation Enjoy digital pinball at its finest as Pinball FX brings you the most advanced simulation in pinball with Pro Physics for every table in the library, 4K HDR visuals, and ray tracing.
It’s really unfortunate that they don’t offer a free import option from the last game.