Zen Pinball Reviews

I love pinball. Each table is a modern marvel of engineering, and it’s the only arcade game that lets you win more games. For a child with a limited supply of quarters, what’s not to love? Electronic pinball games are awash with games with terrible physics, which is the first hurdle that must be overcome to create an amazing pinball simulation. If it doesn’t feel right, nothing else matters. Zen Pinball has the best replication of actual pinball physics of any game I’ve played. Next, nearly just as important as the physics is the design of the tables themselves. Is it impossible to keep the ball in play for hours with skill alone? Does it lack interesting progression and novel features? Probably not going to grab my interest then. Zen pinball has a lot of variety. They’ve been making pinball games for years. This is the only pinball game that I play, and I’ve tried them all. That said, there are only two tables that I play on Zen Pinball, Sorcerers Lair and Epic Quest. I’ve been playing the same two tables for years. Not even their newest Apple Arcade edition can’t hold a candle to this version, even with all its bells and whistles. Which was disappointing to say the least. At least I have this amazing game to fall back on to scratch that pinball itch. I can only hope they never stop supporting it.

I have ZenPinball installed on my iPad and iPhone and when I tried to buy a table it would not connect to iTunes and I could not get the table I was trying to purchase. A few days later I received a receipt for the table so it won’t connect to iTunes to download the table but will connect to get your money. I called Apple and they tried to fix the problem and had me delete ZenPinball on my iPad and redownload it so now I’ve lost every table I bought, which was several. I’ve tried to download my table’s several times and get the same message every time, there was an error connecting to iTunes. I contacted Apple again to make sure I wouldn’t get charged for trying to download all the table’s I’ve already paid for and no longer have. Thanks Zen!
Update: I was able to download all my previously purchased tables by clicking buy table, then when the window pops up that says please wait click cancel then buy table again then it will tell you how much the table costs and to hold your thumb over the button to verify purchase. After you do that then it tells you that you have already paid for the table and asks if you want to download it again for free, click ok then it says you’re all set, click ok. Then you’ll see the please wait window, click cancel then buy table. It let you download after that. Do that for each table and if that isn’t the correct process it’s close so just keep messing with it and it will work.

I have never played pinball(real or digital) in my entire life. I stumbled onto ZenPinball and realized a game called pinball existed in the 1930’s and piqued my interest. I have not been able to go a day without playing for at least an hour. It can provide endless hours of fun and each table is unique but familiar in gameplay. With each table having its own ruleset and table guide which explains what shooting the ball does on certain points or lanes. You try to shoot the ball at things that increase your multiplier to get a high score! The pure essence of a video game. The first table you get Sorcerer’s Lair is amazing and entertaining with visual effects, sound, music and lore. There are tables available for purchase from major blockbuster franchises. Not every table has been received great but there are tables that majority players say are must haves. These do not transfer to other platforms so consider that when purchasing.
There have been no bugs that I have found except for one where I open ZenPinball and the main menu background music does not play. I hope the developers look into this small nitpick that may be a bug. I don’t see any other way they could improve this classic pinball experience.

I absolutely love ZenPinball. The pinball machines are fun, there’s all kinds of things you can do that a normal pinball machine doesn’t have and I enjoy it very much. But if you wanna play it make sure you play on one device using the exact same app. I used to play this on an old iPad but just the Star Wars games. When I decided to expand to all the other pinball games I discovered that none of those pinball machines are transferable. This wasn’t indicated anywhere in the description or within ZenPinball before I purchased. They are the exact same tables but a different app. I refuse to buy all those tables again. This is double dipping and it’s left a bit of a sour taste for me. They need a system for transferring information like Korg uses. If I have a synth that I purchased their workstation app (Gadget) will include it in my instruments. If I have the Star Wars app it should be able to see it then include those tables in the general app. I’m at a loss at this point. But they are very good tables.

Update 2: Props to customer service! Gary worked on the problem for a month and stuck with it until it was fixed! I have all of my tables back. This is particularly amazing when you consider that I already own all of the tables, so a lesser developer could have just ignored me and not lost anything, but Zen stuck with it, and that counts for a lot!

Update: now you can’t even re-download your IAP tables. It just says “please wait” for hours. Used to be good, but now it is neglected. It doesn’t support modern iPhone screen sizes. Even worse, you can no longer download your purchases. I have all the tables, but I cannot download them to my device anymore. At least Pinball Arcade still works, that one is far better anyway.

Zen Pinball is impressive when it comes to realism. However, it falls short in certain occasions. I tried to do a post pass, and it didn't work. The game itself offers lots of tables, but Zen Pinball just doesn't compare to The Pinball Arcade or Stern Pinball Arcade. Yes, FarSight Studios may have lost the licensing for the Bally and Williams tables, but they offer much more. Since losing the license, however, new tables hasn't been released for quite some time. Zen Pinball does fit the bill, but it will never replace Pinball Arcade. If Zen can bring some of the Williams tables, it's then I can make the comparison. For this review, I've given Zen Pinball 4 stars because of the content.

So I downloaded ZenPinball mainly to have the Ghost Rider Pinball. Ive been trying to buy the table for days, but it will NOT let me do so. I keep getting “AN UNEXPECTED ERROR HAS OCCURRED DURING ACCESSING THE ITUNES STORE.” I’ve already bought the Avengers Table so I know it’s not my device. I’ve also went ahead to see if it process giving me the option to buy other tables & it does. The Ghost Rider Table is the ONLY ONE that it won’t let me buy!! I also tried sending feedback yet when I try attaching a photo the e Mail automatically closes out. I now have sent them a direct E Mail considering this truly doesn’t make sense. Not happy!

Ok so we’ve written 2 reviews & E Mailed ZenStudios yesterday & we still haven’t received any help. Do you guys not respond anymore? Do you not care about those who purchase your games? Will be back until we receive an answer!

Three years without an update is a bit concerning, but the game is so amazing that I’ve still been buying tables now and then. The gameplay is really good, very addicting, no micro transactions, pay to play, ads, etc. and the free table is really good. It was so addicting that I ended up buying three more tables, and will probably buy more.

If Zen studios ever updates ZenPinball again, I really hope that they add some haptic feedback when hitting bumpers and triggering the flippers. I think that would really help with the feeling of immersion in the game.

I would have rated it 5 stars if you could play a trial of 10 mins of free play to see if you like the table before considering to bUy it.

I'd really like it if you make a Adams family pinball 1 of my all time favorites. I'd also like too see more tables in a package deal like steam does online for the computer versions.

Other than that totally addicted great work on the gameplay, physics and 3D graphics, also the animation of the characters!! Keep up the great work!

I use to play Zen pinball and then kinda got bored but just remembered it and wanted to play it again and found it on my phone and saw it was free. Got really excited to only be disappointed by the ridiculous prices they have. I did the math and for the tables I wanna get its gonna cost a total of 78 dollars approximately. I think the prices of individual tables need to come down a lot or you need to have everything in special bundles by category for like 15 bucks for the marvel and star Wars and probably 5 for the Jurassic park. I'm not trying to tell you what to do but I'm trying to leave honest feedback. The tables are some of the best out there but aren't worth those prices. Only way I'll pay these prices is if I get a real pinball machine in my house after I purchase all available content.

Every so often I'll come back and play one of my tables, and it's just really enjoyable. Especially when you are familiar with a specific table and all the various gameplay mechanics that are specific to it.

As for recommendations, my favorite tables are the Bethesda tables (Skyrim, Fallout, Doom, in that order), also the Alien vs Predator table, the Jurassic World table, and one of the star wars ones but there's so many and I can't remember the name right now without being inside the game.

Oh, and the Zen original table called Epic Quest = THE BEST. Hands down actually.

My only real complaint is that the leaderboards have been cracked and it's never been fixed. Some jackass named Sagitarreous SGM or something like that put himself in #1 top place of every single table's high score ranking, but he has no achievements whatsoever completed, even the easy ones you can't avoid, so it's obvious he just hacked the leaders board and didn't actually get those scores. Wish Zen would fix that.

I never thought I'd be writing about digital pinball, but everything here works. The pinball physics are spot on, the game looks great, and each table is not only distinct in look, but in how you score points on each one. Yes, you do have to pay for each one, but they're all super cheap, and are worth it. You can just get the ones you like and never bother with the rest. It also has the added benefit of being on a platform with a more vertically oriented screen, meaning you come pretty close to a real pinball experience.

Pick this up. If you like pinball in any capacity, you need this.

So, as a kid of the 70’s pinball is most definitely in your blood, and for sure I wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to play if I saw a machine! Now as I sit in the comfort of my home I can once again play the game. The game is visually amazing the play is spot on the flipper reaction is incredible........but what blows the mind is how the physical action of the pinball transforms to the 70’s standing at the machine and playing. The graphics are stunning. I was expecting a at best a fair copy of the game, boy was I wrong!! I am looking forward to playing all the different machines you’ve created. Thank you ZEN for creating such fun amazing game.

I just downloaded ZenPinball, and I’d honestly pay for some of the extras, but the graphics on this game don’t warrant the $2 per table price. 🥺 The default table looks like a PS2 game at best. 🥶 The graphics need a serious overhaul. 🤓 I thought this game would look like Sky Force or something. 😲 There’s so many beautiful colors in this game, and the graphics take away from it. 😶 I don’t know if the devs are working on a overhaul, but they should consider it. 🤔 Next-gen hardware needs next-gen games. 😉 The price on the tables would be worth it if upgraded. 🤑 Otherwise, I’d recommend a package deal on each table themed set. 😎 $10-$15 for the Marvel set for an example. 😁 Bring it to HD, and I would pay $2 a table. 🥳

The reason why I am giving this application one star is because you’re not making the application inclusive and accessible so that people with disabilities could play it, such as blind people. You could easily add sound elements to the game, and 3-D Audio [binaural audio]. Have you ever consider doing that? Well, if you haven’t, then I suggest you make it inclusive and accessible, with voiceover. I guarantee you if you made this application inclusive in accessible, you were definitely see an increase in usage of the application.

If you cannot respond to this review, I will have to unfortunately contact Apple support or contact your app developer page. This is ridiculous, we’ve got to make these inclusive and accessible so that all people can play this game.

Pinball games are difficult to make unique and yet Zen pinball has managed to do just that in all their tables. If I had one suggestion, it would be to allow a preview of each table WITH the price listed so it didn’t require “buying”the table to determine if the price is acceptable. Granted, it’s easy to cancel out of the purchase, but it would be nice to know the cost without having to go through that extra step.
The free table is a lot of fun and for just $1 or $2 a second table can be purchased. I would love to see a couple more free tables - maybe after playing for a specified amount of time?!
A thoroughly enjoyable game!

I have this game on PlayStation Vita and PlayStation 4. This game feels very great on my iPhone 6S Plus. The screen is big enough, whereas it feels like you have a mini pinball table in the palm of your hands.
When you get a msg or notification sometimes the ball lags out but to me that's normal for this type of game. If you want just put your phone into do not disturb mode. You're gonna want to not be disturbed.
The tables are priced differently, they all offer different types of challenges. Pick your favorite and get to flipping

I've tried several tables in the Zen section for a month or so. I'm not the world's best player but I'm not too bad. The ball kept either going down the side holes suddenly like the physics weren't quite right. Also it would go straight down the middle like that was the only way it was programmed to do for that area or something. It's very disappointing because the tables seem very interesting and the graphics are great. The alien predator tables, however, are awesome though. The physics seem to be spot on with those. I've yet to try other tables in other sections. I hope it's not the same.

Hi gang. Been a huge fan and customer since your early days on PS3. I’ve got you on all my platforms- xbox one, psvita, ps3, ipad and my samsung phone. I noticed 2 tables have disappeared from my favorite platform to play (IPad- my psvita is second favorite) and was wondering where they are. Both the second south park table and the plants vs zombies tables are missing. I own the plants vs zombies and enjoy playing it so I’d appreciate you returning it to me and i was planning on purchasing the second southpark. Thank you.

I really enjoy Zen Pinball and have purchased a bunch of tables. Most have been very enjoyable.

Sadly since I upgraded to iPhone X last year ZenPinball has just become two frustrating. ZenPinball doesn’t support the new iPhone X screen size and has the letter boxes above and below. This causes dead zones when clicking the flippers at the bottom. I miss many balls because of this and have stopped playing out of frustration. I keep checking back every once and a while to see if they have fixed it.

If this gets resolved I would rate at least 4 stars. But for an iPhone X user it is just too frustrating.