Was The Pinball Wizard Worth It?

This fantasy themed pinball game is a bit on the nose with its title, but it’s an interesting take on the genre. Was Pinball Wizard worth it?

Full disclosure: We received a review code for the Nintendo Switch version of this game. Rest assured that this will not affect the quality or candor of our review.

Background

This is the second pinball game I’ve covered, but I’m hardly an expert (or wizard).

They’ve been cranking out games that take inspiration from the classic rock song for nearly 40 years, but this is the first one to end up on the Switch. This game takes the premise rather literally: your pinball is the wizard.

What does The Pinball Wizard do well?

The cross between the dungeon crawling and pinball aspects is novel, even if the lack of precision is off-putting. Despite your best efforts, you will eventually die, so fortunately the game isn’t particularly punishing. I liked the leveling aspects a lot, as it added something to the experience instead of just starting with a fresh ball (wizard) each floor.

What could The Pinball Wizard do better?

The titular pinball wizard takes the place of an actual pinball in this game. Seeing the little character trundle back and forth instead of rolling like a ball consistently made me misjudge shots. After putting some time in, I got used to it, but as a quirk I would have preferred a regular ball.

Was The Pinball Wizard fun?

Is The Pinball Wizard good value?

At $7.99, this isn’t bad, and it has already gone on sale.

Who is this game for?

This is a “play on the couch while watching a show” game. Play for the novelty, not because you’re a diehard. You can breeze through this in a long sitting or single afternoon.

Was The Pinball Wizard worth it?

The overall cutesy vibe of the game and “pick up and play” nature kept it from ever feeling frustrating. However, the game isn’t necessarily challenging, and you probably won’t feel compelled to keep racking up high scores on the leaderboard. I’m always a sucker for RPG aspects and like the tangible progress instead of the same old ball every run. The Pinball Wizard is worth it for pinball aficionados, but be advised that it may not be the hardcore experience that true pinheads crave.

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