Preface: I have over 2000 hours on Pinball FX2 and FX3, combined, and I have another 1600 on Pinball Arcade. Safe to say, I've a fair bit of experience on my belt not just by playing these games, but in bug-hunting as well. I can also say that I've received codes from Zen in the past, and I've purchased their products since the beginning of FX2 here on Steam, so I've played a lot more for my money's worth.

This review is not a flat, outright, "Yes" or "No" recommendation. There are obvious flaws in this game, and unfortunately so given the state of some tables. I want to write with as much of a genuine take on this as possible. Right now, I give this a solid 7/10. Not as great as FX3, still needs work, but has a lot of potential with the new engine.

Is Pinball FX better now than what it was last year? A definite yes. My build is borderline minimum, running a GTX 970 and an i7-6700k processor. Pinball FX runs very well on my system, much more so than how it was during Early Access. Tables like World War Z and E.T. were absolutely horrendous. I've seen many improvements, and it'll get better as they optimize for Steam Deck, Cabinet Mode, and the eventual Switch release.

Is FX better graphically? Personally, yes, but the first several Williams Volumes are up for debate. FX3's graphics already look great as they are, and a step up from FX2. Repurchasing on looks alone is already a tough sell. You'll really need a keen eye to tell the differences.

Is FX better physics-wise? Yes and no. No, because Williams already uses the new physics found in Classic Single Player, so that's already the baseline. Yes, because in originals like Infinity Gauntlet, I can feel the difference in the interactions. What I can do in Williams tables with specific flipper tricks, I couldn't do in FX3's originals, but can now do in FX. Both FX2 and FX3 use the same engine, and some of the physics changes between the two intertwine using the same model. Pinball FX's new physics model is a complete revamp; the older originals need retuned, and we have a different ball game. Know that there are some issues that need ironed out in recent remasters like Sorcerer's Lair and Fish Tales, and the list of remasters yet to be done from FX3 isn't as large as before. Who knows; we might end up seeing some returning from FX2.

Is it worth repurchasing all tables immediately? Not necessarily. People have different budgets, and I did not start out with a complete collection of FX2 tables right away. That said, how much a table is worth is entirely up to you. The "no backwards compatibility" take is quite the sting to the wallet, especially with new tables coming out at $5-10 per table, and Indy being $15. Discount details below.

I feel for the people outside of the US who suffered from the pricing increase. As a US player, I'm not personally affected, but for people in other areas like Europe and Brazil, definitely. I highly encourage those seeking repurchases, and likewise, those not wanting to pay as much for new tables like Twilight Zone, to wait for discounts. I've observed the FX3/FX bundles Zen put out to lessen the pain of repurchases, and 50% is the base discount for FX3 owners of any given pack. Oddly enough, this includes Indy. This discount STACKS multiplicatively with those that take place during any given sale -- take the traditional Summer or Winter Sale, as an example. Time will tell what will happen when the first discounts roll around on Steam; therefore, watch.

Bug fixes: I checked back in SteamDB regarding FX2 and FX3. We never got many patches or fixes between the two games, and I wonder if their previous engine had something to do with that. For those who are not aware, I maintain an unofficial Master List of issues, with the vast majority of them reported towards the Williams tables. A good majority of issues on the Williams tables in FX3 are now resolved in FX, but there are still plenty of bugs, especially game-breakers, that desperately need fixed. I've seen a faster rate of fixes here compared to the previous engine. With the Switch release coming up in July, I imagine more fixes are headed our way between now and then, now that most of the remastered titles are out there. There will be plenty more fixes even after that, and I want Zen to communicate as much about this topic as possible.

Censorship on Williams: Completely GONE. Zen got in trouble with the ESRB for Infinite Minigolf on Switch, and they can't afford to make that mistake twice putting things in that might bump up FX3 age ratings. This even includes a censorship toggle, which we got here on Steam. We wouldn't see games like Dracula, Jack*Bot, or anything else that might have warranted a bump in the ratings. Purely on consoles, and much rather make the leap now than have repurchases sting more later on in FX3's life.

FX3, to me, felt a lot more like what we've seen previously in FX2. Overall, the same game, but with additional challenges, powers, "matchup", custom tournaments, and new physics on Williams. Zen Pinball 2 on Mac is further proof from what I've seen on some videos. While FX seems a lot like a rehash of what FX3 has to offer, this is only the beginning.

Is Pinball FX a terrible game? No. Is it top of the charts, year 1? No, given the state of the game as of writing. I remember how FX3 was during the first few months of launch, and reviews weren't as pretty there, either. Will it get better over time? Absolutely.

Again, I tell you: Watch. Zen is in this for the long haul.

Preface: I have over 2000 hours on Pinball FX2 and FX3, combined, and I have another 1600 on Pinball Arcade. Safe to say, I've a fair bit of experience on my belt not just by playing these games, but in bug-hunting as well. I can also say that I've received codes from Zen in the past, and I've purchased their products since the beginning of FX2 here on Steam, so I've played a lot more for my money's worth. This review is not a flat, outright, "Yes" or "No" recommendation. There are obvious flaws in this game, and unfortunately so given the state of some tables. I want to write with as much of a genuine take on this as possible. Right now, I give this a solid 7/10. Not as great as FX3, still needs work, but has a lot of potential with the new engine. Is Pinball FX better now than what it was last year? A definite yes. My build is borderline minimum, running a GTX 970 and an i7-6700k processor. Pinball FX runs very well on my system, much more so than how it was during Early Access. Tables like World War Z and E.T. were absolutely horrendous. I've seen many improvements, and it'll get better as they optimize for Steam Deck, Cabinet Mode, and the eventual Switch release. Is FX better graphically? Personally, yes, but the first several Williams Volumes are up for debate. FX3's graphics already look great as they are, and a step up from FX2. Repurchasing on looks alone is already a tough sell. You'll really need a keen eye to tell the differences. Is FX better physics-wise? Yes and no. No, because Williams already uses the new physics found in Classic Single Player, so that's already the baseline. Yes, because in originals like Infinity Gauntlet, I can feel the difference in the interactions. What I can do in Williams tables with specific flipper tricks, I couldn't do in FX3's originals, but can now do in FX. Both FX2 and FX3 use the same engine, and some of the physics changes between the two intertwine using the same model. Pinball FX's new physics model is a complete revamp; the older originals need retuned, and we have a different ball game. Know that there are some issues that need ironed out in recent remasters like Sorcerer's Lair and Fish Tales, and the list of remasters yet to be done from FX3 isn't as large as before. Who knows; we might end up seeing some returning from FX2. Is it worth repurchasing all tables immediately? Not necessarily. People have different budgets, and I did not start out with a complete collection of FX2 tables right away. That said, how much a table is worth is entirely up to you. The "no backwards compatibility" take is quite the sting to the wallet, especially with new tables coming out at $5-10 per table, and Indy being $15. Discount details below. I feel for the people outside of the US who suffered from the pricing increase. As a US player, I'm not personally affected, but for people in other areas like Europe and Brazil, definitely. I highly encourage those seeking repurchases, and likewise, those not wanting to pay as much for new tables like Twilight Zone, to wait for discounts. I've observed the FX3/FX bundles Zen put out to lessen the pain of repurchases, and 50% is the base discount for FX3 owners of any given pack. Oddly enough, this includes Indy. This discount STACKS multiplicatively with those that take place during any given sale -- take the traditional Summer or Winter Sale, as an example. Time will tell what will happen when the first discounts roll around on Steam; therefore, watch. Bug fixes: I checked back in SteamDB regarding FX2 and FX3. We never got many patches or fixes between the two games, and I wonder if their previous engine had something to do with that. For those who are not aware, I maintain an unofficial Master List of issues, with the vast majority of them reported towards the Williams tables. A good majority of issues on the Williams tables in FX3 are now resolved in FX, but there are still plenty of bugs, especially game-breakers, that desperately need fixed. I've seen a faster rate of fixes here compared to the previous engine. With the Switch release coming up in July, I imagine more fixes are headed our way between now and then, now that most of the remastered titles are out there. There will be plenty more fixes even after that, and I want Zen to communicate as much about this topic as possible. Censorship on Williams: Completely GONE. Zen got in trouble with the ESRB for Infinite Minigolf on Switch, and they can't afford to make that mistake twice putting things in that might bump up FX3 age ratings. This even includes a censorship toggle, which we got here on Steam. We wouldn't see games like Dracula, Jack*Bot, or anything else that might have warranted a bump in the ratings. Purely on consoles, and much rather make the leap now than have repurchases sting more later on in FX3's life. FX3, to me, felt a lot more like what we've seen previously in FX2. Overall, the same game, but with additional challenges, powers, "matchup", custom tournaments, and new physics on Williams. Zen Pinball 2 on Mac is further proof from what I've seen on some videos. While FX seems a lot like a rehash of what FX3 has to offer, this is only the beginning. Is Pinball FX a terrible game? No. Is it top of the charts, year 1? No, given the state of the game as of writing. I remember how FX3 was during the first few months of launch, and reviews weren't as pretty there, either. Will it get better over time? Absolutely. Again, I tell you: Watch. Zen is in this for the long haul.