Every so often, a video game developer decides to mix pinball with some other genre, franchise, or twist that turns the idea on its head. It’s a long-standing tradition that includes games like Sonic Spinball and Metroid Prime Pinball, and it dates as far back as the 1970s with Namco?s Gee Bee.
While this sometimes results in amazing games, like the 2018 Yoku’s Island Express, most examples end up as mediocre mash-ups that only gain attention if they?re tied to some beloved character.
The Pinball Wizard (), a mash-up of pinball and dungeon crawling, doesn?t have the luxury of a recognizable franchise tied to its name. However, while it doesn?t achieve the heights of some of the better pinball mashups, it does provide an entertaining, if imperfect, bit of amusement. The game has a solid foundation and developer Frosty Pop deserves applause for bringing it to fruition in a way that feels intuitive and satisfying. The basics don’t take long to figure out: knock a wizard around using pinball paddles, hit enemies to hurt them, avoid enemy attacks, gather treasure, and find the key on each level to open the door to the next one. Rinse and repeat until you reach the top of the tower, defeat the end boss, and save the day.

The game’s simple graphics are pleasing to the eye, and help aid in the game’s easy-to-pick-up style. How everything in the game works is clear from the moment you lay eyes on it, which speaks well for the artistic direction.
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