Zen Pinball is a great way to get your pinball fix on the go, whether that’s a mobile phone, a PS Vita, or a Nintendo Switch. It is true that the tables are fairly simple (and can’t hold a candle to the frantic interactivity of Demon’s Tilt), but the base gameplay is rock-solid. In addition, Zen Pinball has a lot of licensed tables, which can be more engaging for non-pinball fans than original properties. I have bought a bunch of tables for Zen Pinball on my phone, so let me tell you about the five best that you should buy.
A quick note: I don’t have any of the Star Wars or Bethesda tables, so please don’t yell at me for not listing any of those. Also, for an honorable mention, I will shout out the Archer table for its variety, along with the Jurassic World table for adapting the film experience well. Anyways, let’s get to the list!
Ant-Man
The Ant-Man table is one of my favorite Marvel tables (along with the Guardians of the Galaxy table, listed below). It feels more true to the movie than the Deadpool table does (which obviously was based on one of the comic book runs, not the recent movie), and they work the quantum world into the table fairly well. More than anything, it just looks great.
Biolab
Biolab is one of my favorite original tables (along with the Wild West Rampage table, listed below). The creature art is great, and makes up for the duller art of the rest of the table. If you want a Zen Pinball table that feels like a monster-collecting game, the Biolab table is the right one for you.
Bob’s Burgers
Bob’s Burgers is my favorite of the FOX tables, as it just gets the edge over the Archer table. The Archer table is more varied, but the Bob’s Burgers table is the nicest-looking one on this list. It looks (and sounds) like the cartoon itself, making it a real treat for any animation fans looking for a pinball fix.
Guardians of the Galaxy
The Guardians of the Galaxy table, like the Ant-Man table (and the Jurassic World table, for that matter), does a great job of adapting the film experience. This is true from the very beginning, as it starts with a frantic multiball experience that simulates the prison escape near the beginning of the movie. If you want to feel like a space pirate/superhero, the Guardians of the Galaxy table is a great choice.
Wild West Rampage
Finally, the Wild West Rampage table feels like old-school pinball at its best. It’s less colorful than some of the others, but it suits the dusty setting well. If you want a thrilling adventure with something of a steampunk edge, the Wild West Rampage table is the one for you.
Zen Pinball has a lot of great tables, and it’s a shame that they don’t seem to be doing any new ones anymore. There are more thrilling and varied pinball games out there, but Zen Pinball is a great mix of accessibility and eye candy. No matter which tables you go with, I know you’ll have hours of fun with it. Happy pinballing!
