DISCLOSURE: Since originally writing this review, I was invited to perform design and testing work for the game (mentioned below), for which I received compensation. The essence of the review remains the same since initial writing. Original/updated review follows:

I wasn't expecting much going in. It looked like a basic mobile pinball port.

But, no, actually this is a serious offering. An expertly crafted pinball collection that continues to expand.

The good:
* Clever table designs (some very clever like the baseball themed Fastball)
* Good, deep, mostly balanced, fun and challenging rulesets (check them all out here: http://www.pinballdeluxereloaded.com/tradewinds/ ).
* Good atmosphere - art, sound, music
* Mod system adds a fun layer of complexity to the game (if you don't mind having to unlock them)
* Well designed global cross-platform tournament system!
* Lots of well designed achievements!
* Quite good physics
* Very low system requirements
* Fun daily challenge system
* Ability to zoom camera
* Optional live leaderboard system (though currently it only uses local scores except for the daily event table)
* Responsive developer

Not so Good:
* 2D fixed top-down camera view. However, the 2D art is quite good. There are a few pre-rendered (?) 3D animations here and there.
* Camera zoom is a global setting but tables have different heights. In particular, there is one very, very tall table that even on the lowest zoom level does not fit and will require scrolling. It's clever, but I don't really want to play a scrolling table these days. Fixed!
* Sound effects are delayed for me (but it's tolerable, and I don't have input delay with vsync off) Seems to no longer be a problem.
* No mouse launching, unlike in mobile version (this is especially problematic for the bagatelle table) Fixed!
* I don't think I like the powerball system (a special ball you can launch that costs tickets (scarce game currency) that doubles your points but also moves faster. But I might change my mind on it. At least it's an interesting concept. It just doesn't seem like something I want to worry about when playing for score. It may not actually be a good idea to use though for advanced players because the loss of control may outweigh the point bonus. EDIT: after playing more, these don't seem to be worth the risk anyway

Physics
The physics are "somewhat" basic (e.g. it's 2D and ball seems to have no spin - although the ball will sometimes slide down flippers instead of bouncing (seems to have been fixed at some point)), but what's there works very well. Most of the stuff I would expect to work, works. Ball control feels good enough.

Table Notes
* Carnival: currently this is my favorite. Strong multiball element (several mb modes, stacks with other things). Good ruleset in general. Fun DMD video mode. Mirrored lower playfield.
* Brix: this is Breakout. You go through 50 levels. I've only gotten through about 10 so far. You can buy checkpoints and start at a later level that you've unlocked. Pretty clever and fun overall.
* Fastball: super clever ruleset (incorporates baseball rules very well). Baseball fans will love this, I think. Mini-game that emulates those little tabletop baseball pinball devices.
* Treasure Hunter: super tall layout (mandatory scrolling). Lots of flippers. Decent mode oriented ruleset. The higher you go up the table, the harder it is to control the ball / keep it up there.
* Wild West: Hard to get into with some difficult shots. Certain mods are particularly powerful on this table. The theme is fun, and the ruleset is interesting once you learn it.
* Space Frontier: Another table that's hard to figure out at first, but quite fun with a deep ruleset, interesting shots, and interesting mods.
* Bagaball: this is a decent bagatelle design where you want to match the ball color to the appropriate part of the playfield. But the lack of mouse launch control makes perhaps more difficult than it should be.
* Apparatus: Added March 2018. I had the opportunity to help test and refine the table pre-release. In my opinion, this is now the best table in the pack and one of the most interesting tables I've ever played. It's very innovative with a complex layout and ruleset, and very well balanced (thanks to the lengthy pre-release testing).
* Tradewinds: Added July 2019. I co-designed this table (so obviously I think it's pretty good, but I may be a bit biased here!). It features a double playfield, dynamic scoring, pirates, and more!
* Celtic Jukebox: Added early 2020. Unlike the other tables, this one requires a few tasks across other tables to unlock. Rhythm game video mode is among the standout features, along with music track selection linked to the ruleset (similar to Stern AC/DC, Aerosmith, etc). Layout features two upper flippers that are very important for certain shots. Pretty solid design overall. Ruleset seems fairly well balanced.
* Jurassic Links: Added Q2 2021. Personal favorite competitor to Apparatus. Very well tuned, very interesting ruleset with a dinosaur + golf theme. Has long term, cross-game progression mechanism similar to Brix (unlock checkpoints to different golf courses), but unlike Brix, it's basically a "normal" design otherwise. There's no significant advantage to later golf courses, just a fun goal to aim for (with an achievement tied to unlocking them all).
* Rydes: Added December 2022. Another interesting and unique ruleset themed on a ride/delivery for hire service. Manage 9 different ryde types, matching them to 6 different vehicle types. While approachable from the "shoot whatever is lit" perspective, the varied multiplier mechanics and mods are fertile ground for theorycrafting and the layout has great flow.
* Dragonwatch: Added May 2025. A solid medieval fantasy themed design. The main gimmick is a dragon that flies around and occasionally sets the playfield on fire, which you then must put out by rolling the ball over the fire particle effects. I initially thought I wouldn't like the particles covering the board, but it works quite well and is fun. An interesting gimmick is unlockable "flippers" in the orbit, 3 in total, with one actually being a set of 2 pop bumpers that move sort of like flippers.

The game's been around in some form on mobile for quite a while now. You can read more about the history of the game here: http://www.pinballdeluxereloaded.com/press/

Pinball Deluxe Reloaded is a very fun pinball game.

There are many different tables, which are very well thought out, you can recognize that each table was designed with great attention to detail. All tables are also clearly different from each other, no one is like the other.
Furthermore there are also upgrades for the tables which make the challenges easier.

The daily challenges for the tables are also great fun, anyone who wants can participate and submit the high score to the rankings, highly recommended.

I love playing pinball, put in many, many hours of time in real pinball tables, the PBFX series 1-3, Zaccaria Pinball, Pinball Arcade, Snowball and Epic Pinball. And Pinball Deluxe: Reloaded is a favorite of mine ranking right up there with the best of these. In fact I am ashamed I have only played 47 hours of this game, I definitely need to play this more often.

The game has a lot of features as well as 11 very good and diversified tables. We've got carnivals, the wild west, space, baseball, treasure hunting, sailing and dinosaurs among others covered. Different styles/modes included are a VS, Daily event, ladder and normal pinball. As you play you can also earn "tickets' by completing challenges as well as getting tickets during play by sending the ball over a ticket icon that is randomly placed on the tables. Tickets are used for buying mods for each table as well as leveling up the mods. The mods are unique to each table and help your play in many different ways, like increasing ramp scores or help in completing a table mission. All tables have leader boards as well divided into local, global and friends. Each table also has it's own set of achievements, too.

In addition to the mods you can also collect powerballs to play on each table, although you may only play one powerball per each play. The powerball can increase your score, but there is a cost for this, the powerball moves faster and seems tougher to control. You can also buy powerballs with your tickets.

As far as play goes, the tables are not generally overcrowded. Do not expect this to mean there are not many things to do. Each table has missions and goals that complement the name of the table. Carnival, for example, has a haunted mansion, mirror house, an arcade where you can play a video game of truck attack, along with the basic pinball staples of spinners, bumpers orbits, targets and multiplier/rollover/outlane lanes. Fastball table has areas to earn hits, stolen bases, outs, strikes, sacrifices all while playing innings, scoring runs and recording outs just like in real baseball.

With many different styles of tables and different modes there is a lot of replay-ability. The sound effects and graphics will remind you of past pc pinball games, but that's all part of Pinball Deluxe: Reloaded's charm. I highly recommend this to all types of pinball players, many hours of enjoyment will be your reward if you grab this game!

I'm really impressed by this 2D pinball game. Pinball Deluxe Reloaded is polished, with plenty of depth and great value for money. It has lots of single player content and a thriving competitive side with leaderboards and regular seasons of daily events.

As many of my Steam friends will attest I'm a huge fan of pinball, and this is one fine (and addicting) pinball game. In fact, I play this one frequently. The graphics are good, as are the sound effects.

GAMEPLAY

The flippers are responsive and the standard balls behave properly, with believable physics. There are upgradable Mods available for each table (except "Bagaball") You also have the option to use a Powerball in place of a standard ball. Limit 1 Powerball per game. A Powerball cannot be used on the "Bagaball" table. During gameplay Tickets will periodically appear on the table in various places. Hitting a Ticket with your ball earns you a Ticket. It will then disappear and at some point later another one will appear somewhere else on the table. How many Tickets you earn this way solely depends on your skill. There is no limit. Hitting a Ticket with your ball does not affect the ball in any way.

POWERBALLS

Powerballs react differently than standard balls do. The physics of the Powerballs is also strange, with the balls bouncing around as if they were made out of rubber. They do increase the points that you get, so generally I save them for those times when I have Multiball all set-up, or I'm close to doing so. If you trigger Multiball while using a Powerball every ball in play will be a Powerball. This is a great way to rack up huge points. Powerballs are purchased in-game with Tickets.

MODS

Each table has a different set of unlockable and upgradable Mods (again, "Bagaball" is the one exception to this). Mods are unlocked and upgraded with Tickets. There's real stragedy in finding and using the right combination of Mods. Most tables will limit you to 3 Mods during a game. Between games you can remove and add Mods.

LEADERBOARDS AND HIGHSCORES

Each table has two ways to view the Leaderboard for that table. Global, which will call up everyone's High Score (currently there are over 3,800 players on most Leaderboards), and Friends, which will only list the High Scores of your friends on Steam (and of course your own High Score). This doesn't affact your ranking. You maintain the same position regardless of which you choose. There is also Local, which only lists all of your own High Scores. This will also appear on the far left of the screen while you are mid-game, so you always know your progress in relation to your previous High Scores. Your High Scores will also be displayed on the table itself, just as with real pinball machines.

THE DAILY EVENT

Every 24 hours sees a new Daily Event. The goal is to get the highest score that you can. Each of the main tables (except "Bagaball") are used on a rotating basis. There are multiple rules used, also on a rotating basis. They are very simple. The first is your standard game. The second is Purist, where the use of Mods and Powerballs are not allowed. There is also 1 Ball. You are limited to just one ball. Finally there is Blitz where you have a strict 2 minute time limit. You are always limited to a set number of attempts. Sometimes it's 2, 3, or even 4. Each Daily Event has a Leaderboard.

Taking part in the Daily Event is a great way to earn tickets. You earn points with each Daily Event. If you play every day then you will be given the chance to spin a wheel (think Wheel of Fortune) on a weekly basis. You can win Tickets, Mods, Powerballs, etc. If you win a Mod that you have already unlocked then yours will automatically be upgraded a level. If you are a true pinball wizard then you will win a certain number of Tickets. I've done this a few times. The better that you did that week the more Tickets you will be awarded.


CHALLENGES

Every 24 hours a new Challenge is offered. Once you meet the goal of each Challenge you will earn a set number of Tickets, You can only have 3 Challenges going at the same time, but if you find one Challenge partically difficult and you have the maximum of 3 Challenges underway you can delete one and a new one will be offered. There will be a small x to the left of each Challenge. Simply click on the x for the Challenge that you wish to abandon.

ACHIEVEMENTS:

Each table has a number of Achievements to unlock/earn. Again, "Bagaball" is the exception. Unlocking Acievements is another way to earn Tickets.

TABLES

The Apparatus
Bagaball
Brix
Carnival
Fastball
Space Frontier
Treasure Hunter
Wild West

"The Apparatus" is to date the most recent table to be added to the game. It was released March of 2018. "Bagaball" is based on the old (really old) game "Bagatelle." There are no flippers, bumpers, slingshots, etc. As stated previously, there are no Mods for this table and you can't use Powerballs either.

BUGS:

There aren't any.

5/19/2025: Even though the table release gap is significant, the amount of joy each new table brings does not go unnoticed. Dragonwatch, now for free, and plays amazingly well.

11/8/2023 update: This game has received new tables at a slower pace, and not one of them felt terrible to play at all. Since its initial release, we've seen Apparatus, Jurassic Links, Tradewinds, Celtic Jukebox, and Rydes, with one more table planned in the works. Each new table is added with no additional cost, so this really is a labor of love.

Give this game a shot; you'll be pleasantly surprised at what each table has to offer. Don't be deceived by this game's mobile origins.

ORIGINAL: I've played this game previously, as "Pinball Deluxe", which came with about 3 tables on the free version (Feel free to try it out on mobile devices). Reloaded plays remarkably well on PC, and it brings new features that change up the pinball experience on this game, such as mods/upgrades, the Powerball, and daily challenges. Physics feel somewhat wonky, but for a 2D pinball game, they're not that bad when compared to others. Regardless, this game is very fun and worth buying.

This is a very good retro pinball, with some great ideas (pinball + arkanoid? Count me in!), dailies, meta progression, nice achievements and Steam leaderboards support. The price asked is very cheap for what you get and on sale it's a steal.

Highly recommended for both casual and hardcore pinball players.

At a first glance of the store page, you could easily be deceived and think that this is just a cheesy sub-par arcade pinball.
Well it is NOT ! This is a super-legit 2d pinball that happily works on your potato machine: an effective combination of comphrensive table rules and very good physics.
Actually, even considering it is 2d and the ball does not spin , this sometimes may feel legitimately closer to real machines than some other popular flashy PINBALL FRACHISES

Wishes for the future:
1- Classic mode option, (no powerups, money ecc)
2- no more gimmicky tables like brakeout and whatnot.
3- Slightly Reduced "floatiness" of the ball
4- Tons of quality new tables.
5- More quality artworks on the playfields

To me this represents the spiritual successor of Fantasies/Dreams but it definitely plays alot better than those.
Get it if you like pinball ! There is actually no better offer for a 2d pinball game on STEAM.

Best 2D pinball out !

2D pinball. Really worth the price. Awesome!