Mini Review: Xenotilt: Hostile Pinball Action (Switch)

Demon’s Tilt rightly earned acclaim for its supernatural-themed gameplay, with many considering it a worthy spiritual heir to Devil’s Crush. Now, solitary creator WIZNWAR has returned with Xenotilt: Hostile Pinball Action, a cyberpunk-influenced variation that enhances its predecessor in virtually every imaginable manner. In simple terms, this is among the finest pinball games ever crafted.

If Balatro succeeded in attracting players who have never entertained the notion of playing poker, then Xenotilt has the capability to achieve the same for pinball – it’s remarkably inviting while being extremely hard to stop once it hooks you. By merging straightforward mechanics with a nearly constant influx of points boosting your high score, you’ll discover the urge to have “just one more turn” nearly impossible to resist.

Set on a singular ‘table’ (which is designed to resemble a kind of spacecraft), the objective is uncomplicated: accumulate as many points as you can with your three designated balls. Divided into three separate tiers, the table features a variety of boss figures that you must defeat to earn substantial point increments.

You accomplish this by striking them with your ball through precisely aimed shots from the flippers, or by firing from automated turrets. You engage these (assuming you have ammunition) by ‘cradling’ the ball on one of the flippers and pressing ‘down’. The turrets instantly lock onto foes of all sizes, providing a fantastic method to clear the area and give yourself additional space.

As with other pinball games, you can also nudge the table to guide the ball into particular directions, either to hit an opponent, seize a jackpot, or prevent yourself from falling into the void. Overusing nudges within a brief time span could result in a game over, so employ this cautiously!

There are limitless chances to amplify your score, and if you can sustain your combo multiplier, you’ll quickly discover that you can break through the million-point threshold, perhaps even the billion. This is entirely achievable on ‘Normal Mode’, but if you choose ‘EX Mode’, you can occasionally access bonus areas completely separate from the main table. These present massive rewards, and one even offers a charming twist on the game of snooker – it’s a blast.

It also possesses a stunning appearance, with pixel art sprites, neon hues, and fabulously extravagant effects converging to create an extraordinary symphony of light and sound. It may sometimes be challenging to keep track of everything in the default perspective, but Xenotilt also supports TATE mode, which looks amazing whether you’re playing on the OLED Model or the Switch 2. In the same vein, the soundtrack is inspired, and I can assure you that at least one of the tracks will linger in your mind long after you step away from the table.

If you’ve never played a pinball game before, then Xenotilt might just be the only one you ever require. In fact, even if you don’t enjoy pinball, I suspect that experiencing this could very well alter your opinion – it’s ruthlessly addictive right from the start. Give it a try, and you’ll soon yield to its charm.