Kabounce

Kabounce

So you heard about the 48 hour period when you could download the game for free but you missed it? Or you’re just now stumbling upon the game because it finally got a steady position as an indie title? Whatever the case, I want to tell you that, even though many got the game for free, Kabounce absolutely deserves your money.

In the past few years I have grown increasingly more interested in Alternative Future Sports Games (AFSGs). Think of games like Rocket League, Laser League, etc. And if there is one thing I’ve noticed during this time, it’s that indie developers don’t realize just how crucial a few things are to creating a stable and healthy competitive atmosphere. I’m happy to say that it seems like Stitch Heads fully understand what they need to maintain a competitive and exciting indie game.

Real player with 63.3 hrs in game


Read More: Best Pinball Action Games.


Kabounce is a bold hybrid multiplayer Pinball action game in a multiplayer esports team arena format. Now guys, this is what indie games are all about, but unfortunately rare and unique gems like Kabounce are sometimes overlooked by the gaming community. We need to support our indie developers that bring us these new and really unique games! Kabounce has the potential to be a huge rival for competitive multiplayer e-sports games like Rocket League for example.

Sometimes new games manage to generated huge media hype and player anticipation, but turn out to only disappoint most players, off course there could be various reasons for this, but we’re not going into that here. Sometimes new games within popular genres can even feel like just another re-skin of other games, without really reinventing or adding something new to the genre. Most AAA game developers are also not willing to stick their necks out and take the risks associated with developing something really unique and fresh. They usually prefer development of games that stick to a well established genre, a well proven formula or a game within a well established franchise.

Real player with 49.3 hrs in game

Kabounce on Steam

Pinball Arcade

Pinball Arcade

If you are interested in Real pinball, as in machines out in the real world. This is the game for you.

All the tables are based on real tables, and does a pretty good job of it. So after playing the tables in this game, you already know what to shoot for out in the real world, and your scores will be that much greater.

However, Make sure you run this game in DX11, and make sure you adjust the lighting. (I usually go for 10-15% room brightness and 90-100% lamp brightness, to better emulate how games typically will look like in the real world.)

Real player with 1091.2 hrs in game


Read More: Best Pinball Classic Games.


As pinball goes the game play is terrific and Pinball Arcade has been absent from Steam for far too long. The fact that it had to go through Greenlight is more testament to Valve’s incompetence and lack of understanding of the genre.

Farsight includes a free table with the distribution of their platform. Tales of Arabian Nights is outrageously good. Personally I can sit in one spot from dusk until dawn ignoring hunger or nature calling playing this table. The music, sound and game-play are all top notch. Unfortunately the pot ain’t all roses and there are some weeds, hopefully not permanently.

Real player with 312.1 hrs in game

Pinball Arcade on Steam

Pinball FX3

Pinball FX3

FX3 could have been decent enough update even with the addition of the XP/leveling up mechanics to the tables that are required for maximizing your high scores. This was tolerable and even somewhat amusing to do for the first few tables but after playing a few more on top of that the novelty wears off and you quickly realize that the grind just gets in the way of enjoying the pure pinball experience (it isn’t strictly required since there’s a ‘classic mode’ but all the real competition is on the now regular mode, and unfortunately the level up mechanic is still active in this mode as well). The biggest issue with all this XP accumulation and leveling up is that it causes performance issues and random lag that in pinball means missed shots and needless gutter drains that are about the worst thing that can happen in this type of game where one single delayed input could mean the difference between a new high score or not. Multiply that by it happening continuously throughout your play session and its just a recipe for frustration.

Real player with 532.7 hrs in game


Read More: Best Pinball Family Friendly Games.


Pinball FX 3 is a continuation of a great pinball series, that has continued to grow in number of tables as well as improvements in game play and modes. I have played the full Pinball FX series and am not disappointed in how the game has progressed.

Most tables from FX 2 have made the climb into FX 3, with the tables from FX 2 getting somewhat of a overhaul if there were issues with the table, so some of the problems/bugs with tables from FX 2 have been corrected. With 90 tables available, there is a wide selection of fun tables to pick from. There is however a little bit of a glut of Marvel and Star Wars based tables, which isn’t horrible, but I would like to see more new fresh IP tables based on other movies, and non movie connected totally new concepts etc. Also, Zen studios has recently acquired the Williams pinball contract giving them a new base to make tables for. The tables so far have been good, but as an owner of The Pinball Arcade it’s kind of not such a big thing to get the new tables on release.

Real player with 522.6 hrs in game

Pinball FX3 on Steam

Krakout challenge

Krakout challenge

Welcome to the ultimate Challenge! Brick breaker games never were so exciting, fun and challenging. 

The game where you can improve your reaction and creativity. “Krakout challenge” is not a simple game where you do not need to think and must wait for random bonuses. Every level covers self bonuses, a self tactic to go through. During the first time, it can be a little bit challenging, but I hope you like challenges and complete all 300 levels and we will see your records on the top of the leaderboard.   

The game has an integrated level editor. So you do not need to play just in-game levels. You can use your creativity, make level-sets and share them with friends and compete: who beats you level-set faster or collect more points.

This game is multiplatform and can be played on many platforms such as PC , Mac, Linux or mobile devices. You can create a level set and share with friends no matter on which platform your friend play this game.

Key Features

  • Arcade Cabinet Style and Pixel Art Graphic;

  • arcade mode with 3 level sets ( 300 levels) up to 7 hours of gameplay (if you are lucky or very skilled).

  • integrated level editor;

  • levels can be exchanged with Steam friends or via a local network. And no matter on which platform play your friend;

  • many types of blocks (simple, unbreakable, multi-hittable, cloneable, movable, time …);

  • many types of aliens and helpers (include ball eater :) );

  • supports global Steam achievements and leader board;

  • stop and continue to play any time you want.

So, if you like brick breaker type games, you will do not miss this game. 

If you have never tried brick breaker type games, you will try and I think you do not disappoint.

Krakout challenge on Steam

Twin Breaker: A Sacred Symbols Adventure

Twin Breaker: A Sacred Symbols Adventure

Very average. Plays like a poor man’s ‘Arkanoid’ and the story is kind of preachy.

As for this being a PC port from the Playstation game, they could have at least added a ‘exit’ button to the main menu. It was built for Playstation users to quit via the ‘PS Button’. This is a rather annoying oversight.

Real player with 2.4 hrs in game

A great entry into the brick breaker genre. Controlling up to 4 paddles at once offers a good challenge, especially when combined with increasing ball speeds and a time limit. The main story can be completed in around an hour but there are a lot of alternative play modes which should provide more entertainment afterwards.

A few gripes:

  • There is no way to aim the ball (as per a lot of older brick breakers, something solved by newer games like Shatter, Ultra Break etc). This can lead to frustration when going for the last few bricks, especially when combined with a time limit. A way to aim with precision would have been welcome.

Real player with 1.8 hrs in game

Twin Breaker: A Sacred Symbols Adventure on Steam

Zaccaria Pinball

Zaccaria Pinball

I’m a proud owner of the Platinum Edition. As of this review I have all 82*** tables, but they are making and releasing new tables on a regular basis. Zaccaria was an actual pinball machine manufacturer in Italy from 1974-1990. At their peak they were the third largest manufacturer of pinball machines behind leaders Bally and Williams.

Their first efforts were EM (Electro-Mechanical) tables. 12 of those have been released so far (most recently “Topical,” originally manufactured in 1974). An excellent table by-the-way. This was offered as DLC just this month. Naturally Zaccaria transitioned to Solid State tables. There are 27 SS tables released so far. I say ‘so far’ because beginning in 1988 Zaccaria was reorganized and renamed Mr. Game. While only a few Zaccaria tables remain unreleased none of the 6 Mr. Game tables have been added. By-the-way, five tables were released from 1988-90 under the Tecnoplay name. Those remain undigitized as well.

Real player with 523.8 hrs in game

What a great game. What. A great. Game.

TL;DR; - this game offers something for all pinball lovers, just spend some time to find out which machines you enjoy and pick just them. If you enjoy older machines, stick with the SS and EM machines. If you enjoy 90s flashy machines, check out the remakes. If you enjoy over the top flashy machines - deluxe is for you. Just spend some time with the free download to see what is to your taste, and only pay for the machines you like.

Now,

I own pretty much all the pinball games here on Steam, and I have to say that although I enjoy all the major players' offerings (Pinball Arcade, Pinball FX3, Pro Pinball Ultra) I have to admit that I like Zaccaria just a bit more than the others.

Real player with 124.7 hrs in game

Zaccaria Pinball on Steam

Power Ball 2021

Power Ball 2021

Overview

Power Ball 2021 is here to provide block busting, ball bouncing, gun shooting action for 1 or 2 players.

Play through 50 levels solo or with a friend in local co-op as you enjoy the casual simplicity of this retro inspired gem.

Levels peppered with hidden powerups will quickly change the pace of the action and do their best to distract you from main ball.

Inspired by great bat and ball games of the past

Features

50 Levels of increasing complexity

Multiple powerups

2 Player action (Play against your friend or work together to make it through the entire game)

Guns generate when there is only 1 block left to make that final block a piece of cake

Power Ball 2021 on Steam

Peggle Deluxe

Peggle Deluxe

Dear Peggle,

We had been friends for quite a long time before i got to know you really well. We grew up together, we played xbox together. It was fun! But when we started to race that’s when things got serious. You have made me laugh, you have made me cry. Sometimes I wanted to punch you in the head, but I could never do that to you, you were always so nice and fair to me. Even after one-hundred (100) HOURS of playing peggle, I have realized that there is nothing else in this life that is more important than this game. Peggle, without you, I am nothing. I am so thankful you came into my life and I hope that we never have to part ways.

Real player with 228.3 hrs in game

highly recommend. every gamer should play.

EDIT: I have now 100% completed this game, finished a couple of months ago. The story line that goes through the period of time in your life while playing this for the 100% kind of becomes the peggle story line, somehow. I saw myself getting over life hurdles the day after peggle hurdles, not sure how they do that, but when I completed the game, I was suddenly done with school- minus a few ceremonies and tests.

The mechanics of this game are beyond good, the physics simulation lets you make the coolest shots with just basic knowledge of geometry, such as the tangent line approximation formula and implicit differentiation, and makes you feel extremely good when you hit a really good opener that clears half the board in one turn.

Real player with 192.4 hrs in game

Peggle Deluxe on Steam

Space Block Buster

Space Block Buster

A friend let us played on his VR system & had lots of fun, time flew. Reminds me of playing racquetball but without knee aches. My family enjoyed hitting the blocks. Right now purchased it, we recommend it.

Real player with 19.4 hrs in game

Breakout meets Racket Tennis 2019 for VR!

A highly polished VR game with great sound, graphics and game play. Both my 10 year old daughter and I love playing this game. It’s like a cross between a modern day Breakout and some sort of Racket Tennis. I love the power-ups but I think there are two de-buffs. I’m not sure if they are but the small ball and the baseball bat seem to make things harder. My favourite power-up is shooting gun. It really heaps blast away the blocks.

This game manages to keep things fresh and the Boss Battles are the best way of doing that. They are super challenging and help to mix up the play style. Highly recommended.

Real player with 2.7 hrs in game

Space Block Buster on Steam

Dungene

Dungene

This is the Free Demo of Dungene, a Roguelite Action Sci-Fi game.

The game is set in a biology lab that studies the biological abilities of a subject, which is controlled by you, through various experiments. Twist and modify your genes to discover what you can become. Find out more about the lab and the experiments to discover what they want…

Game Features:

Dozens of Drugs, Genes, Drones, and Cores that can change every aspects of the Experiment Subject that you control!

Hack and Slash with all kinds of powerful or wierd weapons, and rip your enemies into pieces before they do that to you.

Charge and Crush other creatures with your unique ability, and see their blood flood the room!

Discover more about the lab through different expriments, or game modes in nother words, that have different rules, settings, and mechanics!

EXPECT MORE! This free demo only represent a tiny portion of the Early Access version of the game, which will be available THIS SUMMER!

If you have any comments, advices or anything you want to say to us, you can find us on:

Twtitter: @mind_games_wang

Facebook: Mind Games Studio

Dungene on Steam