Marvel Pinball

Marvel Pinball uses the same basic rules as a physical pinball machine, albeit in a virtual environment. As with a traditional pinball machine, the player fires a steel ball onto the playfield using a plunger. Once the ball is in play the player controls the flippers and can nudge the machine to influence the path of the ball. Each of the game's tables become more complex as the game advances, opening new paths and opportunities.

The Xbox 360 version was released as downloadable content for another Zen pinball video game, Pinball FX 2. The PlayStation 3 version of Marvel Pinball has been made available as a stand-alone release, only. While the PlayStation 3 version does not feature split-screen multiplayer, it features the ability to nudge the table by tilting the controller. Both versions feature four pinball tables based on major Marvel Comics characters: Blade, Iron Man, Spider-Man, and Wolverine.

Marvel Pinball was first leaked to the public via the Australian Classification Board website October 20, 2010. It was officially announced on November 15, and released on December 8 on the Xbox 360 and December 14 on the PlayStation 3. It was available as a stand-alone game for the PlayStation 3 via the PlayStation Network, and as downloadable content for Pinball FX 2 on the Xbox 360 via Xbox Live Arcade. It is the second pinball title for the PlayStation 3, succeeding Zen Pinball. As Marvel Comics has granted Zen Studios full license to the Marvel universe, the studio claimed future tables will expand beyond characters to cover events such as the Marvel Civil War and the Dark Siege.

In an interview with Gamesworld Zen Studios hinted that a table centered around Captain America would be downloadable content, along with other content as well. For 2011, Fantastic Four table was made available on May 17 on the PlayStation Network and May 18 on Xbox Live. Captain America table was released on June 28 on PSN and on June 29 for Xbox Live.

Marvel Pinball was released to positive reception among critics. It currently holds an aggregate score of 87.73% at GameRankings on the Xbox 360 and 82.85% on the PlayStation 3. Fellow aggregate website Metacritic reports similar scores, with the Xbox 360 version holding an average of 86/100 and the PlayStation 3 version averaging 83/100. Sales during the month of its release exceeded 47,000 copies on the Xbox 360 and 19,000 on the PlayStation 3. 2011 sales for the initial pack exceeded 91,000 units on Xbox Live Arcade.

Richard Basset of TeamXbox gave Marvel Pinball a 9.5/10, stating of the Xbox Live version that the tables "are a top-notch addition to an awesome game". The reviewer for MS Xbox World also gave the Xbox Live version a 9.5/10, stating that "Marvel Pinball is by far the best pack of tables that Pinball FX2 has to offer and gives something both comic and pinball fans". GameZone's Robert Workman gave it an 8.5/10, stating it was "a simply must buy".