Of the many popular forms of gaming, pinball is perhaps the most intimidating from a distance, requiring a scary combination of precise flipper control, table-by-table knowledge, and hours of practice. It doesn't have to be that way, though. Just ask Zen Studios, the developer behind a number of fun and accessible virtual pinball games that capture the multiball thrills and tough drains that at one time you could only get with a real table.

While Zen Studios' flagship Pinball FX series has tended toward the family friendly over the years, their new offering Pinball M delights in the mature and macabre, especially horror. As the studio's Marketing Manager Bence Bánszki puts it, Pinball M gave the developer the opportunity to bring classic horror franchises to life with the silver ball, and the game's designers took full advantage.

"Pinball M is the platform where anything goes," he explains. "We recognized the huge demand for mature-themed pinball tables, so we grabbed the opportunity and jumped right in. The game leans heavily into horror with iconic franchises known for their mature content, while Pinball FX is about variety, ranging from classic, family-friendly designs to licensed themes outside of the horror space."

There's a rich tradition of horror-themed tables in pinball, from the cheesy Deadheads of Scared Stiff to the zombie-slaying of Stern's Walking Dead. Pinball M's tables aren't exclusively slasher-themed—there's the delightful Duke Nukem's Big Shot Pinball, complete with the familiar music from Duke Nukem 3D's first level—but the emphasis on fear is apparent throughout.

Try out the free offering Wrath of the Elder Gods: Director's Cut and you'll quickly see what I mean—a Cthulhu-esque cephalopod dominates the top of the playfield, along with a spinner that gushes blood with every rotation.

"I like to dive deep into the story of pinball tables," Bánszki says. "Most people view pinball tables as a mix of flashing lights, rails, and ramps, but there is a deeper 'lore' for each table. The more you get familiar with a table and unfold its story, the more excited you'll be to hit each shot. This is the kind of excitement I am searching for in each pinball table."

It's clear from a few hours with Pinball M that the designers have taken great pains to integrate each property's themes and art into the table itself. This is perhaps most obvious in Bánszki's favorite table, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which (of course) features a massive chainsaw prop that the player can rev in certain situations. Like all good tables, these cabinets have a variety of ramps to shoot, modes to master, and skill shots to plunge.

Pinball M also includes a number of quality-of-life features that make the hobby more accessible to newcomers. While you can certainly spend hours grinding the same table for a high-score the way Keith Elwin intended, there are optional modes that allow you to try certain components of a table again and again with the ball saver on, without the fear of the dreaded drain. Bánszki also points to Pinball M's Madness Challenge mode, which puts you directly in the heat of a multiball for three minutes, so you can throw yourself into the chaos to try to notch the top spot.

By exploring these additional options, newcomers can learn the layout of their favorite table and what shots to aim for, as well as the key flipper skills they need to stay alive. For example, the biggest mistake that pinball neophytes tend to make is over-flipping, i.e. continually pressing both flippers while the silver ball bounces around the playfield. Though it's an understandable impulse, this creates a larger void for the ball to fall in when it inevitably careens down. Because of this, it's good to practice simply not flipping. Mastering that skill can save your game more often than not.

Pinball M also includes optional cosmetics for players to explore. "We've introduced 'Play Corners,' a new feature we haven’t done before," Bánszki says. "This is the environment of each pinball cabinet that you can customize to your liking as you progress on tables. We received positive feedback on these, as it was an incentive for players who not only wanted to climb the leaderboards but also to personalize their environment."

Pinball M just received a new Zen Original table, Camp Bloodbrook, which pays tribute to a classic horror movie theme. That table includes Bánszki's favorite element yet, the Machete Ramp. He explains: "At first, it looks like a static table element—but as you progress further, you realize that it has multiple purposes like locking balls, moving on the table, and even giving you jump scare moments. (The latter could be just for me.)"

Pinball might seem like a tough hobby to get into at first glance, but it doesn't have to be that way. If you grab Pinball M and a few bloody tables, you'll find yourself saying "just one more game" again and again, until you realize that it's 2 AM and you forgot to eat dinner. You've been warned.

Players who are interested in Pinball M can download the game for free on the Epic Games Store and try out the included Lovecraftian table Wrath of the Elder Gods: Director's Cut at no cost. You can then purchase and play individual tables like Camp Bloodbrook, or grab the Death Save Bundle, which includes four tables for a reduced price.