pinball Archives

Winsage

May 26, 2026

Windows’ classic 3D Space Cadet pinball is getting a physical re-creation

3D Pinball for Windows – Space Cadet was included with several Microsoft operating systems until Windows XP and was part of the Full Tilt! Pinball software collection launched by Maxis in 1995. Deeproot Pinball attempted to create a physical version of Space Cadet but faced collapse before completion. Hobbyist CNCDan is now working on a physical Space Cadet table, featuring 3D-printed mechanical flippers, pop bumpers with embedded LEDs, slingshots, and a raised playfield. He has encountered challenges with the size and positioning of table elements, resulting in a playfield that measures 56 cm in width, which is smaller than typical commercial pinball tables.

AppWizard

May 15, 2026

I’m tired of everything getting turned into a roguelite, but I’ll make an exception for pinball

Developers are rapidly creating quick-hit games inspired by various mechanics, with 257 new roguelites released on Steam in the past month. One notable title is Pin-Crawl, which introduces a roguelite twist to pinball gameplay, featuring upgrades that create chaotic effects and unique spells for strategic advantages. Although its visuals may not match those of established titles, it offers innovative gameplay mechanics, including stats, bosses, and meta progression. Pin-Crawl aims to deliver quick, engaging sessions, appealing to players' nostalgia for pinball while blending it with roguelite elements.

Winsage

May 13, 2026

Linux gains more critical Windows apps … 3D Movie Maker and Space Cadet Pinball

Several notable Windows applications, including Space Cadet Pinball and Microsoft 3D Movie Maker, have been successfully ported to Linux. Space Cadet Pinball, originally part of the Microsoft Plus Pack for Windows 95, has been decompiled and rebuilt, now available across 14 platforms, including Linux, thanks to Muzychenko Andrey. The source code for Microsoft 3D Movie Maker was released by Microsoft, and a new fork has been developed by Mark Cave-Ayland and Ben Stone, enabling it to run on Linux. Their project also includes bug fixes, 64-bit compatibility, and builds for ARM64 Windows, with plans for a Raspberry Pi version.

AppWizard

April 27, 2026

Ball x Pit has a new update because who needs free time anyway?

The Shadow Update for Ball x Pit introduces two new characters, The Tiptoer and The Tunneller, along with four new passive abilities, 11 new balls, and a guildhall for players to build. The Tiptoer can evade detection by enemies, while The Tunneller can fire balls that wrap around the screen's edges. The new balls include one that manipulates time, one that immobilizes enemies, and one that allows for random teleportation. The update also features the Full Metal Rapier passive ability, which scales damage based on the number of elements on screen, and the Arrow of Fate, which grants projectile immunity and releases smaller balls upon being hit. The update is available for free on Steam and adds 18 new elements, creating 88 combinations of characters, passives, and balls.

AppWizard

April 3, 2026

Amazon Prime subscribers can claim 12 free PC games this month

Amazon Prime subscribers can access twelve free games through Prime Gaming in April 2026. Notable titles include XCOM: Enemy Unknown Complete Edition and Total War: Pharaoh Dynasties, available for immediate download. Additional games will be released weekly: - April 9: Rat's Quest: The Way Back Home and King of Retail - April 16: Snake Core, Monster Harvest, and Detective Agency: Gray Tie Collector's Edition - April 23: Neo Cab and The Pale Beyond - April 30: KinnikuNeko: Super Muscle Cat, Fantasy General, and Pinball Spire

AppWizard

April 2, 2026

Amazon Prime’s 12 ‘free’ games for April include XCOM: Enemy Unknown Complete Pack

Amazon Luna has released a lineup of complimentary PC games for subscribers in April 2026, including: - Available now: - XCOM: Enemy Unknown Complete Pack (GOG) - Total War: Pharaoh Dynasties (Epic Games Store) - April 9: - A Rat’s Quest: The Way Back Home (Epic Games Store) - King of Retail (GOG) - April 16: - Snake Core (GOG) - Monster Harvest (Epic Games Store) - Detective Agency: Gray Tie Collector’s Edition (Legacy Games) - April 23: - Neo Cab (GOG) - The Pale Beyond (GOG) - April 30: - KinnikuNeko: Super Muscle Cat (Epic Games Store) - Fantasy General (GOG) - Pinball Spire (GOG) Players can still claim titles from March, including Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep, Total War: Rome II, and Total War: Three Kingdoms. Amazon Luna also revamped its streaming service last October, introducing GameNight, which features around 30 party games that allow players to use mobile phones as controllers without app downloads.

AppWizard

March 23, 2026

This week in PC games: a new Hooded Horse city-builder, some PS2-style horror, a school-day RPG and an absolutely tremendous catfish

The atmosphere in gaming is currently lacking excitement due to a lull with no major releases. Notable upcoming games include: - Journey of the Garden Rose: An adventure game featuring a princess battling insects in a low-poly palace. - Frog Holm: A bar-running game that combines cocktail mixing with Tetris mechanics. - No Vacation for an Executioner: An action-horror game with a PS2 style and intricately designed monsters. - Come Again, Chachii?: A game where players help quirky aliens find jobs by deciphering their speech. - Roombattle: A top-down multiplayer game featuring competing vacuums. - Mado Monogatari: Fia and the Wondrous Academy: A dungeon-crawling RPG with cheerful characters and perilous elements. - Beast Breaker: A tactical pinball game where players launch a mouse at kaiju. - Nova Roma: An early access city-builder focusing on water management. - Damon and Baby: An action-adventure game featuring a baby and a demon king. - Screamer: A cyberpunk racing game known for its colorful mechanics. - Project Songbird: A game about overcoming writer's block while battling tree monsters. - EverSiege: Untold Ages: An action-strategy game from the creators of Aliens: Dark Descent. Additional activities include capturing images of mushrooms in Rova, constructing a mycelial web in ChloroLink, battling vintage supervillains in Marvel Maximum Collection, searching for a sister in Too Well Hidden, harvesting fuel in Venus in Transit, and transforming clouds into sea creatures in The Wide Open Sky is Running out of Catfish. The Treehouse is working on guides for Crimson Desert, evaluating Slay The Spire 2, assessing hardware, and participating in a preview event.

Winsage

February 24, 2026

5 Windows apps we couldn’t live without before the internet

Windows versions in the past provided a unique offline experience, allowing users to explore a variety of local applications that were integral to daily life. Key applications included: - Microsoft Solitaire (Windows 3.0): Introduced many to card games and mouse navigation, evolving from a tutorial to a beloved pastime with simple mechanics. - Windows Sound Recorder (Windows 3.0): Launched in 1990, it allowed users to capture audio, creating a space for creativity and basic audio editing. - Minesweeper (Windows 3.1): A grid-based game that taught patience and risk assessment through its engaging gameplay. - Paintbrush (Windows 1.0): Released in 1985, it served as a simple digital art tool, enabling users to express creativity and learn design fundamentals. - 3D Pinball: Space Cadet (Windows 95): Bundled with Microsoft Plus! 95, it transformed computer classes into enjoyable experiences with engaging gameplay. These applications were valued for their presence and ability to provide comfort and entertainment without the complexities of modern technology.

AppWizard

February 23, 2026

Resident Evil Requiem is this week’s headline PC game but don’t forget the Witchers, pirates and pinballs

Steam Next Fest is currently taking place, showcasing a variety of game demos. This year, the focus is on highlighting exciting demos rather than creating a wishlist. Some notable games featured include: - A game inspired by hiding spiders under cups at holiday parties, which includes power-up cards that are not microtransactions. - Rise Of Piracy, an early access RTS by MicroProse, where players command a fleet of corsairs and can engage in diplomacy and trading. - Emberbane, a 2D metroidvania with elemental martial arts elements. - Reigns: The Witcher, a deck-building narrative game set in the Witcher universe, where players control Dandelion. - Utawarerumono: ZAN 2, an anime-style hack-and-slash game with base management and humorous elements. - Spellcasters Chronicles, a 3v3 wizard MOBA from Quantic Dream. - Tales of Berseria Remastered, a revamped action-RPG from Bamco. - Snägäri Pinball, a pinball game themed around Finland’s late-night snack kiosks. - Resident Evil Requiem, Capcom's latest horror installment featuring both third-person and first-person gameplay. - Arrow World, a sokoban-style game with conveyor belt mechanics. The RPS team is actively playing Resident Evil Requiem and sharing their experiences.

Winsage

February 19, 2026

Ex-Microsoft engineer says this is what Windows’ Task Manager would “probably” look like today — but it’s a “good thing” he stuck to his OS design lane

Dave W. Plummer, a former Microsoft employee, contributed to the Windows ecosystem, notably with the Task Manager, Calculator, and a classic pinball game. He left Microsoft in 2003 and recently expressed on Reddit that "there should be nothing that TaskMgr can't kill." Plummer shared a concept design for a modern Task Manager on his X account, inspired by his Tempest AI project, featuring a cyberpunk theme, various graphs, speedometer-style gauges, and music with a synthwave vibe. He selected Tempest for his AI project due to its challenging gameplay and holds the world record for it. The project utilizes about 75% of the GPU at 30 frames per second on his M2 Mac Pro.