Review: Pinball FX – Williams Pinball Volume 8 for Nintendo Switch

Zen Studios has faced some challenges transitioning Pinball FX3 to the Nintendo Switch, and those hurdles continue with their latest offering, Pinball FX – Williams Pinball Volume 8. You might be wondering, “What happened to Volume 7?” Well, it hasn’t made it to the Switch. Now, the pressing question is: how do these new tables hold up? As it turns out, the outcome is a bit of a mixed bag.

Let’s dive in with Black Knight 2000, the star of the pack. Despite what the title might suggest, this table hails from 1989 as a sequel to the original 1980 release. It’s a true reflection of that era with vibrant colors and lighting that instantly transport you back to those arcade days. Even though it wasn’t part of my personal arcade past, its music strikes a nostalgic chord with lyrics like, “You’ve got the power (ha ha ha ha ha), you’ve got the might (no way), get ready for battle (give me your money), beat the black knight.” Understanding its unique play style is a bit challenging, but its charm and challenge will have you consistently aiming for those drop targets and ramps, chasing higher scores.

Moving on, we have Banzai Run, one of the two Pat Lawlor creations in this collection. While I generally favor his creations from the ’90s like Funhouse and Addams Family, this motorcycle-themed table doesn’t quite hit the mark for me. More so, it seems to suffer from layout issues. Although the concept of a vertical playfield is intriguing, it ends up leaving a lot of unused space, making the table visually dull and a bit boring to play. The lack of fluidity—possibly a Switch-specific quirk—adds to its woes, making it difficult to engage with and master, even if you’re willing to feed it endless virtual coins. While the concept itself isn’t entirely flawed, it falls short in drawing you in.

Finally, there’s Earthshaker, perhaps the easiest table in terms of racking up those high scores. What stands out most here is the multiball action, coupled with the most intense HD rumble I’ve experienced on my Switch. Sure, it’s a bit gimmicky, but the earthquake theme pairs well with the shaking effect, offering a fitting level of immersion. Outside of that, it’s a solid table—straightforward and most likely to appeal to pinball newcomers. However, make sure you’re equipped with a controller that supports rumble, or you’ll lose part of the experience.

All in all, Williams Pinball Volume 8 presents a trio of tables with varying appeal. Black Knight 2000 offers energetic ’80s nostalgia, but at $14.99, you’d expect all the tables to be equally entertaining. Earthshaker leans into its HD Rumble novelty, while Banzai Run struggles with its layout and performance on the Switch. It might be wise to keep this pack on your wishlist for a potential sale or continue playing on Pinball FX3.