Peglin Review – Pachinko Meets Roguelike: A Winning Combo or a Risky Bet?

by Jim Smale · Published April 26, 2025 · Updated April 24, 2025

If you’re searching for the ultimate Peglin review, you’re in the right place. This pachinko-inspired roguelike blends strategy and randomness in a way that keeps players coming back for just one more shot. But does it truly deliver an addictive gameplay loop, or does luck outweigh skill? In this Peglin review, we break down its mechanics, progression, and replayability to see if it’s a hit or a miss. Let’s dive in and find out!

Peglin Review Pros:

Decent pixel art graphics.
270.8MB MB download size.
Platinum trophy.
You get the PlayStation 4 and the PlayStation 5 versions of the game, each with their own Platinum trophy list.
Own in-game achievements.
Game options – speedup amount and vignette intensity.
Screenshake intensity slider.
Ball-popping gameplay.
Arcade presentation.
The Encirclepedia keeps tabs on unlocked characters, achievements, run summaries, and the bestiary.
Peggle influenced.
Roguelike-based, maps and locations randomize every run, as do rewards and layouts.
The game plays out where you have to aim and shoot your ball at other balls to get points and the ability to attack the advancing enemy.
Special balls that can grant power-ups temporarily and even respawn wiped-out balls.
You get a basic aim line initially.
On the map, you choose your route.
The HUD shows what ball you are using and what it does.
If a ball on the level needs multiple hits, it will show a countdown number per hit.
On your travels, you get to pick and collect different balls to shoot which have unique abilities or buffs attached to them.
As you take shots, you change out the balls you are using.
Earn coins in the level and use them to buy a new ball, upgrade a ball you have, save the coins, or use it to heal.
Health bar system.
Enemies will march towards you and do damage to you when they get close enough, hitting balls will power up your attacks.
After finishing a level you get one life to try and clear out all remaining pegs, you can hit the fire pit to keep the ball for one more shot.
Shops can appear on the map selling balls.
Very accessible and easy to get into.
Story-like encounters, some with multiple choice.
If you are fighting multiple enemies at once, you can actually choose who to target.
Massive boss fights.
At the end of the run, it shows unlocked balls for the custom mode.
End of run breakdown.
Four characters to unlock, each bringing a gameplay spin, you do get to see the unlock criteria.
New runs let you pick one of three boosts to activate.
Saves upon quitting.