Overview – developed and published by TreeNutsGames, Coin Pusher Casino brings the flashing lights and arcade sounds of classic coin pushers to computers. Bring the flashing lights and toppling towers home, with realistic physics and satisfying gameplay. This title is available exclusively on the Steam platform, with verified steam deck support, with a link to check the game out at the bottom of this review.
Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank TreeNutsGames for providing the copy of Coin Pusher Casino that was used for this piece, via the keymailer service. The provision of this software has not influenced the contents of this review, all thoughts and opinions contained within are my own.
Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review. There is no plotline for this release, so I will be going straight into discussing the gameplay for this release. Please note, this title uses A.I. generation for some elements of the text featured in the game.
Gameplay – Coin Pusher Casino is an arcade machine simulator, taking the arcade classic coin pusher mechanics and adding challenging gameplay mechanics. In this release, players are given a set amount of credits which are used in order to access the different machines. Each of the machines has a set buy-in, with the objective being to earn enough money to make a profit. This is achieved by collecting various cash items on the machine.
While playing a machine, the player will be given a set number of tokens for that challenge. This amount is all the player will be allotted, with the only way to keep playing is by pushing tokens into the loot chute. But these aren’t the only things that can be pushed into the chute, as players can collect chips of varying amounts, gold/silver bars and money. These will add to the machines cash earnings, going towards breaking even and making a profit.
In these pushers, the player will also be able to collect items, like dice, keys and even chests. These items will vary from machine to machines, giving players an additional challenge for each of the pushers. Some of the items earned can be sold or used to earn credits, while others will be used in the arcade mode (discussed below). Once the player is done collecting money, items or is just finished playing, they can end the stage with the pay-out option.
There are multiple machines that players can enjoy, split between three gameplay modes. The first is Zen mode, where the player has no time limit, allowing them to drop tokens at their own pace. Then there is classic, where there is a time limit, with bonus time that is earned by dropping tokens. This is a challenging game mode, as players will need to keep earning tokens, as they will fail if they fail to break a profit within the time limit.
The last mode to discuss is Arcade, which features machines inspired by those that can be found in real arcades. The player has a time limit and no bonus time when dropping loot, making this a high intensity challenge compared to the other modes. Each of the tables in this mode has a special gimmick, alongside mechanics that can be used to yield high rewards. The player can also use items like magnets and dice to increase their earnings.
There are more than 80 different machine layouts that can be challenges, with some of being more extravagant than others. There is a nostalgic feel to some machines, using simple layouts that have been used in arcades for decades. Whereas some have a more fantastical look to them, with multi-level tiers, giant stacks of items and visual elements. This keeps the experience from getting stale, as there is a level of fatigue that can occur with long sessions.
Outside of the coin pushers, the player can access a few options that can affect the experience of the machines. In the coin shop, the player will be able to use credits to buy new types of token. These cosmetics will change the look of the coins that are used in machines, giving players a way to customise some elements of the machine. Then there are the special items, like chests and keys that will yield rewards when opened.
The last thing to discuss is the perk system. As the player earns credits, they will be able to gain new abilities and skills. These skills can be used on the different machines, improving the gameplay experience for the player. These perks include increasing the speed that tokens can be added, auto collection of loot dropped and even luck modifiers. In order to unlock the perks, players will need to spend credits, with some costing millions to obtain.
Now with the gameplay covered, it is time to discuss the other aspects of this release, starting with the controls.
Controls – the controls for this game are incredibly simple. The player can use mouse, keyboard and controller to play the game. To play the game, the player will only need to use three buttons to get into the action for the most part. Due to the simplicity of the controls, the player can automate the gameplay experience by holding down the coin drop button. This can give the game a hands-off or idle feel, just sitting back and letting the game play itself.
Difficulty – there is an unusual difficulty curve to this game, as there are some of the machines that will be significantly harder than others. This can lead to some frustrations for players, due to the limited tokens and time limits of some of the tables. The three game modes also have three difficulty settings to them, which have different amounts of tokens, time limits and bonus time. These make a rather mundane challenge tougher.
Presentation – from a visual perspective, this title looks like a mobile release on the surface, with the simple menus and basic elements. But during play, the machines and general feel look pretty good, with a solid performance even with a lot of items on screen. Then we have the sound, which gives that brain tickling reward of clattering coins when they hit the chute. The music is okay, but can take away from the arcade feel.
Final Thoughts – when I first saw this, I thought it was just your run of the mill phone pusher, as the market has been flooded with them in recent times. However, when I got started, I was pleasantly surprised. There is more to this game than it seems on the surface. The machine designs, gameplay elements and gimmicks can make it an engaging experience. This may seem like a rather mundane game, which may put some players off and it can feel a little basic.
I did find myself resorting to just holding the coin button down, letting the game play itself and just sitting back and watching. But some of the machines require a little forward planning, as it is not possible to just drop coins and hope for the best. If you are into coin pushers or arcade sims, this may be for you and there is plenty of content. Sadly, this game is missing a little bit of polish in areas, like some text not working, but it is otherwise solid.
In the end, I give Coin Pusher Casino a final score of 3/5. This is a relatively easy to play arcade sim, offering an experience that is more challenging than it appears on the surface, with vibrant tables and interesting game mechanics. This is a pleasant time, but does need some more polish in areas. If you want to check this game out for yourself, a link to the game will be below.
Link to Steam version (HERE)
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