Reviewers praised the visual presentation of each table, and commented specifically on the bright colors and animated characters.

As with a traditional pinball machine, the player fires a steel ball onto the playfield using a plunger.

[3] Both versions feature four pinball tables based on major Marvel Comics characters: Blade, Iron Man, Spider-Man, and Wolverine.

The official site held a poll to determine which table would be released next based on fan response.

[5] Marvel Pinball was first leaked to the public via the Australian Classification Board website October 20, 2010.

[11] The second table of the Vengeance and Virtue expansion pack was revealed to be X-Men at the 2011 New York Comic Con.

The pack included tables based on The Infinity Gauntlet, World War Hulk, Fear Itself, and The Avengers and was released on June 19.

Additionally, tables centered on the Marvel Civil War and Doctor Strange were unveiled.

[31] Richard Basset of TeamXbox gave Marvel Pinball a 9.5/10, stating of the Xbox Live version that the tables "are a top-notch addition to an awesome game".

[26] Jim Cook of Gamers Daily News scored the Xbox Live version a slightly lower 8.5/10, saying that Marvel Pinball is "reasonably priced for what you get and its good aspects definitely outweigh the somewhat barren mid-field play on most of these tables".

[34] Game Informer's Matt Miller scored it an 8.5/10, lauding its "excellent comic art and highly detailed visual effects make each table pop with energy and color".

[25] Matt Swider of GamePro disagreed, stating that the "odd-man-out choice of Blade amongst the three other Marvel heavyweights proves to be a successful one with its great use of day and night themes".