The iconic 3D pinball game of Windows XP is back, free on Android
The name Space Cadet may say nothing to you, but its retro-futuristic sound atmosphere and its frantic rebounds still resonate in the memories of an entire generation. Preinstalled on Windows XP, this spatial pinball game was one of those small pearls launched “to see”, and which ended up engulfing hours. Good news: in 2025, he returned to Android, more accessible than ever, without advertising or frills.
3D Pinball Space Cadet returns: same gameplay, new platform
Behind this comeback, we find Kyle Sylvestre, an independent developer who has taken over the bases of the decompilé code available on Github. It is based on the work of the developer K4zmu2a, but it was he who took the initiative to offer a functional version, installed directly from the Play Store.
The approach is simple, almost disarming: zero advertising, no integrated purchase, and total respect for the original game. A rare, almost chivalrous approach, in a mobile universe often saturated with microtransactions.
It is not the first resurrection of the Flipper XP. A semi-official version had already circulated in the form of APK in 2022, but its installation remained complex and not in the general public. This time, more excuses: in a few seconds, the game is available on any Android smartphone.
The handling remains faithful to the original spirit. We find the same tables, the same sounds, and this unique feeling of trying to beat your own score in a universe as kitsch as it is delightful. The youngest may see a retro curiosity, the older ones will find a pixelated Proust madeleine.
On your phone, it works in portrait mode, supports 18 languages, integrates the Google Play rankings and weighs less than 5 MB. You can find it on the Play store.
Note that iPhone followers are not to be outdone: an iOS version of the game is also available on the App Store, but at € 3.99 and by another developer.
