One of the earlier announcements during this year's Game Awards show was Bandai Namco lifting the lid on a new Pac-Man game, and well...it's not exactly the regular outing for the famous pellet eater.
This new game is officially called Shadow Labyrinth and is described as a "genre-twisting alternate take" on the iconic mascot.
As many of our lovely readers have pointed out here in the comments, this Metroidvania has some striking similarities to the Pac-Man 'Secret Level' episode by Amazon. It's also been confirmed Tekken Producer Katsuhiro Harada is involved and the game will be running on the Unity engine (via IGN).
Above is a first look, with the trailer description also confirming it will be arriving on the Switch and other platforms in 2025.
Shadow Labyrinth is a 2D action platformer and a genre-twisting alternate take on the iconic PAC-MAN.
As Swordsman No. 8, awoken by a floating yellow orb, PUCK, on a mysterious planet amidst relics of wars past, you are chosen to become the instrument of its will. To survive you will discover many secrets, consume your enemies, and grow from prey to the apex predator as you embrace your true purpose.
Discover a World of Secrets - Search the remnants of an age-old intergalactic conflict, started long before your arrival, and discover new powers and abilities. Use them to traverse an alien world as you battle dangerous creatures and evolved monstrosities.
Become the Apex Predator - Master the fluid combat and combine powerful skills to create a playstyle of your own. Use different playstyles to turn the tables on your enemies as you consume them and grow from prey to apex predator.
Embrace Your True Purpose - Team up with PUCK, and dive deeper into the maze of a mysterious alien world. Find out the truth behind your presence in this world, what does PUCK want and why it chose you.
What are your first impressions of this? Let us know in the comments.
Comments 85
Yeah, that's def gonna be M rated 🤣🤣🤣
Welcome back Bomberman Act Zero
I mean, it looks kinda cool. But is it like a more darker and horror themed or what?
Metroid style Pac-Man with a bit of horror? At least something good happened at the game awards!
It's from the show on Amazon prime, Secret Level. It's the Pac-Man episode...
@PikminMarioKirby explain to me how that is "good" in any capacity. Especially the horror part.
This looks less like a clever concept and more like what you get when you ask ChatGPT to mash Returnal and Pac-Man into a 2D metroidvania.
Turning Pac-Man into Chain Chomp sounds like a good idea, even better as a Metroidvania too. Definitely can't wait to see more of this one.
It feels like there's a lot of imaginative space for a modernized version of Pac-Man dipicting the titular entity as some kind of all-devouring eldritch creature, roaming through vast labyrinthine spaces, haunted and hunted by specters in its undending quest to consume more, more, ever more.
But, uh... I guess dumping Pac-Man into a generic metroidvania is an idea, too.
Thanks, I hate it!
@N00BiSH That is exactly what I was thinking of watching that trash.
A Metroidvania with pack-man elements? Consider me hyped!
Honestly I already loved the episodes concept just not enough time to truly explore the idea, and needed more pac man elements, an issue that I think this game probably won’t have.
This looks absolutely ridiculous and unnecessary.
...I can't wait to play it.
Pac-Man is my favorite third-party character, but in all honesty I'm not sure what to think of this.
On the one hand, I'm always up for some Pac-Man action.
On the other hand, this feels like what you'd end up with if someone like Capcom for example had decided to make a Bad Box Art Mega Man game.
I... hmm. You know that feeling when somebody shows you something, and they clearly explained it's something special, but you just aren't feeling it? That's kind of how I feel with this. It's like, they're expanding what Pac-Man does, and putting it into a story, but I just don't know how that sits with me. It's a similar feeling I had when they took Mega Man, and slapped him into a cyber digital world with card battling gameplay. I'll just have to wait and see how this one turns out.
I might stick with that new Ninja Gaiden game that was announced. Well… who knows? This Pac Man game could turn out ok, I guess. 🤷🏾♂️
"As Swordsman No. 8, awoken by a floating yellow orb, PUCK, on a mysterious planet amidst relics of wars past, you are chosen to become the instrument of its will."
This feels EPIC!!! I am in.
This was a nice surprise… maybe they were partially inspired by Metroid Dread?
So THAT'S what the Amazon Cartoon was about.
@Kestrel there was a "reverse horror" game from 2020 with a similar premise; Carrion, it was called.
The Secret Level Pac-Man episode was a direct prequel to this.
https://ew.com/pac-man-shadow-labyrinth-trailer-amazon-secret-level-8760595
This is hilarious. I hope it's actually worth buying.
@N00BiSH I was gonna say the exact same thing!
I actually kind of love that trailer.
I thought we were long past the days of edgy. Reimaginings? Reboots? Whatever you want to call this crap…
Yars Rising did it first! 😊
This... this is not Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac.
If this is all we're getting for Pac-Man's 45th anniversary, I'll be devastated.
Uhh, is this a prank? I mean, if not then it's interesting that they went in a...in a fresh direction but um. Okay...
@Snatcher both series do involve mazes now that you mention it.
Boy, I can't wait for the inevitable edgy hardcore reimagining of we heart Katamari where it's an all consuming God driven to run over every single human being and civilization in existence.
@HammerGalladeBro As long as it was a tongue-in-cheek spin-off, people would probably get some enjoyment from it. Or at least a quick laugh.
@shonenjump86 They announced a new Ninja Gaiden?
@Tempestryke yea
Well, it's something, huh....?
@Tempestryke Metroidvanias and pac man? I honestly didn’t even consider that connection til you said it. that honestly makes it even better, and makes so much sense.
If it's a good game, it's a good game. If it's a good game with Pacman as the main character, all the better.
@anoyonmus Oh. I'll hafta check it out. Thanks.
Namco trying to innovate Pac-Man here.
Maybe it's good too.
Looks like it's got a bit of Dig Dug in there too, with what looks like the character blowing up a Pooka enemy.
I'm not sure what to think of this yet, but I'll stay alert to updates on this one.
We are venom… I mean PacMan
@Tempestryke yup, Nintendo Life has an article about. Should be right underneath this one. I like what I saw.
@Kestrel Pac-Man doesn't need to be "modernized." Games like World and Championship Edition were great.
@PikminMarioKirby Out of everything announced so far, this is the only "good" thing?
Update: Katsuhiro Harada is executive producing the game, and apparently key staff members include alumni from Samurai Shodown/King of Fighters and Kirby and the Amazing Mirror
@shonenjump86 It looks so good!
@Serpenterror At first glance, I honestly thought that was The Imprisoned from Skyward Sword.
Finally a game staring the iconic flame chomp from Mario 3
Haven’t watched the vid yet, wife is watching TNF on the TV, but it all sounds very Fullmetal Alchemist. I’m thinking Dwarf in a Jar and Greed. Brotherhood anime Greed, not underutilized live action Greed.
Could be interesting.
Looks sick.
Power pellets.
If we can have a Yars' Revenge metroidvania (where you play as an entirely original main character) then we might as well do the same for Pac-Man I guess.
I should add I thoroughly enjoyed Yars Rising and I'm looking forward to this.
@N00BiSH I was gonna say that but ya beat me to it.
@Servbot_EJ So when do you think we'll get Digdug: Down in the Depths of ****?
I’m certainly curious
Completely out of left field! This is so crazy I...actually like the concept?
Since this looks like a Metroidvania and a dark alternate take on the traditional Pac-Man titles, I'm keeping an eye on this. The games haven't been my thing outside of the classic arcade original and Ms. Pac-Man.
Pac-Man is now a sidekick. Interesting.
Sigh. So the Secret Level episode, like all of them, was just a glorified trailer.
Man that show was a disappointment
Oh, what the heck. I'm in!
Pacman has joined the dark side.
People seem really mixed on this, but I feel like people also complain about pac man never doing anything new. Regardless of it being an “edgy reimagining” I think it’s nice to see them make something that isn’t just a port of the arcade game or a Mario esque title. So long as we keep getting regular pac man content I see no issue with this whatsoever and this it honestly looks pretty cool
Honestly, I kinda dig it. It's better than letting Pac-Man rot as a cutesy mascot in generic mobile games. I think it'll be good.
PAC-MAN.EXE
Looks pretty cool, not sold yet though.
Looks kinda neat, but the Bomberman Act Zero vibes are strong with this one. Overall I can’t say I’m a fan of this, so this is a "maybe" from me.
Mr. Horse from Ren and Stimpy has a catchphrase that applies here for me.
No, Sir. I don't like it.
Uhhhhhh… sure… why not. :/
@LavenderShroud
Cool is timeless. It doesn't get old.
I think this is a pretty interesting looking game. Definitely not what I would expect from something like PacMan. I don't even mind if it's an "edgy" re-imagining. Been wanting more dark takes on lighthearted series just for the general vibes of it.
Sometimes I feel like we've entered the simulation. This is one of those times.
Strong feelings on both ends, which is perfectly warranted for a game such as this.
Me, I am impartial. I like the look of it, and I don't mind exploration platformers, but I'm also not a huge fan of them, and I do feel the Pac Man character feels a bit out of place.
But hey, to those who are excited, I hope you will enjoy it. To those who aren't, I hope something else will strike your fancy.
Oh that god awful logo and jingle. What a joke
That's the most generic title imaginable for such a bizarre announcement, but I actually really like the look of this!
Waka waka?
Anyway, don't know what to think of it (is this a tie in to the Amazon episode? I have to watch that stuff someday). Could be awful, but could also be great. Lets wait and see!
Yes, it reminds a bit of Bomberman Zero. But that was a gritty looking Bomberman game, while this is a Metroivania with Pacman elements.
If you want more "crazy" Pacman stuff, Terminalmontage on youtube made a halloween video once on Pacman. That was actually great.
Looks like the maketing department got there way with the design on this one.
Random direction to take with pacman, maybe it works, maybe it won't!
Didn't see such a twist on Pac-Man coming, but I'm definitely not against it as long as it's good - fingers crossed that will be the case!
I just want a Pac-Man Championship Edition 3. But I guess this looks... interesting?
Well if I could say something positive about it, the gameplay looks interesting. Maybe this will be good. It's not a Re-Pac of any of the other PMW games, but I might pick it up.
"THIS AIN'T YOUR DAD'S PAC-MAN"
This game looks like its been displaced in time for 20+ years.
this is going to come out like a whimper.
The gameplay looks good, but transforming Pac-Man into a edgy monster feels like a last minute change.
I think this was the coolest thing at the show.
I think also that bomberman act zero could have been good if the game wasn’t trash. The redesign was edgy and weird, but it could have worked!
This could be interesting if it turns out good. I will defo keep my eye on it. Not hyped about it though.
Only 2 things that got me hyped was FFVII Rebirth PC port (I knew it would get released but was sooner then expected) and the new Onimusha game. I have waited 20 years for one so defo really hyped for it.
Eh, it could be good.
Honestly, I am curious about this one. I don’t much care for making Pac-Man all dark and gritty. I also really don’t like that yet another secret Level episode was basically another advert for an upcoming game rather than the love letter to gaming history it sells itself as. And the visuals look a bit all over the place. But the gameplay seems fun.
Would rather they just port Pac-Man Championship Edition DX+ though. I really don’t think that can be topped.
Saw this trailer and got really interested even thou somehow I missed the pacman part, will play it regardless
This, Ninja Gaiden Ragebound, and Crimson Desert were the standout trailers of TGA in my humble opinion.
This is the end result of all the pills Pacman has popped all these years.
"striking similarity" is an understatement, the secret level episode is a direct adaptation and promotion of this game. It was one of my favourite episodes and I'm looking forward to an inventive metroidvania. What it does have is a striking visual similarity to ghost song.
I love that they used the name PUCK, since it was suppose to be the original name of Pac-Man when it released!
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