At The Game Awards, Bandai Namco announced a new, darker take on Pac-Man with Shadow Labyrinth, an action-platformer that inherits aspects of the franchise while taking it in a new direction.
If you had the chance to watch Secret Level on Prime Video, there is one story that offers a unique and bloody take on the Pac-Man lore, presenting a much more brutal world than the one we all remember from our youth. It turns out that this wasn’t as outlandish as many may have thought. Shadow Labyrinth is a game that has been in development for some time at Bandai Namco. When Prime Video and Blur Studios discussed creating a Pac-Man episode, the concept for the Shadow Labyrinth game, which was already in development, was pitched. It fit well with Secret Level, so they went with it.
Developed as part of the 45th anniversary of Pac-Man in 2025, Shadow Labyrinth is a very different game than what we are used to seeing the character in. Bringing a much darker tone to the concept, Shadow Labyrinth has players navigating through numerous obstacles, working through complex maps, and trying to find their way out of the place they are trapped in. For anyone who watched the Secret Level episode, it serves as a prequel, in a sense, to what players will experience when they dive into this game.
Speaking with Shadow Labyrinth producer Seigo Aizawa and Pac-Man brand marketing manager for Bandai Namco Entertainment America, Knoah Piasek, there was a notable sense of excitement for the project. This is potentially one of the most divergent takes on the character to date and offers a new style of gameplay and tone that many may not expect. From the short segment shown, it looks intriguing and offers something unexpected.
We are used to seeing studios play it safe with their intellectual properties, especially legacy ones like Pac-Man. However, with Shadow Labyrinth, Bandai Namco Studios is trying something new, working to appeal to an older audience—and it honestly looks like it could work. The Metroidvania-style gameplay is an interesting departure for the franchise, and the darker tone gives the studio more freedom to push the boundaries of what players can expect.
I took the time to ask whether there would be a story reason for deaths in the universe, referencing what was hinted at in the Secret Level short; however, that does not seem to be the case. While death will give players a chance to face the many bosses the game presents, Shadow Labyrinth offers multiple paths through each section. The game provides a wide range of ways to approach challenges, allowing for varied gameplay. With a planned runtime of more than 30 hours to complete, this title feels like a title that will reward players who take the time to learn and master the mechanics and concepts it offers.
Slated for a 2025 release alongside Pac-Man’s 45th anniversary, the game is set for a physical release on PS5 and Nintendo Switch, with a digital release on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. It was also hinted that there would be a special edition, although details were scarce on what it would include.
